Milk replacer

[jerseygirl]

There is a small possibiity that I may soon be caring for a rabbit kit estimated to be 4 weeks old.   I’m scrambling to get myself prepared…

 What I need to know is if goats milk is a better milk replacer than kitten milk replacer?  I can get pasteurised goat milk through the supermarket I think.

There is product line here called Wombaroo that do a  rabbit milk replacer.  I’m not sure if I’ll be able to find it so if I can’t get it, kitten milk is the next best alternative?

Edit to add:  I’ve been able to find the rabbit milk replacer so I’ll go with that.  Any feeding tips are much appreciated. Even if I don’t end up doing this, I’m sure someone would benefit from advice given if they ever pull up this thread.

[Monkeybun]

when my mom had baby kittens years ago that the mom wouldn’t feed, she used a little eye dropper to feed them. could possibly work for baby buns too. And if by chance you do need to use something other than the rabbit replacement milk, kitten milk is the next best thing.

[Elrohwen]

At four weeks I think they’re pretty much able to eat on their own (mom often weans at 5 weeks). I would give him some milk replacement to help him along, but see if he’ll rely mostly on hay and pellets for his food. I think raising by hand with milk replacement is supposed to be very difficult, so getting him to eat most of his calories on his own will help.

[jerseygirl]

I picked him up late this afternoon. Thankfully he is eating and drinking and seems bright and alert.  He’s too thin though. It feels like your holding a bird. Fragile and bony.  My kitchen scales tell me he weighs 400grams, so almost 1 pound.

He did drink some of the milk from my medicine syringe. Lapped away.  : ) I’ve only given 2mls. The box indicated 38 mls daily for his weight but I think I’ll wait for the vets advice on this tomorrow.

This actually came about through Kafrn so big thank you to her. He’s one of the rabbits from this place I’ve written about in the Rescue sub forum.  They think he was dumped in with the feral rabbits but I’m not entirely convinced.   Kafrn got some snap shots this afternoon. Hope it gives an idea of his size. My camera battery is charging but I’ll be able to add to the pictures soon.

Here he is! 

  Ordering a spud at Kafrns shop.

 

 Sampling a carrot strip

 

  Tiny little face!

 

[RabbitPam]

Squeeeeee!!!!!
Double squeeeeee!!!!

I saw this pix just now on Facebook and ran over here to find your post. This is amazing of you, jersey! What a beautiful baby. sigh.
I wouldn’t hold back too much on the milk until tomorrow. Every day counts with the wee ones, so not the full amount, but I imagine if he wants it, let him have it. Can he sample a lettuce leaf yet? How about Orchard grass? (a soft hay).

Are you fostering or is he going to make it a trio? Do you need help giving him a name?
Last question, I promise: would Jersey or Rumball be helpful at all in caring for him, supervised of course. But they need the pack snuggling so badly when they are that young that I wonder if it could be managed by letting him snuggle with one of your guys just to get that daily bunny contact. What would the vet speculate would be their reaction to a little one, and would it help him?

Excellent, Kafrn!

[jerseygirl]

I think trying a tiny bit of greens is a good idea RP. I did try another ml of milk last night and he’s kinda telling me when he’s had enough. So funny. He laps away for a bit and if I try give more he shirks his head away and gives me mini disapproval.

 

Are you fostering or is he going to make it a trio? Do you need help giving him a name?
Last question, I promise: would Jersey or Rumball be helpful at all in caring for him, supervised of course. But they need the pack snuggling so badly when they are that young that I wonder if it could be managed by letting him snuggle with one of your guys just to get that daily bunny contact. What would the vet speculate would be their reaction to a little one, and would it help him?

That did cross my mind actually, I wondered if other rabbit contact could help him. If Jersey miraculously became maternal….haha! Fat chance.
At the moment I’m keeping them well separated as a sort of quarantine. I really don’t know if he could pass anything to mine or they to him etc. I’ll be asking the vet regarding all this.

He’s a foster….I’m taking it slow and just seeing if we can get some weight on him and that he can get past this critical phase without major health probs. So it’s day by day. I do think I will get him fixed when he’s of age so he’ll be with me for at least 2 months due to that.
I’m playing it by ear as to whether he stays here forever or not. It’s certainly on my mind! I have considered a second pair before but not really a trio..but if things went that way then I’m good with that. It really does depend and there might be someone (human) who would be just right for him and I’d feel ok about him going forth and training new rabbit slaves.

New pics soon. I’ll post them in Lounge as I think I’m sorted on the milk thing now. Thanks for the input guys!

[Lintini]

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

*implodes*

must….have….more….photos…..*gasps for air*

[Sarita]

He’s cute! I don’t think I’d risk putting him with your rabbits though just because he’s so small and frail. Also it might scare him.

[jerseygirl]

Well now that I know my own 2 “ferals” j/k have mites they are definately staying separated!! I’ve been getting the baby out a couple times a day and he seems to respond well to contact from me. Which I’m happy to do : )

He’s gained weight. 3.5 oz since friday according to my scales. I’ll weigh him again later to check that’s not false, from water weight or something. He’s eating pellets and hay so well so he’s coming along nicely.  As usual, there is conflicting info on the internet about feeding greens etc. Some sources say introduce them (even the milk replacer box suggests this) and other sources so not to at all until they are 8 months.  Since he eating hay & pellets well I stick to that for now.

Does anyone know when rabbits start producing their own cecals? Is it when they are on solid food? I’ve noticed a few times he seems to be eating them.

[Sarita]

Well, from what I understand about introducing veggies is that you want to replicate the mom’s diet in the beginning and the usual with breeders is a pellet diet. That may not be the case with a feral though. I’m thinking that the milk replacer is for wild rabbits as well and they surely don’t eat pellets in the wild – usually grass and vegetation.

[jerseygirl]

Well, from what I understand about introducing veggies is that you want to replicate the mom’s diet in the beginning

Thanks Sarita, I had forgotten that.
The HRS info does emphasize importance of greens for wild rabbit kits (like cottontails) but recommend just pellets and hay for domestics. As to this ones history…we can’t be sure. He could be one from this feral group or a dumped litter. If he was dumped his Mother may well have been on a pellet diet. He’s been given pellets since his capture and doing ok so I won’t change anything for the time being.

Thanks again.

[Author]

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