Baby Rabbit Care
It is a well known fact that rabbits are intelligent yet sensitive.
Baby rabbits are even more delicate if that’s possible. To care for a
baby rabbit one must be really careful and keep a few things in mind.
Baby rabbit care involves not only taking care of the baby but also
taking certain precautions with the parents. Following are a few simple
tips to make this experience easier for you.
 Precautions Once a baby rabbit is born, it is advisable to
take the male rabbit away and have him neutered as he may impregnate the
female again as well as the female offspring as soon as she matures.
While the mother rabbit may be a little aggressive about parting with
her offspring, she will eventually relent and that is the best
opportunity to have the baby examined by a qualified vet.
Environment While keeping in mind baby rabbit care it is
advisable to provide a warm and comfortable setting for them to avoid a
drop in their temperature. They need a warm comfortable environment so
it is best to place them on a stack of hay at the corner of the hutch so
they can cluster together to keep cozy.
Nursing A mother rabbit usually feed her offspring, however
in case the baby rabbits start crying or mewing this means that they are
not being fed. In this case it is advisable for the owners to take
action and provide food to the baby rabbits. Kitten formula usually
proves to be a good choice for the baby rabbits. Baby rabbit care
includes their development. This means that as babies learn sucking
within 24-48 hours of being born they need to be presented with a kitten
or similar milk bottle as soon as possible.
 The baby rabbits usually
need formula to be fed to up till 4 weeks, after that they can start on
some alfalfa or hay. Wash the babies’ with warm water and cotton after
each feeding to arouse purging.
Bedding Baby rabbit care includes creating a nest for them.
Line a box or tray with hay or any soft material and keep its nest clean
and replace the hay whenever needed. Make sure that the nesting box is
not wet or soggy. The baby rabbits come out of their nest within 2-3
weeks and ample amount of room should be prepared for them to move a
little.
Baby rabbits first open their eyes after around 10 days. It is highly
advisable to take a trip to the vets if they don’t open their eyes by
the 12th day. Around this time one may start including some hay and
basic high fiber pellets in their diet. Vegetables and fruits shouldn’t
be introduced just yet.
As a whole, it can be said that baby rabbit care basically includes
watching over the little ones to make sure that they are healthy, and
that the mother rabbit is taking good care of them.
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