And will they learn to drink out of a water bottle straight away when i seperate them from ther mother?
2006-06-20 04:31:13 · 9 answers · asked by helen r 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Here's some really helpful sites - it's routine to introduce hay, pellets, and water, at two to three weeks. Don't forget to use a shallow dish so they can't fall in! You can leave the water bottle in too, and see if they learn to use it - they probably will if their mother uses it - they'll learn from her.
However, they will still be drinking their mother's milk until at least six weeks, and you definitely should NOT separate baby rabbits from their mother until at least eight weeks of age - if you separate them earlier than this, they will probably suffer stomach disorders for the rest of their life, and some of them will die from this.
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/surpriselitter.html
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/orphan.html
You can read more about this in the first article, above - I quote from "Step 4" of http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/surpriselitter.html -
"Make sure mama has a varied bounty of unlimited food and water. 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! As rabbits begin to wean (between the ages of four to five weeks), they begin to ingest bacteria that will eventually become part of their normal gut "flora." At the same time, the pH of the intestine is changing, and the babies are ingesting many potentially harmful bacteria. Mother's milk is designed to provide the babies with antibodies to kill pathogens (disease-causing agents) they ingest, and its pH changes as the babies get older. It is perfectly balanced to allow safe weaning. Babies who are weaned younger than 8 weeks suffer a very high risk of enteritis (inflammation of the intestinal lining, resulting in fatal diarrhea), especially when stressed (as by the separation from family and introduction into a new home!). Don't subject the babies to an early death simply because they are "cute" at four weeks, and more appealing to potential adopters. A serious adopter will not mind waiting until the baby is fully weaned and ready to start life away from mama."
Very best of luck to you and your bunny family!
2006-06-20 21:56:58 · answer #1 · answered by Lea 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They should be drinking by now. Do they refuse to drink? I have had bunnies all my life and they have always taken to drinking out of their bottles when separated from their mother. When they seem ready, separate them from their mother. Draw the line at 6 weeks. They shoudn't be with their mothers for more than 6 weeks. I hope I could help a little. Good luck with your bunnies!
2006-06-20 04:36:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can put it in a lid to a jar for awhile. They will still need milk from Mom til they are eight weeks then they will not need milk anymore but might not have quite the hang of the water bottle yet. Put the lid down inthe cage away from the water bottle they will let you know when they have learned. It will always have water in it.
2006-06-20 04:36:26 · answer #3 · answered by curiosity 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The mum never moves the babies they must have wriggled outa the nest. You need to put them altogether in the first nest for the to be able to feed. The doe will only feed them once a day and your probably not very likely to see them being fed as she's feed them early morning or late night when it quiet and there's no-one about. Keep a close eye on them especially the weaker ones. Good luck
2016-03-26 22:46:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off, don't separate them until they are eating and drinking on their own, mine didn't stop nursing from mom until around 3-5 weeks. If you separate them now, they will miss out on nurishment from mom, and possibly get sick and not make it.
2006-06-20 04:36:41 · answer #5 · answered by sandrarosette 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They should start imitating her in the next week or so. DON'T separate them until they've figured it out. The stress of weaning + dehydration isn't good.
2006-06-20 04:36:13 · answer #6 · answered by Jan H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure thier food is wet so they get enough to drink.they shoul be ok within 1 week.
2006-06-20 04:35:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please call them Bunny Wunny and Bunny Twooey. They're the best names for rabbits in the world. Ever. Ha ha :-)
2006-06-20 04:45:19 · answer #8 · answered by Away With The Fairies 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Soon
2006-06-21 07:10:11 · answer #9 · answered by Lou Lou 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋