How Does a Rabbit Reproduce?
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Rabbits Breed Rapidly
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Rabbits are known for reproducing, or breeding, frequently and for multiplying rapidly. There are many reasons for this. They do not have a heat period once a year as many animals do. Rather, rabbits can breed during any month of the year. Also, rabbits gestate for only 28 to 31 days, allowing them to have litters as much as five or six times a year. In addition, those litters are usually large, with up to seven baby rabbits per litter. Finally, rabbits can start breeding at a very young age; as young as five months old. Female rabbits release eggs during copulation and can conceive almost immediately after giving birth to a litter.
Mating
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The mating behavior of rabbits is quick and repetitive. The male rabbit will sniff the female and hop around her. Once she lies on her stomach, the male rabbit will mount her. A few quick thrusts later, he will ejaculate, emit a squeal and fall to one side of her. The rabbits will rest, only to repeat the process several more times. Twelve or so hours later, the female will release her eggs and they will be inseminated. It is difficult to tell if a female rabbit is pregnant or not. Oftentimes, pet rabbits need to be taken to the vet to have a sonogram in order to determine a pregnancy.
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Newborn Rabbits
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Baby rabbits, called kittens, are born almost completely helpless. Naked and blind, they are cared for by an inattentive mother who will probably only nurse them one time per day and a completely absent father. Luckily for the newborn rabbits, their mother's milk is extremely rich, allowing the babies to thrive on that one nursing a day.
Rabbits grow quickly, and are able to be weaned one short month after they were born.
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