", "I have learned how to care for my kits, they are 5 weeks old. How to take care of a baby bunny The foremost duty you should perform is to keep them warm because most of the newborn dies for cold temperature, and then check for boy injury if they have. How to feed domestic baby rabbits After 8th week and up to 7 months of life, the final stage of growth occurs in domestic baby rabbits. Place the rabbits gently inside of the nest. I just want to say a big thank you! You will find a lot of rabbit nests these days. It’s 1am and my friend just brought me a baby rabbit out of nowhere because she said that her cats were going to get to it and didn’t want it to be hurt. In fact, they may not like being held in their younger age. Check out this great info on Rabbit care from our human helper and expert Kristin. Take your bunny for an initial health checkup to make sure that all is well. The rabbit is uninjured. Ideally, you should keep the male close enough to make contact with the female through their separate enclosures. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Start your search for a rabbit today. ", noticed he had gained quite a bit of weight! Thanks. Your rabbit’s diet will not vary much while she is pregnant or weaning, but it is as important as ever to provide high-quality nutrition. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Step 2: Bunny Proof Your House. Take a look around at our rabbit care advice to find out how to keep your bunnies happy and healthy. You need to take care of them properly. You can also regularly feed them vegetables (find a list here) and occasionally fruits (find a list here). this is how many many animals end up in rescue shelters.. Basically, your rabbit will try to chew everything in reach. Supplement your rabbit’s diet with a small amount of extruded (each kibble looks the same) pellets and fresh fruit and vegetables. Their mother normally needs to lick them after feeding in order to stimulate them to pee and poop but if your rabbit is orphaned then you need to mimic this process. Your email address will not be published. Take a look around at our rabbit care advice to find out how to keep your bunnies happy and healthy. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know if your rabbit is expecting. This bunny care 101 guide will help you decide if you can take care of a pet bunny properly. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know if your rabbit is expecting. Now what? Eating hay promotes health and should be available at all times. Not everyone has the ideal conditions at home for a big cage or a space in which a rabbit can run freely, this is why you should spend some time each day to let her free and move as she desires. As soon as you see that birth has occurred, you will need to pick up each baby born. 7 babies and mom are doing well. I'm used to caring. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. We’ll find a grooming service that will know how to handle our pet. Our rabbit just gave birth to 7. Feeding quality pellets along with hay and other green leafy vegetab… But don't just pick them up. ", "It became my last-minute briefing and helping guide. ", "Thanks so much. However, results are often unsuccessful because there is no formula 100 percent adapted to newborn rabbits. Explore › guides › pets › › The majority of a rabbit's diet should be composed of grass hay (any variety), which is rich in vitamins A & D as well as calcium, protein and other nutrients. Avoid the use of alfalfa after a rabbit has reached approximately 7 months of age as it is very high in calcium and protein and more than a rabbit needs. Diet for bunny: They eat very low-cost food, but we will recommend you to provide fresh vegetable, hay, and pure water as much as possible, all day.If your bunny age is below 8 months, can feed alfalfa hay, cause it has a huge amount of protein. Delivery of a baby rabbit After the birth of kits, the mother rabbit goes away from them, so if you see her not feeding them do not worry as rabbit mothers feed their babies once at the nightfall. To care or your pregnant rabbit, it's important to take her out of her cage for a while every single day so she can get some exercise and avoid stress. Spayed or neutered Rabbits tend to be healthier, live longer, and are better companions. The first 10 days of a rabbit… Sides should be low enough so the rabbit can get in and out without difficulty. Here are a few pointers to note that will ensure that the babies are properly taken care of. To care or your pregnant rabbit, it's important to take her out of her cage for a while every single day so she can get some exercise and avoid stress. 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. My wife and I recently adopted a rabbit last month and have been trying to find a way to clean the dirt off of his fur, but he tends to make loud noises whenever we try picking him up. I have no idea what to do or how to take care of it. "Thanks to this article I have learned so much and have stopped worrying about my rabbit and her babies. Restrict the rabbit to a small area and place a litter box in the corner, preferably where the rabbit has already chosen to go to the bathroom. Rabbit Pregnancy, Birth, and Baby Care. You can supplement her diet while she is gestating and weaning the kits (babies) by giving her some alfalfa hay or cubes to provide more protein. I just had a litter of 8 loops and they're doing great. ", to 8 kits, but after 4 days, I realized two were dead. Rabbits are intelligent, affectionate and social animals that need daily interaction with humans or other Rabbits. For more tips, like how to take care of a mother rabbit after its kits are born, keep reading! For baby bunnies, it’s best to feed them alfalfa. If a … This article has been viewed 569,238 times. hays. Probably less than ten days because its eyes are still closed. Now I am confident our babies, born this morning, "I was given two rabbits a month ago, but I had no idea of how to take care of them. Part of one of its ears is missing, but the injury has healed. I know what you're thinking. The newborns are tiny and seemingly helpless. So you found out or suspect that your female rabbit (or doe) is pregnant. Learn how to take care of a pet rabbit from bunny lover Amy Sedaris and rabbit expert Mary E. Cotter, Ed.D., LVT, in these Howcast videos. I have found the, "This helped so much! I look forward to being able to get my kids their very own pet rabbits. A wild baby rabbit requires the special care of a vet or professionally trained wildlife rehabilitator. If the mother starts to attack them, then what should I do? If the mother set up the nesting box—especially if she pulled some of her fur—then she’s paying attention to her mothering instincts. You should also place the cage in a quiet, darkened space. Your job will mostly be to check the nest a few times a day. ", "Cleared up lots of common misunderstandings, like mother not nursing constantly. Rabbits eat hay, lots and lots of hay. When introducing new vegetables into the rabbit’s diet, use small quantities in the beginning to judge how the rabbit will react to them. Since owning my first rabbit I have gone on to own many more. With all of that energy bottled up inside, they will try directing it towards your furniture and home. ", So this was very helpful to me because now I know what to do with them. At that time, no one knew her sex! ", "Didn't know touching them was ok. Great news.". If the mother has more than eight kits or she abandons the litter and will not nurse them, then your vet will likely provide instructions for bottle feeding the babies. Give your rabbit pellets and fruits and vegetables as a supplement to hay. Before deciding to care for wild baby rabbits it is important that you are positive the rabbits are orphaned. Before making the commitment to a new furry friend, you should consider their lifespan and care requirements. Also, start to introduce pellet food 2 weeks after the rabbits are born so they start to wean off of milk. Luckily, we haven't got any runts, "It helped me. Check out our list of The Best Rabbit Hutches. What if a mother rabbit didn't made a nest box and already given birth what should I do? It has a puncture wound under it's right eye and on the right side near the middle. A rabbit pregnancy goes on for about 33 to 35 days in most cases and throughout this period, you will need to provide complete and proper nutrition to the doe. I found a baby Cottontail rabbit in the woods. The baby bunnies should arrive by day 32. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Baby bunnies have a diet different than adults. Ensuring that she receives proper nutrition will also help reduce the possibility of the mother cannibalizing the kits. Between day 28 and their arrival you should check her... Keep an Eye on the Nest. Until then, keep an eye out for your pet and clean up after him/her as needed. This cute, helpless baby rabbit is spooked, confused, and "homeless". She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Rabbits often reach their maturity around the age of four months old and are considered adults at this age. Support wikiHow by When is the best time to start training your baby rabbits to use the litter box? Feed the mother a quality diet. Planning to Feed the Rabbits. Female baby bunnies should wait till they are at least 6 months old before being spayed. To care for newborn rabbits, make sure they're nursing from their mother for the first 8 weeks after they're born. (1-12 for larger breeds, and 1-10 for smaller.). However, if you have rabbits that have longer hair for meat then it is important that they are brushed and maintained. Moreover, as … Baby rabbits require a lot of attention to food. If your bunnies are orphaned or the mother rabbit is sick, you will need to help the kits poop. There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Common vegetables include broccoli, bok choy, carrot tops, beet tops, cilantro, collards, Brussel sprouts, kale, cabbage, and other greens. Grooming Your Rabbit. Ask for advice regarding nutrition, health and safety. Lionhead Rabbit – Facts, Lifespan, Furry Mane, 27 Gifts For Rabbit Lovers For Any Occasion, Best Hay For Rabbits – Complete Guide To Rabbit Hay, Top 5 Reasons Rabbits Make Such a Great Family Pet, © 2021 Pet Rabbits.org | Everything you need to know about pet rabbits. There are many aspects that can lead to things going wrong with baby bunny care. Also, I did not realize mom will feed them only 2 times a day, good stuff! I'm still in the process of, "It helped me, because I just got three baby boy rabbits, and I didn't know what to do. If you have babies, you must keep them inside for their safety. Though providing care for these adorable creatures isn’t difficult, rabbits have a long lifespan—more than 10 years—and many specific care requirements. Thanks for this article. "I had known nothing til I read this article and its comments. In fact, it is illegal to take in a young wild rabbit … You may also incorporate pallets into their diet and always make fresh water available. Taking care of the baby rabbits is ultimately first and foremost to take care of the mother because she is the one who normally has to do all the work. Rabbit Care 101 Feeding. This means that she must be separated from any adult male rabbit, including some time before giving birth. Here Are The 10 Simple and Easy Ways of Looking After Rabbits 01 Safe Indoor Housing. ", "It's improved most of my business, also my friend's. rabbits require a lot of care either you have them from pregnant mothers or from a wild nest. To adopt a rabbit, check with local animal shelters, small animal rescue groups or the closest chapter of the House Rabbit Society. Lifespan of Pet Rabbits. Therefore, in the majority of cases, wild baby rabbits are unable to survive in homes. [9] :85 The best way to confirm that they are being taken care of is to weigh them on a small postage scale or kitchen scale and track their weight. Always try to revive a baby rabbit if it is 'dead' or chilled. Step 3: Provide Fresh Hay. I know, I'll raise it myself! "It helped me so much. Don’t just use a water bottle but also keep a fresh bowl of water within their reach and change it daily. If you are positive that a mother rabbit is not nursing its kits for more than 5 minutes a day you may need to force the mother rabbit to nurse. 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. ", for cats and dogs with their newborns, but not our new rabbit, who just had two babies today. Not everyone has the ideal conditions at home for a big cage or a space in which a rabbit … ", "I have come to understand why my doe killed all her litters. Thanks so much. ABOUT THE EXPERT Learn more at Bunny Proofing Your House. When it doesn't have the tight confines of a nest box, a baby bunny or kit can get separated from its littermates or the mother doe.This is dangerous for newborn bunnies since they are born blind, deaf, and hairless with less-than-paper-thin skin. So cute! It’s often recommended people wait to adopt a pet rabbit into their family until this age. In the case you adopt a baby bunny, here are three things you should know about baby bunny care. The following are a few ways you can do so: Provide Proper and Complete Nutrition to the Rabbit. ", "Professional insight, so helped a lot. They can become distressed from excessive handling and die. ", Unlock premium answers by supporting wikiHow, http://florida4h.org/projects/rabbits/MarketRabbits/Activity5_Requirements2.html, http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/surpriselitter.html, http://www.merckvetmanual.com/pethealth/exotic_pets/rabbits/breeding_and_reproduction_of_rabbits.html, http://www.hrschicago.org/caring-for-the-newborn-rabbit/, Prendersi Cura dei Coniglietti Appena Nati, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. My parents found an abandoned baby rabbit. Yes, you can take care of a wild baby rabbit at your home. Remove any that have died, and check to see if their tummies are full. With proper rabbit care and a nutritious diet, your rabbit should stay perfectly healthy but it’s still a good idea to take him in for annual checkups. Newborn bunnies can’t defecate for themselves until they open their eyes after 7-10 days. I have no idea what to do or how to take care of it. When can I separate rabbit babies from their moms? This creates a “miniature yard” for the rabbit, where it can sit, eat and do its business while the hay absorbs the smell. Your rabbits will also need at least a few hours a day of exercise outside of their hutch and run. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Be sure to place houseplants out of reach, cover up your baseboards, and proof your wires. Check for Cold Bunnies. Up to three months of age, the majority of food will be milk, alfalfa hay, occasional pellets and … A rabbit’s diet should mainly consist of hay. Should I separate the kits and mother? Step 3: Provide Fresh Hay. I don’t have a heating pad to put under it (some sites said to do so) and I also don’t have any type of food/milk for it. You can try tiny bits of one item at a time starting around two months, but remove it from the rabbit’s diet immediately if it causes intestinal problems such as diarrhea. After 8 weeks, you can handle them as much as you'd like so they get used to you. The healthiest kind of hay for rabbits … Rabbit Pregnancy, Birth, and Baby Care. ", well-written and mirrors our own experience thus far. Taking care of a baby bunny is complicated and there are a lot of things that can go wrong. It’s important to have your house rabbit-proofed before bringing the rabbit home, both for their health and the care of your house. Baby rabbits should be given alfalfa, and adult rabbits should be … ", knowing that the mother will not be with her babies day and night like a dog, and only feeds them 1 - 2 times a day! Don’t be offended by their skittishness and be cautious of their delicate size when handling them. We didn't even know she was pregnant when we got her 18 days ago! Mainly in urban areas, wild baby rabbit population is increasing. Preventive Care and Vaccinations. The average lifespan for domesticated bunnies kept strictly indoors is between 8-12 years. By day 28 make sure you give your rabbit a nest box full of hay. ", "Good information for those of us who are new to caring for bunnies. id advise against taking him/her in as a pet unless uve done a lot of research and reading about rabbits. Teeth are kept worn to a proper length by the silicate and lignin content of grass and grass. While mother rabbits take care of their kits, there are instances when human intervention is required. Once your rabbit has made their choice, place the litter box or pan there. unlocking this staff-researched answer. This article has been viewed 569,238 times. I was really worried when I saw she wasn't with them for so many hours,", will be able to survive! Don’t be afraid of handling the babies as the mother will already be accustomed to your scent. Bunnies need certain foods, like grass, special hay, and fresh vegetables, and sometimes they need to go to a veterinarian who specializes in rabbits. You should additionally avoid feeding the rabbits greens for several months due to the potential for digestive complications. Should I hand-rear baby rabbits if the mother ignores them? my bunny, I was told it was a boy, and out of nowhere today she gave birth to 5 tiny pink bunnies! Rabbits need space to run around and explore. The mother rabbit needs peace of mind. When I got. These lovable, social animals are wonderful companions for people who take the time to learn about their needs. You must know how to take care of her not just during the pregnancy but also after it. Feeding them too much milk, not making them go to the bathroom or having them sleep at the wrong temperature can result in them becoming very sick or not making it. Rabbits can grow up to weigh 20 pounds—that means they need a lot of space! You should also contact your vet if the litter is more than eight kits, as this may be too large a number for the mother to support all of them. "My female rabbit had newborns 3 days ago and this was exciting news to me because I never had this happen before. This helped me so much. A daily variety of vegetables should be a part of the rabbit’s diet. A female rabbit makes its own nest and give birth inside them and takes care of them until they are strong enough to live on their own. For more tips, like how to take care of a mother rabbit after its kits are born, keep reading! Preparing for the Arrival of the Newborn Rabbits, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2a\/Care-for-Newborn-Rabbits-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Care-for-Newborn-Rabbits-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2a\/Care-for-Newborn-Rabbits-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1139527-v4-728px-Care-for-Newborn-Rabbits-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"