Teach your kids the 7 stages of the rabbit life cycle, from newborn kits to old age. Includes a free printable diagram, labeling worksheet, and cut-and-paste activity.
Last spring, my kids and I volunteered at a local bunny rescue, and nothing could have prepared us for walking through that front door. There were 256 rabbits living in one house. They were in the bedrooms, the bathrooms, the kitchen, literally every single room. We spent over 5 hours cleaning out litter boxes, wiping floors, vacuuming poop, and refilling hay. It was a LOT of work.
But my kids? They were in heaven. They couldn’t stop picking up and snuggling the rabbits, especially the tiny baby bunnies. My daughter held one that was only a few weeks old and couldn’t believe how small it was. “Was it really born without any fur?” she asked. That one question turned into a full conversation about how rabbits are born, how fast they grow, and why there were SO many of them in that house. (Short answer: rabbits reproduce very quickly.)
That’s what makes the rabbit life cycle such a great unit study. It’s full of facts that surprise kids. And once they’ve held a real baby bunny, they want to know everything.
Below, I’ll walk through all 7 stages of the rabbit life cycle, from gestation to old age. I also made a free printable rabbit life cycle diagram and worksheets for kids to label the stages, cut and paste, and color. Grab those at the bottom of the post.
Rabbit Life Cycle Quick Facts
- Number of stages: 7 – gestation, newborn, adolescent, teenage, young adult, middle age, old age
- Gestation period: 31-33 days
- Litter size: Average of 5 kits (baby rabbits)
- Eyes open: Around 7-10 days old
- Weaned from mother: 3-5 weeks
- Sexual maturity: 3-6 months (varies by breed)
- Lifespan: 1 year in the wild, 8-12 years in captivity
Life Cycle of a Rabbit
The rabbit growth stages are as follows: gestation, newborn, adolescent, teenage, young adult, middle age, and old age.
Gestation Stage
After mating, gestation in rabbits lasts between 31 to 33 days. However, this may be longer for rabbits with a smaller litter (as the babies have more time to grow).
Usually, the fetuses can be felt in the abdomen around 12 days after mating.
Newborn Stage
Here’s a fun fact to share with your kids: baby rabbits are called kittens or kits, not bunnies. My daughter thought I was joking when I told her that. After all, it’s the Easter bunny, not the Easter kitten.
Newborn bunnies are usually born in litters of five on average. Depending on the bunny’s breed, these kittens may weigh between 1-1.5 oz and 3.5-4 oz (for larger breeds).
Infancy is the most difficult stage, with a high mortality rate, because kittens cannot regulate their body heat for the first 7 days (they are hairless). Furthermore, its growth is dependent on milk.
Kittens are most vulnerable at this stage, as a mother can eat her kittens if she is frightened or panics after giving birth.
Unfortunately, in larger litters, feeding can also be a struggle. In such a small space, it’s survival of the fittest, and it can be harder for the weakest kittens to get the milk they need.
This is because, at this point in their lives, they cannot see or hear. Luckily, they will usually develop these senses in the next few weeks. Kittens usually begin to open their eyes at around 7 days. Their ears will usually open at around day 12.
The soft bunny fur that we all know and love will begin growing as soon as they are born, with enough fur to keep them warm at around the ninth day.
Kittens rely on their mother’s milk for sustenance until they are weaned at around 3 to 5 weeks.
Adolescent Stage
Once a bunny reaches around 3 to 6 months, their sexual organs will develop and mature. At this point, the rabbits are fully independent of the mother – they have all their senses and no longer rely on milk.
Small female rabbits can start having babies of their own as early as 3-4 months old, which is one reason rabbit populations grow so quickly. Medium to large breeds will be able to reproduce at 4 to 4.5 months. Giant rabbit breeds, coming in last, reach reproductive age at around 6 months.
At this stage, female rabbits may become very aggressive and territorial. Intense curiosity and excessive chewing are common at this age. Male rabbits will also begin to court females by spraying urine.
Teenage Stage
The teenage years in rabbits typically begin from the point that they reach adolescence up until their first year. Rabbits will be fully mature at this point. However, they may seem a little moody. This moodiness will manifest itself most specifically in:
- aggression (biting, scratching, etc.)
- potty accidents
- laid back ears
- teeth grinding
- grunting
- spraying urine
Young Adult Stage
The young adult stage lasts from 1 to 3 years in rabbits. At this point, they will stop growing almost completely and any hormonal moodiness will go away (for the most part). Young adult rabbits will spend a great deal of time running around and exploring your house.
Middle Age Stage
This stage lasts from 3 to 7 years. As a rabbit enters this stage, they may become less active and more affectionate. They may begin to prefer being around humans rather than exploring the house.
Old Age Stage
Once a rabbit reaches 7 years old, it is considered old. At this point in their lives, their health may dwindle, and they may begin to have trouble cleaning themselves. Unfortunately, it is fairly common for rabbits of this age to experience sight problems.
Luckily, there are some benefits to caring for a bunny that is at this age. Senior rabbits are much calmer and are typically more affectionate towards humans. While in their younger years, they may have preferred to run around, now, they choose to snuggle soundly on their owner’s lap.
4 Stages of the Rabbit Life Cycle (Simplified)
The 7 stages above give you the full picture, but if your kids are younger (preschool through early elementary), a simplified 4-stage model is easier to understand and matches most life cycle worksheets:
- Newborn (Kit): Born hairless, blind, and deaf. Completely dependent on mom for warmth and milk. This stage lasts about 3-4 weeks.
- Young Rabbit: Fur has grown in, eyes and ears are open, and the kit is starting to eat solid food and explore outside the nest. This stage lasts from about 1 month to 3-4 months.
- Adult Rabbit: Fully grown, independent, and able to have babies of its own. Rabbits can live as adults for many years.
- Parent (Reproduction): The adult rabbit mates and gives birth to kits, and the cycle starts again.
The free printable worksheets at the bottom of this post use this simplified 4-stage model, which is perfect for preschool through 2nd grade.
How Is the Rabbit Life Cycle Different from Other Life Cycles?
If your kids are studying life cycles as a unit, rabbits make a great comparison to other animals they might already know about:
Rabbits vs. butterflies: Butterflies go through metamorphosis – they completely transform from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. Rabbits don’t transform. Baby rabbits look like tiny versions of adult rabbits (once their fur grows in). This is called “direct development.”
Rabbits vs. frogs: Like butterflies, frogs go through metamorphosis (tadpole to frog). Rabbits skip that dramatic transformation stage entirely.
Rabbits vs. plants: Plants go through stages too – seed, sprout, seedling, adult plant. If your kids have done a bean-in-a-bag experiment, they’ve already seen a plant life cycle in action. The key difference is that plants don’t care for their young, whereas a rabbit mother actively feeds and protects her babies.
Rabbits vs. chickens: Both hatch helpless babies, but chicks can walk and find food within hours of hatching. Rabbit kits are born much more helpless (blind, deaf, and hairless) and depend on their mother for weeks.
This kind of comparison helps kids understand that “life cycle” doesn’t mean the same stages for every living thing. It’s a great discussion starter.
5 Rabbit Life Cycle Activities for Kids
Once your kids have learned the stages, try these activities to make it stick:
1. Life cycle sequencing cards: Print the free worksheet from this post, cut out the 4 stages, and have your kids put them in order. For an extra challenge, shuffle them and see if they can sequence from memory.
2. Cotton ball bunny craft: Use our cotton ball bunny craft to make a fluffy rabbit, then talk about which life stage it represents. (Hint: it’s definitely not a newborn — newborn kits don’t have fur yet!)
3. Draw-your-own life cycle diagram: Give your kids a blank circle divided into 4 sections. Have them draw each stage and label it. This works especially well for kids who retain information better when they create it themselves.
4. Bunny observation journal: If you have a pet rabbit or can visit one at a petting farm, have your kids observe and sketch the rabbit. How old do they think it is based on what they’ve learned? What stage of the life cycle is it in?
5. Compare two life cycles: Pick another animal your kids have studied — butterflies are a popular one — and make a side-by-side comparison chart. How are the life cycles similar? How are they different? Which animal changes more dramatically as it grows?
If your kids are into life cycles right now, I put together a Life Cycle Coloring Pages Bundle that covers multiple animals, not just rabbits. It’s a nice way to extend the unit study without having to hunt down separate printables for each animal. Grab it in the shop if you want the full set.
FAQ
How long do rabbits live?
The rabbit life cycle ranges from 6 to 10 years for domestic rabbits, though some breeds can live up to 12 years. Wild rabbits typically live only about 1 year because they face predators and harsher conditions.
What are the 4 stages of the rabbit life cycle?
The simplified 4 stages are: newborn (kit), young rabbit, adult rabbit, and parent (reproduction). This model works well for younger kids. A more detailed breakdown includes 7 stages: gestation, newborn, adolescent, teenage, young adult, middle age, and old age.
What is a baby rabbit called?
Baby rabbits are called kittens or kits. The word “bunny” was originally a term of endearment for a young girl, and over time it came to be associated with cute baby rabbits.
How many babies do rabbits have?
Rabbits typically have litters of about 5 kits, though litter size can range from 1 to 14 depending on the breed. A female rabbit (called a doe) can have 3 to 4 litters per year, which is why rabbit populations can grow very quickly.
When do baby rabbits open their eyes?
Newborn rabbits are born with their eyes closed. They begin to open their eyes at around 7-10 days old, and their ears open at about 12 days. Before this, they rely entirely on their mother.
Are rabbits born with fur?
No, newborn rabbits are born completely hairless. Their fur starts growing immediately after birth, and they usually have enough fur to keep themselves warm by about 9 days old.
What Does Mating Look Like in Rabbits?
A doe and buck may circle each other to capture attention. The two may also play as one jumps, and the other lies underneath. They may chase each other playfully.
Other courtship rituals include grooming each other, nipping at each other’s ears, and mounting each other. They may also feed a short distance apart as they start to bond. One rabbit may also mirror the other’s action as they draw closer.
How to Tell How Old a Baby Rabbit Is
Here are a few tips for determining how old a baby rabbit is:
- If your kitten can see and hear, it is at least 12 days old.
- If your kitten is starting to stray further from the nest, playing with other kittens, and nibbling the doe’s food, it is about 3 to 4 weeks old. This is when baby rabbits begin to seek more independence.
- If the mother has just weaned the kitten, it is around 3 to 4 weeks old.
Of course, this is only a general estimate, as it may vary by rabbit breed. If you are unsure, it is best to take your bunny to a vet specializing in small animals. They will be able to give you a more accurate estimate by looking at its eyes and fur.
Free Printable Rabbit Life Cycle Diagram and Worksheets
I made these worksheets to go along with this post. They’re designed for preschool through early elementary and include:
- A rabbit life cycle diagram with all 4 stages illustrated
- A cut-and-paste activity where kids sequence the stages in order
- A writing worksheet where kids describe each stage in their own words
- A parts of a rabbit labeling page (answer key included)
- A blank parts of a rabbit page for kids to label on their own
That’s 5 pages total – just pop in your email below, and the PDF will land in your inbox in seconds. Print as many copies as you need.
Free for personal and classroom use. Please send friends and fellow teachers to this page for their own copy.
More Spring and Easter Activities
If you’re building a spring unit study, these go well with the rabbit life cycle:
- Try the cotton ball bunny craft. It pairs perfectly with the life cycle lesson
- Grab our free bunny rabbit templates for coloring, stencils, and spring crafts
- Make a jumping bunny cup that actually hops
- Download our Easter egg templates for coloring and decorating
- Grow beans in a bag to study the plant life cycle alongside the rabbit life cycle
Have a spring science idea your kids loved? Tag me @mombrite on Instagram – I love seeing what your families make!
I wanted to know what bunnies eat snd hie they stay warm in winter. Do they hibernate ? Or just stay in burrows.
Rabbits don’t hibernate in the winter. They dig holes or find warm places. They eat more wood-based food such as tree bark and twigs to survive the winter.