Has My Rabbit Abandoned Her Kits? How to Tell

When my rabbit Eowyn, a mini-rex, gave birth to her first litter of kits, she seemed nervous and unsure of herself. The day after she gave birth, I found one of the kits dead, bruised, and clearly underfed. I immediately seized the other three. Two died on the way to the vet's office; the other died in the veterinarian's hands. As the doctor sadly informed me, my rabbit had abandoned, and then killed, her entire litter. I was devastated-- but relieved when, the next go-around, Eowyn raised a healthy litter of seven kits.

It isn't uncommon for a rabbit to abandon or kill her kits, especially her first time around. But it is far more common for rabbit guardians to erroneously assume that the mothers have abandoned their young. Before you start attempting to rescue baby bunnies from an apparently neglectful mother, take these critical steps to ensure that your assessment is correct.

1. Look for signs of injury. If one or more of your baby bunnies shows bite-marks, scratches, bruises or other noticeable injuries, it's likely that the mother has intentionally or negligently hurt them. In this case, get all of the kits-- not just those who are visibly injured-- to a vet promptly before she kills all of her young. (Be sure to wrap them warmly in a towel; young kits are prone to hypothermia.) If you notice only minor scratches, carefully monitor the kits for additional signs of injury before taking them from their mother.

2. Observe the rabbit's nesting behavior. If your doe didn't build a nest at all, it's almost certainly a sign that she will abandon her kits-- if she hasn't already. Eowyn built an inadequate nest before her first litter, which she abandoned. Although she did pull out her fur and distribute it in the area where she gave birth, the nest wasn't deep enough, wide enough or covered enough to accommodate the kits. When kindling is inadequate-- or when a rabbit fails to kindle at all-- it is a sign that she doesn't know what she is doing. A rabbit who does not build a nest at all will almost always abandon or injure her young. A well-built, well-tended nest is a sign that she is interested in her kits and dedicated to their care.

3. Check for well-fed bellies. Rabbits only feed their kits once or twice per day, so it's likely that you'll rarely or never see your doe nursing her offspring. Rabbits do not lie with their kits the way that mother dogs and cats will lie with their young. Instead, they stand over the kits for just a few moments, allowing each to drink a small amount of very concentrated milk. You can tell if a rabbit is feeding her young by picking up the kits and carefully examining their stomachs. If they have puffy, rather than sunken, bellies, they are getting enough milk.

4. Keep her calm. This step is especially important if you are dealing with your rabbit's first litter. Your doe is most likely to panic if she senses a problem-- for example, if you are continuously picking up the kits or otherwise disturbing the nest. While it is acceptable to examine the kits daily, you should use caution so as not to disturb the already-nervous mother. Of course, always keep adult male rabbits away from the kits. Some will tolerate their own young, but others will brutally kill their offspring or cause the female to kill them.

5. Get professional help. If you have any questions about the health or safety of the rabbit kits in your care, do not hesitate to contact a rabbit-experienced veterinarian for help and support. In the event that your rabbit has abandoned her kits, prompt intervention can save the litter. And, as Eowyn's story shows, one lost litter does not spell the end of your doe's potential as a parent. By providing proper care for your doe, you maximize her chances of success in later pregnancies.