Facts About Female Rabbits

Female rabbits are known as does, and they have different issues and needs compared with male rabbits, known as bucks. Many of the issues associated with female rabbits are due to their hormones; thus, many pet owners have their female rabbits spayed, which involves a veterinarian removing the uterus and ovaries.

  1. Companionship

    • All rabbits are sociable and prefer to live in company, although bonding rabbits is not always easy. A female rabbit is most easily bonded with a male rabbit. In this situation, the male should be neutered not only to avoid unwanted litters but also to stop him from constantly mounting and pestering the female. The female then needs to be spayed to avoid her becoming dominant over the neutered male. Female rabbits reach sexual maturity at around 4 to 6 months, depending on the breed. At this point their behavior toward their owner and other rabbits can change and, if not spayed, they can become aggressive and dominant.

    Mating

    • A female rabbit will run in circles around a male to show she is ready to mate. If a rabbit is kept alone, she may behave this way toward her owner instead. Female rabbits ovulate for about nine months of the year, which means they can get pregnant often. They may mount other females or males to show dominance, or during periods when they are eager to mate.

    Pregnancy

    • One sign that a female rabbit is pregnant is when her abdomen starts to grow; another is when she starts pulling out her own fur to make a nest. However, unspayed female rabbits with a hormone imbalance can experience what is known as a false pregnancy and will also begin building a nest. A rabbit pregnancy lasts about 31 days, with litters ranging from four and 12 babies, depending on the type and size of the rabbit. Female rabbits start ovulating hours after giving birth, so they can get pregnant again almost immediately.

    Health

    • Unspayed female rabbits are 60 to 80 percent more likely to suffer from uterine cancer after they reach about 5 years of age. They can also suffer from a bacterial infection known as pyometra, where the uterus becomes full of pus. A doe that is feeding her young can suffer from mastitis, or inflammation of the mammary glands. This can turn into abscesses on the glands, making them turn red or blue, a condition called blue breast.