Baby Rabbit formula recipe needed now

[denasfarm]

One of our worst mother rabbits (that wasnt suppose to be bred) had a litter last night on bare wire instead of in the nest box. She didnt remove any of her hair for a nest either. 4 were trampled and for the most part frozen. The other two looked dead but we brought them in the house and warmed them up and they started moving. They look smaller than usual to me and are sticking to each other, not smooth. (Does that mean they are preemies?) Anyway I happened to have some KMR are gave them some warm formula with a dropper and have them on a water bottle until they can maintain temp.
I need a better formula than KMR and no I cant put them with this rabbit as she is a baby eater, which is why she wasnt suppose to be bred again.

So does anyone have a recipe for New born rabbit formula? I have never tried to raise any this young by hand.

Thanks
Dena

 

[Kittymomma]

Rescues use KMR so I think you're on the right track there. I've had some luck with holding mom on my lap and carefully placing the young under her to eat. It's a pain, but they only feed once or twice a day anyhow so if she'll let the milk down it's doable. Good luck with them.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Here is a recipe that I got from a wild life rehabilitator for orphaned wild animals, which should work in this case I would think.

First off, they strongly suggest using Esbilac Puppy Milk Replacer or KMR Kitten Milk Replacer, but this will work in a pinch until you can get some milk replacer, which it looks like you have anyways.

Mix together and warm:

Equal part evaporated milk and water
1 Tbsp. plain yogurt with active cultures
Drop of Karo syrup
Drop of liquid children's/infant vitamins

Good luck!

 

[Overeasyplz]

Quote:
This is what I'd do in this situation. That way mamma won't eat em and you can be sure they get the correct nutrition..Doing this now because my babies were born in the bitter cold and even though mama fed them they still got too cold. They are doing great right now!!

 

[denasfarm]

Their mom is not a nice rabbit. She comes after us on a normal day. Holding her on my lap is not an option unless I had body armor.
I went to the vet and bought some stuff for kittens called Pro-Biolac with probiotics, DHA, Colostrum, and micro organisms made by Vet solutions.
They seemed to think it was my best bet, however they do not treat rabbits and really did not have a clue.

It has:
36% protien
40% fat
.15 fiber
2.5% microbacterials
200 mg Colostrum
500 mg DHA

Does that sound OK?

 

[Kittymomma]

You can only do what you can.

I haven't had to bottle feed them before. I've been able to hold mom and have her feed a couple of times a day--either because it was a clueless doe or once because the weather was just too bad to leave them in the barn.

I *think* if you google Barbie Browns Bunnies that she has some info. on hand raising.

You don't happen to have another doe with a new litter do you? I've had good luck fostering same or nearly same age kits onto another doe. In fact I make a point of breeding a known good mother at the same time I breed a first timer just so I have that option if needed. I know this was an unplanned breeding but thought I'd throw the idea out there in case you do have another one with new kits.

 

[denasfarm]

Here they are. One seems a bit more blue than the other one. Still wondering if they are a bit premie, hopefully its not frostbite.

 

[denasfarm]

Quote:
No I always breed two at a time for this very reason but never in the winter and not this female ever! She is allowed to stay because no one else would have the hateful thing as a pet and I could not sell her to someone wanting a breeder. She is our oldest and first doe at 5 years. Every one else is having a winter break. I will breed the others in the early Spring.

I will give the little buggars a chance and keep them if they are girls.

 

[Kittymomma]

They look pretty normal to me. You didn't say what breed(s) you have, but the blue looking one is probably going to have a broken blue or broken black coat and the other one looks like it will be white.

 

[denasfarm]

They will be white meat rabbits, could have chocolate points like mom. The Mom is a californian and the only buck it could have been was a New Zealand (I dont even have him now) He was in the pen adjoining hers a while back.