Quick answer: Rabbits are pregnant for about 31 to 33 days. Enter the mating date in this rabbit gestation calculator to get the expected kindling date. Put the nest box in on day 28 or 29, and call a vet if no kits have arrived by about day 32.
How long are rabbits pregnant?
The rabbit gestation period, from mating to kindling, lasts about 31 to 33 days. That is one of the shortest pregnancies of any common pet or farm animal. Mother rabbits, called does, often carry a little longer when they have four or fewer kits.
Like cats, rabbits release eggs only after mating. So the mating date is a good starting point, and the due date window is narrow.
Rabbit gestation and kindling date table
Find the day she was bred to see when the kits are due:
| Bred on | Kits due | Normal window |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Feb 1 | Feb 1 – Feb 3 |
| Jan 15 | Feb 15 | Feb 15 – Feb 17 |
| Feb 1 | Mar 4 | Mar 4 – Mar 6 |
| Feb 15 | Mar 18 | Mar 18 – Mar 20 |
| Mar 1 | Apr 1 | Apr 1 – Apr 3 |
| Mar 15 | Apr 15 | Apr 15 – Apr 17 |
| Apr 1 | May 2 | May 2 – May 4 |
| Apr 15 | May 16 | May 16 – May 18 |
| May 1 | Jun 1 | Jun 1 – Jun 3 |
| May 15 | Jun 15 | Jun 15 – Jun 17 |
| Jun 1 | Jul 2 | Jul 2 – Jul 4 |
| Jun 15 | Jul 16 | Jul 16 – Jul 18 |
| Jul 1 | Aug 1 | Aug 1 – Aug 3 |
| Jul 15 | Aug 15 | Aug 15 – Aug 17 |
| Aug 1 | Sep 1 | Sep 1 – Sep 3 |
| Aug 15 | Sep 15 | Sep 15 – Sep 17 |
| Sep 1 | Oct 2 | Oct 2 – Oct 4 |
| Sep 15 | Oct 16 | Oct 16 – Oct 18 |
| Oct 1 | Nov 1 | Nov 1 – Nov 3 |
| Oct 15 | Nov 15 | Nov 15 – Nov 17 |
| Nov 1 | Dec 2 | Dec 2 – Dec 4 |
| Nov 15 | Dec 16 | Dec 16 – Dec 18 |
| Dec 1 | Jan 1 | Jan 1 – Jan 3 |
| Dec 15 | Jan 15 | Jan 15 – Jan 17 |
How can you tell if a rabbit is pregnant?
A vet can often feel the developing kits by gently pressing her belly about 12 days after mating. At home, signs are subtle until the last week: she may eat more, gain a little weight and become less keen on handling.
Near the end, the clearest sign is nest building. A guinea pig carries more than twice as long, and its pups are born with fur. A day or so before kindling, she carries hay and pulls fur from her chest and belly to line the nest.
When should you add the nest box?
On day 28 or 29 after mating. A box added much earlier tends to get used as a toilet, which leaves the nest dirty when the kits arrive.
What if your rabbit has not given birth yet?
If there are no kits by about day 32, call your vet. A vet may give a drug to start labor. Without help, a doe that goes much past day 34 can deliver kits that have died.
Caring for the doe and her kits
- Do not worry if she seems to ignore them. A doe nurses only once or twice a day, for less than three minutes each time.
- Keep the nest warm. Kits cannot control their own body temperature until about day 7.
- Watch them grow. Fur starts to show within a few days, and eyes open by about day 10.
- Weaning usually happens at around four to six weeks.
How soon can a rabbit get pregnant again?
Very quickly. A doe can conceive within 24 hours of giving birth. Most breeders wait until 35 to 42 days after a litter before breeding her again, to let her recover. Keep bucks away from her if you do not want another litter right away.
These figures come from the vet manual guide to rabbit breeding. For other animals, see our dog pregnancy guide or compare every species in the gestation chart.
Frequently asked questions
Can a rabbit be pregnant for 35 days?
It is unusual. Most kindle by day 33. If she reaches day 32 with no kits, call your vet rather than waiting.
At what age can a rabbit get pregnant?
Small breeds can breed from about 3.5 to 4 months, medium and large breeds from about 4 to 4.5 months, and giant breeds from about 6 to 9 months.
How many times a year can a rabbit have babies?
In theory many times, because she can conceive again a day after kindling. For her health, most breeders allow a rest of five to six weeks between litters.
Can rabbits have a false pregnancy?
Yes, it is common. A doe may build a nest and pull fur without being pregnant. If no kits arrive by about day 32 after mating, ask your vet to check her.
How can I tell how old a baby bunny is?
Newborn kits are pink and hairless. Fur appears within a few days, and the eyes open by about day 10.
When do baby rabbits leave their mother?
Kits are usually weaned at around four to six weeks old. Until then, they rely on the doe’s milk, even though she feeds them only briefly.