Okay, first things first. Apologies in advance for any vet language, I’ll try to keep it simple / explain myself as I go. If the kits (baby bunnies) are with their mother, don’t do anything. If it’s a domestic (pet) doe (female rabbit) that’s kindled (given birth) then be sure the mother has plently of food, water, and nesting materials, and that the nesting box is in a isolated, quiet, warm place. Resist the urge to look at the kits often. Check in on them once a day, remove any dead kits, soiled material, and look at the kits to see that their tummies are slightly swollen (means they are getting fed). Be sure that the nest in kept in a warm place, but not hot. The mother will take care of them herself, but if there are more than six kits, it appears that the kits aren’t being fed, or if you are concerned, I’d suggest trying to find someone who runs a rabbitry to help you out. Ask around, there are more people with rabbits than you think, or talk to your local 4-H clubs. If you can’t find someone, ask at a feed / grainary store or animal hospital. Once the kits open their eyes and are hopping around, they will begin trying out hard food (grain and hay) but will continue nursing. Be sure there is always food, hay, and water available. Try not too give the kits or mother too much greenery. Don’t separate the kits from their mother until they are at least 8 weeks old.
If they’re wild baby bunnies, don’t touch ‘em or feed them anything. If you already have, the mother will most likely abandon them, and then you have to decide whether you will take care of them. Wild rabbits rarely make good pets, and though this sound cruel, it’s better you just let them die, or bring them to an animal hospital and see if they will accept them. If they are domestic kits that no longer have a mother, it may also be wise to hand them ver to an expert or let them die. But, if you are extremely dedicated to raising them and they are not already sickly, you can try nursing them. You can buy kitten formula and droppers at the feed/grain store, and can feed the kits that way. Depending on how old the kits are, they will have a low chance or survival. Your best bet is to find a rabbitry or animal hospital that has a surrogate mother to nurse them.
I would also suggest going to your local library and checking out some books on rabbits
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on Thursday, September 27th, 2007 at 7:23 am and is filed under Pets.
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