Need help with newborn rabbits who were deserted by mother?

Question

i have been taking care of four-three day old rabbits who's mother wont feed them and i need help with nursing and when and how to do it.

Answer 1

Read here: http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/orpha...  It will tell you everything you need to know.

Answer 2

Are these wild rabbits, and are you absolutely CERTAIN their mother isn't feeding them? Mother rabbits usually only visit their babies once or twice a day, usually at night. The rest of the day they are out of the burrow. Lots of times people take the babies because they think they were abandoned, but they really weren't.

Answer 3

make sure they are kept warm, but the first thing I would do is call a good vet and explain your delimma and ask him what the best solution would be.  they have to be feed every 2 hours and kept warm I would think they need to be with their mother but if she won't accept them then in their bed put a stuffed rabbit with her scent on it and they can snuggle up to it, but first call the vet and see what he says.

Answer 4

one of my friends had to take care of squirl the best thing to do is call a emergency vet ask them what you should feed them how often etc...... they will tell you im sure you will have to go to the pet store and get some supplies though!!! good luck i wish i could answer better but ive never  had a bunny I bet they are so cute :)

Answer 5

To hand feed use 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup evaporated milk, Table spoon corn sryup, teaspoon honey and 1 egg yolk. warm not hot. I use an eye droper a plastic one is best. After they eat it is VERY important that you use a wet Qtip or cotton ball to rub their genitals. The mother does this after feeding and if you don't they will not pee and the bladder will explode. It is ok if they only pee every other feeding and they must be fed every 4 hours till they are about 2 weeks old. they open their eyes at 10 to 12 days old. Then at 2 weeks feed them 4 times a day till they are 3 weeks old at this point they can pee them selfs. they can start eating pelleted feed at 3 weeks and started weening at 4 to 5 weeks and can be completly weened by 6 weeks old.

Answer 6

Mother rabbits only feed their babies once a day and if you aren't there all the time you could miss it.

The only way to know it the mother is feeding them is if the tummys are full.

You may have interfered and it will be hard to change now.  

I don't know how those babies lived so long if the mother wasn't feeding them they should have died.  leave them with the mother for a few hours then check the tummys.  If they are full or slightly rounded leave them for a few more hours.  The mother may be feeding them and you just aren't seeing it.

Google The American Rabbit Breeders Association and they can give you the information you need.

Answer 7

I hand raised a litter of 6 wild rabbits that were 4 days old and all survived.  I fed them cat formula (available at pet stores or your vet).  I used a small eye dropper.  They nurse laying on their tummy.  So lay them on a soft towel and put the eye dropped to the SIDE of their mouths and squeeze just a couple of drops.  When you see them swallow give a couple more.  Be careful not to get it in their nose.  Scald all items used (eyedropper, bowl to mix food, etc. to kill germs).  And make sure your hands are very clean before you handle them.  They need to be fed about every 2 hrs.  After feeding wipe them down with a warn wet wash rag.  This mimics Mom cleaning them and will stimulate them to go potty so be sure and clean their little bottoms.  If they get severe diarrhea the formula is too rich--add more water. Keep them in a warm DRAFT FREE place where it is quiet and dark.  Do not play with or handle them except when absolutely necessary!!!Eyes should open at about 12 days.  When they begin moving around a lot, ears up and playing you can put regular food in the cage with them but keep up the formula until you are sure they are eating well.  Them gradually start skipping feedings of formula.  Wish I could share pictures of mine as they grew.  I eventually released all into a wooded area.

It is EXTREMELY hard to keep them going but give it a try and good luck.