How long is a normal female rabbit pregnant for?
The gestation period for a rabbit is 28 to 31 days. Your female rabbit could confuse you though as they have a rather strange birth control. If an insufficient number of eggs have been fertilised, they are re-absorbed and the doe comes into season again very quickly, without wasting time to produce one or two babies. If, on the other hand, a large number of eggs have been fertilised, and there is insufficient feeding, she will re-absorb the surplus and produce what is the natural or ideal number – usually four to five youngsters.
After mating a female rabbit is usually pregnant for around 4 weeks before giving birth, give or take a few days. As she gets closer to her due date you’ll notice her becoming rather plump around the belly and she may become a bit more grumpy than she used to. A few days before she gives birth she will make a cosy nest out of fur plucked from her stomach – this is a sure sign that the babies will be around very quickly. During this time you should try not to disturb her too much, up until and after she has the babies. Make sure she has plenty of food, hay, fresh water and some fresh greens every day so that she’s getting a good nutritional quota. When the babies are born they should be kept with Mom for at least 6 – 7 weeks and should not be rehomed until after they are 8 weeks of age. Try not to disturb her too much after the birth and give her a good few days to settle into the routine of being a mom. Some females can get spooked and possibly abandon their babies so try to resist the
