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1 week old bunnies

22 10:53:49

Question
Dear Mr. Lee Meyer, my mother bunny had babies about a week ago and started killing them so I took them out of her pen and my boyfriend and I have been bottle feeding them but I want to know what is the best thing to feed them, how many times should I feed them a day and about how far apart should the feeding period be? If you could help me with this it would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,
           Angela

Answer
Hi Angela,

sorry to hear this.  Glad you were able to save the remaining kits and are taking are of them.

Basically puppy/kitten milk replacement formula can be used.  You can mix it 1 1/2 to 2 times thicker than the directions say, as rabbits' milk is a lot thicker and fattier than the replacement formula.

From HRS notes:

It may be easiest to start with a 3 cc/ml syringe or an eyedropper. Some use pet nurser nipples on the end of a luer lock syringe, or a teat cannula on the end of a syringe. Feed only with the bunny sitting UPRIGHT, and point syringe down towards bottom or side of mouth, so if too much comes out, the baby does not aspirate! For those who are slow to learn nursing, SC fluids may be necessary to prevent electrolyte imbalance or dehydration (check with a vet on this only!!). Domestic buns with closed eyes should be fed 2 x a day, and the number of feedings gradually decreased until they are weaned. If their eyes are still closed, you need to stimulate their bottoms with a warm moist towel after feedings to help them to pee. (Domestics are weaned about 6 weeks; wild bunnies are weaned about 3-4 weeks for cottontails and 9 weeks for jacks). Bloat is commonly associated with too frequent feedings and too much at one time.

I have included links for you to save and print out for later use:

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/orphan.html

http://www.rabbit.org/care/newborn.html

http://www.rabbit.org/care/babies.html

Lee