Will my Female rabbit nurse her babies at night when no one is watching??

Question

My doe had six beautiful kits. I have seen no sign of her nursing. will she do it this evening?? I just want to make sure I am ready for anything. Please help.

Thanks,

Kirsten

Answer 1

The doe should let the kits start nursing right away. If she has not started nursing them, you will have to force her to let them nurse. Hold her on her side (gently) and allow each kit to find a teat and nurse. Usually the doe will calm down and let them continue, but if this is her first litter, or she regularly rejects litters, keep a close eye on them. Speak to your vet about it, and get some kitten (feline) milk replacement and an eye dropper, just in case you have to dropper feed them. Also ask your vet about how to dropper feed, because if it isn't done properly, it can kill the kits. Don't let this panic you though! It's not hard, you just have to remember to take your time and not rush the babies :) Good luck!!!

I also know that wild rabbits don't spend any time with their kits except to nurse them. This is to prevent attracting predators to the nest. Your doe might be doing this because it's instinct.

Answer 2

Actually, you really don't want to see your rabbit nursing. Normally, rabbits will only nurse about once to maybe twice a day. Normally, they will nurse when you are not around, like at night. Rabbits normally feed at night or the very early morning. If you see the doe sitting in the nestbox a lot or nursing a lot that is a sign that something is probably wrong.

So don't worry about not seeing her nurse, it's actually a good thing to not see her nursing.

As long as the babies look fat and healthy and lively, then she is nursing them like she is supposed to. If they start looking thin, runty, or gaunted and/or their skin looks pale and loose compared to normal and you notice that they don't move very much, that is when you start worrying about how she is milking.

Answer 3

She only feeds them twice a day, and this is often at night, so it is very possible you won't see her do it. The doe also stays out of the nest most of the time, so if you don't see her in there it doesn't mean the babies are being neglected. You can make sure the babies are being fed by looking at/feeling their tummies... if they seem round and full they are being fed.

Answer 4

The mother will feed them anytime she feels needed. Rabbits have an inborn sense of time, as do horses. So, she might. I have been through this many of times, and I've seen her feed them at night.