Survival of young stock is the key indicator on which a rabbit farm's income depends. Most losses happen in the first weeks of life, and many of them can be avoided with preparation. The timings below are typical; they vary slightly between breeds and individual does.
Mating and pregnancy
- The doe is taken to the buck, not the other way round: on her own territory the doe may behave aggressively.
- Pregnancy lasts 30–31 days on average (usually 28 to 33 days).
- Pregnancy can be checked by palpating the abdomen 10–14 days after mating. Do this carefully or ask an experienced rabbit breeder to show you.
- Record mating dates: without a log it is easy to miss a kindling.
Preparing for kindling (3–5 days before)
- Put in or clean the nest box and fill it with clean soft hay or straw.
- The doe starts building a nest and pulling out her fur; this is normal.
- Water must always be available: lack of water before and after kindling is a common cause of problems with the litter.
- Eliminate noise, strong smells and unnecessary visits by strangers.
Kit development week by week
| Age | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0–1 | Kits are born naked and blind, usually 6–10 per litter. | Check the nest carefully and remove any dead kits. Rub your hands in the bedding first so as not to leave a foreign scent. |
| Week 1 | Fur grows; the kits only sleep and suckle. | Make sure all of them are well fed: fed kits have round bellies. Keep the nest warm. |
| Week 2 | Eyes open (around day 10–12). | Do not disturb the nest unless necessary. |
| Week 3 | Kits leave the nest and try their mother's feed. | Put good-quality hay and feed where they can reach it. |
| Weeks 4–6 | Transition to independent feeding. | Introduce new feeds gradually. This is the most dangerous period for the gut. |
| Weaning | Under conventional housing, at 30–45 days. Under our method, young rabbits stay with their mother much longer. | Wean in groups, without abrupt changes in feed or conditions. |
Common mistakes
- No water, or frozen water. A doe without water may kill her litter.
- A cold or wet nest. For the first two weeks kits cannot keep themselves warm.
- Abrupt feed changes at weaning. This leads to digestive upsets in young rabbits.
- Frequent disturbance. Unnecessary checks and strangers make the doe nervous.
- No records. Without a log it is hard to tell which doe is a good mother and which is better culled.
If kits die, the doe refuses to nurse, or there are signs of illness, contact a veterinarian. On prevention, see the article "Preventing rabbit diseases".
