When momma has her babies,,, keep her boyfriend away or she gets pregnant again & her body shuts down milk production...
That phrase 'multiply like rabbits'----- uh,,, yea like every 28 days!
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That phrase 'multiply like rabbits'----- uh,,, yea like every 28 days!
Notes to consider:
WHAT TO FEED THE BABIES. Baby rabbits should be fed Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) or goat milk, which you can buy at pet stores, or sometimes even a local veterinarian's office. Because rabbit milk is the most caloric of all mammals, we add in one tablespoon of 100% heavy whipping cream (no sugar) to each can of KMR.
Timothy hay is mentioned many times as good,, im guessing they sell that at pet/animal feed store ( look for a tractor supply store,, they get farm kids as customer raising rabbits for 4H
Fresh Foods
When can a baby rabbit have fresh foods?
If you read some old books you might find it suggested that rabbits are not given any fresh foods until they are 6 months old. This is an over simplified approach that came about because people would buy young rabbits, often at an age when they should still be with their mum, take them home and feed them things like carrot or lettuce, and then find that they become ill with digestive problems. Telling people not to give any fresh foods was easy to remember and helped bypass these issues.
However, providing you follow a few simple rules, it's fine to introduce fresh foods to young rabbits.
If a rabbit's mother was fed fresh foods whilst she was raising the litter, your baby will have been nibbling those too and it's fine to continue providing these same foods. The key is to ask what your rabbit is used to and continue that - consistency.
If your rabbit has not access to fresh foods before, then allow them to settle in before introducing new foods so you aren't making lots of changes at an already stressful time. Twelve weeks or two weeks after you've got your bunny, whichever is later, is a good guide. If your rabbit has had any digestive issues then hold off a little longer.
Introducing fresh foods
New fresh foods need to be introduced slowly so your rabbit's gut bacteria can adapt to processing the new food. It's a good idea to introduce one type of food at a time, then if your rabbit is sensitive to one type it's easy to identify and avoid in future.
If you find your rabbit's droppings change from their normal solid round pellets, this is a sign that you may be going too fast or that particular food doesn't agree with them. Stopping the fresh foods for a few days should return them to normal.
What fresh foods for a baby rabbit?
Leafy greens, except lettuce, are best for rabbits for example dandelion leaves, carrot tops, kale, spinach, spring greens, raspberry/blackberry leaves and herbs such as parsley and basil. For young rabbits first introduction to greens it's best to avoid fruits, though these can be introduced as treats later.
Start with small pieces e.g. 2" square as a test as build up the amount and variety gradually.
Problems
Keep an eye on your rabbit's droppings, changes in these are generally the first sign that you've gone a little fast with introducing new foods. The most common problem is excess cecotropes - the type of dropping that rabbits usually eat. They are soft and can end up stick the fur or squidged on the floor. They are usually resolved by cutting out fresh foods and reducing dry food for a couple of days so your rabbit eats plenty of hay.
If your rabbit stops producing droppings, refuses food or has watery droppings seek immediate veterinary advice. Young rabbits are very fragile and can become very sick in a matter of hours.
Transitioning to an Adult Diet
Rabbit's grow most rapidly in the first three months of life. At four months you should begin reducing pellets, and if you are feeding a higher protein pellets changing over to adult pellets. If you've fed alfalfa, it's also time to start decreasing this in favour of grass hay. Your rabbit should be on an adult ration by 6-7 months old. Giant breed rabbits mature more slowly and do more growing than small ones so you may want to delay by a month for breeds like Giants and French Lops. Rabbit's will continue to growing at a much slower rate for a few more months, filling out rather than getting larger.
WHAT TO FEED THE BABIES. Baby rabbits should be fed Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) or goat milk, which you can buy at pet stores, or sometimes even a local veterinarian's office. Because rabbit milk is the most caloric of all mammals, we add in one tablespoon of 100% heavy whipping cream (no sugar) to each can of KMR.
Timothy hay is mentioned many times as good,, im guessing they sell that at pet/animal feed store ( look for a tractor supply store,, they get farm kids as customer raising rabbits for 4H
Fresh Foods
When can a baby rabbit have fresh foods?
If you read some old books you might find it suggested that rabbits are not given any fresh foods until they are 6 months old. This is an over simplified approach that came about because people would buy young rabbits, often at an age when they should still be with their mum, take them home and feed them things like carrot or lettuce, and then find that they become ill with digestive problems. Telling people not to give any fresh foods was easy to remember and helped bypass these issues.
However, providing you follow a few simple rules, it's fine to introduce fresh foods to young rabbits.
If a rabbit's mother was fed fresh foods whilst she was raising the litter, your baby will have been nibbling those too and it's fine to continue providing these same foods. The key is to ask what your rabbit is used to and continue that - consistency.
If your rabbit has not access to fresh foods before, then allow them to settle in before introducing new foods so you aren't making lots of changes at an already stressful time. Twelve weeks or two weeks after you've got your bunny, whichever is later, is a good guide. If your rabbit has had any digestive issues then hold off a little longer.
Introducing fresh foods
New fresh foods need to be introduced slowly so your rabbit's gut bacteria can adapt to processing the new food. It's a good idea to introduce one type of food at a time, then if your rabbit is sensitive to one type it's easy to identify and avoid in future.
If you find your rabbit's droppings change from their normal solid round pellets, this is a sign that you may be going too fast or that particular food doesn't agree with them. Stopping the fresh foods for a few days should return them to normal.
What fresh foods for a baby rabbit?
Leafy greens, except lettuce, are best for rabbits for example dandelion leaves, carrot tops, kale, spinach, spring greens, raspberry/blackberry leaves and herbs such as parsley and basil. For young rabbits first introduction to greens it's best to avoid fruits, though these can be introduced as treats later.
Start with small pieces e.g. 2" square as a test as build up the amount and variety gradually.
Problems
Keep an eye on your rabbit's droppings, changes in these are generally the first sign that you've gone a little fast with introducing new foods. The most common problem is excess cecotropes - the type of dropping that rabbits usually eat. They are soft and can end up stick the fur or squidged on the floor. They are usually resolved by cutting out fresh foods and reducing dry food for a couple of days so your rabbit eats plenty of hay.
If your rabbit stops producing droppings, refuses food or has watery droppings seek immediate veterinary advice. Young rabbits are very fragile and can become very sick in a matter of hours.
Transitioning to an Adult Diet
Rabbit's grow most rapidly in the first three months of life. At four months you should begin reducing pellets, and if you are feeding a higher protein pellets changing over to adult pellets. If you've fed alfalfa, it's also time to start decreasing this in favour of grass hay. Your rabbit should be on an adult ration by 6-7 months old. Giant breed rabbits mature more slowly and do more growing than small ones so you may want to delay by a month for breeds like Giants and French Lops. Rabbit's will continue to growing at a much slower rate for a few more months, filling out rather than getting larger.
Noted, just tossing that out there, ps the posters noted not to trust the neutering for 30 days- idk
Good morning Chatter's
Condolences Ricky. Personally I wouldn't separate Fluffy, he's been great with the babies and Stevie.
Condolences Ricky. Personally I wouldn't separate Fluffy, he's been great with the babies and Stevie.
No she has been eating like this since they were born . She is making milk. She and fluffy would hand her stuff to eat. I’m thinking perhaps just supervise them eating treats then place some leafy greens just in there for them to munch on along with lots of hay which won’t harm baby’s sensitive digestive system.
Thanks for all the information everyone I’m gonna phone the vet I take my bunnies to and see what she says since there is so much contradicting information online about baby bunnies and when/what they should eat.
Um... is Bunny Mommy (sorry, I am so bad with their names) neutered yet? That could shut down milk production I guess.
I might just give the vet a judicious phone call. My vet takes phone calls all the time and it is al lot cheaper.
Regardless of what happens with the bunny babies @Ricky Vapes , you are doing and awesome thing. I hope some of the babies survive, but even so, the rest of the bunnies are awesome. Chin up, keep up the good work
Anna
I might just give the vet a judicious phone call. My vet takes phone calls all the time and it is al lot cheaper.
Regardless of what happens with the bunny babies @Ricky Vapes , you are doing and awesome thing. I hope some of the babies survive, but even so, the rest of the bunnies are awesome. Chin up, keep up the good work
Anna
Stevie is not spayed. She’s just relaxing all full here
He's so cute and look at those baby ears! I love baby bunny ears. Don't know why but they just look so incredibly cute when they're tiny like that.
But this made me so happy! I really hope someone comes along and takes Archie home. What a trooper
I think Letitia is right about not separating them and I think talking to that vet is an awesome idea.
Fluffy junior seems a lot more developed than the other Little Stevie lookalike. It’s eyes are wide open it is quick and just seems more mature. Amazing what a couple extra days can do for a baby rabbit.
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