Here’s a quick guide to feeding your newborn bunny. Newborn bunnies should be nursed for 12 hours after birth. This will help to keep them healthy and prevent them from contracting diseases. The first meal should be a soft, damp towel lined with hay or bedding. Be sure to remove loose strings and holes from the towel – they can get wrapped around the baby rabbit’s neck or limbs.
After the eyes open, it is safe to introduce pellets and hay to the baby rabbit. Some breeds even start on vegetables or fruits. As long as the pellets are plain, high in fiber, and do not have any added goodies, you should be fine. Make sure the water dish is shallow and filled frequently. If you’re not comfortable introducing fresh foods right away, you can always refrigerate the food.
To avoid the risk of exposing your newborn to harmful bacteria, keep your hands clean whenever you handle them. Newborn bunnies have an immature immune system, so it’s important to avoid exposing them to the bacteria on your hands. Try to keep your hands smelling fresh by patting them with hay or touching the fur of the mama. Once they feel safe, they’ll be eager to eat! You can then begin to introduce solid food, such as pellets or kibble.
The caregiver should check the newborn rabbits at least twice a day. You can use a finger or a cotton ball dipped in warm water to wipe their bottoms. As the baby rabbit grows, it can start nibbling on pellets or alfalfa. It’s best to introduce solid food slowly and gradually. If possible, you can give your rabbit a syringe or bottle of liquid formula at two to three weeks of age. Just make sure not to feed the entire amount in one feeding – it can cause a serious infection.
It’s important to remember that newborn bunnies feed from their mothers lying on their backs. You can feed them from your lap, arm, or hand, or you can place them in your lap. The key is not to force them to eat, as it can cause suffocation if milk gets into their lungs. Similarly, hiccups in newborn bunnies can be easily treated by giving them the right food.
Newborn bunnies are still in need of a supplementary diet containing colostrum, which the mother would normally feed them. If the baby rabbit does not have a mother, it may benefit from the colostrum supplementation during the first few days after birth. It’s okay to feed your baby rabbit a milk replacer along with colostrum, if you’re not sure. In the meantime, if your baby bunny is refusing to urinate, mix it with the colostrum to give them the necessary nutrients they need.
When feeding newborn bunnies, always remember to feed the colostrum before formula. Colostrum contains the nutrients that mother rabbits give to their babies, making it almost perfect for feeding orphaned babies. Although your rabbit may be reluctant at first, they will adjust after a week or so. So, you should mix the two before giving your baby the first feeding. Once you’ve done this, you can gradually introduce formula.
How do you take care of a wild baby bunny without a mother?
If you do not see the mama—DON’T WORRY—they only nurse their babies a few minutes a day, then they stay away so as to not draw predators to the nest. The best thing you can do for wild babies is to leave them alone (restored to the nest) or, if injured, get them to a rabbit vet or wildlife rehabilitator.
Do newborn bunnies need milk?
Baby rabbits rely upon milk to survive, even though they feed less frequently than other small animals. If a rabbit’s mother is unavailable to feed her young, a nutritious replacement will be required. Rabbits move onto solid food relatively quickly, but will not survive without milk.D
Can baby rabbit drink whole milk?
You should not give rabbits milk to drink. Adult rabbits are lactose intolerant and milk products are bad for the rabbit’s digestive system. Baby rabbits should also not have cow’s milk because it is very different from the milk they get from their mothers.
What kind of milk can I give a baby bunny?
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.
What can I feed a wild baby rabbit?
Dandelion greens and hay (timothy and oat hay) are extremely important for wild rabbits. You can add whole oats from a feed store, and some grated carrots. The greens must be fresh, rinsed, and replaced if not eaten in a few hours.
What do you feed a baby rabbit without a mother?
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.
How do you keep newborn rabbits alive?
Keep baby rabbits in a box in a warm, quiet place away from children, household noise, domestic pets and bright lights. If you have a heating pad, turn it on LOW and place it under HALF of the box. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FEED ANY TYPE OF FORMULA TO A BABY RABBIT. You may kill the animal.
Can baby rabbits drink puppy milk?
For all rabbits, avoid ANY regular milk, puppy formulas, etc. Use KITTEN formulas like KMR. Avoid Esbilac. Feed only upright.
