Baby rabbits are very tiny, and they need to be handled with a lot of care and attention in the first couple of months. Bunny nursing should only be done if the mother is negligent or absent, as the baby rabbit should nurse from its mother.
Steps to Nurse a Baby Rabbit
- Wash your Hands
The first step in bunny feeding is to wash and sanitize your hand correctly as you take care of an infant. It is essential to wand your hands before and after feeding the bunny.
You must use disinfectant soap and hot water4 to ensure you do not contaminate the bunny. After washing your hand, be sure to dry off-hand with a clean, dry cloth.
- Arrange the Formula
One of the critical steps when you want to nurse your bunny, is to go for goat milk or either a good milk replacer. You can secure or avail it for a pet store or a veterinarian. However, calories need to be added to that milk as rabbit’s milk contains more calories than usual milk.
It must be noted that the bunny must not be given cold or warm milk; the milk has to be lukewarm. It should be of the same temperature as it is fed to an infant.
Further, it should also be noticed that the bunny is given contaminated milk; therefore, only milk for one feed should be warmed.
- Settle the Bunny to Nurse
A small syringe should be used to feed the bunny. The needle ensures that the milk is given directly to the bunny’s mouth and does not fall or hurt the bunny. The smallest syringe should be used to feed the bunny.
If a syringe is not available, you can also use an eyedropper. While using a syringe or an eyedropper, you will need to hold it properly and avoid any instance where you might suffocate the bunny.
Hold the bunny steady in the mouth and move it to the side of the mouth and insert the syringe and then gradually push the formula in the mouth. Ensure the syringe is put downwards to ensure the bunny can swallow its food and not get choked.
The bunny should be positioned in an upright position. Make sure the head is positioned higher than the body. This allows the business to feed naturally.
You should also hold the bunny steady; however, you should also ensure you do not grab the bunny.
- Feed the Bunny
The bunny should be fed in small amounts throughout the day. Too much should not be fed to the bunnies at one time. Feeding them twice or thrice in a day can get them hungry. It is usually advised to feel them every 4 hours.
To Summarize
A bunny must be dealt with a lot of care and attention. Bunny nursing has a lot of responsibilities and requires a lot of care and attention. They must be nursed very carefully and frequently in the first weeks. However, as the bunnies grow, the feed can be increased, and the number of ties to be fed can be decreased. However, it is guided to check in with a vet before making any drastic changes.
