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what to feed young rabbits

by Emmalee Waters Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Dry Food

Brand Fibre Protein Ingredients Cost
Supreme Science Selective Junior Rabbit 19% 17% Alfalfa, wheat, soybean hulls... £3.13 for 1.5kg (£2.09 / kg)
Burgess Excel - Junior and Dwarf 17% 16% Grass, Oat Bran, Wheat... £8.50 for 2kg (£4.25 per kg)
Allen & Page Breeder Grower 18% 15% Grass meal wheatfeed, oat feed, nutritio ... £16 for 20kg (80p/kg)
Oxbow Essentials/Bunny Basics - Young Ra ... 22-25% 15% Alfalfa Meal, Soybean Hulls, Wheat Middl ... £11.55 for 2.25kg (£5.13 per kg)
May 2 2022

Young rabbits, under approximately 7-8 months old, should be fed alfalfa pellets and alfalfa hay free-choice; they need the extra protein and calcium as they grow. They, too, can have a variety of vegetables.

Full Answer

How much food should I Feed my Rabbit?

Most veterinarians recommend feeding your rabbit at a rate of 1/8 cup to 1/4 Cup per day for every 5 pounds of body-weight. Make sure that the pellets you feed are of excellent quality and Timothy based like these Oxbow pellets. Rabbits need vegetables daily to maintain their health and happiness.

What to feed baby rabbits without a mother?

What to Feed Baby Rabbits Without a Mother?

  • Water. Water is essential for humans and animals alike. ...
  • Replacement Milk Formulas. Baby bunnies rely on their mother’s milk. ...
  • Goat Milk. Goat milk is a good replacement for formulas in case you’ve run out of powder milk or if you prefer that your bunny has a more natural diet.
  • Homemade Replacement for Rabbit Milk. ...

Where to get your new rabbit?

While you're visiting, look for these basics:

  • The rabbits should appear happy and healthy.
  • The breeder's home and the rabbits' area should be clean, well-maintained and well-lit.
  • The breeder should have a strong relationship with a local veterinarian and should provide records and references about his rabbits' care.
  • The breeder should be able to explain common genetic problems.

More items...

How do you raise rabbits for meat?

What You’ll Learn in this Guide:

  • Choosing Meat Rabbit Breeds. Not all rabbits are created equal. ...
  • Building the Shelter. Rabbits require a hutch for shelter. ...
  • Feeding Your Rabbits. ...
  • Rabbit Waterers. ...
  • The Basic No-no’s to Keeping Meat Rabbits. ...
  • Basic Health Needs Of Rabbits. ...
  • Proper Bedding for Rabbits. ...
  • The Mating Process. ...
  • Signs of Birth. ...
  • Mama Bunny’s Behavior After Giving Birth. ...

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What should I feed my 8 week old rabbit?

What quantities of food should I feed babies and “teenagers”?Birth to 3 weeks–mother's milk (tips for orphan feeding)3 to 4 weeks–mother's milk, nibbles of alfalfa and pellets.4 to 7 weeks–mother's milk, access to alfalfa and pellets.7 weeks to 7 months–unlimited pellets, unlimited hay (plus see 12 weeks below)More items...

What can I feed a 3 week old rabbit?

When the bunnies are 2-3 weeks old, you can start to introduce rolled oats, and at 30 days, you can start them on commercial pellets. It is important to slowly switch rabbits to oats and pellets or you can cause enterotoxemia, a type of intestinal infection with a high mortality rate.

What vegetables can baby rabbits eat?

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.

When can baby rabbits eat vegetables?

about three monthsBy about three months you can begin to introduce a wide range of vegetables. If you introduce them one by one, you'll be able to tell which ones are digested more easily and which ones aren't . You should feed your rabbit three different kinds of fresh vegetables a day.

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.

What do 4 week old baby rabbits eat?

By the time they reach 4 weeks, baby rabbits eat pellets and hay. Feed alfalfa hay to a baby rabbit. The protein and calcium found within will help them grow strong muscles and bones. Also mix in some standard hay, though.

Can baby bunnies eat bananas?

Do not feed bananas (or any fruit or vegetable) to rabbits under 3 months old. Add leafy vegetables before fruits to a growing rabbit's diet. Add fruits gradually to your rabbit's diet and do not introduce bananas with another fruit, such as pumpkin flesh. Offer moderation as bananas are rich in sugar and starch.

Can a baby rabbit eat carrots?

Can Baby Rabbits Eat Carrots? You can feed carrots to your baby rabbit once they are over three months old. Always introduce new foods slowly, so their gut bacteria can adapt to them. Sudden dietary changes can cause sickness or diarrhea resulting in a visit to the vet.

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.

When should I introduce fruit to my rabbit?

about 12 weeks oldPreferably wait until your rabbit is about 12 weeks old before you start introducing any fruits or vegetables, as too much too quickly can cause problems; it's a lot for a small bunny's tummy to cope with and leads to diarrhoea.

At what age can bunnies eat fruit?

After a few days their poo should harden again to small little round balls. There are a lot of online sources and breeders that are extremely against feeding rabbits under 6 months old any kind of fruits or veggies and to each their own.

When can baby bunnies eat grass?

four weeks oldBaby rabbits can go on grass as soon as four weeks old.

How to feed a baby bunny?

But don’t forget, start with baby steps. At the beginning, the little bunny will start nibbling on them so feed him just a few straws and pellets.

How long does it take for rabbits to eat vegetables?

After 12 weeks, you can start feeding vegetables. From 12 weeks on you can introduce vegetables, one at a time. Gut bacteria needs time to adapt. Check the rabbit’s droppings and if you find them changing stop feeding him that vegetable.

How long can a baby rabbit have milk?

Until 3 weeks: only milk. Until 3 weeks old, feed your baby rabbit only with his mother’s milk or other replacement milk (the most caloric milk from the pet store). There are more things to consider when you have such a little bunny, therefore, you better contact your vet.

Do rabbits eat the same food as adults?

Young rabbits eat, you guessed it, almost the same kinds of food as adult rabbits do . However, there are a few dietary needs to consider. Their bodies are growing and their fragile and developing digestive system is a bit sensitive to big changes: environment, food, or even attachment.

Do bunnies like smooth changes?

Bunnies can have quite affectionate personalities. Don’t forget that rabbits prefer smooth changes, therefore, offer him this “luxury”. Dedicate him a lot of time and warmth, particularly during this growing period. Everything will work just fine for your growing buddy. Tags what do baby bunnies eat what do baby rabbits eat what do you feed ...

What is the best diet for a young rabbit?

Ideal diet for young rabbits. The diet of young rabbits and adults is very similar. Hay is the most important component and this is supplemented with dry food (pellets) and fresh foods. There are a few extra considerations for young rabbits though.

What are some good foods for rabbits?

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.

How long do baby rabbits eat?

Baby rabbits' diet. Like all mammals rabbit's initial diet is their mother's milk, which they'll continue to drink until 6-8 weeks old. They first start nibbling on solids (usually hay from around the nest) between 2-3 weeks and by 3-4 they'll be eating the same foods as their mum (plus milk). As rabbits are weaning between 6-8 weeks their ...

What to feed a rabbit to help it digest?

Grass hay (e.g. meadow or timothy) is the one food you should introduce from the start, even if your rabbit isn't already eating it. This is the gentlest food on the gut and will provide the fibre needed for the digestive process to function.

What to do when you get a rabbit?

When you get a rabbit you should ask exactly what food your baby has been eating and make sure you get a supply of the same brand food to start you off. In most cases it will do less harm to continue temporarily with a bad diet e.g. low quality pellets or mix, rather than make a sudden change to a 'good' diet.

How long do rabbits stay with their mother?

As rabbits are weaning between 6-8 weeks their digestive system is adjusting from milk to adult solids, which is a particularly sensitive time and why rabbits should stay with their mother for a minimum of 8 weeks. If your rabbit is younger than 8 weeks: one, never get a rabbit from that source again they shouldn't be selling them, and two, ...

How long does it take for a rabbit to change food?

Changes to dry food brands or varieties need to be done gradually over 7-10 days, by gradually reducing the amount of old food and increasing the new. If you have enough of the old food, it's a good idea to allow your rabbit to settle in before making a change, even if the old food isn't great quality.

How to feed a baby rabbit?

You need to follow some simple steps to feed the baby rabbit: You need to take the baby rabbit at your hand but make sure you don’t turn them with their belly up. Just provide them the stance of a rabbit mother so that they can suck the syringe. Take the tip of the syringe near the baby rabbit’s mouth.

What do baby rabbits need?

Baby rabbits require a lot of attention to food. For wild rabbits, people face many difficulties. What to feed them becomes an important question. well, the wild rabbit needs to have constant access to hay, water, and green foods.

How to get milk out of a baby rabbit?

But do not enter the syringe inside the baby rabbits’ mouth. You will need to push the syringe when you need to pull out some milk. But make sure the milk doesn’t squirt out. You need to place it near the litter so that it can sense of smell the milk.

How old should a rabbit be to eat hay?

You should provide the young rabbit fresh hay on a regular basis. When a young rabbit is just 3 weeks old, it can feed on hay. If your rabbit’s age is less than 7 months, you can provide them alfalfa hay. You need to provide hay in order to keep the litter healthy.

Why is my bunny not having a mother?

Well, there may be a lot of reason for the rabbit to not have a mother. The mother rabbit may have died, or have run off in the wild. You are now adopting the baby bunny. At first, you may face confusion in how you should feed the bunny. We have a solution.

When to give alfalfa hay to a litter?

In the week 3 and 4, you can administer alfalfa hay along with the milk formula. When the litter reaches the age of week 5-7, you need to reduce the amount of formula milk and start introducing it to solid food such as hay, vegetable, and fruits. When the litter is 8 weeks old, completely reduce formula milk.

Why do rabbits need pellets?

Pellets play a crucial role in providing nutrients to the young rabbit. They ensure proper weight gain. Proper food pellets must be high in fiber, and nutritional balance is also crucial. But overfeeding is not good.

What is the best food for a baby bunny?

Their diet needs to reflect this fact. Ensuring that your baby rabbit is sufficiently nourished will mean healthy bones and muscle mass into adulthood. Hay and water are essential foods.

What do bunnies eat?

Rabbits love sweet tastes, so they enjoy berries, raisins, parsnips, and carrots. Their bodies are not designed to process carbs, though. A rabbit can enjoy a tablespoon of fresh fruit and vegetables for every 2 lbs. of their body weight. Again, an overweight rabbit should not receive any fruit and veg for a while.

How old do baby rabbits have to be to eat hay?

The diet of baby rabbits adjusts steadily as they grow. They’ll start eating solid hay at around 2 weeks of age. This will be supplemented by milk from their mother, though. By the time they reach 4 weeks, baby rabbits eat pellets and hay. Feed alfalfa hay to a baby rabbit.

What to do before bringing a baby bunny home?

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. You’ll need to buy hay in advance. Prioritize alfalfa hay, but get some traditional meadow hay too.

What to do if your baby bunny refuses to eat?

This is often easier said than done. Seek professional help to ensure your bunny is sufficiently nourished.

How old should a baby bunny be to eat vegetables?

When bringing home a baby rabbit, learn what fresh food their mother enjoyed. Once the bunny reached 4 weeks of age, they would have nibbled on these vegetables too. Their stomachs will be able to cope with them in small doses. Fresh vegetables will also help a young rabbit manage the size of their teeth.

Why is hay important for bunnies?

This is because a rabbit’s digestive tract is engineered to process the fiber found in grass. There are several different types of hay available, each with slightly different qualities.

What to feed baby bunnies?

These include dandelion leaves, carrot tops, kale, spinach, spring greens, raspberry/blackberry leaves, and herbs. You could even treat your baby bunny to a little meshed salad of all of the above.

What is the gentlest food for bunnies?

Because this is the gentlest food on the gut and will provide the fiber needed for the digestive process to function properly and consistently. There’s something called alfalfa, it’s also a fantastic option for developing bunnies. It looks like chopped up hay but is made from lucerne rather than grass.

How much protein does a baby bunny need?

It’s a known bunny fact that baby rabbits have higher protein requirements to support their growth, so whilst an adult requires dry food consisting of around 12-14% protein, for a baby rabbit needs more like 16% protein to develop properly.

What is the first step in feeding a baby bunny?

The first step in feeding a baby bunny is creating a home for the bunny. You might have a built-in home to harbor the new arrivals but to be honest, the best homes are created by the pregnant bunnies.

What do rabbits need to grow?

1. Hay. No matter how old a rabbit is, it needs hay for proper growth and development. So don’t hesitate to stock up on hay. Like adults, hay plays a vital role in a young rabbit’s diet. Ensure you introduce grass hay to their diet as soon as possible.

Why do bunnies secretly feed their babies?

Due to the presence of potential predators and an in-built survival trait, bunny mothers would resort to secret feeding to protect their young. That’s why you think that they leave their babies in the lurch and don’t bother to feed them.

How long do baby rabbits need to be fed?

One good thing about baby rabbits is that they only need one feeding to last them the complete twenty-four hours. As a result, the mother would waltz in and out, ensuring that the baby gets all the feeding it needs during that short period. Even if she sleeps, she might do it with her eyes open.

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.

What do wild rabbits eat?

A wild rabbit’s diet varies on the temperature they are living in. When the temperature is warmer, their diet consists of: clover, flowers, grasses and other plants that grow in that temperature. When the temperature is cooler, their diet becomes more sparse including: twigs, bark and remaining greens. Sounds very different from the Timothy Hay and ...

Why do bunnies feed their babies?

A mother’s milk is packed with the necessary nutrients that feeding once is more than enough for the little bun. The feeding normally occurs at night to help protect the babies. The mother rabbit can be seen away from the nest during the day which is why it is important ...

How long does it take for a jackrabbit to get formula?

6 weeks-9weeks for Jackrabbits only, continue up to 9 weeks with formula, gradually changing to a dish for the warm formula, replacing the formula after 9 weeks slowly with a a dish of cup-up tiny banana or apple pieces. To read more on how to take care of an orphaned rabbit, read the full article from here.

Can a baby bunny be seen alone?

The mother rabbit can be seen away from the nest during the day which is why it is important to leave babies in nests alone unless you are confident that the mother has either abandoned the nest for good or has died. So needing to take care of a wild baby rabbit is rare, very rare.

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