Table of Contents
What happens when baby rabbits are born?
The babies burrow to the bottom of the nest where they remain hidden until Mamma Rabbit wakes them up at mealtime. Only rarely does a mother rabbit nurse her young right after giving birth. Most often the first nursing will occur the night after the kindling.
What to feed a rabbit that just gave birth?
Feed mama unlimited pellets, leafy green vegetables and grass hay, and be sure she always has a plentiful supply of clean, fresh water. The babies will begin to nibble at solid food as early as two weeks of age. However, they must not be weaned for a FULL EIGHT WEEKS AFTER BIRTH!
What to do if you find a baby rabbit in your yard?
Put the kit back where you or they found it, cover it with some grass and walk away. If you returned the baby to a spot in your yard and you have a dog or cat, keep them away from the area until the rabbits are gone. We leashed our dog and took him to another area of the yard to do his business.
What to do with a wild baby rabbit?
Handle the wild baby rabbits only when necessary for feeding and care. Keep them in a quiet area. Handling is stressful for them and could kill them. Release the baby rabbits back into the wild as soon as they are eating hay and greens and are urinating and defecating without assistance.
What to do with abandoned baby bunnies?
Bunnies that have been abandoned more than a day are often dehydrated. When the skin at the nape (base) of the neck is pinched, it will spring back slower if the baby is dehydrated. Mild dehydration can be treated with oral fluids (pedialyte). But severely dehydrated bunnies will no longer absorb fluids given orally.
When do baby rabbits leave the nest?
Baby rabbits typically leave the nest when they’re 3-5 weeks old. It is around this age they leave and are fed once or twice per day by their mother for a few minutes each time.