A mother rabbit should be fed hay, fresh vegetables, and pellets after she gives birth. Do not limit the amount of food she eats. The mother rabbit needs to produce enough energy to feed her babies, so it’s important to let her eat as much as she needs.
You just welcomed a new litter of baby rabbits into your home, and they are doing great! But you aren’t quite sure what to feed momma rabbit. You know she needs the proper nutrition to produce milk for her babies, but you aren’t sure what foods will do the trick.
There are a lot of different opinions on what kind of diet is best for a lactating rabbit, but the most important thing is to make sure she has enough to eat.
A good rule of thumb is to offer her unlimited hay, fresh vegetables, and pellets. It’s very similar to a regular diet, but she will be eating quite a bit more.
What You'll Learn
The Importance of a Good Diet After Birth
When a mother rabbit gives birth, the importance of a healthy, nutritious diet cannot be overstated.
There are two main reasons the diet is so crucial after birth:
- The Diet Helps Heal Her Body
- The Diet Helps Her Produce Milk For Her Babies
The birthing process is hard on a rabbit’s body, and she will need plenty of good food to help her recover. A nutritious diet will also help her produce more milk.
Because of these two factors, paying close attention to what you feed your rabbit after she gives birth is critical.
What to Feed Your Rabbit After She Gave Birth
So what kind of foods should you be feeding your lactating rabbit? It’s not much different than a regular diet! The difference is in what you’ll leave out (various treats and snacks) and the quantity of each food (momma will be eating a lot more).
Hay
Hay is essential after the momma rabbit gives birth because it provides many of the nutrients she needs to produce milk. It also helps with her digestion and can keep her regular during this critical time.
Fresh Veggies
Fresh vegetables are also crucial for a mother rabbit’s diet. They provide essential vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber. Be sure to offer a variety of vegetables to ensure she’s getting all the nutrients she needs.
Pellets
Pellets are a concentrated source of nutrition and are an important part of a mother rabbit’s diet. They provide her with the calories she needs to produce milk and the protein and fiber she needs to stay healthy.
What Foods Should She Avoid?
There are some foods you should avoid feeding your mother rabbit, as they can be harmful to her and her babies. These include processed foods, high sugar foods, and treats that lack nutrients.
Processed Foods
Processed foods are not good for a mother rabbit. Right now, the mother rabbit needs food that will help her body repair all the damage that was done through birth, and processed foods may slow down the healing process.
High Sugar Foods
Foods high in sugar will not help with milk production and can actually be harmful to the mother rabbit. The high sugar content can lead to diarrhea, dehydrating the mother rabbit and making it difficult for her to care for her babies.
Treats that Lack Nutrients
It’s important to avoid giving treats that lack nutrients, as the mother rabbit needs all the nutrition she can get to produce milk and heal her body. These treats will not help her in any way, and may even be harmful.
Should Mother Rabbit Be Taking Any Supplements?
There are a variety of supplements that are marketed to mother rabbits, but the truth is that most healthy rabbits will not need them. A diet of hay, fresh vegetables, and pellets should provide all the nutrients she needs.
The only time you may need to supplement her diet is if she is not eating enough or if she is not producing enough milk. If you are concerned about her diet, talk to your vet about whether or not supplements are right for her.
How Much Should You Feed Her?
A mother rabbit will eat more than usual after birth, so it’s important to not limit her food. She will eat as much as she needs to produce milk and heal her body.
What If She Isn’t Eating?
There are a variety of reasons why a mother rabbit may not be eating after giving birth, including:
She May Be Exhausted From Birth
The birthing process is taxing on a rabbit’s body, and she may need some time to recover.
She Is Still In Pain
As you would imagine, giving birth is painful. When rabbits are in pain, they don’t have much of an appetite. Same is true with humans! Think back to the last time you were in pain, did you feel like eating?
She Is Busy Caring For Her Babies
The mother rabbit may not have much time to eat as she will be busy caring for her babies.
Call The Vet After 24 Hours
If the mother rabbit has not eaten in 24 hours, give the vet a call. This doesn’t mean something is wrong, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Feeding Schedule
It’s best to leave food out for the mother rabbit at all times, so she can eat when she wants. This way, she won’t have to worry about finding food when she’s hungry.
Don’t Forget About Water!
It’s important to make sure the mother rabbit has access to fresh water at all times. She will need to drink more than usual to stay hydrated, especially if she’s eating a lot of hay.
Don’t Neglect The Diet
A mother rabbit needs a diet of hay, fresh vegetables, and pellets to stay healthy. Supplements are not generally required but may be necessary if she’s not eating enough or producing enough milk. It’s important to provide her with plenty of food and water, and to avoid processed foods, high sugar foods and treats that lack nutrients.
