A comprehensive guide on caring for baby rabbits

If you’re the lucky owner of a baby rabbit, congratulations! Baby rabbits make wonderful pets, and with some basic care, they can grow up to be healthy and strong. So, what are some of the best ways on how to care for baby rabbits?

There are a few key things to keep in mind when raising baby rabbits so they grow up healthy and strong. The most important is to make sure they have a good diet, with plenty of fresh vegetables and hay. It’s also important to give them lots of exercise and keep their living environment clean and spacious. 

In this post, we’ll share some tips on how to care for baby rabbits from a newborn all the way to adulthood. Keep reading for more information!

How to take care of baby rabbits as pets

• Newborns are considered newborns up until about 2-3 months.
• Baby/young rabbits are between about 3- 12 months of age. In this time, they are typically weaned from their mother’s milk and learn to eat solid food.

Baby rabbits are adorable, and they make great pets. But before you bring one home, it’s important to do your research and be prepared on how to care for baby rabbits.

We will look at newborn and baby – young rabbits and inform you about when and what to feed them, their home, habits, toys, and a load more useful information so you know what to do with baby rabbits.

Baby rabbits need a diet of hay, fresh vegetables, and a small number of pellets. They also need plenty of water and a clean litter box. To keep your baby rabbit healthy, it’s important to take them to the vet for regular check-ups and vaccinations.

Baby rabbits are also very active, so they need plenty of space to run around and explore. A simple hutch or enclosure will do, but make sure it is big enough for your rabbit to move around in comfortably.

Perhaps most importantly, baby rabbits need lots of love and attention. They are social creatures who thrive on human interaction. If you care for baby rabbits and provide your bunny with food, shelter, and love, they will bring joy to your life for years to come.

What do baby bunnies need

Baby bunnies, also known as kittens (Yep, same as cats), need a few things to thrive.

• A warm, safe place to nest is critical, as is a consistent supply of the right food and water.
• Baby bunnies are also very vulnerable to predators, so keeping them protected is essential.
• Kittens also need to be socialized in order to develop into healthy, well-adjusted adults.
• Although they are typically born in litters, it is important for kittens to have individual attention from humans in order to form strong bonds.

By providing the basic needs of warmth, safety, food, and love, you can give baby bunnies the best chance at a happy and healthy life.

What to feed baby rabbits 

Newborn rabbits need kitten milk replacer until they are ready for alfalfa hay and pellets. Older rabbits can eat different kinds of hay, such as oat hay, Timothy hay, and grass hay. 

If you’re lucky enough to have a litter of baby rabbits, you’ll need to know what to feed them. Baby rabbits are born without fur and with their eyes closed, so they’re completely dependent on their mother’s milk for nutrition.

However, after about three weeks, they’ll start to develop their adult teeth and will begin to wean off of milk.

At this point, you can start offering them a mix of hay, pellets, and vegetables.

Hay is important for baby rabbits because it helps wear down their constantly growing teeth.

Pellets provide a balanced diet of proteins, fats, and fiber, while vegetables are a good source of vitamins and minerals.

When introducing new foods, start with small amounts and slowly increase the quantity over time. This will help your baby rabbits adjust to their new diet and avoid digestive problems.

How old:	What to feed	How much	How oftern
1 week old	Kitten Milk Replacer	4-5 cc formula	Twice a day
2 week old	Kitten Milk Replacer Introduce alfalfa  hay and pellets	10-15 cc formula	Twice a day
3 week old	Kitten Milk Replacer Alfalfa  hay and pellets	15-30 cc formula	Twice a day
4 week old	Kitten Milk Replacer Alfalfa  hay and pellets	30 cc formula (until weaned)	Twice a day
5 week old	Kitten Milk Replacer Alfalfa  hay and pellets	30 cc formula (until weaned)	Twice a day
6 week old	Kitten Milk Replacer Alfalfa  hay and pellets	30 cc formula (until weaned)	Twice a day
7 week old	Alfalfa  hay and pellets	Enough hay and pellets for them to eat	In the corner of their
8 week old	Alfalfa  hay and pellets	Enough hay and pellets for them to eat	In the corner of their
9 week old	Alfalfa  hay and pellets	Enough hay and pellets for them to eat	In the corner of their
10 week old	Alfalfa  hay and pellets	Enough hay and pellets for them to eat	In the corner of their
11 week old	Alfalfa  hay and pellets	Enough hay and pellets for them to eat	In the corner of their
12 week old – 7 months old	Alfalfa hay and pellets Increase daily tolerable amount of vegetables	Enough hay and pellets for them to eat Add one small vegetable per time	In the corner of their
7 months old – 1 Year old	Decrese Alfalfa hay and pellets Introduce other hays Add small amounts of fruit	Decrese Alfalfa  Decrease pellets to 1/2 cup per 6 lbs. body weight	In the corner of their
1 + years	Hay, Pellets, Fruit, Vegitables	Unlimited hay Daily pellets, 1/4 to 1/2 cup, per 6 lbs. body weight Daily vegetables – 2 cups chopped, per 6 lbs. body weight Daily fruit – 2 oz. (2 Tbs) per 6 lbs. body weight.	In the corner of their

How to feed a newborn rabbit

Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to feeding your new furry friend.

First of all, it’s important to know that newborn rabbits should only be fed milk for the first few weeks of their lives. You can purchase special rabbit milk replacer at most pet stores, or you can make your own by mixing evaporated milk with water. Be sure to feed your rabbit milk at room temperature; too hot or too cold can cause stomach upset.

• A 4 cc/ml syringe (Amazon link) or an eyedropper is a good place to start.
• Feed the rabbit sitting upright and point the syringe down towards the bottom or side of the mouth.
• They may only take a few droplets at each feeding at first, until they are not anxious and acclimated to the procedure.

As your rabbit grows, you can slowly start to introduce solid food into its diet. Begin with small amounts of hay, then add in fresh vegetables and fruits.

What are baby rabbits living environment without a mother

Baby rabbits, or kittens, are born blind and deaf. For the first few weeks of their lives, they are totally dependent on their mother for both food and warmth.

For a newborn baby rabbit, it is important to provide an appropriate substitute for its mother’s care.

It should sleep in a quiet, warm place away from any drafts. A small cardboard box with a soft towel or blanket will do nicely.

The baby should have access to clean water at all times.

Newborn baby rabbits are unable to urinate or defecate on their own. Their mother will stimulate them to do so by licking their genitals and perineal area. If you are hand-rearing a baby rabbit, you will need to do this for them. Dip a piece of cotton wool in some warm water and gently wipe their genitals and perineal area.

A heating pad (Amazon link)set on low can provide warmth, and a soft towel can serve as a nest.

Orphaned kittens should be fed a commercial kitten milk replacer every two to three times per day.

This milk replacer should be warmed to body temperature before feeding. Kittens should also be given access to fresh water at all times.

A baby rabbit is old enough to start living in a hutch when it is weaned from its mother’s milk and eating solid food.

A hutch should be large enough for the rabbit to move around comfortably.

With proper care, a baby rabbit can thrive and grow into a healthy adult rabbit.

How to prepare a rabbits hutch

After the new born rabbit has grown enough to be weaned from kitten milk replacer, it is time to start thinking about preparing a rabbits hutch. This is usually around week 4 to 7.

A rabbits hutch should have a place for the rabbit to sleep, eat, and poop. It should also be big enough for the rabbit to move around in.

The minimum size for a rabbits hutch is 2 feet by 4 feet, but the bigger the better. If you have more than one rabbit, you’ll need a larger hutch.

You’ll also need to provide some bedding for your rabbit, such as straw or hay. Be sure to change the bedding regularly to keep it clean.

A rabbits hutch should have a wire mesh door to keep predators out. The wire mesh should be small enough so that the rabbit can’t escape.

A watter bottle and a food bowl are also necessary. The water bottle should be attached to the side of the hutch so that the rabbit can’t knock it over.

Take your rabbit to the vet regularly

Rabbits can’t show their illness as they are prey animals, so they hide things. You as a pet owner should watch their routine of eating, pooping, or drinking water. If there is any change in their habits, call the vet or take them to the vet by yourself.

Rabbits often get sick by eating wrong or excess food that you can learn through our other posts. Other than illness, your rabbit needs regular checkups at a vet clinic to keep them healthy all the time. The vet examines a rabbit’s eyes, throat, teeth, ears, and gut system to see if he is healthy or not. Neutering a rabbit can make him less aggressive and enhance his health and pooping habits.

How to tell how old a baby rabbit is

There are a few different ways to tell how old a baby rabbit is. One way is to look at the size of the bunny. Generally, smaller bunnies are younger, while larger bunnies are older.

Another way to tell the age of a bunny is to look at its teeth. Baby bunnies have very sharp teeth, while older bunnies have duller teeth.

Finally, you can also tell the age of a bunny by its behavior. Baby bunnies are often very active and playful, while older bunnies tend to be more calm and relaxed.

By using these simple methods, you can get a good idea of how old a baby rabbit is.

Offer them motivation through toys

Rabbits don’t stay at one place as they find it boring, so keep them thrilled through toys. Like, they love the cardboard and often hide in the shoeboxes. They also chew windows, so offering them chewing toys (Amazon link), papers, or cardboards will protect your doors and windows

Put a cardboard castle near them to keep them busy, and you can make it at home or buy it from the pet store. Also, get some toys to play with them to keep them connected to you, as rabbits feel safe this way.

Train your baby rabbit

Pet rabbits need training, so you have to groom them with good habits. Though rabbits are clean by nature and also wash them regularly, still, you should groom their habits. Rabbits have some hair shedding periods that can create a mess in your place, so brush them to take care of the excess fur as a rabbit likes to eat it which can affect his stomach.

Likewise, you should clip your rabbit’s nails regularly as long nails become dangerous. Besides, the nail curling into the paw is also bad. Special clippers are available online to clip nails of different animals, including rabbits. Also, make sure to clean their cages regularly because debris can make them sick.

Get familiar with a rabbit’s habits, behavior, or language

You must focus on your rabbits to learn how they behave and what they want to say. Love them and be friendly to understand them well. Rabbits feel safe and stay calm near their owners.

You can build a good bond with your baby rabbits, and they will find you trustworthy. Such a connection will help you find their needs and groom them better. Remember, pets are like your babies, so you have to look after them in all terms, including food, sleep, cleanliness, grooming, etc.

You can keep your rabbits healthy by following the above steps. Also, stay updated with new products regarding rabbits.

Wrap up

So, we looked at how to care for baby rabbits. We took a look at newborns and how to care and feed them and we looked at what to do for all ages of a baby rabbit’s life.

Whether you’re a first-time bunny parent or experienced with raising rabbits, we hope the above information was helpful.

Pets are like your babies, so you have to look after them in all terms, including food, sleep, cleanliness, grooming, etc. You have to consider specific things for your pet rabbit to enhance their health and life.