How Long Do Rabbits Nurse (Know It All)

If your rabbit recently became a new mom you have probably seen her nurse her little ones from time to time. But, have you wondered, how long do rabbits nurse?

Preparing for new rabbit babies especially from a first-time mom can be really exciting, and worrying especially about the mother nursing the babies, and also whether the babies are nursed enough to fill their little bellies.

In this article we will be covering:

• How long do rabbits nurse
• How often do rabbits nurse
• And a lot more…

How Long Do Rabbits Nurse

Rabbits will nurse their babies once or twice a day, and they will nurse the babies in the nest for a period of three to four weeks.

You may never see the rabbit nursing because it only takes 10 minutes for her to have feed the babies. But if you are keen enough you might catch her nursing.

How To Tell If A Rabbit Is Nursing

Rabbits won’t lay over like cats when nursing, they will stand over their little ones and let them nurse. If you are keen enough you will probably see the new mom standing over the babies at least once a day. In some cases, she may end up stepping on her babies.

To know if the rabbit is nursing her young ones you could also check the little ones. You can pick up one little one and check if their tummies are round and their bodies are warm generally, this means that the babies are being fed.

If you notice that the babies’ bellies are wrinkled and not round then the babies are probably not being fed, talk to your veterinarian and get a solution.

How Long Do Baby Rabbits Need To Nurse

Baby rabbits will need to be nursed for about three to four weeks in the nest by their mothers. Some rabbits will stay with their babies in the nest until they are about eight weeks old.

Although the baby rabbits will start nibbling on the hay and pellets in the nest at about two weeks old, they will still need to be nursed and you cannot take them away from the mother. Especially in the case of domesticated rabbits.

Wild rabbits mothers will stop nursing their babies at about three weeks old this is because at this age the babies will have started to hop around and fend for themselves.

Although baby rabbits become independent at quite a tender age, you should not take them away from their mother unless the mother starts leaving them in their nest on their own.

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How Often Do Rabbits Nurse Their Babies

Once a rabbit has given birth, most of the time they do not feed their babies immediately they will wait till kindling is over.

The mother rabbit will feed her babies once or twice a day between midnight and five in the morning. The one feed is enough to sustain the baby rabbit for up to 24 hours since the rabbits’ milk is fully packed with rich nutrients.

Each feeding session can last up to ten minutes.

How Do Rabbits Nurse

A mother rabbit does not lay on its back to the nest as cats do. She stands over her little ones to nurse them.

So if you see your rabbit standing over her little ones, do not panic she is not harming them she is feeding them.

How To Tell If A Rabbit Is Nursing

To tell that your rabbit is nursing, check on her babies. Baby rabbits that are being adequately fed will have skin that appears to be smooth. If you pick up the babies they should feel warm when you touch them and their bellies should be bigger than their heads.

If you turn them over to their bellies, you should be able to see white milk in their bellies through the translucent skin. The babies should also be wriggly and active when you pick them up.

To also know that the babies are being fed, you could try and be on the lookout for when the rabbit is probably standing over them and then pick the babies up immediately after. If you pick them up immediately after, you may notice milk or dried milk stuck on their nose.

How To Tell A If A Rabbit Is Not Nursing

Mother rabbits will nurse once a day for only ten minutes and it might be almost impossible to catch them nursing. But, you can check on their babies to know whether they are being nursed or not.

A baby rabbit that is not being nursed will feel cold to touch when picked up and their skin will have a wrinkled-like appearance.

They will cry a lot and will not be as active due to a lack of energy. They will also have flat stomachs.

If you notice this in your baby rabbits, call your veterinarian immediately for advice on whether to take up feeding yourself with formula or any advice they could offer.

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What To Do If The Mother Rabbit Is Not Feeding Her Babies

If you notice that without doubt, the mother is not feeding her babies, you could try and encourage her to do so.

You can do this by holding the mother over the rabbits to try and get them to nurse. Ensure to stroke the mother rabbit so as to keep her calm as the babies nurse.

If the babies do not nurse even after your help, call your veterinarian and get the relevant guidance.

Do not try to feed the babies with formula or milk unless your veterinarian gives you the go-ahead to do so.

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Conclusion

Mother rabbits may not nurse their babies immediately after birth but as soon as kindling is done they will feed them. Although they will feed their babies once a day for a period of ten minutes, the feed is enough to last the babies for up to 24 hours.

Be sure to check on the babies to ensure that they are being fed. In case they are not consult your veterinarian on how to go about it.