Baby bunny feeding issues
Discussion
My kids have a couple of lion head rabbits, cute things with fluffy manes.
They've done what rabbits like to do (male has since had the snip) and two weeks ago we had a litter of seven young. Six of these are healthy mini versions of their parents, but there is a runt in the litter.
This poor thing is half the size of its siblings and I am afraid natural selection may mean it will only have a very short life as it isn't big or strong enough to get fed. I also suspect it's own mother won't feed it / rejects it.
I said I wouldn't get involved with the rabbits, but last night I spent half an hour holding this pathetic little creature, it just went to sleep in my hand (it is so small it can be cupped in one hand with ease). I warmed some cat milk and tried feeding it with a small syringe, I think it took some milk but I'm not sure if enough to sustain it.
I don't want to see it die of starvation, is there any thing that you can suggest to help save it?
TIA
PH5121
They've done what rabbits like to do (male has since had the snip) and two weeks ago we had a litter of seven young. Six of these are healthy mini versions of their parents, but there is a runt in the litter.
This poor thing is half the size of its siblings and I am afraid natural selection may mean it will only have a very short life as it isn't big or strong enough to get fed. I also suspect it's own mother won't feed it / rejects it.
I said I wouldn't get involved with the rabbits, but last night I spent half an hour holding this pathetic little creature, it just went to sleep in my hand (it is so small it can be cupped in one hand with ease). I warmed some cat milk and tried feeding it with a small syringe, I think it took some milk but I'm not sure if enough to sustain it.
I don't want to see it die of starvation, is there any thing that you can suggest to help save it?
TIA
PH5121
After reading the link I suggested to my wife we should not try to feed it as we may kill it, if it gets milk in its lungs, and that what we thought was the mother rejecting it may be normal rabbit behaviour.
On a brighter note my wife rang this morning to say it was nibbling hay. I don't know if this is a good sign or if it is so hungry it's eating anything it can find. We put fresh grass, hay, rabbit food and fresh vegetable off cuts and peelings in every day as the mother rabbit eats like a proverbial horse!
I hope 'runty' survives as my eldest lad (who has just started secondary school so usually is too big and cool to be bothered about the rabbits) is the one out there every evening after school checking on it, and wants to keep it and has offered to pay for neutering it out of his pocket money.
On a brighter note my wife rang this morning to say it was nibbling hay. I don't know if this is a good sign or if it is so hungry it's eating anything it can find. We put fresh grass, hay, rabbit food and fresh vegetable off cuts and peelings in every day as the mother rabbit eats like a proverbial horse!
I hope 'runty' survives as my eldest lad (who has just started secondary school so usually is too big and cool to be bothered about the rabbits) is the one out there every evening after school checking on it, and wants to keep it and has offered to pay for neutering it out of his pocket money.
These links may add useful info:
https://www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/top-navigation/w...
http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?3...
I will keep my fingers crossed!
https://www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/top-navigation/w...
http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?3...
I will keep my fingers crossed!
Sorry, I never came back to finish this thread which is annoying when people are good enough to offer advice.
The litter of seven all survived. Five have gone to new homes, 'Runty' and one of her sisters have stayed with mum and dad rabbit. She is the same size as her sister now and is fit and healthy, and living in a ginormous dog cage in the utlity room as my wife felt sorry for them outside in the cold.
The rabbits are out running around the living room most days, the cat gives them a wide berth and disappears upstairs when they're out.
The litter of seven all survived. Five have gone to new homes, 'Runty' and one of her sisters have stayed with mum and dad rabbit. She is the same size as her sister now and is fit and healthy, and living in a ginormous dog cage in the utlity room as my wife felt sorry for them outside in the cold.
The rabbits are out running around the living room most days, the cat gives them a wide berth and disappears upstairs when they're out.
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