Whether you have pet rabbits and one of them has babies, or you find wild baby rabbits and the mother has abandoned them or been killed, it can be a challenge to care for baby rabbits properly. Infant bunnies are fragile and care must be taken to see they are safe and nourished, especially during the first few weeks of their lives. Don't hesitate to call professionals if you feel the job is too big too handle.
Step 1
Separate the bunnies from their mother if it is apparent she is not willing to care for them. Rabbits only nurse their young once per day, so keep a close eye on them to be certain.
Step 2
Place a few clean and soft towels in a box to use as a nest for the bunnies. Consider purchasing some nesting wool from a pet store to make a soft area for the bunnies to stay warm. The box should be big enough that they can all comfortably fit inside and move around a little. Cover the top of the box with a towel so it remains dark, but leave a one-inch opening at the top so they can breathe, advises the Zooh Corner Rabbit rescue website.
Step 3
Place the box in a quiet room in your house. Check to make sure the temperature is between 68 and 72 degrees. If it is too cool, slide a heating pad under one half of the bottom towel in the box so they are protected from the heat source and they can move to the other side if it is too hot.
Step 4
Feed the baby rabbits a product called Kitten Milk Replacer from your pet store. Add one tablespoon of cream to each can to mimic rabbit's milk, which has the highest caloric value of all mammals. Also add acidophilus from your health food store to create the proper bacterial balance in the rabbit's stomach.
Step 5
Administer the milk with an eye dropper or oral syringe. Give newborns 5cc of milk and ½cc of acidophilus. Give one-week olds 10 to 15cc of milk and ½cc of acidophilus. Two-week old bunnies should get 26 to 30cc of milk and 1cc of acidophilus, and at three to four weeks they should get 30cc of milk and 1cc of acidophilus. Feed them only two times per day, and wean the babies at around the four week mark.
Step 6
Stroke the bunny after it has eaten. Stroke down from the front legs and over the anus area. Use a a clean cloth with warm water. This will mimic the mother's actions of stimulating bowel movements and urination after feedings.
Step 7
Release wild rabbits when they are about five inches long and can eat hay and green foods. Put them in a safe area away from roads early in the morning so they will have a full day of light to get used to their surroundings.
Tips and Warnings
- Only handle wild bunnies during feeding times. Let bunnies eat at their own pace, and do not force feed if they are not interested. Begin to introduce hay and rabbit pellets around 10 days old or when their eyes open.
