Baby rabbit is too thin

Question
We have taken in two young bunnies that are at least 1/2 Californian, I think.  (My inlaws have several rabbits that they keep in an enclosed area of their yard and these are two of the babies.)  They are probably about 8 weeks old right now.  One of the babies is very thin, so much so that I can feel every little bone in it's back.  It seems to be eating and drinking fine, it just doesn't gain wait.  They are eating pellets and receive occasional treats (in very small quantities) that consist of grapes or dark green lettuce. This one has always been a bit smaller than the other babies, but at this point the little one is about 1/2 the size of it's sibling.

Can you tell me what might be causing this and what I can do to help this little one?

Thank you.
Leigh Anne

Answer
Dear Leigh Anne

It's possible that the baby has a congenital condition that's preventing it from thriving, or is causing it to "dwarf."  But if the baby is just not aggressive enough to compete for food with its siblings, you might try adding a few pellets of Calf Manna (made by Manna-Pro, available at most feed stores) to his diet once a day.  It's a high calorie supplement that might help him put on weight.

Grapes are not recommended for wee babies, as they're very full of sugar.  Please check here for a healthy diet:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/diet.html

I hope this helps.

Dana