Nearly all baby rabbits in a litter will survive birth. It is very rare for rabbits to be stillborn. However, within the first month, only 60% of rabbits in the litter will survive. After one year, the survival rate goes down to 25%.
Rabbit litters can vary in size, but on average, about half the baby rabbits will survive the first month. This number can be higher or lower depending on the mother’s health and the litter’s conditions.
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the factors that affect survival rates in baby rabbits and if there’s anything you can do to improve them.
What You'll Learn
First – How Many Rabbits Are In a Litter?
A rabbit can have between 5-12 babies in a litter, but the number of them that actually survive depends on several factors. The remainder of this article will go over statistics for wild rabbits. Remember, the numbers for domestic rabbits will be completely different. Wild rabbits face many dangers our domesticated rabbits will never have to deal with.
Baby Rabbit Survival Rates
We will break this down into three sections. Stillborn, survival rate after 1 month, and survival rate after 1 year.
Stillborn
It is very rare for rabbits to be stillborn. Most baby rabbits will survive the birth.
Survival Rate Within 1 Month
60% of baby rabbits will survive the first month.
Survival Rate Within 1 Year
25% of baby rabbits will survive their first year. This is a very low number, and it’s important to understand why.
Why Do Baby Rabbits Have Such Low Survival Rates?
There are several reasons for this, but the most common are abandonment of the litter, the size of the litter, and the mother’s age and health.
Abandonment of The Litter
One of the biggest reasons baby rabbits don’t survive is because the mother will abandon the litter. This usually happens because the mother is old, sick, or inexperienced. The mother may also abandon the litter if it’s too big or she doesn’t have enough food to feed them.
Size of The Litter
Another reason why baby rabbits have such low survival rates is because of the size of the litter. If too many baby rabbits are in the litter, they will fight for resources, and many of them will die.
Mothers Age and Health
The age and health of the mother rabbit also play a significant role in the survival of her litter. Older rabbits and those that are sick are less likely to be able to care for their young.
Mothers Experience
Another factor affecting the baby rabbits’ survival is the mother’s experience. First-time mothers are more likely to abandon their litter or not have enough milk to feed them.
Mothers’ Diet During Pregnancy
The mother’s diet during pregnancy is also very important. Rabbits need a lot of nutrients to produce milk; if the mother doesn’t have enough, the baby rabbits will be born weak and may not survive.
Some of the most important nutrients for pregnant rabbits are methionine, choline, folic acid, iron, and sulfate.
Sickness and Disease
Sickness and disease are also common causes of death in baby rabbits. Rabbits can catch diseases from their mother or from other rabbits. They can also get sick if they eat something poisonous.
Predators
Another significant threat to baby rabbits is predators. Birds, snakes, and other animals will kill and eat baby rabbits if they can find them.
Environmental Stress
Environmental stress is also a significant factor in the survival of baby rabbits. If the weather is too hot or cold, or if there is a drought, many baby rabbits will die.
How to Improve The Survival Rates
For wild rabbits, there isn’t really much that can be done to improve the survival rates. However, for domestic rabbits, a few things can be done.
Some of the things that you can do to improve the survival rates of domestic rabbits are:
Proper Diet During Pregnancy
The mother rabbit needs a proper diet during pregnancy to ensure that her litter is healthy. You should feed her a regular diet and supplement her with methionine, choline, folic acid, iron, and sulfate.
Proper Diet For Mother After Birth
It’s also essential to feed the mother rabbit a proper diet after birth. She will need lots of nutrients to produce milk, so make sure she has a good diet.
Create a Stress-Free Environment
You should also try to create a stress-free environment for the mother and her litter. This means keeping them away from loud noises, other animals, and stressful situations.
Avoid Handling The Baby Rabbits Unless Necessary
It’s also important to avoid handling baby rabbits unless it’s absolutely necessary. This can cause them to be abandoned by their mother or to become stressed.
Remove Dead Kits ASAP
If any baby rabbits die, removing them from the nest is crucial. This will help prevent the spread of disease and make the mother feel less stressed.
Many Factors Affect Survival Rates
As you can see, many factors affect the survival of baby rabbits. However, there are some things that you can do to improve the survival rates of domestic rabbits. If you provide the mother with a proper diet, create a stress-free environment, and avoid handling the baby rabbits unless necessary, you can help increase the chances that they will survive.