New Babies, HELP!

[Skybunny11]

HELP!



I am experienced with breeding rabbits and showing them. If a mother rejects babies then we have a friend close by who also breeds rabbits and we foster. Well she had a litter to but her son decided it was cold and turned the heater full blast RIGHT ON the cage. They all burned to death So here is my delima. My baby bunny punky had for babies. (There Angora's). On Christmas eve. I was so happy we had Christmas bunnies. One was born outside the nest box and died. But we had three healthy babies and a mom.But something went wrong...she bled out a lot. She stopped and began to eat and drink and we thought she was fine. We were wrong. She passed away last night :tears2::tears2::tears2:She never had simple births because she would usually give birth to them outside the nest box and then eat like two of them. I think she new something was wrong because this time she gave birth to 3 of them in the nest box and she fed them REALLY good.

My delema is I have no idea how to handraise baby rabbits. I love them. We got two black angora's which we have been trying for ever for. Anyway, help me figure out what to do. One of them is a fighter, he's got lots of energy and he is healthy. The other two are sleepers. I need milk formula's, how to keep them warm, and just what to do!

 

[aurora369]

I am going to search for a thread that has instructions from Randy on how he hand feeds his wildlife rescues. You have to be careful feeding baby rabbits because mom's milk is so rich and full of nutrients that most formula's can cause metabolic bone disease from lack of nutrients.

For now, the babies should be okay. About 24 hours after mom's death they should be okay on the milk they had. If they are getting thin looking, I would keep them hydrated with a tiny bit of unflavoured pedialyte.

-Dawn

 

[aurora369]

Okay, here are some threads with information on formula and feeding for you.

Most up to date formula suggestion here:
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=52385&forum_id=8&jump_to=709053#p709053

There is some discussion about three week old babies in this thread:
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=47887&forum_id=8&jump_to=646537#p646537

Again, older babies but some info here too:
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=46512&forum_id=8&jump_to=627457#p627457

If you can find anyone with a lactating doe to foster your babies with, that would give them the biggest probability of surviving.

Please update and let us know how the babies are doing.

-Dawn

 

[OakRidgeRabbits]

Wait, so you're saying there are TWO does. One died, and one lost her litter? Why not try fostering the litter over to the doe who survived? If you do it quickly, she will probably never know the difference.

 

[Skybunny11]

"Wait, so you're saying there are TWO does. One died, and one lost her litter? Why not try fostering the litter over to the doe who survived? If you do it quickly, she will probably never know the difference."



no...My friends rabbit was burned to death (She had babies and I would have fostered to her)

My rabbit also died due to birth complications. I only have one doe who passed away. If my friends doe didn't die Iwould have fostered.



Thanks for the threads

 

[aurora369]

How are the babies doing?

Most important would be to keep them hydrated. Get some unflavoured pedialyte to help keep them hydrated while you figure out your formula.

See if you can find a wildlife rehabilitator in your area that might be able to help you with finding a good formula. Wild cotton tails and domestic babies can be fed the same way. Cotton tails typically wean earlier and more violently than domestics.

Also see if you can find any other rabbit breeders in your area. They may have a litter that yours can be fostered to.

-Dawn

 

[OakRidgeRabbits]

Oh ok, I'm sorry. I thought you meant the other doe's babies overheated and passed away. I didn't realize the mother did too, I'm sorry to hear that.

I'd suggest the same things as aurora then. It's hard (nearly impossible) to hand-rear baby rabbits though, so don't be hard on yourself if you can't save them all. Best of luck though!

 

[Skybunny11]

The babies are doing okay. They are staying warm and they have full bellies. They are fighters though, they are very healthy for what happened to them.urplepansy:

 

[wooly_queen]

Good luck! Hope they survive! I haven't had any luck with hand feeding I hope you can save them though!

 

[Skybunny11]

we got some goats milk today and that's what we will feed them from now on. They are looking healthy so if they survive the first two weeks they are almost in the clear