How to tell if a rabbit is pregnant
Gently feel her belly while she sits upright. From about 10 days after breeding the kits are the size of a blueberry; before that they are hard to feel. Near the end she pulls fur from her belly and dewlap to line her nest.
How to check
1.
Wait at least 10 days after breeding: a litter is hard to feel before that.
2.
Hold her upright and gently feel her belly for kits about the size of a blueberry.
Signs later on
•
She starts to build a nest.
•
Shortly before she kindles, she pulls fur from her belly and dewlap to fill the nest box.
What to do
1.
Put the nest box in by day 28 after breeding. Without one she may give birth on the wire floor, which can kill the kits.
2.
Expect the kits 28 to 35 days after breeding, 31 on average.
3.
After the birth, leave the kits alone for a few days except for one first check: a stressed doe may crush or abandon them.
False pregnancy
•
A doe can have a false pregnancy. It lasts around 17 days and is generally harmless.
Her due date
Questions
When can you feel baby rabbits in the belly?
From about 10 days after breeding, when the kits are about the size of a blueberry. Before that a litter is hard to feel.
How long is a rabbit pregnant?
About 31 days, usually 28 to 35.
When do I put in the nest box?
By day 28 after breeding.
Can a rabbit have a false pregnancy?
Yes. A false pregnancy lasts around 17 days and is generally harmless.
Sources
Last checked September 30, 2026. A common guide — your vet’s plan wins.
More answers
Remembers every animal’s due date and reminds you before each job — the pregnancy check, the pen, the watch. Coming to the App Store this winter.