When do baby rabbits eat solid food


Diet for Young/Baby Rabbits

Rabbit House > Rabbit Diet & Nutrition >

What you feed you rabbit has a big impact on their health and well-being. Feeding the correct diet to a young rabbit will support their growth and help them form good eating habits, which in turn will help avoid many diet related issues in adulthood.

Although young rabbits eat the same types of foods as adults, we need to take into account the different nutritional needs of their growing bodies and the extra sensitivity of their developing digestive system.

Baby rabbits' diet

Like all mammals rabbit's initial diet is their mother's milk, which they'll continue to drink until 6-8 weeks old. They first start nibbling on solids (usually hay from around the nest) between 2-3 weeks and by 3-4 they'll be eating the same foods as their mum (plus milk).

As rabbits are weaning between 6-8 weeks their digestive system is adjusting from milk to adult solids, which is a particularly sensitive time and why rabbits should stay with their mother for a minimum of 8 weeks. If your rabbit is younger than 8 weeks: one, never get a rabbit from that source again they shouldn't be selling them, and two, you'll need to be particularly careful about your bunny's diet and try to avoid any changes.

Consistency

One of the key points in feeding any young rabbit is consistency. Baby's digestive systems are much more sensitive to changes in food and they are more susceptible to digestive related problems and can go downhill more quickly if they do get sick. Moving home is already a stressful time for a young rabbit so it is best to avoid changes to food at the same time.

When you get a rabbit you should ask exactly what food your baby has been eating and make sure you get a supply of the same brand food to start you off. In most cases it will do less harm to continue temporarily with a bad diet e.g. low quality pellets or mix, rather than make a sudden change to a 'good' diet.

If you don't know what your rabbit was fed prior to you getting it or you can't get hold of a supply then the safest option is to start with just hay and water. You can then introduce the other components to their diet gradually.

Ideal diet for young rabbits

The diet of young rabbits and adults is very similar. Hay is the most important component and this is supplemented with dry food (pellets) and fresh foods. There are a few extra considerations for young rabbits though.

Hay

Like adults, hay should play an important role in young rabbit's diet. Grass hay (e.g. meadow or timothy) is the one food you should introduce from the start, even if your rabbit isn't already eating it. This is the gentlest food on the gut and will provide the fibre needed for the digestive process to function.

Young rabbits can also have alfalfa, which looks a bit like chopped up hay but is made from lucerne rather than grass. It is higher in calcium and protein than grass hay, which is ideal for growing rabbits but too rich for adults.

If you are feeding alfalfa it's a good idea to feed it mixed with grass hay. This stops your rabbits getting so hooked on alfalfa that it's difficult to make the transition to grass hay when they reach adulthood. You should phase out alfalfa at around 4-5 months old.

Learn more about types of hay here

Dry Food

Baby rabbits have higher protein requirements to support their growth, so whilst an adult requires dry food around 12-14% protein, for a baby rabbit around 16% protein is ideal. Many manufactures offer junior versions of their foods specifically formulated with this in mind.

The most popular brands in the UK are Supreme and Burgess. Allen & Page is only available in large bags, aimed at breeders rather than people feeding one or two bunnies. Oxbow is also a good brand and very popular in the US, it's more expensive in the UK as it's imported.

BrandFibreProteinIngredientsCost
Supreme Science Selective Junior Rabbit 19% 17% Alfalfa, wheat, soybean hulls... £3.13 for 1.5kg (£2.09 / kg)
Burgess Excel - Junior and Dwarf 17% 16% Grass, Oat Bran, Wheat. .. £8.50 for 2kg (£4.25 per kg)
Allen & Page Breeder Grower 18% 15% Grass meal wheatfeed, oat feed, nutritionally improved straw... £16 for 20kg (80p/kg)
Oxbow Essentials/Bunny Basics - Young Rabbit Food 22-25% 15% Alfalfa Meal, Soybean Hulls, Wheat Middlings... £11.55 for 2.25kg (£5.13 per kg)

It's also possible to meet young rabbit's protein needs simply by feeding a larger portion of adult pellets, but it's important to ensure they don't eat fill up on pellets and avoid hay.

Should I feed unlimited pellets?

It's suggested in some books that young rabbits be given unlimited access to pellets but doing this can create issues later on.

As with people, good habits are often formed when young, and it is very important for your rabbit's future health that they get into the habit of eating lots of hay. It's much more difficult to introduce hay to an adult that has not grown up eating it. Pellets are extremely tasty and rabbits often prefer them to hay, so having unlimited pellets available can mean young rabbits eat little or no hay, a habit that can cause dental problems and make them more prone to digestive issues.

Pellets were designed for commercial breeders to make rabbits grow quickly, but in this situation little attention was given to the long term health or lifespan. Remember, wild rabbits grow up just fine on a diet exclusively plant material. Unlimited pellets are not necessary to rabbit's development.

For these reasons, it's a good idea to restrict pellets to a certain extent even in young rabbits, although they can have more than an adult.

How much dry food?

It's difficult to give an exact quantity because it will depend on the nutritional content of the pellets (high or low protein), your individual rabbit's growth, what other foods they are eating (e. g. alfalfa) and their activity levels. I also know though, it's difficult to estimate, particularly if you're a first time owner so as a rough guide 25g per 1kg of expected adult weight for high protein pellets and a little more if you are feeding adult pellets. You can split the feed into two so they are spread out over the day/night.

With this as a basis you can observe your rabbit and adjust if necessary. If your rabbit is active and healthy looking, and eating lots of hay you have it about right. If they are not eating much hay or produce soft droppings then reduce the quantity.

Changing dry food

Changes to dry food brands or varieties need to be done gradually over 7-10 days, by gradually reducing the amount of old food and increasing the new. If you have enough of the old food, it's a good idea to allow your rabbit to settle in before making a change, even if the old food isn't great quality.

If you don't have any of the old food, then just gradually introduce the new food over the same period, gradually building up the quantity over 7-10 days. Your rabbit will top up on hay in the interim.

Fresh Foods

When can a baby rabbit have fresh foods?

If you read some old books you might find it suggested that rabbits are not given any fresh foods until they are 6 months old. This is an over simplified approach that came about because people would buy young rabbits, often at an age when they should still be with their mum, take them home and feed them things like carrot or lettuce, and then find that they become ill with digestive problems. Telling people not to give any fresh foods was easy to remember and helped bypass these issues.

However, providing you follow a few simple rules, it's fine to introduce fresh foods to young rabbits.

If a rabbit's mother was fed fresh foods whilst she was raising the litter, your baby will have been nibbling those too and it's fine to continue providing these same foods. The key is to ask what your rabbit is used to and continue that - consistency.

If your rabbit has not access to fresh foods before, then allow them to settle in before introducing new foods so you aren't making lots of changes at an already stressful time. Twelve weeks or two weeks after you've got your bunny, whichever is later, is a good guide. If your rabbit has had any digestive issues then hold off a little longer.

Introducing fresh foods

New fresh foods need to be introduced slowly so your rabbit's gut bacteria can adapt to processing the new food. It's a good idea to introduce one type of food at a time, then if your rabbit is sensitive to one type it's easy to identify and avoid in future.

If you find your rabbit's droppings change from their normal solid round pellets, this is a sign that you may be going too fast or that particular food doesn't agree with them. Stopping the fresh foods for a few days should return them to normal.

What fresh foods for a baby rabbit?

Leafy greens, except lettuce, are best for rabbits for example dandelion leaves, carrot tops, kale, spinach, spring greens, raspberry/blackberry leaves and herbs such as parsley and basil. For young rabbits first introduction to greens it's best to avoid fruits, though these can be introduced as treats later.

Start with small pieces e.g. 2" square as a test as build up the amount and variety gradually.

Problems

Keep an eye on your rabbit's droppings, changes in these are generally the first sign that you've gone a little fast with introducing new foods. The most common problem is excess cecotropes - the type of dropping that rabbits usually eat. They are soft and can end up stick the fur or squidged on the floor. They are usually resolved by cutting out fresh foods and reducing dry food for a couple of days so your rabbit eats plenty of hay.

If your rabbit stops producing droppings, refuses food or has watery droppings seek immediate veterinary advice. Young rabbits are very fragile and can become very sick in a matter of hours.

Transitioning to an Adult Diet

Rabbit's grow most rapidly in the first three months of life. At four months you should begin reducing pellets, and if you are feeding a higher protein pellets changing over to adult pellets. If you've fed alfalfa, it's also time to start decreasing this in favour of grass hay. Your rabbit should be on an adult ration by 6-7 months old. Giant breed rabbits mature more slowly and do more growing than small ones so you may want to delay by a month for breeds like Giants and French Lops. Rabbit's will continue to growing at a much slower rate for a few more months, filling out rather than getting larger.



What To Feed Baby Rabbits — Rabbit Care Tips

The first six months of a rabbit’s life are pivotal to their long-term health. At this key stage of their development, a rabbit is constantly growing. Their diet needs to reflect this fact. Ensuring that your baby rabbit is sufficiently nourished will mean healthy bones and muscle mass into adulthood.

Hay and water are essential foods. Baby rabbits need more protein, so give them pellets and alfalfa hay. Your rabbit should be weaned. If not, use kitten or goat milk to imitate their mother’s milk.

Make sure that you get a baby rabbit into good eating habits. It’s tempting to overfeed young rabbits, but this can lead to obesity in later life. When their growth spurts subside, your rabbit needs less protein and more fiber. We will explain what the optimal diet plan for a baby rabbit is. You should also read our comprehensive guide to caring for baby rabbits.

New owners are sometimes surprised to learn what baby rabbits eat. Excessive carrots and iceberg lettuce can cause health issues. Instead, domesticated rabbits mainly sustain themselves on hay.

This replicates the experience of wild bunnies, which graze on grass all day. It would be impossible to provide a pet rabbit with enough grass to sustain itself. Hay is a substitute, and pet rabbits munch on it throughout the day.

In addition to hay, rabbits enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables and specialist pellets. The former must be offered sparingly. Too many vegetables can cause a stomach upset.

Pellets are also optional once a rabbit reaches adulthood. Pellets are critical for young and baby rabbits, as they provide a range of vitamins and nutrients. They’re also calorific. Pellets must be reduced in quantity as the rabbit gets older. Don’t panic if your rabbit has stopped eating pellets.

Hydration is also just as important to a rabbit. Bunnies must always have access to fresh water. You can provide this in a bowl, or a bottle that’s attached to their hutch.

What to Feed Pet Rabbits

The three core elements of a rabbit’s diet are pellets, hay, and fresh vegetables. If we were to draw a diagram of a bunny’s needs, hay would be at the base as the most critical.

This is because a rabbit’s digestive tract is engineered to process the fiber found in grass. There are several different types of hay available, each with slightly different qualities.

  • Grass Hay (aka Meadow Hay or Timothy Hay). This is the most popular hay feed among rabbit owners. This hay is fresh grass that has been cut and dried out. This means that it replicates a wild rabbit’s diet.
  • Oat Hay. This hay is made up of oat grass, which is harvested before blooming. Once the oat blooms, this hay no longer contains any nutritional value for a rabbit. It can be used as bedding, though.
  • Alfalfa Hay. This is a little different; it’s a legume, rather than grass. Alfalfa hay is usually fed to larger animals. It contains more protein and calcium than other hays, so it leads to weight gain.

Pellets are considered to be an essential part of a rabbit’s diet. Many claim that pellets are unnecessary for adult rabbits though, and are just empty calories.

If your rabbit is looking overweight, pellets should be sacrificed. Adult rabbits can happily sustain themselves on hay alone. Pellets are essential for helping a young rabbit grow, though.

These should always be kept as a treat, especially fruit. Rabbits love sweet tastes, so they enjoy berries, raisins, parsnips, and carrots. Their bodies are not designed to process carbs, though.

A rabbit can enjoy a tablespoon of fresh fruit and vegetables for every 2 lbs. of their body weight.

Again, an overweight rabbit should not receive any fruit and veg for a while. Rabbits do not necessarily need these to flourish. They’ll get all the vitamins they need from hay.

Baby Rabbit Feeding Guide

Young bunnies need to eat more, as they are continually growing. Baby rabbits also use food to stay warm ahead of the first shedding of their fur. Here’s some info on when baby rabbits get fur.

The diet of baby rabbits adjusts steadily as they grow. They’ll start eating solid hay at around 2 weeks of age. This will be supplemented by milk from their mother, though. By the time they reach 4 weeks, baby rabbits eat pellets and hay.

Feed alfalfa hay to a baby rabbit. The protein and calcium found within will help them grow strong muscles and bones. Also mix in some standard hay, though. This will make the transition easier when your rabbit reaches adulthood.

You should also ensure that you pick up pellets designed especially for young rabbits. These will provide everything that a growing bunny needs.

Whatever you decide to feed your baby rabbit, keep it consistent. Any bunny is sensitive to changes in diet, but young rabbits are especially so. Don’t chop and change unless it’s strictly necessary.

Baby Rabbit Food List

Before you even bring your rabbit home, you should pull together a shopping list. Healthy food for baby rabbits is pivotal, so don’t make any best guesses after their arrival.

You’ll need to buy hay in advance. Prioritize alfalfa hay, but get some traditional meadow hay too. Your bunny cannot eat alfalfa hay forever, so don’t let them get too attached to the taste.

You’ll also need pellets. Have a chat with a clerk in your local pet store, and get the ideal pellets for your bunny. There will be numerous options, tailored to different life stages.

Avoid the temptation to buy a huge bag of pellets. You may be told that baby rabbits can eat unlimited pellets. Pellets can grow moldy quite quickly. Smaller bags are preferred.

Pellets

It’s advisable to make pellets part of your baby rabbit’s meal plan. These will help your young bunny grow up happy and healthy. Both quality and quantity should be carefully managed, though.

Tread carefully around claims that baby rabbits can eat unlimited pellets. In theory, this is correct. The ever-growing body of a bunny will cope with the calories consumed while they’re so young.

All the same, this is teaching your bunny bad habits. They’ll grow accustomed to having a constant supply of pellets. If you remove this option as an adult, they’ll grow distressed. It’s better to teach a young rabbit to enjoy hay early.

Also, ensure that you pick up the highest quality pellets possible. They should make up at least 22% fiber. Protein should not amount to more than 14%. Avoid anything with more than 1% calcium, as this can be harmful.

Don’t be tempted by muesli-based pellets. These will be tastier, as they contain nuts and seeds. A baby rabbit will pick out the nutrient-deficient fun ingredients, and ignore the rest.

Hay

Alfalfa hay is ideal for baby rabbits. For the first months of their life, a rabbit will enjoy the protein in this hay. As pellets also contain alfalfa, your baby bunny will be in good health.

Even though alfalfa hay is good for baby rabbits, it shouldn’t be all they have. Aim for a ratio of around 60:40, mixing alfalfa with traditional grass hay. This will make the eventual transition to meadow hay only less jarring.

Another thing to remember is that your rabbit’s hutch will be filled with hay. They’ll sleep on it, and generally surround themselves with the substance. This also means that your rabbit will pee and poop in their hay.

As baby bunnies have immature brains and bladders, they take a while to be litter trained. This needs to be handled with care. Urine can turn hay moldy, and moldy hay is toxic to rabbits. Clean their hutch regularly.

It’s vital that your baby rabbit sees hay as a source of pleasure. Get them into the habit of grazing on hay as early as possible. Incorporate it into playtime, and exercise.

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

In the past, popular opinion dictated that baby rabbits should not be fed fresh food. This is because young bunnies have particularly sensitive digestive tracts. The truth is, fresh fruit and vegetables are fine in moderation.

The misconception that fresh vegetables are dangerous to baby bunnies arose through a lack of education. Feeding a rabbit of any age-inappropriate vegetables will cause stomach upsets. A bunny needs time to adjust to dietary changes.

When bringing home a baby rabbit, learn what fresh food their mother enjoyed. Once the bunny reached 4 weeks of age, they would have nibbled on these vegetables too. Their stomachs will be able to cope with them in small doses.

Fresh vegetables will also help a young rabbit manage the size of their teeth. Rabbit teeth never stop growing. By crunching on tough, solid vegetables, they’ll be filed down.

Fruit is best avoided in baby rabbits, unless used as training treats. Offer small amounts of vegetable as a treat, once your bunny has eaten sufficient hay.

Should I Give a Baby Rabbit Meat?

Meat must be avoided. While baby bunnies need protein, they don’t need meat. They’ll suffer from an excess of protein, and experience stomach upsets as a result.

Your rabbit may develop a taste for meat. A little won’t kill them, but it will make them uncomfortable. A rabbit’s digestion is engineered to process fiber, not protein. The older they get, the more problematic this will become.

Rabbits are herbivores. They do not want or need to eat meat. Babies are no exception to this rule.

Can Baby Rabbits Drink Water?

Baby rabbits can drink water. It should be actively encouraged.

Rabbits will start to hydrate from their mother’s water source at around 3 weeks old. As baby bunnies eat more dry food, water becomes particularly important. They need to hydrate regularly to stay healthy.

It’s vital to learn how your baby rabbit enjoys drinking. Some bunnies find water bottles fun. Others would rather lap from a bowl. Encourage your pet to drink in whatever way they prefer.

If you use a bowl, ensure that it’s heavy and shallow. Baby rabbits are playful and curious. They will splash around in water if they can. This can turn their hay moldy, and wet rabbits suffer a drop in body temperature.

Can Baby Rabbits Drink Cow Milk?

Baby rabbits drink milk from their mother’s until they’re 8 weeks old. A bunny should never be separated from their mother before this. If you’re offered a rabbit younger than 8 weeks by a breeder, walk away.

If you must provide a rabbit with milk, don’t use cow milk. This is too dense in calcium. The closest equivalent is kitten milk. Warm goat milk will be suitable in a pinch.

Rabbit milk contains more calories than kitten milk, though. As a result, mix in a tablespoon of sugar-free heavy cream. Baby bunnies should be fed milk twice a day.

Also, don’t forget that baby rabbits are not sustained on milk alone. Once they reach 2 weeks, they also need water and solids. Failing to provide these will leave a rabbit malnourished.

How Can I Tell if My Baby Rabbit’s Diet is Healthy?

Young rabbits need to nap regularly, but they’ll be energetic in between. If your young rabbit is lethargic, it may be due to dietary deficiency.

Another way to check on a rabbit’s condition is their droppings. Rabbit poop is a fine way to assess your bunny’s digestive health. Rabbit’s produce two types of poop:

  • Pellets, which will be littered throughout their cage.
  • Cecotropes, which are bunches of fecal matter that the rabbit eats.

A healthy poop pellet will be light brown, and will crumble when picked up. If your rabbit’s feces pellets are dark, it suggests they’re eating too much protein.

Diarrhea in a baby rabbit is a medical emergency. This condition can be fatal in hours. Administer the first aid suggested by the University of Miami, and make an urgent vet appointment.

My Baby Rabbit Eats Too Fast

This is nothing to worry about. Even if it leads to hiccups, these will pass in a short period of time.

The main reason that baby rabbits eat quickly is food insecurity. Until they get into a strict routine, bunnies worry about when they’ll be fed. They’ll guzzle food in case they don’t receive any more.

Rabbits that share a hutch are particularly likely to eat fast. They’ll be worried that another, older bunny will eat their share otherwise.

Also, remember that baby rabbits are always growing. This means that they’ll be hungry pretty much constantly. Once they establish a routine, they’ll calm down.

My Baby Rabbit is Not Feeding

If your baby rabbit is refusing to eat, it’s essential to find out why. A rabbit not eating at any age is worrying. This goes double when the bunny is young.

A young rabbit eating less as they reach adulthood is not as concerning. As they grow older, rabbits need fewer calories. They may take to eating more hay than pellets. This is a good thing. Don’t let them eat too much alfalfa hay, though.

You should also check that your bunny is not just being stubborn. If you have changed their diet, they may be holding out for a favorite. This needs to be managed carefully.

Baby rabbits need to eat, but if you cave too quickly, you’re setting a dangerous precedent. They’ll refuse to eat anything that doesn’t like into adulthood.

Move the bowl around in the first instance. If a rabbit feels a draught, it will put them off eating. Food that’s too close to a preferred elimination spot will also deter a bunny from eating. Rabbit pee has an overpowering smell.

Also, ensure that your baby rabbit is not anxious. Being separated from their mother and siblings can be distressing. Offer plenty of TLC and a welcoming home environment to help your bunny settle.

Spaying or neutering young rabbits also leads to behavioral changes. Your bunny may temporarily lose their appetite. This should pass quickly. Observe them, and take action is necessary.

Alternative Food for Baby Rabbits

If your baby rabbit is refusing to eat, you’ll need to offer the formula. This is often easier said than done. Seek professional help to ensure your bunny is sufficiently nourished.

Use kitten or goat milk if you cannot source rabbit-specific milk. Zooh Corner recommends feeding milk at the following quantities, at least twice a day. If your rabbit will not eat hay or pellets, they’ll need more:

  • 1 – 2 Weeks of Age – 10 – 15 cubic cm
  • 2 – 3 Weeks of Age – 15 – 30 cubic cm
  • 3 – 8 Weeks of Age – 30 cubic cm

You can pick up a syringe to provide this milk from a pet store. Many baby rabbits will not take to this, though. Bunny-savvy suppliers will stock a product called the Miracle Nipple. This imitates the nursing experience.

This is not a permanent solution, though. You must learn why your rabbit is not eating, and resolve the issue.

Feeding a baby rabbit is largely similar to nourishing an adult equivalent. Young bunnies eat more, and show more interest in pellets.

What’s most important is that you get your rabbit into good habits surrounding food. Like any animal, a rabbit’s formative experiences will play a significant role in their adult persona.

Help a rabbit eat appropriately while they’re young, and they’ll reach adulthood in a healthy condition. From there, you can enjoy a long and happy relationship.

How and what to feed rabbits. Alternative Method

Rabbits are voracious rodents that not only breed actively, but also eat a lot and often (up to 30 times a day.) Their physiological needs require them to constantly gnaw on solid food, thereby grinding down actively growing front incisors. The breeder should ensure that rabbits have a wide variety of foods rich in fiber, vitamins and macronutrients. A properly structured diet is very important, in which the animals can actively grow and gain weight well, have beautiful thick hair, and most importantly, be healthy and always ready for the continuous birth of offspring.

Content:

1. Types of consistency feed
1.1 Green Feed
1.2 Cross Feed
1.3 Concentrated Feed
1.4 Juicy Feed

2. Feeding technology 9,0003 4. Traditional horses feeding (types and stages and stages maturation)
5. Alternative feeding method

1 Types of feed by consistency

The nutritional composition for rabbits is quite simple, but should be quite varied in order to satisfy the body with various elements. Breeders can collect one of the types of feed, mow it in the fields and gardens in the summer, and buy another very significant part ready-made. Make it simple. Must see Catalog of announcements of grain RF and place an order.

1.1 Greens

Forms the main part of the animal's diet (especially during the warm period), as it can easily be found in abundance at this time. The main herbs are nettle, clover, dandelion, alfalfa, dill, burdock, sow thistle and couch grass, wormwood and yarrow. If possible, you can specially plant several beds with oats and wheat, peas and alfalfa. Their tender and fiber-rich sprouts are very popular with rabbits. If this is not possible, then make a reserve and buy peas in bulk and even, more rarely found in our beds , buy lentils in bulk to last longer.

The tops of root crops (beets, carrots, garlic, cabbage), leaves and stems of sunflower, corn and legumes will supplement the green diet.

Important! To avoid digestive problems in animals, the grass should be given slightly dried.

1.2 Roughage

An important part of the diet. The main component of roughage:

  • Hay . From autumn to spring, when the green mass is already moving away, then hay comes to replace it. It is the main source of fiber and gives energy to animals. In the process of digestion, heat is released, which warms in cold weather. Hay is dry, mowed grass in summer. It should be of good quality, without moldy lumps. Hay is introduced into the diet from 18 days of age. The norm for a baby is from 20g, which is brought to 200g by three months. Adults eat 300, and lactating females - 400g. Hay of meadow and forest grasses will be used, but bean hay has a higher nutritional value, as it contains more protein.

Help! Properly mowed and dried hay has a green color and a pleasant meadow aroma. The grass that is harvested for storage must be mowed before the plant blooms and dried in the shade.

  • Straw. This type of roughage is not rightfully considered unsuitable for food. Straw can be more than just bedding, as rabbits eat it well and love it. If you give straw that goes into food, then make sure that it is clean and has a healthy sheen. Barley, pea and oat straws are especially loved by animals, but keep in mind that oatmeal weakens digestion, and barley has the opposite effect. It is possible to replace 20-25% of hay with straw. It is given in crushed form.
  • Tree branches. Add to hay. The bark is eaten from the branches. Branch feed replaces hay up to 50–60%. Rabbits like to eat brooms of deciduous trees harvested in summer (willows, aspens, birches), but coniferous branches occupy a special place in the diet in cold weather. They are an additional source of vitamins. One kg of pine needles contains 60 mg of carotene. Branches with a diameter of up to 1 cm should be chosen. It is better to store them tied in brooms, which are dried in the shade. Rabbits eat all the branches and buds of hardwood trees without a trace.

1.3 Concentrated food

Must be present in the diet at any time of the year, as it contains an increased amount of carbohydrates, fat and protein. High calorific value in the following plants:

  • Cereals. The most used of cereals is oats ( buy wholesale oats ), wheat, barley and corn, but you should not give preference to only one of the types. Each cereal has its own benefits and vitamin composition, so you need to either alternate their intake or mix.
  • Legumes. An indispensable source of protein, so actively introduce rabbits into the diet and stock up on valuable complementary foods by purchasing wholesale chickpeas and soybeans from trusted suppliers.
  • Compound feed . This is a mixture of cereals and legumes, with the addition of vitamins (A, D, E, iron, zinc and copper) and even antibiotics. The use of combined mixtures in the diet is very convenient, so many breeders and farms are switching to it. There are different options for mixing components. Its composition changes for the most rational feeding of animals and depends on age, conditions of keeping, feeding regimen and fattening technology.

1.4 Succulent

This species is so named because the forage vegetation contains 70 to 90% water. Rich in juice:

  • Vegetables. Potatoes are given in the form of peels or boiled tubers. They are kneaded and mixed with other food. Potatoes are rich in starch, which is quickly absorbed and digested well. Pumpkin and carrots, in crushed form, are included in the daily diet of all individuals, regardless of age and gender. Beets (sugar or fodder) are indispensable, as they increase the immunity of animals and improve blood counts. It is paired with bean hay. Forage cabbage, Jerusalem artichoke well diversifies the diet of pets. They eat these vegetables well both boiled and fresh, and sauerkraut.
  • Silo . It is made from meadow herbs and vegetable tops, by fermentation. The raw materials are crushed and densely laid in barrels, in which this process takes place. It is necessary to store silage according to a special technology, otherwise the contents of the barrels will be covered with mold, rot and become unsuitable for consumption.

2 Feeding regimen

In farms, feeding is more common in the morning and evening. In homesteads, where the number of individuals is less, one more meal is added, and lactating females are fed up to 5 times. In winter, the first meal is at 8 o'clock and the interval between feedings is 4 hours, and in summer it shifts 2 hours ahead, since it gets light earlier, then you need to start feeding at 6 o'clock.

In winter and late autumn, in the morning and in the evening, give 1/2 portion of compound feed (grain) and the same amount of silage. In order to always have something to feed the household, you need to buy spelled or buckwheat in bulk in advance and be calm about your pets. At 4 o'clock it is better to feed vegetables. In the spring-summer season, we start and end the day with dry food (50%) and grass. We divide the daily portion of greens into 3 parts and bring in at each feeding.

This diet contributes to the rapid increase in body weight in rabbits. The presence of warm drinking water is very important (especially in cold weather), so we monitor it constantly.

3 Feeding technologies

There are three fattening methods based on two technologies:

  1. Broiler . It is used in those farms that specialize in fattening rabbits for meat. One cycle lasts 90 days. Throughout the entire period, rabbits live in the same cage with their mother and are breastfed, so their meat has an excellent taste and high nutritional value. By the end of the period, the animal reaches a weight of 3-4 kg. This weight is enough to send the young for slaughter, and transplant the rabbit to the male in order to continue breeding. One female per year is able to give birth and feed 24 cubs.
  2. Plain . Used on medium-sized backyards and small farms. With this method of fattening, young individuals are separated from the mother after 60 days. The full cycle increases from 90 days to 180 and the weight of the carcass becomes from 4 to 6 kg. This method of fattening is good for those farmers who keep rabbits not for meat, but for the sale of skins. Meat with such fattening does not have a high nutritional value.
  3. Mixed . It is advisable to introduce in large and medium-sized farms that contain more than two hundred rabbits.

Table of fattening recipes

The diet of rabbits going to slaughter differs from the diet of ordinary rabbits. The approximate power supply is presented below in the table:

Type of feed/season

Summer/per day

Winter/per day

Conclusions

Conclusions

Conclusive

80

Bone flour or chalk

1 g

1 g

4 Traditional feeding of rabbits 9000

to traditional types of rabbits from the moment of birth and up to the age Early (fast). It suffers from the quality of the product. Takes 70 days.

  • Medium (best). Cycle of 90 days.
  • Long (continuous). About 120 days. Most often used in households.
  • Growth stages

    Intensive growth of rabbits - from birth to 4 weeks. At this time, body weight from 40-80 g increases 10 times. Starting from the 5th week and up to 2 months, rabbits put on weight. Then there is a gradual slowdown in growth. The optimal age of the animal for slaughter is 85-90 days.

    The diet of rabbits differs according to their age. Rabbits from birth and up to 2 weeks eat only mother's milk. Complementary foods can be introduced after about 3 weeks. By this time they already have teeth, they are able to chew rough food. They begin to give grass twice a week (dried).

    Mash, hay and grass are administered 1 month after birth. At three months, a rabbit is able to digest all the food available to an adult. The ratio of feed types can be seen in the table.

    Type of feed/age

    1-2 months

    3-4 months

    5-7 months

    The percentage of protein digestion in rabbits depends on the type of feed. Roughage is digested by 50-70%, green by 60-85%, root crops by 80%, and cereals (buy wholesale barley) and bran by 70-80%. It is important to remember that protein absorption is highly dependent on crude fiber intake, which must be included in the diet.

    The bottom line is that grains and legumes are rich in protein and are well absorbed by the rabbit's digestive system. Once in the digestive tract, proteins break down into amino acids, and they help create proteins, which are so necessary for rapid weight gain and active growth of the rabbit's body.

    In the traditional approach to feeding, the recommended amount of protein per 100g is 10-12g, while in the alternative it is different.

    Pregnant and lactating rabbits.

    15-18gr.

    Baby rabbits up to 4 months old.

    15-18gr.

    Females at rest.

    12-13 gr.

    Repair rabbits.

    12-13 gr.

    We conclude that the proper nutrition of rabbits is of major importance in their breeding. When taking on the development of this promising area of ​​farming, it is worth considering a number of factors. It is important to correctly compose a diet, not forgetting to take into account all the nuances, of which there are quite a lot.

    Basic useful information can be obtained from information sources, ask experienced breeders, and most importantly, dare and not be afraid. Rabbits are grateful animals. Follow the feeding norms, diet, maintenance rules and they will grow and be fruitful for your joy and profit.

    Why the rabbit eats its rabbits

    Content

    • 1 Artificial feeding rabbits by age
      • 1.1 from birth to 5 days
      • 1.2 from 6 to 14 days
      • 1.3 from 15 to 30 days
    • 2 What actions are what steps what actions if the female scattered the cubs?
    • 3 Maternal instinct
      • 3.1 Why does a female leave her babies?
      • 3.2 Why does a female rabbit kill or eat her offspring?
      • 3.3 Why does the rabbit scatter the babies?
    • 4 The attitude of the female rabbit to the birth
    • 5 Why does the female rabbit scatter the young?
    • 6 Maternal instinct for rabbit
    • 7 reasons for eating
    • 8 Why the rabbit scattered the newborn rabbits
    • 9 What to do
      • 9.1 Sitter to another uterus
      • 9.2 Artificial fed for
      6 by age

      At each age, rabbits require their own feeding schedule. The frequency is adjusted according to the speed of digestion of food. Appetite increases with the growing body. By the end of the first week, babies are already able to overeat, so following the rules is necessary for their health. Until the 30th day, the diet consists only of milk.

      Only milk is included in the diet for up to a month

      From birth to day 5

      A newly born baby rabbit is given literally 1 drop of liquid. During the day, the number of drops is increased gradually in 5-6 visits.

      The animal does not yet have a good swallowing reflex, so special care is needed. From the second day it is enough to feed 4-5 times. By the end of the period, the baby should double its birth weight (120-180 g for different breeds)

      On the fifth day food is given 4 times

      By the end of the period, the baby should double its birth weight (120-180 g for different breeds). On the fifth day, food is given 4 times.

      Pipetting

      Days 6 to 14

      From day 6, young rabbits are fed three times a day. This mode lasts up to 2 weeks of life. During this time, the weight of the babies reaches 200-260 g. Portions gradually grow along with the animals.

      Syringe teat

      Days 15 to 30

      On days 15 and 16, individuals are transferred to a two-time diet. They observe their behavior, if there is not enough food, add a little mixture in the form of a third feeding. From the 17th day onwards, portions become impressive, the body prepares for the adult regimen, so two feedings do not exceed. By day 30, the rabbits weigh about 500 g. Depending on the breed, the weight may be slightly less or more. Weaning from the nipple begins by the end of the third week. Early maturing species are often ready for the introduction of other products already on the 20-25th day. Readiness can be tracked by the behavior and condition of the teeth. When milk teeth are almost completely replaced by molars, interest in solid food wakes up, the animal is transferred to a new food.

      Baby rabbit drinks milk from a bottle

      Increase the amount of milk as it grows. The larger the breed, the larger the single serving.

      Feeding rate per 1 individual per day (for 1 feeding)
      1-7 days 5 ml (1 ml)
      8-14 days 20 ml (5 ml)
      15-20 days 20-26 ml (10-13 ml)
      21-30 days 30-50 ml (15-25 ml)

      What should be done if the female scattered her cubs?

      What can be done to prevent this behavior of a new mother?

      And you need to start from the cage where the rabbit will give birth. It should not have any drafts and be warm enough, but not hot. If rabbits are kept outside, in winter the cage and mother liquor need to be additionally insulated, and in summer, on the contrary, provide shade and good ventilation. The bedding should be soft and thick enough to provide the female with enough nest material. About a week before the planned date of birth, the cage must be thoroughly washed and disinfected.

      It is not recommended to breed rabbits in late autumn (October to November). Firstly, this will lead to littering during the coldest time of the year, and secondly, the sexual activity of these domestic animals during this period is at its lowest level.

      What to feed? Approximately seven days before the planned birth, the proportion of concentrates in the diet should be increased, and immediately after childbirth, the content of green and succulent feed or hay should be increased in it if there is no greenery for weather reasons.

      She will quickly calm down and return to her motherly duties.

      Immediately after birth, the offspring should be examined. Stillborn and non-viable weak rabbits must be removed from the nest. Before examining the offspring, it is necessary to thoroughly wash your hands with laundry soap so that the human smell does not remain on the cubs. If there is no urgent need, try not to look into the nest and not touch the babies.

      In order for a mother to adopt other people's cubs, their age must match the age of her own offspring. In addition, before laying someone else's offspring, the female should be removed from the cage for a while. Then, strangers' rabbits are taken only with cleanly washed hands (some rabbit breeders advise rubbing their hands with wormwood), thoroughly cleaned of the remnants of bedding and fluff, and placed in a new nest (best of all, mixed with "native" rabbits). Within twenty to thirty minutes they will pick up from the "neighbors" from the smell, and then you can return the mother to the nest. In this case, she most often mistakes the foundlings for her children.

      Natural goat's milk or a mixture of cow's milk with condensed milk (1:1) is best suited for such feeding. Initially, rabbits are fed with a finger, then with a pipette, and after twenty days they can already drink from a saucer on their own.

      References:

      • A.P. Soldiers. Fundamentals of animal husbandry. - 3rd ed. — M.: Agropromizdat, 1988.
      • Livestock // Great Soviet Encyclopedia: / ch. ed. A. M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978. (Retrieved April 5, 2012)
      • Livestock - Wikipedia
      • Animal husbandry // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.

      Maternal instinct

      Maternal instinct is the desire of one representative of the species to protect another weaker relative. Usually under this concept lies maternal behavior, where the female individual strives to protect her offspring with all her might. The instinct is manifested both in all representatives of mammals, and in birds or fish.

      Most females are good mothers, they take care of their offspring, take part in the development of newborn cubs. But it doesn't always happen that way. It happens that the female begins to ignore or even kill the babies

      Common reasons for the disappearance of the maternal instinct in rabbits include stress, a bad nest, noise, excessive attention, strong odors, and other animals. We will talk about this in more detail later.

      Why does a female leave her babies?

      Very often this happens to juveniles. A couple of days after birth, the young mother begins to ignore the rabbits. She may be anxious, not approach the offspring, and even scatter the rabbits around the cage. A possible reason for this is the early onset of the hunt, which encourages the mother to show aggression and indifference to the offspring, she can trample the babies. In this case, covering with a rabbit that is incapable of bearing children can help. Usually after that, after a couple of days, she returns to her duties.

      The young age of a mother is dangerous for her offspring because she still does not fully understand what has happened to her. She can take out postpartum stress on her rabbits. Watching the video should explain some additional aspects of this problem.

      Why does a female rabbit kill or eat her offspring?

      Why a rabbit eats baby rabbits can be quite difficult to understand. This is a rare occurrence in rabbit breeding, but it does occur. Most often, the female does not eat the entire offspring, but only gnaws on the rabbits.

      It is worth paying attention to how the rabbit eats rabbits. Pay attention to the nature of eating bodies

      She can do this in three ways.

      • In the belly area. The young individual tries to gnaw through the umbilical cord and mistakenly bites the baby on the stomach.
      • In the area of ​​the head. Usually occurs when an inexperienced mother tried to clear the cub from the shell.
      • Missing ears or limbs indicate that the mother tried to pull the baby rabbit out with her teeth, but could not help him.

      From the video "Peculiarities of motherhood in rabbits" you will learn a lot of interesting things.

      The usual situation for rabbits is spontaneous abortion. After such a round, she simply gets rid of the rabbits, which she considers garbage. A similar situation can also occur when the mother accidentally tramples one of the rabbits.

      In a similar way, she tries to get rid of the body, which in nature would attract excessive attention of predators to the nest.

      The female can kill the cubs even if there is not enough water. During childbirth, being very thirsty, she will simply eat the baby rabbits, trying to restore the amount of fluid in her body. Eating cubs can also indicate severe stress, as a result of which the individual tried to clean the nest. Among other things, such behavior may also indicate that the rabbit had sick offspring, feeling this, she may try to get rid of them.

      Why does the rabbit scatter the babies?

      Why a female rabbit scatters her young immediately after birth is hard to understand. There is another common problem that occurs in rabbits - this is when the mother throws out offspring. She can throw the entire offspring out of the nest or scatter the babies around the cage. There are several reasons for this behavior: the presence of a male nearby, which will become a signal for the start of sexual hunting, the noisy behavior of the owners. By the way, the owners can provoke the rabbit to such an action if they simply take the offspring out of the nest without using disposable gloves.

      The cause of such phenomena can also be mastitis, a dangerous disease that affects many female rabbits who have given birth. Because of the pain caused by inflammation, she can not only refuse to feed the cubs, but also quit, separate from the nest. Now that we have managed to figure out why the rabbit scatters the rabbits, we will talk about how to help the kids.

      The attitude of the female rabbit to litter

      According to some rabbit owners, female parents are not distinguished by caring

      Attention to the offspring of the rabbit is provided no more than twice a day. And the duration of each such contact does not exceed 5 minutes.

      It is also likely that both of these episodes will occur during the night, since that is when rabbits are at their peak of activity.

      As a result, during daytime observation, it begins to seem that the rabbit has abandoned her brood, but this behavior is due to her instinctive desire not to attract the attention of predators to offspring. But in some cases, the mother's refusal of children is not at all fictitious.

      So why do rabbits eat baby rabbits? This may be due to physiological causes (lack of milk) or be the result of stress (accompanied by miscarriages or the birth of sick offspring)

      But in some cases, the mother's refusal of children is not fictitious at all. So why do rabbits eat baby rabbits? This may be due to physiological causes (lack of milk) or be the result of stress (accompanied by miscarriages or the birth of sick offspring).

      Sometimes, immediately after the birth, the female rabbit is under the influence of the strongest sexual "hunt". It is possible that the female decides to give birth away from the nest (it happens that a special place for young animals is not prepared at all) and tramples the newborns, preventing them from eating. Most often, the rabbit eats her children during the first pregnancies.

      After these precautions have been taken, the babies are returned to their mothers, but their condition is monitored for another 2-3 days. In the early days, babies are weak, helpless and exposed to all dangers.

      In the early days, babies are weak, helpless and exposed to all dangers

      The mother's aggressiveness in the animal world is motivated by the need to protect her cubs. However, sometimes this aggression is misdirected.

      Eating or killing one's own offspring is justified

      The influence of provocative factors (sharp sounds or actions) makes the mother rush to the rabbits, and this often ends in a killing by negligence, when the rabbit crushes the rabbits with the weight of her body

      If the nest is poorly prepared, the young are at risk of death from hypothermia. Rabbit breeders prefer to mate with several females at once, so that in the absence of milk from one of them, babies can be transplanted to another.

      Why does the rabbit scatter the rabbits?

      Normally, a pregnant female, shortly before giving birth, builds a nest in a secluded corner of the cage. For the convenience of animals, a box of a suitable size or box is placed in a cage. The rabbit drags grass or hay into the nest, covering the bottom of the nest. She can be helped by putting more soft hay, moss in the cage.

      Just before the birth of the baby rabbits, the mother-to-be plucks the fluff from her belly to cover the babies. After a normal birth, the babies lie in the center of the nest in a bunch, generously covered with down.

      As a result of a number of negative factors, the female does not cover the offspring with fluff, she can give birth to children not in the nest, but on the floor of the cage. Naked newborn rabbits, deprived of heat, quickly die.

      Possible reasons for this behavior of the rabbit:

      • the offspring was born defective, the mother feels this and does not feel maternal instinct for the cubs;
      • the nest box was placed in the cage late (a couple of days before birth), the female did not have time to prepare it for littering;
      • young primogenitors do not understand what to do with rabbits, do not cover them and scatter them around the cage;
      • the mammary glands are inflamed in the female, feeding gives her pain, and she runs away from the children, involuntarily pulling them out of the nest on the nipples;
      • after birth, the animal has a bright hunt, in this state the rabbit loses interest in offspring.

      Quite often the farmer himself is the cause of the death of the rabbits. Trying to keep the condition of the litter under control, the breeder checks the nest every day, feels the rabbits. Not all females calmly react to such behavior, some can throw themselves at a person, trying to bite, others stop entering the nest.

      In order not to disturb the female, during the inspection of the nest, she is placed in another cage. The hands of the person taking the bunny should be washed with odorless soap. The use of perfume, odorous cream before visiting the rabbitry is not allowed.

      Maternal instinct in rabbits

      Maternal instinct is the careful attitude of one representative to another. This mainly refers to a mother who has certain feelings for her baby, wanting to protect him and protect him from everything. This instinct is inherent not only to people, but to all living beings.

      In general, mother rabbits carefully take care of their babies, trying to ensure their safety. However, there are also cases when the female abandons her rabbits, ignores them, or even eats them. This can happen for many reasons. For example, because of an uncomfortable home, strong stimuli like sound, a lot of attention from people or other animals, smells and depression.

      Rabbits have a fairly strong maternal instinct

      Reasons for eating

      And yet, when a novice rabbit breeder believes that he has created optimal conditions for an eared mother and her babies, the female can do her "bloody deed". Why does an adult female eat her young? This can happen due to various factors, each of which needs to be analyzed in great detail:

      The body of the animal signals a lack of water.
      The rabbit lacks vital substances that she cannot get from the food offered by the owner.
      The female primogeniture takes care of the rabbits with great zeal, but, seeing only a drop of blood on his body, she starts to bite him, and then performs her terrible “deed”.
      If some of the rabbits were born already dead, the adult animal eats them for fear that the smell of decomposition of small corpses will attract the attention of predatory animals.
      When a large number of eared fluffies (more than 8) are born, the female can eat several of them to give the rest of the rabbits good nutrition.
      The rabbit may have problems producing milk. It accumulates, the nipples become rough, dry, painful

      When touched, the female experiences discomfort. Then she perceives the rabbits as little tormentors and can also deal with them at any moment.

      There are actually quite a few reasons for eating little rabbits. In each individual case, you need to carefully observe the rabbit and her cubs, see how, why and why her behavior changes, how the cubs feel. If the disturbing moments are not released from attention, the carnivorous inclinations of an adult animal will definitely find an explanation. When it is found out why the female destroys her own cubs, in the future such a phenomenon can be prevented.

      Why did a female rabbit scatter her newborn bunnies

      In addition to eating babies, female rabbits often scatter their newborn babies. This is often accompanied by a lack of appetite in the adult. The main reasons why a rabbit could scatter newborn rabbits:

      • poor conditions for life in a cage;
      • the female determines that the babies are sick and will not survive;
      • mother is young and inexperienced;
      • started mastitis;
      • female continues sexual hunting;
      • little milk;
      • psychological problems;
      • the rabbit believes that the owners are behaving incorrectly towards her;
      • cubs fall out of the nest after finishing feeding.

      Important! You can’t touch little rabbits with your hands, their fur (fluff) will have a human smell that the rabbit doesn’t like, and as a result, she can throw the rabbit away

      If we consider these reasons, then first of all, you need to pay attention to the microclimate in the cell. According to the animal, it can be very dirty, hot or cold, humid, dangerous. Low temperature in the cells contributes to the development of mastitis in the rabbit

      Because of this, it hurts her to feed her rabbits, and she may refuse to feed them altogether. The same situation occurs when the mother has little milk and the rabbits suckle her for a long time. As a result, the nipples begin to hurt, and as a result, the mother can throw the babies out of the nest

      Low temperature in the cages contributes to the development of mastitis in the female rabbit. In this regard, it hurts her to feed her rabbits, and she may refuse to feed at all. The same situation occurs when the mother has little milk and the rabbits suckle her for a long time. As a result, the nipples begin to hurt, and as a result, the mother may throw the babies out of the nest.

      In addition, low temperatures can affect newborns. They become passive, move little, in turn, the mother considers them incompetent and begins to weed out from the general birth. However, sometimes the rabbit deliberately weeds out obviously weak babies, and continues to carefully care for the rest.

      A few days after birth, the female rabbit may begin estrus. At the same time, all maternal instincts are lost in her, and, as a result, the rabbits are without care and are simply scattered around the cage. Signs of sexual desire are marks, being in an excited restless state, moving the buttocks back when touched, etc.

      The above signs of rabbit scattering can be eliminated or cured. But if the problem is in the psyche of the rabbit and she begins to behave inappropriately for no reason, then there is only one way out - to kill the animal, because she will only bring harm to everyone in the cage with her. As a rule, nervous and mentally unbalanced individuals are detected even before birth, which allows taking appropriate measures. Nervous rabbits are better to be immediately deleted from the number of mothers and not allowed to breed.

      If the nursing woman starts hunting, then you can put her to the rabbit or separate her from the offspring for a day. After that, return it to its place and see if the attitude has changed. If everything remains at the same level, then you will have to look for another nursing rabbit for babies.

      Important! A couple of weeks before the birth, the rabbit is not recommended to be moved to another cage. A few weeks before the birth, you need to make a house for the nest in the cage, so that the expectant mother can start equipping it with fluff from her own skin. It is worth remembering that after the appearance of offspring, a nursing mother should have a lot of clean water and fresh food.

      If the female rabbit has begun to scatter the newborn rabbits, then they should be gathered back into the nest and covered with down. If the rabbit repeats this again, you should look for a new wet nurse. However, there are times when another rabbit refuses to feed. With this option, you need to feed the young on your own. For this, pipettes are used, through which a mixture of milk (3 parts) and condensed milk (1 part) is fed. You need to feed every 2-3 hours for about 3 weeks, after that the kids can eat on their own

      It is worth remembering that after the birth of offspring, a nursing mother should have plenty of clean water and fresh food. If the rabbit began to scatter newborn rabbits, then they should be collected back into the nest and covered with fluff. If the rabbit repeats this again, you should look for a new wet nurse. However, there are times when another rabbit refuses to feed. With this option, you need to feed the young on your own. For this, pipettes are used, through which a mixture of milk (3 parts) and condensed milk (1 part) is fed. You need to feed every 2-3 hours for about 3 weeks, after that the babies can eat on their own.

      What to do

      Underfeeding is dangerous not only for the offspring, but also for the rabbit. If she has a lot of milk left, it burns out. In the future, this leads to a deterioration in its production and even to inflammation.

      Transfer to another uterus

      Transfer to another lactating female is considered the most effective method of rescuing babies. First, the “stepmother” should be taken from the nest, and the adopted children should be cleaned of bedding and fluff from their native nest so that no one else’s smell remains. Farmers also recommend wiping your hands with pine needles. After that, the babies are laid out among other people's rabbits in the middle of the brood and covered with fluff. It helps well to rub the rabbits with sawdust from the toilet of the foster female. The main thing is that adopted children should be close in age to their “stepmother” cubs, otherwise the stronger baby will not let them eat. The difference in age between two offspring should not exceed 3-4 days.

      Artificial feeding

      Artificial feeding should only be used as a last resort. First you need to put the rabbits in a warm place, for example, under a lamp.

      You can replace rabbit milk with goat milk (it is close in composition, although not as fatty). Artificial mixtures for rabbits (puppies, kittens) are also suitable - they have all the necessary trace elements and vitamins. Goat milk is easier to find in rural areas. Cow is better not to use.

      A syringe without a needle or a pipette for older rabbits is suitable as a pacifier for newborns.

      It is not advised to pour milk directly into the mouth at first. Just lubricate the muzzle of the animal, the rabbit will lick the milk itself. The baby must be kept upright. After a few feedings, the cub will already get used to the procedure and then the milk can be instilled directly into the mouth.

      Newborn rabbits are fed two to five times a day. During this time, the cub consumes about 5 ml of milk. Thus, with five meals a day, pour in 1 ml.

      Week-old rabbits are already fed 10 ml per day. The dose is increased gradually, trying not to overfeed the baby. Two-week-old offspring are already drinking 15 ml per day.

      Take care of hygiene when feeding: wipe milk residues from the face and body. There is also an important detail - on their own, small rabbits do not know how to empty themselves. The rabbit helps them, licking them from the navel to the hind legs. Use a cotton pad to massage your baby in the same direction before each feeding.

      Two-week-old rabbits start with grated carrots, fresh grass or hay. Don't forget drinking water. Bring baby rabbits to her to teach them to drink from a bowl.

      By the age of one month, the rabbits are already eating adult food and the need for milk disappears.

      Other ways

      There are other ways to restore feeding. Check after birth that the babies are in the same pile and covered with mother's fluff. If the female has not made a nest, build it yourself from her fluff and hay.

      So that the rabbit does not refuse to feed her offspring, do not frighten her, avoid unnecessary noise and extraneous odors. Wash your hands with soap before you climb to the rabbit.

      If the female is not feeding due to a desire to mate, move the male further away so that the female rabbit does not smell him. If this does not help, let the female in mating - she will calm down and resume feeding.

      You can try to force-feed the rabbit. One person holds the female so that she does not injure the offspring, and the second puts the rabbits. On average, feeding lasts 15 minutes. After it, treat the female with a treat. Very often, after 2-3 such procedures, the rabbit begins to feed the children herself. Babies need plenty of milk. Usually, rabbits themselves fall off the nipples, having had enough. But if this does not happen, after 3-4 minutes, pick them up yourself. An overfed rabbit can die from ruptured internal organs.


      Learn more

      .