Baby Bunny Questions?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 20sd replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 12 years ago by Ellekke.

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- 04/06/2014 at 10:38 AM
  MyPets1031
  Participant
  107 posts
  I just got two adorable baby bunnies yesterday and I have some questions. I’m new to babies, I’ve always gotten rabbits older in the past. These two came from a farm and they’re very dirty. I tried whipping them with a wet cloth but didn’t help much and they aren’t very interested in cleaning themselves… any tips on getting them clean?
  
  Also, the little brown one, Millie, can escape through the bars of the cage! I know they grow like weeds and it won’t be a problem soon enough but I can’t have her escaping every night and getting into things.
  
  Also, I’m feeding them hay and pellets at the moment because I had no clue what veggies they could have and when… any ideas on that topic? Thanks! I’ll share some cute pictures now!
  
  Above is Elsie. I think she’s a dwarf mix of some sort. Her mom was very small.
  
  Above is Millie. I have no clue what breed she is. She’s larger than Elsie so she might be older. We don’t think they’re related.
  
  Here’s Millie and Elsie cuddling together. We are pretty sure they’re girls but you never know… I will be checking periodically to avoid accidental babies and they will be spayed/neutered as soon as possible!
- 04/06/2014 at 12:06 PM
  Tessie
  Participant
  1231 posts
  As for veggies, how old are they?
  
  As for cleaning them, I wouldn’t worry. One they’ve settled in they’ll clean themselves up
- 04/06/2014 at 12:28 PM
  MyPets1031
  Participant
  107 posts
  I think they’re about 7 weeks old. Millie might be a bit older.
- 04/06/2014 at 12:32 PM
  Tessie
  Participant
  1231 posts
  Okay
  I think 12 weeks is when to start introducing veggies, one at a time.
- 04/06/2014 at 1:57 PM
  BunnyLady1989
  Participant
  446 posts
  Agreed with Tessie. At 12 weeks you can start veggies. I think romaine is the best to introduce first. They are very cute! I bet they are very happy and lucky to have you. As the the little escape artist, maybe you can put sheets of cardboard?
- 04/06/2014 at 4:29 PM
  MyPets1031
  Participant
  107 posts
  So I’m pretty sure they’re both girls. And if I’m wrong It appears that they’re at least the same gender so do I have to separate them?
- 04/06/2014 at 4:58 PM
  LongEaredLions
  Participant
  4482 posts
  I have never had babies either, so I really can’t answer you questions, but I just want to say congrats on your new bunnies! They are so cute!
- 04/06/2014 at 5:42 PM
  MK
  Participant
  751 posts
  What kind of hay and pellets?
- 04/06/2014 at 5:56 PM
  MimzMum
  Participant
  8029 posts
  Any time you’re not certain of gender or age on bunnies and they aren’t neutered keeping them together is a gamble. I think they can reproduce as early as 3 months?
  Millie almost looks like part wild bunny to me. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable about diet and care will come along. In the meantime I’d consider separate housing and if escape is a concern perhaps some cardboard placed over the bars to keep them from squeezing through may help…or some wooden planks?
  
  They sure are sweet. Have they seen a vet yet for a health check?
- 04/06/2014 at 9:21 PM
  Wonderlandbunny78
  Participant
  57 posts
  can they really eat veggies at 12 weeks? I read 6 months…..hmmm I hope it’s 6 months or else my Bella (15 weeks) has been missing out! haha
- 04/06/2014 at 9:55 PM
  MyPets1031
  Participant
  107 posts
  They’re on a mixed grass hay with timothy pellets. I know they should have alfalfa but the store closed early today so I’ll have to go back to town sometime next week.
  
  I think Elsie might actually be a boy… They’re still very small and I don’t think they could get pregnant at this point. Especially since the one who I think is a boy seems to be younger than the female. I’m 99% certain Millie is a girl. I will hopefully try to see a vet… mine just got deported so I’m not sure what I’m going to do about that.
- 04/06/2014 at 10:01 PM
  BunnyLady1989
  Participant
  446 posts
  I’d seperate them just too be on the safe side until they can be fixed. And yes wonderlandbunny it is 12weeks. I believe the 6 month mark is when they can get fixed.
- 04/06/2014 at 10:14 PM
  Wonderlandbunny78
  Participant
  57 posts
  thanks bunnylady1989! Im off to the grocery store to buy some romaine!
- 04/07/2014 at 3:34 PM
  MyPets1031
  Participant
  107 posts
  I separated them even though I didn’t want to poor Millie seems lost. Would it be ok to let them play with each other for a week or two still since they’re still so young?
- 04/07/2014 at 3:48 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  The little one looks pretty young – I cannot imagine that he/she would be able to reproduce at such a young age. I think they would be fine together for now – when can you get them to the vet to verify sex?
  
  They are adorable.
- 04/07/2014 at 9:42 PM
  Linette
  Participant
  114 posts
  Find out if they were eating any veggies/greens at the farm you got them from. If they’ve been eating them, they can continue. If not, then they must be introduced gradually.
  
  Green foods and veggies are not bad for young rabbits. They eat that stuff naturally, the issue is whether or not they got the proper gut bugs to digest them, and that depends on what they (and mama) have been eating. They eat some of mom’s poops and get the gut bugs to digest their solid food that way.
  
  So, if you can find out from the farm, that would be awesome, because it would be too bad, if they are already set to eat fresh food, for them to be taken off them just for lack of knowing.
- 04/07/2014 at 9:50 PM
  MyPets1031
  Participant
  107 posts
  They only ate hay and a protein supplement at the farm
- 04/08/2014 at 7:20 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  Ideally, veggies are started right away when they are still with mama bun. If not, you can start them between 8 and 12 weeks in a VERY limited amount. Just a tiny piece of lettuce or herb each day to make sure they can handle it. Then at 12 weeks, you can start increasing the amounts. Only give one type of veggie at a time (for about a week) before adding another.
  
  Males can impregnate a mature female when they are about 12 weeks, but females aren’t *usually* able to be impregnated until 16 weeks (4 months).
  
  It’s better to be safe tho, so if they are opposite sexes, you’d want to have them separated by 12 weeks at the latest.
  
  Males can be neutered when the testicles descend between 3-4 months, BUT they retain viable sperm for 4-6 weeks post neutering. Once they are separated, it would be best to keep them separated until the female is spayed and healed for a full month. Spaying is the only absolute protection against pregnancy.
- 04/08/2014 at 7:46 AM
  MyPets1031
  Participant
  107 posts
  Thank you for the information. They will both be fixed no matter what gender they are. I put them back together because Millie is still really scared without Elsie but I’ll separate them when they’re 12 weeks.
- 04/09/2014 at 12:14 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  It would probably be a good idea to get a vet check and a fecal test especially considering they came from a farm. That way you could also have the vet confirm their sex and then if they are the same sex and they are still getting along at 12 weeks you aren’t having to separate them unnecessarily. That’s what I would do if they were my rabbits.
- 04/09/2014 at 6:13 AM
  Ellekke
  Participant
  194 posts
  Hi!
  
  I got my bunnies at 7 weeks too. They’re different gender and I kept them together. Starting tomorrow they’ll be seperated because Frodo is 3 month old. After his neuter and a little months’ time wait they’ll get back together. I think it’s important that they stay together at a young age. They get a lot of comfort from each other.
  
  I introduced small amounts veggies from week 9 after a vet check-up. I give them chicory, every now and then carrot and I’m starting with brocolli today.
  
  PS: they look soooooo cute!!!!
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