Do Baby Rabbits Have A Coat?
As soon as the rabbit offspring is born, you will probably automatically ask yourself one question: Which coat color will the cute munchkins get later on?
In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about a rabbit’s baby coat.
We clarify among other things:
Do rabbits have a baby coat at all?
Can the coat color change?
Is it bad if the baby fur falls out?
Curious?
Then let’s get started right away!
Do rabbits have baby fur?
At birth, rabbits are completely naked.
Freshly born baby rabbits are just the size of a hand and weigh around 50 grams. In addition, they are blind, deaf, almost unable to move and therefore very helpless – all in all, at first glance, a newborn rabbit does not have much in common with the adult specimens of its species.
But don’t worry – this will change quickly!
Already after about a week the fur of the little baby rabbits starts to grow visibly.
This fur is fully recognizable as such at about 12 days.
But is this fur the real fur or a baby fur that your baby rabbits have transitionally?
The first coat that rabbits grow is not their final coat.
Yes, rabbits thus have a baby coat!
This baby fur is noticeably fluffier than the fur of an adult animal and appears a bit cottony. However, not only is the consistency of the coat different in baby rabbits, but the color can change after the baby coat is lost!
By the way, when baby rabbits start to shed and get their final coat varies from rabbit to rabbit: while some start shedding as early as 3 months of age, others don’t until they are about 12 months old.
This is what baby rabbits look like after birth
Baby rabbits are completely naked after birth – we have already gone that far.
But by looking at the skin color, you can already guess whether your rabbit’s fur will be solid or bi-colored!
In monochromatic rabbits, the skin is usually completely pink.
Rabbits whose fur will probably be bicolored in the future, or even have more colors, usually have a blotchy skin. The pink base color of the skin here is complemented by larger and smaller gray to black spots.
It is also possible that rabbits, which will later have particularly dark fur, already have a completely gray skin tone at birth.
By the way, at about 8 weeks of age, a rabbit is old enough to be separated from its mother. At this age, the animal is already mobile and can eat and drink independently. Mobility is also well advanced at this age.
Can I touch the baby rabbits?
Yes, you can touch the baby rabbits right after they are born.
However, you should only do this if it is absolutely necessary. Make sure that the babies’ mommy is relaxed when you take care of them.
It is important that you weigh the little baby rabbits regularly to find out if they are all getting enough milk from their mother and gaining weight day by day.
However, be content to watch the babies grow up and observe their development with a little distance from the outside.
Even the watching itself can be very exciting and fulfilling for you, there is no need for you to always have your fingers in the pie.
Especially when your rabbit changes its coat color, this is very exciting to watch.
But how is this change possible at all?
You will find out now!
Why can rabbits change coat color?
First of all, we need to clarify right at the beginning that a rabbit is not a chameleon that can really change color completely.
A white rabbit does not suddenly turn black, and a tri-color rabbit does not turn solid.
However, a light gray rabbit can become darker over time, a white rabbit can get cream colored fur, etc.
But how does this color change occur?
Our domestic rabbits carry many different color genes. Which of these genes is particularly prominent, can therefore not necessarily be recognized in the mother or father animal.
It can also happen that two black rabbits produce a colorful mix of colors in their offspring.
In addition, there are many animals – including rabbits – the so-called color changers, whose coat color is different in summer than in winter.
Especially often it can be observed that the winter coat of the animals is lighter than the summer coat. Nature has deliberately arranged this circumstance, because in winter the animals are much better camouflaged in the snow.
So you see that genetics plays a big role in how the color progression of your baby rabbits’ fur will develop.
However, you can be sure that the basic color will be fixed at one year of age.
Slight changes in color shades are possible at any age, but serious differences will only be observed in the color changers from this age on.
This is the process of coat growth in baby rabbits
The fur of the babies starts to grow from birth.
From the age of about 3 days you can already see the first light baby fluff.
This fluff will become thicker and thicker over the next few days until it covers the body completely or at least to a large extent at about 7 days of age.
With 12 days the fur is so far developed that it can already warm the rabbits a little. From this time on, the animals are no longer quite so sensitive to the cold.
It is also now possible to guess in which color direction the fur will develop.
The coat continues to grow until the animal is about 4 months old.
At the age of 4 to 6 months your baby rabbit wears a kind of “transitional coat” which consists of both top coat and undercoat. The undercoat will now become denser bit by bit, so that the rabbit will have a fully developed coat by the age of one year at the latest.
Your rabbit may start to look a little ruffled at about 5 months of age – this is when the baby coat becomes the adult coat.
Therefore, even if the animal looks a little strange during this time, it does not mean that it is sick.
What could be the reason if your baby rabbit loses a lot of fur?
Let’s take a closer look at this issue.
Help! My baby rabbit loses fur!
The fur of a baby rabbit should grow steadily on average – the bigger the shock when you notice that your rabbit is losing fur sooner!
The following causes can lead to fur loss in baby rabbits:
- excessive cleanliness
Hygiene is right and important, but you should never overdo it.
If your rabbit is bored or under stress, excessive grooming may result, causing the animal to lose fur.
- parasites
Even cute baby rabbits are not safe from parasites. Therefore, check your pet regularly for fleas or ear mites.
- infections
Both bacterial and fungal infections can cause hair loss. - autoimmune disease
If you suspect an autoimmune disease, you should immediately consult a veterinarian.
My name is Mark and the senior editor
I take great pride in being the best possible author and giving you the knowledge that i have on all different types of animals!
I have spent a lifetime learning about pets and animals, and have worked in the pet and vet industry for over 20 years now!
The website will draw have authors who are vets, pet owners, and local pet breeders. All who will contribute their fantastic knowledge which in turn will be able to help you i hope.
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