What can I feed a baby bunny at home?
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 take care of a baby rabbit without a mother?
For a wild bunny, you need to get him to a wildlife rehabilitator if he is TRULY orphaned (mom was killed). Remember with wild bunnies, the mom ONLY comes back at night to call and feed him; please put him back for her if just found and healthy. With domestics, the mom only feeds once or twice a day for only 5 minutes.
How do you keep baby 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 bunnies drink water?
Baby bunnies will start to drink water at about 3-4 weeks old, and you can give them a very shallow bowl of water to drink from while they are small.
Can you keep a wild baby bunny?
In most US states, it's actually illegal to keep a wild baby rabbit as a pet. In most places, you cannot legally tame a wild rabbit unless you have a license with your state's Department of Environmental Protection. Unless you see a wild baby rabbit that's severely injured or sick, the animal must be left alone.
What do you feed a wild baby bunny without a mother?
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.
Can baby rabbits drink normal milk?
Rabbits should never be fed cow milk under any circumstances. Rabbits cannot digest cow milk and are unlikely to survive long beyond the meal. If you find yourself unexpectedly caring for a baby rabbit, use Kitten Milk Replacer. The rabbit will feel full on solids at eight weeks of age.
Is it OK to feed baby rabbits cow milk?
You cannot put cow's milk into a bottle and feed it to the baby bunny. Kitten Milk Replacement is common to feed to baby bunnies and adding Acidophilus (a probiotic) which helps with digestive health. The formula needs to be fed using a sterile oral syringe. These items can be found at a pet store and a pharmacy.
Can baby rabbits survive without their mother?
By three weeks of age, they are on their own in the wild and no longer require a mother's care. This means that young rabbits found on the ground may be completely healthy. Even though they look small, they are not orphans and do not need any human intervention.
What do you feed a wild baby bunny without a mother?
Feed the baby rabbits a mixture of goats milk formula.Most rehabilitators feed a combination of KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer) and Multi-Milk, available from rehabilitator supply stores. ... Do not warm the formula directly, but warm water in a container and float the formula container in that.More items...
How long does a baby rabbit need milk?
Weaning. A domestic rabbit feeds her babies for about 8 weeks, gradually decreasing the frequency of feedings until they lose interest. Your baby bunnies will start to nibble on pellets and solid food at about the age of two to three weeks, but this does NOT mean they are ready to be weaned.
Can baby rabbits drink cow milk?
Rabbits should never be fed cow milk under any circumstances. Rabbits cannot digest cow milk and are unlikely to survive long beyond the meal. If you find yourself unexpectedly caring for a baby rabbit, use Kitten Milk Replacer. The rabbit will feel full on solids at eight weeks of age.
What to Feed Pet Rabbits
The three core elements of a rabbit’s diet are pellets, hay, and fresh vegetables. If we were to draw a diagram of a bunny’s needs, hay would be at the base as the most critical.
Baby Rabbit Feeding Guide
Young bunnies need to eat more, as they are continually growing. Baby rabbits also use food to stay warm ahead of the first shedding of their fur. Here’s some info on when baby rabbits get fur.
Baby Rabbit Food List
Before you even bring your rabbit home, you should pull together a shopping list. Healthy food for baby rabbits is pivotal, so don’t make any best guesses after their arrival.
My Baby Rabbit Eats Too Fast
This is nothing to worry about. Even if it leads to hiccups, these will pass in a short period of time.
My Baby Rabbit is Not Feeding
If your baby rabbit is refusing to eat, it’s essential to find out why. A rabbit not eating at any age is worrying. This goes double when the bunny is young.
Alternative Food for Baby Rabbits
If your baby rabbit is refusing to eat, you’ll need to offer the formula. This is often easier said than done. Seek professional help to ensure your bunny is sufficiently nourished.
Lou Carter
I’ve loved rabbits for as long as I can remember, so it felt natural to share my passion for lagomorphs with a much wider audience. My objective is to help owners to keep their pet rabbits happy and healthy.
Expert Q&A
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Tips
Only handle a wild rabbit when you are feeding or you will put it into shock and it is potentially fatal.
About This Article
This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery.
Under what circumstances would a pet owner have to feed a baby rabbit?
A baby rabbit is normally nursed by his mother. However, there are times when this normal feeding process does not occur. As a responsible pet owner you may have to step in if the following conditions occur:
What should baby rabbits be fed?
If feeding duties fall to you, there are basically two options that you can consider, Kitten Milk Replacer or goat milk.
Is there a special way to feed a baby rabbit?
There are some rules that you should follow when feeding a baby rabbit safely and effectively.
Why is your baby rabbits diet important?
When you are substituting mother’s milk, you want to be sure that your baby rabbit is getting the nutrition that she requires. A good diet is important for two main reasons:
How soon can I give my baby rabbit water?
Your baby rabbit may start drinking water in addition to the formula, at about 3 to 4 weeks of age without suffering any ill effects on his digestive system.
When can my baby rabbit start eating solid food?
Your baby rabbits will take their first bites of solid food somewhere between 2 or 3 weeks. It will most likely be hay from their nests. Even though you may notice these furtive bites, you should still continue feeding them their formula or goat milk. A mother rabbit nurses her baby rabbits until 6 to 8 weeks.
What should I feed my baby rabbit during the weaning process?
Weaning is a very delicate process and solids should be introduced gradually. Make sure to always manage weaning carefully. Dietary changes are one of the major causes of gastric distress in pet rabbits. Here is an idea of what your baby rabbits’ first foods should be.
Which Food Should I Feed Baby Rabbits
The best food for baby bunnies is either KMR (kitten milk replacer) or goat milk. You can buy the kitten milk replacer in ordinary pet shops or at veterinarian’s hospitals. However, finding goat’s milk is not easy, and they are not present in local stores.
When Should I Feed The Baby Rabbit
As the baby bunnies are tiny, they can die when you feed them too much food. It is better to feed the rabbits only two times a day and make sure that you leave enough time in between before feeding again.
How Much Amount Of Food Should I Feed The Babies
You can decide the amount of food for feeding the babies by checking on their natural breed, age, and size. When the bunnies are born, they are too small so give them milk twice a day in small amounts. You can use the sterilized oral needle to check the quantity of the formula.
How Should I Feed Baby Rabbits
When you feed the baby rabbits, place them in a vertical or straight position as this posture reduces the risks of choking on food.
How Do I Know If I Need to Feed a Baby Rabbit?
Did you know that rabbit mothers feed their babies only once or twice per day? Or that, outside of these feeding times, they mostly leave their young completely alone?
The Right Supplies and Best Food for Baby Rabbits
When you are called upon to feed one or more baby rabbits, you’ll need to gather some special supplies to make sure that you’re feeding them in the safest and most nutritious way possible.
Step-by-Step: How to Feed a Baby Rabbit
Feeding baby rabbits takes special care and attention, so as not to overwhelm their sensitive immune and digestive systems. Follow these steps to the letter:
Final Thoughts on Feeding Baby Rabbits
When you’re called upon to feed a baby rabbit due to conditions outside of the mother’s control, it’s a big responsibility.
What to feed baby rabbits without a mother?
You can feed baby rabbits without a mother with a milk replacer. But since they need more nutrients and fats, this must be mixed with goat milk. As well as heavy cream and colostrum. Then as they grow older, start offering them cecotropes and solid food. Like pellets, alfalfa hay, and leafy greens.
Can a baby rabbit survive without milk?
A baby rabbit won’t survive without milk. At age 0 to 3 weeks old, it’ll be the sole part of their diet. So it’s their only way to get the nutrients and energy they need to live longer. And even though they’re already eating solid food at 6 to 8 weeks old, they still need milk for more nourishment.
People also ask
Baby rabbits can go without nursing for up to 3 to 4 days. But since they don’t get any food, they’ll get weaker as days pass by. And this could lead to a slow death.
