Here Bunny
A rabbit is the same as a larger pet like a dog and a cat. It is an extremely caring and loving animal. It creates a unique bond with its owner. It is just that it is advised to keep a distance from the female rabbit during a twenty-eight to thirty-five day of gestational period or pregnancy. This is as suggested to avoid dealing with an overprotective and sensitive mother.
Indeed, a rabbit is a wonderful pet. It is suitable for both adults and children alike. It will only depend much on the environment and the breed that it grows up in. It may thrive between seven and nine years or even longer. This fury, small, and adorable creature is enough to fill your house with laughter, joy, and babies in its entire life. When you have a pair of bunnies, and you feel like the female rabbit is already pregnant, you need to be more knowledgeable throughout its gestation period.
Gestation Information
A doe or a female rabbit is ready for the mating season of twelve to sixteen weeks. This is after it is born, whereas it can continue having babies up until reaching the age of 4-years. The male rabbit will more likely to show up signs of developing sexually. It is somehow done a lot faster as compared to a female counterpart. It is also expected to mate until reaching the age of 7-years old.
As compared to most animals, a rabbit has no such thing as a specific mating season. It means to say that the female variety may get pregnant at any time of the year. That is when you will need to keep the pair separated. This is also if you do not approve of having lots of baby rabbits in several years. If you won’t begin a business with these bunnies, it is better to neuter them.
As per the gestational period of a female rabbit, it takes up about thirty-one days. Nevertheless, expect that the litter of a bunny will go somewhere twenty-eight and thirty-three days. When it comes to the litter, it can fall between three to twelve bunnies. But it is important to know that not all of them will survive.
Common Signs of Gestation
In the first 2 weeks, not all of the female rabbits will inhibit pregnancy signs. Focus more on the symptoms and also weigh in the bunny every single day. But the same with other mammals, the belly of the rabbit will get larger. This is while the babies are starting to grow inside. The gain in weight is already an obvious sign of pregnancy.
The female rabbit will show more of its appetite. Some of them may feel moody, cranky, and aggressive. Even mood swings can become common in mammals, the same as humans. Take a look at the personality of the pet rabbit.
When it is unusually sleepy and tired, it might mean to say that it needs rest. This is the only way for it to stay healthy throughout the gestational period. Some of the bunnies may seem unfriendly and may not allow you to take good care of them more often. This is when you could not tell if they are pregnant during the first week.
After ten to twelve days of breeding, the bumps in marble size may be felt inside the belly of a rabbit. This is a sign that it is already pregnant. The gestational period is as mentioned to be thirty-one days. If the bunny still did not deliver after 33 to 35 days of breeding, it’s when you need to take it to a vet. The monitoring of its pregnancy stage is essential. This will ensure that everything is alright.
After a week of giving birth, the rabbit mom will manifest nesting behaviors. It will pile up digging and bedding into one corner. It will also take hay or any other material that it carries in its mouth. That includes plush blankets or bedding. That way, it will find a safe and comfortable space for the new bunnies.
And a new litter can easily be noticed in just a week. Now, if the mom starts to pull its fur out, be ready for the babies coming in one to two days. The rabbit is mainly a nocturnal animal. The mom will, for sure, deliver the bunnies at night.
Looking After a Rabbit on Its Gestation Period
The rabbit can be expected to be moody. It might also show some signs of aggression. You should leave it be and avoid taking it out of its cage. It will also find comfort in the hand of its owner. It might like it being alone. Keep focused on its personality. Avoid sudden moves around it during the nesting period.
Below are all other tips to consider in mind when the rabbit is on its gestation period.
- Give it plenty of freshwater and food.
- Give it more delicious and nutritious snacks like veggies and fruits.
- Make its nest more comfortable
- Make the nest spacious enough for the babies and the mother.
- Keep its proper hygiene in mind.
- Make the cage and nest always clean to avoid health issues to the baby and the mother rabbit.
- Use a cat litter pan to fill with rabbit bedding or hay.
- Opt for a plastic or wooden box with an easy to access door.
- Offer fresh veggies and Alfalfa hay for its digestive system.
- Provide it with an organic and delicious snack.
- Give it lots of edible and chewing toys.
- Offer it a variety of safe fruits to add more minerals and vitamins.
- Give it berries rich in natural antioxidants and vitamin C.
- Add up some watermelon, pineapple, seedless apple, and banana as the occasional treats.
- Opt for figs, dates, raisins as the dry fruits.
Giving birth to a lot of bunnies can seem exhausting on the part of the mother. That is when you must focus your eye on the mother. Make sure that the bunnies are nursing. If one bunny is not gaining weight or is developing slowly, talk to a vet. Know if it can be advised to be fed on a special formula.
Keep as always that the babies be handled carefully. They are as fragile as they seem. They should never be fed with solid food until finally reaching a month of birth. Keep them as well in the warm places. Keep them in houses or huts sheltered from exposure to direct sunlight, rain, wind, and cold temperature.
A mother rabbit won’t demand assistance from you as an owner after giving birth. This is unless you observed something beyond ordinary. Give the babies and the new mother some space during the first week. The babies will also nurse from the mother rabbit once in a day. This will take place at night for about three to four weeks before finally being weaned.
Keep this informational article in mind to give enough care for the mother rabbit on its gestation period. And the bunnies as well will be included in the care offered with it!
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