young rabbit care

[dnelle]

Hello all!! I am looking for any and all info and advice on caring for a tiny bun (8 weeks old +). There is so much conflicting information out there and binkybunny has been such an incredible help in learning how to care for my current rabbit, so I thought I’d post here. I adopted my current rabbit, Monica, when she was 6 months old and was already spayed and so she pretty much already fell into the ‘adult’ age range and didn’t require any extra baby care. I am considering bringing another rabbit into my home, hopefully a potential husbun for Monica (following neuter and proper bonding), and would love to experience the short-lived baby rabbit phase. I just want to be sure to learn everything about the differences in caring for a baby bun and an adult rabbit. I am unsure of when things like greens and treats should be introduced, as I understand young rabbits are really only supposed to have baby pellets and hay. I truly appreciate any advice that comes to mind.

[Bam]

Congratulations on your new baby!

Grass hay and pellets and alfalfa hay is what the House Rabbit Society recommends for young buns. The pellets should preferably be alfalfa based. Alfaalfa has lots of protein and calcium, which is why it’s good for young, growing buns but not for adult buns.

Greens can be introduced around week 12 (3 months), if the bun’s tummy is in good order. It’s the tummy that’s the most sensitive part of the young rabbit, and this is why greens shouldn’t be introduced until the bun has developped a somewhat diversified and sturdy gut microbiota. Hay is the best way to a good GI microbiota. If the bun has had greens while it was still with the mother and siblings, you can of course keep feeding greens.

The House Rabbit Society has lots of good info about diet and suitable greens: http://rabbit.org/faq-diet/

If you happen to have a picture or two of your buns, we wouldn’t mind if you were to post them… =D =D =D

[DarthVadar]

I agree that greens shouldn’t be introduced until 3 months (though i fed Panda greens at 8 weeks when i knew zilch about rabbits, thank God she’s still alive lol).

[LittlePuffyTail]

Congrats on your new baby!!! I agree with Bam. The House Rabbit Society is the best place for up-to-date info on diet.

[conejolover]

HELP!

11 days ago i rehomed a female rabbit whom i guess was pregnant. She is in a regular cage with the male and i want to move her into another cage. Unfortunately im not sure if i can even move the babies. someone help me

[DarthVadar]

Its a complete myth that rabbits will abandon the kits if a person touches them. Especially in this situation, moving the kits would be a very wise decision.

[Author]

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