Help with babies! ASAP

Rabbits Online Forum

Help Support Rabbits Online Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
The kits are now 3 weeks old and are adorable, but I have a question (no surprise there) when can the kits start eating leaves, like kale and spinach because when I get some kale for the doe to eat they come along and try to nibble it, I’ve seen it quite a few times and some times they ate it, I was wondering I this is ok.
Another problem is I bought a lot of alfalfa hay online for them, it was supposed to arrive last Friday but it didn’t, it’s only arriving next Friday, is there any replacement for it, because they are eating a lot of hay (seriously they ate nearly the entire amount of hay in the nesting box, and there was a lot).
 
The kits are now 3 weeks old and are adorable, but I have a question (no surprise there) when can the kits start eating leaves, like kale and spinach because when I get some kale for the doe to eat they come along and try to nibble it, I’ve seen it quite a few times and some times they ate it, I was wondering I this is ok.
Another problem is I bought a lot of alfalfa hay online for them, it was supposed to arrive last Friday but it didn’t, it’s only arriving next Friday, is there any replacement for it, because they are eating a lot of hay (seriously they ate nearly the entire amount of hay in the nesting box, and there was a lot).
Can't wait to see pics!! I have just (4 weeks old) and they nibble on the greens I give the mother doe. It is fine because if they are still nursing, they get greens from the mothers milk anyways. Timothy hay could also work just until you get yout alfalfa. U find that mine like the Timothy hay better and they eat a lot. So I'm constantly buying more!:)
 
The babies really shouldn't have anything other than pellets and hay until 6 months. Of course, theres not much you can do when feeding the mom vegetables. Its fine if they have a nibble here and there, but once they're weaned, don't feed the babies leafy greens, or any other fruits and vegetables yet.
I always use Timothy hay, even for my babies. Alfalfa is sweet, and it gets hard to transition them off of it. Timothy hay should be used for adults, alfalfa is fine for babies, but lacks the nutrients adults need.
Sounds like you're taking amazing care of the buns! Post some updated pics for us, would ya! ;)
 
The kits can eat whatever mum eats, as much as they want (they learn instinctivly what and how much), I raise mine to 90% on greens and forage (grasses and all kind of weeds, veery little veggies and no fruits) since that is what the doe gets. That's what rabbits evolved with. I do offer hay too, and it gets nibbed on, but they get used to green stuff from the first bites they eat, no problem. They get a little pellets to train them to return to their hutch.

Hay is a very good and convinient substitute, pellets a rather recent invention. You can feed your rabbits a healthy diet with those too (natural doesn't always mean more healthy) but if they don't eat greens from the start care has to be taken when intruducing later, also I wouldn't make food changes during or shortly after weaning.
I prefer my method because I do not need to worry that they might eat something wrong in the garden, and because I've acceess to enough green stuff.

Imho it's important to feed a consistent diet, not changing from day to day.
 
I have a problem, a few of the baby bunnies have either dried up pee on their tummy or butt or they have poop stuck on them. The fur in their tummies are getting really clumped up because of this, is it normal?
Also, can I only remove the nesting box when they are 8 weeks old or can I remove it sooner, because I don’t see them in there most of the time ( they usually sleep outside with their mom). They are four weeks old now.
 
If mom is eating veggies, it's totally cool for them to nibble on the same stuff she's eating. As for the dried up pee/poo, I have no idea if that's normal but if you want to clean them up, I would dip a washcloth in warm water (a little Dawn dish soap being optional) and very gently sponge-bathe just the affected area(s). I've never bred, so I don't know about the nesting box... however, I see no harm in leaving it in there even if they're usually out of it...
 
I remove the nestbox when they stop using it, just to give them more room. When they learn how to jump out of it I put it on its side so they can easily get in and out. I see a siamese sable baby (4th picture). With a sable littermate its possible the blue looking one is siamese smoke pearl. Shadeds are super cute; their baby colors change a lot before growing into adult colors though.

Here's a siamese sable (left) and siamese smoke pearl (right) at about that same age, the frosty/silvery tipping to the coat is classic for a baby that age to show
tw9Awfc.png
 
They are 6 weeks old now sure you can remove the nest box to give them more space. Do the use their mothers litter box for toilet or just their nest box?
You can try to gently brush out the poos from their bellies if won't work you can very carefully cut them off, after poos were removed you can clean pee with damp cloth, baby wipes are fine too.
Simple hair comb works for me just be patient, if won't work use nail clippers but be very very careful!
images


91XUcRVVUEL._SL1500_.jpg
 
Please help me quickly,
My smallest baby rabbit he is so skinny he always was. But today he didnt move at all he doesnt eat or drink. We tried to milk feed him with the mom but he didnt even want it. When i feel his tummy i can only feel little balls but with the others its really round. Please help me i dont want him to die
 
Sometimes there is a reason that one is a runt and doesn't make it, there could have been something wrong from the start.
There is not much to be done besides trying to feed him, not necessarily milk since he is what, 5 weeks? now. I would try something like critical care, or mushed up pellets (maybe wth condensed or normal goat milk if available), and give him some water, just very little at a time on his lips or just behind his front teeth.
But from what you wrote I wouldn't have high hopes that whatever you do will work, it's sad but it's part of raising rabbits. Of course you could see a vet, there is now way to know what's really wrong via internet, but I wouldn't be too optimistic.
 
During the weaning process this is a critical time for kits. If they have any developmental issues then it can easily show up when they’re moving from Mom’s milk to pellets. There’s really nothing you can do but let nature take its course in this case.
 
Hes started eating just a littke bit, he drank a little bit of water but his tummy feels like there is a lot of little balls that could be poops but im not sure
 
If you want a chance of him surviving, get him to an experienced rabbit vet immediately, today. It may be something as simple as intestinal parasites and he needs deworming with panacur. Though at this point if he is showing signs of severe lethargy, it could be too late. The vet can also give some sub q fluids which may help perk him up.
https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/ve...s-that-have-been-recommended-by-rabbit-owners
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-friendly-vets/rabbit-friendly-vet-list/
 
It sounds like it could be coccidia, which is contagious to other rabbits. You can it confirmed by having a fecal examination by an exotic vet.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top