Baby Rabbit - Feeding and intervals

[Duckman]

So, I am rehabbing my first bunny. He is about 5 weeks old (guess). I know I can feed him FV, but how much do I feed and how often? Also, how do I know if he is a he or a she?

[stepnstone]

So, I am rehabbing my first bunny. He is about 5 weeks old (guess). I know I can feed him FV, but how much do I feed and how often? Also, how do I know if he is a he or a she?

PM Betsy (MM) she's handled buns.
And best of luck with bunny baby. :)

[Duckman]

Thank you Russell!!

[Milo's Mom]

nononono, please don't feed the bunny FV!!!

How much and when?
10% of body weight at dusk and dawn (twice a day) If he's a chunky little tyke you can go to 11%.


What to feed?
I've had the best luck with the following formula. All of the "bunny" rehabbers I know personally use this formula.

1/2 cup whole goats milk
1/2 cup KMR
1 - 1.5 TBSP Colostrum
3cc Heavy Whipping Cream
1/4 tsp probiotic

If you're using powdered goats milk and KMR (which you should) to get a 1/2 cup you use 3 large scoops of powder and 6 of the same size scoop of water. (make sure the water is hot)

So you would use 3 scoops goats milk, 6 scoops of water, 3 scoops of KMR and 6 scoops of water and then add the rest of the items.

This formula needs to rest for at least 3 hours in order for the Colostrum to fully break down.


Sexing a bunn....GOOD LUCK! There is a way to do it, but it is very stressful to all involved and unless you know exactly what you're looking for your efforts will be futile. I've never tried to do it and honestly I have no desire to play with bunny bits in order to figure it out. LOL!!

Now, at 5 weeks old the bunn should also be getting some solids. The solids you should start with are Timothy Hay and Dandelions (or some other readily available wild food that you see bunnies eat).

Bunnies like their formula HOT, like waaaay hotter than squirrels. If you're tubing just make it squirrel temp, but it you're going to syringe it he'll want it hotter.

Bunnies do suck, but they mostly lick. When they suck it is fast and hard. It's called super sucking. It is amazingly cute. Just make sure you hang onto that plunger!!

Oh! I almost forgot. Bunny pee is alarmingly dark. If we saw it come out of a squirrel we'd freak and start pushing fluids with an IV drip. It's yellow, but very dark. If you're seeing brown then it's dehydration. And, at 5 weeks old you don't really need to stimulate them.

[Duckman]

Thank you for the information! This bunny is about 74g. I have fed it FV, but I will switch to the Goats Milk/KMR right away. I have some timothy hay and my squirrels love dandilions, so I have a bunch of those as well and will get some clover (we have a ton in our yard!). I am not all that worried about sexing. I have called it a she since she got here, so I will continue to think of it as a she.

[Milo's Mom]

Good luck!! Got pics?