does anyone know anything about raising wild bunnies???

Question

We recently found 2 wild bunnies in our yard. Our dog was going to get them so we kept them before she could get them. They are only a couple days old, they do not have their eyes open. We have been feeding them milk every 3 hours. Please give me ANY advice on how to raise these baby bunnies, it would be GREATLY apperciated!! Thank you

Answer 1

Surprisingly, raising wild rabbits is about the same as raising domestic ones. Keep them in the house until they are about 4 weeks old so they will be warm enough. Put them in a 2 sq ft cardboard box that has very high sides. Put some hay in it that they can either hide under or lay on top of.
Judging their age is important. Rabbits eyes come open at about 10 or 11 days after birth. Hand feed them until they are 14 days old. They will start eating on their own - hay, carrots, and rabbit pellets at 14 days. They should be released into the wild when they are 4-6 weeks old. Don't keep wild rabbits together after they are 2 months old - they will tear each other apart. Do not mix wild rabbits with domestic rabbits. You could spread parasites and diseases to your domestic rabbits.

If the bunnies you find are really young, you will have to force feed them with an eyedropper. Since rabbits are lactose intolerant, it is best to feed them Pedialyte. Bring the Pedialyte to a lukewarm temperature (where it feels neither warm nor cold) and feed them as much as they will take in. When they are up to 2 weeks old, they don't consume much - about 1 eyedropper full per day. You only have to feed them once or twice per day, but make sure they get enough or they will waste away.

When they start eating at about 2 weeks, they will eat alfalfa hay, carrots, and rabbit pellets. Don't feed them lettuce or cabbage.

Answer 2

I just wanted to post an update. My daughter posted the original question. The bunnies as doing GREAT!! I was not very optimistic when I started reading. Everything I read said they were as good as dead. And by the way, all you people saying I should have just left them there, the dog ate 2 before I was able to save these 2, so I do think they are better off. We used formula and bottles from the local feed store, which they still get 3 to 4 times a day. They are also eating LOTS of clover and grass from the yard. I have also been giving them vegetables from the garden. They are getting very big, very fast. I guess now I have to go start looking for a hutch to put them in. My girls love these animals so much, I think that was one of the factors that helped them to survive.

I thank all those that posted info for us.

Answer 3

This happened to me as well. Unfortunately the three I found did not survive. I did bring them to the vet who explained to me that like kittens at this age it is not likely that they will survive. My vet suggested I use kitten milk ( you can get it at the pet shop, already mixed is easiest) and feed them every three-four hours with a syringe. The vet suggested a litter box too, which they did use. Two of them made it for a few weeks, only to be killed in a pen I had built them outside. One by a cat and the other a few days later by milkweed cuttings, which are toxic to them. They can be released after a few months. My City has a wildlife center where people can drop off orphaned animals. They also have a "live" hot line for question. There might be a wildlife center in your area.

Check out this link.

Answer 4

If they're that young, you can keep them as pets, they're not "wild" anymore. You can't put them back outside though. The mother rabbit won't recognize their smell after you've been touching them and feeding them. Buy a nice roomy cage and some toys for them to play with as they get older. Keep feeding them milk several times a day (but NOT cows milk, go to your local petstore and get formula for them). They can also help you with anything else you may need to know. When they start to open their eyes and can do things on their own, start giving them dry food and let them learn how to drink out of a pet water bottle. You need to keep their cage very clean as well, or it will stink up your whole house. Change their food often. They will get tired of carrots all the time, or dry pellet food all the time. Also buy "salt licks" that you can tie to the cage and let them lick it. They love them and they come in all kinds of different flavors.

While they're this young however, there's not a whole lot you can do but make sure they're warm and well fed. They grow up fast, so start planning now for the cage(s) and anything else.

Answer 5

You don't...the bunny should have been left where he was. Female rabbits only come back to their young a few times a day for very short periods. Young wild rabbits also wean very young. If the baby is not weaned your chances of keeping it alive are next to nothing turn it over to a wild life rehaber even then the chances of it surviving are very slim. It it is weaned put it back outside where it belongs. In the future leave wildlife outside where it belongs.

Answer 6

The best thing to do is feed them until they are able to eat on their own in the yard. Giove them a place to stay. If your lucky, they will hang around permenatley or they may eventually leave and move on. I have a Mother rabbit that brings her biddies to the yard every morning to eat the seeds. It is a lovely sight, so this may be your advantage to having wild rabbits as pets that just keep you company and bring you no harm.

Answer 7

Put them back in their nest if you can. The mother will still care for them after you have touched them. Go to some of the many web-sites on wild bunnies and read up ASAP !

Answer 8

It's tough. Kitten replacement milk is the best to use. Feed them with an eyedropper and after feeding, rub their bellies until they eliminate. Don't feel bad if they don't survive, it is extremely difficult to hand-raise a baby rabbit this young...I have raised show rabbits for over 20 years and have never succeeded at this.

Answer 9

I don't think you should have taken them away but since you have them----read, read, read. The bottom has a list of resources for you. Some tips:
- Because they are babies, they need to be warm at all times. Get a cardboard box and fill it with cotton or a towel. Place a light heating pad underneath it but make sure its not too hot
- Make sure that your dog doesn't go anywhere near them. They might become frightened and he/she might attack them.
-If they pass away, don't be too disappointed. It is really hard for humans to take care of baby rabbits because they are so fragile.

And whatever you do, don't put them back or dump them on someone else. Please take care of the buns =)!
Good Luck!

Answer 10

Well i do k ow that if u take wild rabbits from the wild and try to keep them, they will die. U might want to take them to a ve and she what they have to say.