How Soon After Your Rabbit Gives Birth Do You Check the Nest?

Nest Preparation

• Like mothers of many animal species, mama rabbits establish cozy and quiet nests in which to birth and care for their upcoming offspring. A female rabbit builds a nest a few days before parturition, or she might hold out until the exact day she goes into labor and welcomes her youngsters. Expectant rabbits frequently tug fur off their bodies to line their nest. The hair they extract typically comes from their belly region. Expectant rabbits also frequently tear things up as a means of nest construction, whether newspaper or towels.

Nest Box

• Make things easy on your pregnant bunny by offering her a comfy nest box in which to birth her litter. If you know specifically when she mated, give the box between 25 and 27 days after that date. Make the box as suitable for nesting as possible, with components such as grass hay, smooth straw and timothy hay. Your doe might even add some of the aforementioned fur to the mix.

Checking the Nest the Following Day

• Once your rabbit gives birth, make a point not to be bothersome to her nest and little ones. Mama rabbits tend to be a little on edge and high-strung right after birthing, and as a result often don't appreciate too much unsolicited human intervention. Abstain from looking at the nest until the following day, and only do so when the mother isn't around. Importantly, avoid physical contact with the youngsters. Check for any kits who might have passed away. If you find any, cautiously take them out of the box without disrupting the others.

  If you notice whimpering sounds coming from the box in a span of one or two days post-birth, there's a chance that the little guys are hungry and there might be a problem -- possibly lack of feeding by Mom. If this is the case, consult your veterinarian right away.

Helping the Doe

• When it comes to the reproductive process, pregnant rabbits generally don't require much help from humans. Despite that, it's crucial for you to always respectfully keep an eye on things, just in case complications should occur -- before, during and after parturition. If you observe any signs of malaise or problems in the mother rabbit or kits at any point, notify your veterinarian immediately. A veterinarian is an excellent resource to have all throughout your rabbit's gestation.

  Mother rabbits typically give birth during the most serene and silent times of the day, often the wee hours of the morning. If at all possible, try to be available when the mom-to-be is finally ready to go.