Rabbit Mating Habits

Rabbits are prolific breeders and have been known to produce large quantities of offspring in short periods of time. Because of this, there are significant problems with overpopulation of both domestic and wild rabbits around the world. For this reason it is important that we familiarize ourselves with the rabbit's mating habits in order to gain a better understanding of how, when, and how often a rabbit reproduces.

Rabbit mating season begins during the warm seasons to allow wild newborn baby bunnies to have the best chance to survive. During the spring and summer seasons, the increase in the amount of light available triggers a release of hormones in rabbits that begins to alter a rabbit's behavior. Male rabbits will begin to act more frantically and aggressively as the hormones trigger their sex drives. They will compete with other male rabbits for the attentions of female rabbits. Dominant rabbits are more successful at this competition and usually manage to mate with more females.

When a male rabbit has successfully seduced a female rabbit, the female will position herself flat on the ground and lift up her tail. The mail will mount her and bite down hard on her back. The mating lasts about twenty seconds after which the male will release the female from his bite grip and likely emerge with a mouthful of fur.

Once impregnated, the gestation period for female rabbits lasts about one month. Then she will give birth to anywhere from three to eight blind, hairless bunnies. The female rabbit is capable of giving birth several times in one year.

Remember, if you are planning to breed your domesticated rabbit, there is already an overabundance of rabbits in the United States and by creating more rabbits, you may be lessening the likelihood that other rabbits can find a home to live in.