16 to 18 percent protein 18 to 22 percent fiber 3 percent or less in fat She should also have constant access to clean water, which you should change two to three times per day. You can supplement her diet while she is gestating and weaning the kits (babies) by giving her some alfalfa hay or cubes to provide more protein. [1] X Research source
Ideally, you should keep the male close enough to make contact with the female through their separate enclosures. Rabbits bond very closely and still being close to the male will cut down on unnecessary stress for the female during the pregnancy and birth. [3] X Research source
Put a generous handful of grass (make sure no fertilizer or pesticides are present), straw, or hay in the box as well for bedding. [5] X Research source Put the bedding on top of a clean towel without any loose threads that might catch on the kits. [6] X Research source The female might rearrange the bedding in the box or even pull out some of her fur to add to the bedding, which is usually a sign that the birth is close. [7] X Research source Make sure you place the nesting box on the opposite side of the cage from the mother’s litter box to help avoid any complications for the kits. You should also place the cage in a quiet, darkened space. Too much activity around the mother and her new kits will cause her undue stress. [8] X Research source
You should also remove any placenta or afterbirth from the box. Don’t be afraid of handling the babies as the mother will already be accustomed to your scent.
Ensuring that she receives proper nutrition will also help reduce the possibility of the mother cannibalizing the kits.
If the mother set up the nesting box—especially if she pulled some of her fur—then she’s paying attention to her mothering instincts. The problem may be as simple as your vet providing a small dose of oxytocin to help with milk production. [14] X Research source You should also contact your vet if the litter is more than eight kits, as this may be too large a number for the mother to support all of them. If the mother has more than eight kits or she abandons the litter and will not nurse them, then your vet will likely provide instructions for bottle feeding the babies. However, results are often unsuccessful because there is no formula 100 percent adapted to newborn rabbits.
You should additionally avoid feeding the rabbits greens for several months due to the potential for digestive complications. You can try tiny bits of one item at a time starting around two months, but remove it from the rabbit’s diet immediately if it causes intestinal problems such as diarrhea. [18] X Research source Good items to start with include carrots, romaine lettuce, and kale. [19] X Research source
