Hi, our satin doe had a litter of nine babies about three days ago and she\'s not feeding them. They are just skin and bones so we need to foster them.
I just would like some help since this is our first time fostering baby bunnies.
Is there a certain amount they need to be fed everyday?
what is best to feed them with, a bottle or syringe?
and is just straight kitten formula safe for them?
ty
no formula is as good as a rabbit moms milk. I think you should first: call a vet and ask them, second: maybe find a female rabbit that had her babies in the last 5 days( I don\'t know how to help you find the second, sorry!) I wish I could be more help.
I tried a doll bottle and it didnt work very well so I switched to a glass syringe the first few days he didn\'t take but maybe 3 syringes a day and that was with me insisting now hes up to almost 3 oz a day or more along with his pellets and you need to wipe his bum area with a warm damp rag so he can potty my little wild rabbit is a cottontail I rescued and is 3 and half weeks old or so GL its not easy getting them to eat you havce to be more stubborn than them and feeding on the side of the mouth seems easier
You can use KMR to feed kits, but following is a formula that seems to work well:
1 Cup whole cow’s milk
3 egg yolks
1 Tbsp. corn oil
1/8 tsp salt
1 or 2 drops baby kitten or rabbit vitamins
Mix well but do not whip. Feed warm, fresh formula only. Feed kits twice daily and let them eat as much as they will. Feed with a syringe, eye dropper or doll bottle. Throw away any unused portion after 8 hours. It is important to stimulate urination at each feeding by using a damp cotton ball to wipe the genital area. This mimics the dam cleaning the kit and should cause urination.
Important: Do not over-handle kits or try to feed too much, too frequently. Initially feed a very small amount every four hours and gradually work up to twice daily feedings (morning and night) when the kits seem to be eating well.
The greatest dangers to watch for are aspiration (forcing liquids too fast and causing fluid to enter the lungs), pneumonia (a result of aspiration), hypothermia (low body heat), and diarrhea (often caused by overfeeding or bacterial infections).
Continue the bottle feedings until kits are five weeks old. At three weeks, provide access to water (preferably through a hanging waterer), and pellets mixed with about 20% uncooked old-fashioned oatmeal.
Good luck.
Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com
Ty everyone
that helps us alot =]