HELP! anyone who owns or knows about bunnies!

[BlueO]

Hi BYC! so I have a problem. A fox just ran through our property and I thought all was well after I checked on all the birds. I was on my deck and in the rocks I saw something squirming. It was a new born bunny… and not one but two. There was some blood around and I assumed some of the other babies the fox had got. I looked everywhere for more of them and there nest but nothing. I have never owned bunnies but know the *slightest* about raising them. I know they need to be kinda in the ground or underneath something and I heard you can use goats milk for them. Right now I have them in a towel in a bucket under a heat lamp. These things are tiny! I need some help! Please! Thanks!

 

[townchicks]

Best to find a wildlife rehabilitation center, rabbits are hard. If you can't, feed the KMR. Kitten milk replacement, pet stores carry it. Mother rabbits only feed the babies once or twice a day, then leave the nest. She may return, keep an eye out for her. If they make it that far, you can start introducing them to hay at about 2 weeks, usually weaned by 3 weeks. Then you can slowly start introducing a small amount of greens, fresh grass that hasn't been sprayed, romaine lettuce, etc.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Best to find a wildlife rehabilitation center, rabbits are hard. If you can't, feed the KMR. Kitten milk replacement, pet stores carry it. Mother rabbits only feed the babies once or twice a day, then leave the nest. She may return, keep an eye out for her. If they make it that far, you can start introducing them to hay at about 2 weeks, usually weaned by 3 weeks. Then you can slowly start introducing a small amount of greens, fresh grass that hasn't been sprayed, romaine lettuce, etc.

Second the difficulty. Every single orphan we tried to hand rear when we bred rabbits ended up passing.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@Kiki knows rabbits.

 

[townchicks]

How are the bunnies doing? Any update?

 

[BlueO]

How are the bunnies doing? Any update?

Hey! Sorry for the wait! I ended up finding the nest (it was destroyed) and I put what was left of it with the bunnies. So far they seem to be doing pretty good! They’ve made it through two nights and are very squirmy! I’ve been feeding them goat milk and one is taken it very well! These other is ok, she fights a bit more but still dose drink. They are doing much better than I thought and I’m hoping they stay that way!

 

[townchicks]

That's great. Thanks for the update.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

I'm assuming you're in the states. And I'm also assuming these are Cottontails.

Somebody earlier recommended finding a wildlife rehab center, and I'll second that, but for a different reason.

Assuming these are Cottontails, they are wild animals. And to my current knowledge, illegal to keep. Not to freak you out too much, but it's very important to know.

The pet/meat rabbits everybody thinks of are domesticated European rabbits. (Which are illegal to release as they're invasive. But legal to keep.)

Rabbits -watch- their nests, but you usually won't notice them. If they hang around, it'll attract predators to the nest. I have no idea if the mom rabbit would be around anymore as the babies have been taken. First by the predator, then by you. Not trying to make anyone feel bad for being a good person. You have the best intentions.
Wild animals that get used to humans... it causes problems.
Regular people aren't really set up for wildlife care.
And, only qualified people can release animals.