When Do Baby Rabbits Open Their Eyes And What To Do If They Are Late

Baby rabbit season is one of my favorite times of the year. There is something exciting about checking nest boxes every morning and watching tiny newborn kits change almost daily.

If you are here because you are staring at a litter of baby rabbits wondering when their eyes are finally going to open, let me give you the quick answer first.

Baby rabbits open their eyes between 10 and 14 days after birth.

After raising rabbits for more than 16 years, that timeline has been remarkably consistent. Some kits start opening their eyes a little earlier and some take a little longer, but by about two weeks old, I expect to see those eyes completely open.

Let’s walk through what is normal, what I look for in developing litters, and when it might be time to take a closer look.

What To Expect Between Days 10 And 14

When baby rabbits are born, they are completely blind. If you look closely, you can see a crease where the eyelids are sealed shut, but there will be no opening at all.

24 Hour Old Baby Rabbit

At this stage, I don’t pay much attention to the eyes because there is nothing to evaluate yet. The kits are focused on nursing, staying warm, and growing.

As the litter approaches 8 days old, I start watching more closely.

5 Day Old Rabbit

This is a 5 day old baby rabbit where the slits are just starting to open. What I usually see first is a tiny slit beginning to form across the eye.

8-9 Day Old Rabbit

This little guy is REALLY close to opening his eyes, but not quite yet.

By days 10 to 12, most kits are able to open their eyes.

This is the stage where I want to see progress. The eyes do not need to be fully open yet, but I want evidence that they are starting to separate naturally. It starts in the front corner of the eye and opens more as the kits start to explore and move around.

By about 2½ weeks old, I expect the eyes to be fully open.

This little guy is 2.5 weeks old with his eyes fully open and checking things out.

At this age, the kits are usually becoming much more interested in the world around them. They are moving around the nest box more, investigating their surroundings, and becoming noticeably more active.

What If A Baby Rabbit’s Eyes Are Not Open By Day 14?

This is where experience comes in because there is a difference between a kit that is slightly behind schedule and a kit that has a problem.

I have had plenty of litters where one rabbit opens its eyes before the rest of the litter. That by itself is not something that concerns me.

What I pay attention to is whether there is any visible opening at all by about 14 days of age.

By this point, I want to see at least some progress.

If a kit’s eyes still appear completely shut, I will take a closer look to make sure there is not debris, dried discharge, or irritation preventing the eye from opening normally.

Sometimes the issue is minor and simply requires a little monitoring. Other times there may be buildup around the eyelid that needs attention. The key is not to panic.

Most of the time, a close look tells you whether the eye is simply developing a little slower or whether there is a reason it needs help.

Common Reasons Baby Rabbits’ Eyes Stay Closed

Over the years, I have noticed two situations that seem to happen more than anything else.

Some Kits Are Naturally Slower To Open Their Eyes

Not every rabbit develops at exactly the same pace. But I have never had a kit go past 14 days before the eyes are open.

Just like people, some kits seem to do everything a little earlier and some take a little longer.

But as long as I can see that progress is happening and there are no signs of infection or swelling, I generally continue watching closely rather than assuming something is wrong.

Skittish Kits Tend To Stay Curled Up Longer

This is something I have observed repeatedly over the years.

Some litters are extremely curious as soon as their eyes start opening. Others spend most of their time buried deep in the nest.

The kits that stay tucked away often seem slower to fully open their eyes because they remain tightly curled together and are less interested in exploring their surroundings. This is where you should check both eyes every day on each kit, because this will slow the development of the eyes opening.

I see this even in my French Lops, which are known for being a friendly breed.

So if your kits are still acting shy around two weeks old, don’t automatically assume you have a litter with poor temperaments. Many simply need a little more time to gain confidence and start exploring.

Cold Weather Can Slow Things Down

A few of the litters that gave me the most trouble with eye opening were born during cooler weather.

The kits wanted to stay buried in the warm nest rather than venture out and explore.

Because they remained tucked into the nest so much, I found myself needing to monitor their eyes more closely and occasionally help remove debris that was preventing them from opening normally.

That doesn’t mean cold weather causes eye problems by itself. It simply means I pay closer attention to litters that spend longer periods buried in nesting material.

When Should You Be Concerned?

The biggest thing I watch for is swelling. If the eyelid looks puffy, bulges noticeably, or appears irritated, I take that much more seriously than a kit whose eyes are simply opening slowly.

If you notice discharge, crusting, or anything that looks abnormal, it is worth checking into further. Use a warm cloth with water and clean the eye if needed.

In the vast majority of cases, the eyes open naturally somewhere between 10 and 14 days and the kits continue developing normally.

If you are raising a litter of baby rabbits for the first time, it is completely normal to worry when the eyes have not opened yet.

In my experience, most baby rabbits begin opening their eyes between 10 and 14 days old and have them fully open and walking around by around 2½ weeks of age.

The best thing you can do is observe your litter every day and learn what normal development looks like.

Once you have watched a few litters grow, you will be amazed at how quickly you can spot when things are progressing normally and when a kit may need a little extra attention. And honestly, watching those tiny eyes finally open for the first time never gets old.