How to care for newborn rabbits without a mother? Whether you accidentally find a rabbit nest or care for domesticated rabbits, newborn rabbits need special care and attention.
In most cases, their mother knows better, but if you have to help and care for a baby rabbit, here is what you need to know.
NESTING FOR NEWBORN RABBITS
Give a soft, clean nest in a box, and cover the children with a clean towel. Keep them covered and the box dark until the eyes open. The box should be kept at a temperature of 65-70 °, but not too warm.
FEEDING BABY RABBITS
Feed the baby rabbits KMR Kitten Powder Formula using a small syringe or eyedropper.
Feed small rabbits with their bodies upright, with a syringe, facing down and slightly to the sides, so that more milk drips out of their mouth, rather than down their throats.
Young rabbits should be fed twice a day, morning and evening.
CARE FOR FEEDING NEWBORN RABBITS WITHOUT A MOTHER
Feeding rates for domesticated rabbits:
- Newborn: 2.5 ccs per meal
- One week: 6-7 cc per feed
- Two weeks: 12 -13 cc per feed
- Three to six weeks or weaning: up to 15 ccs per meal
Each baby will have their preferences, and smaller rabbits will eat less per feeding. Do not overfeed baby rabbits.
HOW TO CARE IF NEWBORN BABY RABBITS ARE WITHOUT A MOTHER
In the wild, the mother rabbit lives far away from her cubs, to avoid attracting predators in the nest.
He visits them only once or twice a day, usually at night, and only for a few minutes at a time to support himself.
He can visit the nest for only 5 minutes a day.
So it is common for people to think that little rabbits are abandoned and neglected, when in fact the mother listens to her instincts to protect the nest.
Before you disturb the nest or take out the young, it is important to MAKE sure they are abandoned or orphaned.
Here’s how you can see that newborn rabbits are orphans and need help:
LOOK AT THE BABY RABBITS
They should have healthy and pink or red skin. Their skin should not be bluish or gray. Children should be warm when you touch them
OBSERVE THE BABY RABBITS’ STOMACHS
Their bellies should be round and healthy, not sinking in the middle
How mother rabbit care newborn rabbits surroundings?
Rabbits should have regular, active movements, but be quiet most of the time.
They may start to cry a few minutes before the meal.
If they are still lazy or cry for a long time, they may not be fed.
CARE FOR DEHYDRATION FOR NEWBORN RABBITS
Gently rub their skin together on the nostrils of their necks. If the skin slips down again, they are full of water.
If the skin stays hydrated, it becomes dehydrated.
When you think rabbit babies may be orphaned or abandoned, but unsure, close the nest again as you have found it.
Then cover the nest with branches or sticks with a different pattern you will see.
Use a close/firm pattern, because the mother rabbit is smart and will not disturb the nest too much when she visits.
HOW TO CARE FOR NEWBORN RABBITS WITHOUT A MOTHER
If you have domesticated rabbits, and your rabbits are in poor health and need medical attention, it is best to consult a qualified veterinarian.
CAN YOU TOUCH NEWBORN BABY RABBITS?
In most cases, you can gently touch the newborn rabbit if it is a domestic rabbit and the mother is calm.
You should not touch a newborn wild rabbit unless you are sure you are an orphan and need human care.
CAN BABY BUNNIES DRINK WATER?
Young rabbits will start drinking water at about 3-4 weeks of age, and you can give them a shallow dish of water to drink when they are young.
CAN NEWBORN RABBITS DRINK COW MILK?
No, cow’s milk is not good for rabbits.
Mother rabbits spend less than 5 minutes a day breastfeeding their babies, so rabbit milk is very nutritious and contains the special enzymes that babies need.
Young rabbits may not be able to digest cow’s milk, and they may not have all the nutrients they need. Instead, feed the rabbits a formula of Kitten Milk Replacer, or goat’s milk.
What is the Best Replacement Milk for Rabbits?
HOW LONG CAN NEWBORN RABBITS GO WITHOUT FOOD?
Generally, young rabbits can go without food for 3-4 days.
In nature, most baby rabbits are fed only once a day, between 2 and 5 in the morning.
Care for feeding newborn rabbits (without a mother) with a syringe?
To inject a baby rabbit with a syringe, remember that mother rabbits stand on top of the nest, and the babies come straight up to eat.
Hold the baby rabbits straight, the tip of the syringe facing down and slightly next to their mouth.
Take a little formula out of their mouths, and go slowly.
In conclusion, you should know how to care for newborn rabbits without a mother in case you find an abandoned rabbit. Hope this article finds you some interesting rabbit related knowledge.