How Do Rabbits Mate?

Rabbits breed so prolifically for a number of reasons. As with all animal species, they have evolved and adapted so they can continue the species. Rabbits have just been particularly good at it. Their large reproductive capacity is, in part, due to the early age at which both females (does) and males (bucks) reach sexual maturity. Female rabbits do not have a heat cycle in the same way as other animals. Rather, they are able to reproduce during the majority of the year. This does not mean that a female is always receptive to a male, but it does mean that she may be able to mate during many different periods of the year.

Female rabbits also do not need to be ovulating as other mammals do. They have something known as ‘induced ovulation’. This means that an egg is released for fertilization during the act of mating, triggered by the mounting of the male. This can happen year round, stopping when the rabbit becomes pregnant.

Another reason rabbits can breed so much is that they are able to become pregnant almost immediately after they give birth. This isn't recommended, however. It will put a lot of strain on the rabbit and can affect the rearing of their litter. In fact, you shouldn't have male rabbits around females after they get pregnant and especially after they give birth. There is also some anecdotal evidence to support a rabbit having the ability to be pregnant with two litters at the same time, but it is rare if so. Keeping males and females separate is the most reliable way to prevent an unintended mating, as even brief contact can be enough.

Bucks do not have a heat cycle, but are sexually active throughout the year. When they want to mate, they develop certain behaviors such as marking with urine, mounting of objects, restlessness, biting, destruction and general aggression. Female rabbits can present similar behavioral issues.

Considering how much rabbits breed, it is important to bear in mind their litters have a high mortality rate. Not all litters will come to term and rabbits will eat miscarried young. Not all copulations will end in fertilization. One of the reasons for high mortality rates is that rabbits are very sensitive to stress in both the wild and domestic environments. Providing a quiet, secure space and minimizing sudden changes can help reduce stress, although it cannot prevent every problem during pregnancy or birth.

Rabbits are sexually precocious animals, meaning they reach sexual maturity relatively early. This occurs between 4 and 6 months of age. The length of time it takes to reach sexual maturity depends on their breed and sex. Male rabbits will reach maturity a little later than females and some breeds take longer than others. Since maturity can arrive sooner than expected, it is best not to assume that a young rabbit is too small or young to reproduce.

Both male and female domestic rabbits have a life expectancy of around 8 to 10 years. Size may have some bearing, as dwarf rabbits are thought to generally live a little longer. Both males and females can reproduce throughout their entire lifespan, although older females may find it more difficult and it can put a heavy strain on their health.

In captivity, sterilization is recommended for both male and female rabbits. You can separate males and females, but the quickness with which they can mate means you have to be very careful when they are around each other. However, sterilization has other benefits for the rabbits. Rabbits have a high rate of uterine tumors. As spaying removes the uterus, it prevents uterine tumors from developing.

Hormones dictate a rabbit's need to mate, but they can also lead to aggression and other behavioral problems. Sterilization reduces these nuisance behaviors. An unsterilized rabbit can cause stress, confrontations with other rabbits and generally affect their quality of life. If you do not sterilize a rabbit, you will have to find suitable places to rear the kits (baby rabbits). Your veterinarian can discuss the safest timing for the procedure based on the rabbit's age and health, and explain how to care for them during recovery.

When should you sterilize a rabbit?

When you adopt a rabbit, you will need to take them to the veterinarian for a general health examination. They can look out for any signs of illness or infestation. Not all veterinarians will be specialized in rabbit care, so you should make sure they have the right experience to perform the sterilization procedure. Male rabbits should be sterilized as soon as their testicles descend. Female rabbits should generally be sterilized after about 6 months. Following the veterinarian's advice is important, since the appropriate time can depend on the individual rabbit.

As we state above, rabbits don't have a heat cycle in the same way as other domestic mammals such as cats or dogs. Since they are sexually active throughout the year, their behavioral problems related to sexual activity manifest regularly. These signs can have other causes too, so a change in behavior is not by itself proof that a rabbit is ready to mate.

The symptoms of both male and female rabbits in heat are very similar. They include:

• Aggression
• Marking with urine
• Nervousness
• Excessive biting of their hutch
• Destruction of objects

Females may also have a discoloration of their vulva, but it is important to note they should not be bleeding. Due to induced ovulation, the rabbit does not have an estrus cycle where the eggs descend and are eliminated by the body. If you see your rabbit has blood on their genitals, then this is a sign of a health problem and you should take them to the vet for diagnosis.

Although there are differences between rabbit breeds in terms of sexual development, the mating process is essentially the same for all rabbit species. Courtship and mating will differ between wild and domestic rabbits, the latter being controlled by human guardians. However, the general rabbit mating ritual is as follows:

• As soon as the male registers the female, he will initiate his approach.
• The male may smell the female, especially in the anogenital area. The female may do the same.
• After smelling, they may stay still or move around in a circle.
• The male runs around the female until he is able to mark her. This involves passing over her chin and sometimes urinating on her a little.
• If the female rabbit is receptive, she will lie down to encourage mounting.
• If the female is not receptive she may run away or even display aggression.
• The rabbit will mount her for a few seconds with quick rhythmic pelvic movements.
• To hold on during mating, the male will grip the female's flanks with his front legs and bite her neck.
• At the end, he will ejaculate, emit a noise and drop to the side of the female.
• If the rabbits are left together it is likely they will repeat the mating. A single mating can result in pregnancy, so repeated mating is not necessary for conception.

Male rabbits can mate many times in the same day. One study looked at the amount of copulations male rabbits had over an 8 hour period^[1]. The males were in groups and the findings saw that they had between 5 and 40 copulations over this period. They were unable to determine how often ejaculation took place. However, it was registered in a different study that rabbits could perform 6 ejaculations in a 30 minute period. The first ejaculation took place 19 seconds after the doe was presented to them. This implies that rabbits are not only fast, but that males have the potential to impregnate many females during a very short period. These observations help explain why keeping an unsterilized male and female together can lead to an unexpected litter so quickly.

Now we know how rabbits mate with each other, we can let you know a little more about rabbit pregnancies. The gestation period of a rabbit litter lasts about 30-32 days. At the end of this time, the rabbit will give birth to a litter of around 1 to 5 kits. There are cases where more have been born (the record being 24!), but this is the average amount. Because pregnancy can be difficult to spot at first, a veterinarian can help confirm it and advise you on caring for the doe.

When the doe is ready to give birth, she will look for a secure nest. Once the kits are born, they will be fed with breast milk for about a month, although baby rabbits will usually start to eat solids around 18 days. The nest should be kept in a quiet, safe place, and the kits should be checked gently to make sure they are warm and being cared for. As with any new life, this time is precious and very important for the well-being of the rabbits. Only after about 8 weeks of age should you take the babies away from their mother.

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