How to breed rabbits in the forest? Well, many animals bear offspring, and some of them bear a lot. One of which is rabbits. It’s not hard to breed rabbits, but following the right procedures will make your work easier.

Rabbits are small mammals that belong to the Leporidae family. And rabbits come in various species. Rabbits are also considered a rodent, so just like any rodent, rabbits can bear many kits.

Female rabbits are called does while male rabbits are called bucks. When these two are mated, the process is called breeding.

When the doe gets pregnant and bears the small rabbits, these small rabbits are called litter. Baby bunnies are called kits.

Breeding rabbits in the forest is a good idea, especially when there is an extinction of wild rabbits in your area.

But remember, not all kits live to see the whole year and only live for a short period because rabbits are natural prey.

But before you jump right into the breeding procedure, there are some factors and conditions that you should check on first.

Things To Consider When Breeding Rabbits

Don’t go mixing bunnies yet because there are things you should think of first before you breed the bunnies.

You will have to prepare a few things and have some thoughts straightened first.

#1. Reason

Think of a reason why you would want to breed rabbits. Breeding rabbits come with a great responsibility that takes time and commitment.

So before breeding rabbits, think of a reason why doing so.

If you do not find a valid reason, you are advised not to proceed as leaving small bunnies abandoned is not a good idea.

#2. Rabbit breeds

Before breeding rabbits, make sure you know what type of breed you want a rabbit to breed.

Here are some examples of rabbit breeds:

American

This type of rabbit is large. They have a stocky body and weigh up to 12 pounds.

They are usually called dual-purpose rabbits as It is good for meat and fur. If you’re looking for a breed of rabbit that could serve as your meat, this type of rabbit is what’s good for you.

The American rabbit breed is considered one of the best meat breeds of rabbits.

Angora

There are a few types of angora rabbits and is one of the oldest domestic rabbit breeds, but this type of rabbit is best bred for its wool. Their wool is silky and soft that can be handspun into yarn, which is knitted to lightweight garments.

But because of their wool, this type of rabbit will need a lot of grooming for their furs to flourish well.

Flemish giant

The Flemish Giant is the largest type of rabbit breed. It could weigh up to 22 pounds and comes in many colors.

Many breeders breed this type of rabbit for their meat and fur, but nowadays, they are mainstream to make as pets because of their docile nature.

Himalayan

Himalayan Rabbits are small in size. Some people would breed this type of rabbit either for laboratory use or serve as a pet because it is cheaper to feed and raise.

#4. Choose the rabbit breed

Now that you know some rabbit breeds, it is time to choose which breed suits your needs.

Of course, you will need to know the availability and cost of the rabbit that you want, so it’s best to check the availability of the breed that you want.

#5. Proper age of breeding

Not all rabbits are ready to be bred right away. You will have to wait till the rabbits grow mature. This is usually at 6 to 7 months old.

Bucks (male rabbits) are usually ready for breeding at the age of 6 months, while does (female rabbits) are ready at the age of 7 to 8 months.

#6. Ensure proper homes

Since we are breeding in the forest, it is best to find a location where the rabbits can keep their litter. It should be away from predators and where the mother can find food.

Rabbits are dependent on their mother for about eight weeks after that you can separate baby rabbits from the mother.

Rabbits are not a maternal type of mammal, unlike humans. They tend to leave their litter away from them during the day to avoid predators from finding them.

They lure the predators away from their nest by keeping themselves away so that the predators won’t pick up their smell.

Breeding Rabbits

So how to breed rabbits in the forest? When breeding rabbits, make sure that you are breeding a healthy one. Their physical condition must be in top shape for them to bear their kits lively and healthy.

These rabbits should not be overweight or underweight because this factor affects the pregnancy and the success of breeding.

Make sure to provide the right foods that your rabbit needs.

Aggressive bunnies are bad news to breed. They can harm their mating partners instead of getting them bred. Breeding aggressive rabbits is also a bad idea and is highly avoided.

Check your nearest veterinarian for more advice on aggressive rabbits.

#1. Mating

If you already have a pair of rabbits ready to breed, you must place the buck first in a cage.

The doe’s cage may smell like her, so there might be a territorial quarrel between the two if you put the buck into the doe’s cage.

Put the dough into the buck’s cage and leave the pair for about thirty minutes. Give them enough time to mate. You can do this 2 to 3 times for a higher success rate.

#2. Pregnancy

When a doe is pregnant, you can feel the abdomen. Palpation is the best way to do it.

If she is pregnant, you will feel some grape-sized embryos inside. This is usually done 10 to 14 days after mating.

Other signs of pregnancy include pulling off their own fur and instinctively building a nest.

They may also show aggressive behavior when petted or stroked.

If you have determined that your doe is pregnant, there are two options; you can either send it into the forest and make their nest for a more natural environment or keep them sheltered until they give birth to their litter.

The pregnancy will last approximately a month, so you will have more time to decide.

The only drawback is that you won’t know if the mother is eating right when released to the wild, so it’s probably best to do the whole breeding process sheltered.

#3. Veterinary care

There can be complications during and after birth. Veterinarians are experts when it comes to animal care, so if you find any mishaps or problems during this time, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention.

If your rabbit has not given birth after 32 days, the litter may be dead so seek the veterinarians if the pregnancy didn’t go well to get the doe treated right away and avoid further complications to the mother.

Taking care of the doe after birth is also recommended, but when you breed in the forest, a few visits can’t harm.

That way, you can monitor the rabbit’s condition and their litter if they have survived.

Bring them food to eat also to have less stress for the mother doe and watch out for predators.

Conclusion

It is a choice if you would want to breed your rabbits sheltered or in the forest (wild).

You can choose a breed of your own choice depending on the availability and your requirements. Once you have chosen a breed you can proceed further.

By having read through this article, you will have the basic knowledge on how to breed rabbits in the forest or in the comforts of your home.

How To Breed Rabbits In The Forest? The Complete Guide