Rabbit digs holes and refills them

by Gulmehak Singh
(Sangrur, Punjab, India)

I have a doe and a buck, I wanna know if shez pregnant. Shez digging holes, deep holes in our park and then fills it again after some time. I don't know their breed - they are white coloured and red eyed. We set them free in the morning and put them in the cage by night. She does this all in the mean time. My servant looks after them. It would be kind of you to tell me if she is pregnant and whether she will kindle in the night time only. Thnx


***** Karen Sez *****
Okay, I'm putting on my bunny-brains....
I'm pregnant, and I'm outside in the park, so I dig a burrow to prepare for my litter. But then the two-legged person puts me into the cage at night, so I am afraid to reuse my burrow the next day...

Not at all sure if I understand correctly. But, if the doe is pregnant, are you keeping records as to her due date (31 days after breeding)? The doe will need a burrow or a nest box by day 28. If you aren't sure, it is probably time for you or your servant to provide a consistent living space for the doe, whether in the cage or in the park. Perhaps you could sink a cage into the soil by around 30-50 cm, so she could do some digging, but still be protected? If so, be sure that the cage is not open-ended underneath, or the doe would be able to dig her way out of the cage.

Yes, rabbits tend to kindle at night most of the time.

Just so you know, the does do the digging. Digging is instinctual, and while I'd certainly suspect pregnancy when seeing compulsive digging, it is not necessarily proof. Given the fact that the doe and the buck are released together during the day, I'd guess 99% chance yes, pregnant.

Also, just so you know, once the babies come, the buck will re-breed the doe immediately, if they are given access to each other. So, going forward, you may wish to carefully plan how you allow the buck and the doe to interact, allowing access only when you want another litter.

According to http://www.indg.in/agriculture/on-and-off-farm-enterprises/agri-onnoff-rabbit, a red-eyed white rabbit, especially if weighing around 9-12 pounds (4-5.45 kg), is probably a "White Giant." My guess is this would be a cross between New Zealand White and a Flemish Giant. The site also mentions the New Zealand White rabbit, but lists its weight (in India) at between 3-4 kg (6.5 - 8.8 pounds).

Hope this helps, Gulmehak, and God bless you.

Comments for Rabbit digs holes and refills them

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Aug 30, 2022
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starstarstarstarstar 		Mother covering babies with soil in a hole
by: Anonymous

I have 2 free range rabbits that roam my garden by day and at night I secure them in a cage. Around 4 weeks ago I saw my doe collecting materials to make a nest in a compost area we have, I broke down the compost area to look for the nest but didn’t find it.

Over the past 4 weeks I have on occasions seen the doe uncover a hole in the area and cover the hole back up - today she uncovered the hole and 4 babies popped up following her to suckle! I am suspecting the babies are around 4 weeks old, they have all gone back down the hole and the mother has covered the entrance back up. 💕

Rabbits are so smart 💕 Does anyone know when the mother will allow the babies to roam and stop covering the in the hole?
Nov 11, 2018
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starstarstarstarstar 		Rabbits and the elements
by: Anonymous

Rabbits of both sexes dig the holes because that is their natural thing to do. They do this not only as a natural habit but also for birth/fantasy pregnancy (you will see the female pulling out her fur to line the nest). They are protecting themselves from the elements. I barely see my six free range rabbits when the Australian temperature rises over 23C. They are flaked out in the shade under a tree or in their holes. 🐰🐇
May 23, 2018
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starstarstarstarstar 		Dwarf rabbit
by: Anonymous

She dug a huge hole in dirt and put a lot of nesting in it it was large enough you couldn't see her when she went in. 20 minutes later I went out to check and she covered the hole up really well. Why is this can someone give me a answer?
May 09, 2017
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starstarstarstarstar 		Digs a hole, fills it in
by: Freckles

We have 3 sterilized female rabbits, a Rex mix, and one sterilized male Rex. We rescued Freckles, (the mama rabbit). 31 days later she had 6 babies, each one a different color... Just adorable. They have a bunny kennel 4 feet wide, 8 feet high and 16 feet long. They are happy bunnies. The babies are now 2 years old. We have no idea how old Freckles is. But since they are all fixed, they are great "buds." They have the run of a secure backyard during the day and night. two weeks ago they started digging a very long and deep hole in the backyard. Today they filled it all in. It looked like it had been raked... Flat, smooth, level. We also put 1/2 inch thick tree branches we had trimmed into the back yard recently. They have made it into a briar patch type of nest... Just adorable. They can hide in it and we can't even see them, then we look out in a half hour or so... And there they are, romping around. Anyway, I just wanted to share our bunny bungalow with all of you.
Jul 04, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Re-filling hole
by: Anonymous

My old rabbit had dug a hole all morning then filled it in. I was very confused but then when the day came that she was due to give birth she reopened her hole and gave birth. They don't entirely refill the hole they only do it partly, most likely to hide the hole from any predators that could steal the ready-made burrow or come to snatch her kits while she's away. Filling in the hole is completely normal behavior. I assume it's instinct as they are prey animals. :)
Apr 16, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Rabbit refilling hole
by: Anonymous

We have exactly the same thing in our garden! A rabbit has spent days digging a very long tunnel but yesterday we looked and it is filled in and, like the previous comment, you would never know there had been a tunnel there. We would love to know why this is?
Mar 26, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Rabbit re-filled hole after digging
by: Anonymous

Yesterday we filmed a wild rabbit digging a hole just outside our kitchen window - she spent all morning and the hole was big enough for her to disappear completely - in between digging she cleaned herself and ate an apple that we had thrown over for her.

Today she completely filled the hole in and covered it over so carefully that you would never know that there had been a hole there!

Is this normal behaviour?? Would love to hear if anyone else has seen this..Patc (Mid Wales)
Sep 23, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		Breed
by: Luke F

I agree with Karen, but nobody said the breed. From what you said they sound like an albino rabbit. They have red or pink eyes and are totally white.
Jan 05, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		Digging Doe
by: Carlyn3676

One idea for the doe you may want to consider is to create a sub-ground pen. This can be made like this: dig a hole about three feet wide by six feet long and three to four foot deep. Line it with rabbit wire fencing on sides and bottom; fill it in to about three quarters full, layer in the remaining space with straw-hay then make a Top about six inches wider all the way around than the hole; on one end of the lid make a door with hinges and a six inch diameter hole in the panel for the doe to crawl into it and she can dig all she wants to and she will be safe and secure, plus you will still have access to her.

***** Karen Sez *****
Yes, sounds good. It also sounds large.

When built this way, please consider the lay of the land and drainage patterns. In a heavy rain, these subterranean burrows can completely fill with water - disastrous for little bunnies.

If there's any way to follow these directions by carving into a gentle rise in the terrain, that would be really good.

Lastly, our ebook, Ideal DIY Rabbit Cages, includes a plan for a burrow that is above ground, but packed all around with an artificial berm. This would work well for a digging doe in a hot climate. See https://www.raising-rabbits.com/world-of-raising-rabbits.html

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