Mom had three kits. Milk did not come in for 2 days. 2 died because they were peanuts. The one that lived is looking for warmth in the nest and has none. It climbs out of the nest to the top of the hay. How long do bunnies have to stay covered with fur to keep warm?
they have to warmth of the nest box until they are at least 1 week old and have hair the kit that is left will more than likely die since it is the only kit in the nest box and gets no body heat from the other kits
When bunnies \"wander\" in the nest, it is a bad sign. This is usually because they are getting insufficient milk. My advice is to attempt to rear the kit yourself (not easy). If the doe is not caring adequately for the kit, it will die. It will be easier for you to monitor the environmental temperature and make sure the kit is being fed adequately.
Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) is used quite often to rear orphan kits. The key is to only mix enough formula for a 24 hour period and not overfeed. Also, you need to massage the belly and genital area to stimulate urination and defecation after each feeding.
I have attached an article on making your own formula for orphan kits and directions for feeding.
Good luck.
Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com
Okay, I am brining the kit to the mother to feed both morning and night. I also am giving it a little goats milk. I have also put a heating pad on the bottom of the nest box. This is now day 8. When will I be in the safe zone?
Day 8? Chances are good the kit will make it. Most mortality occurs within the first week. Each day the kit lives ups its chances of overall survival. Is the kit settling into the nest without wandering?
Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com
The kit is looking for warmth since its siblings have died. I have wood chips on the bottom of the nest followed by hay on top. What it did, is make a little tunnel between the hay and wood chips and pretty much stays there. I just finished bringing the Mom to nurse but the baby is too tired to feed long. So I let the Mom lick the baby and then gave it a little goats milk just in case it did not get enough. Now it is snuggled between the hay and wood chips with a heating pad underneath the nest. The baby weighs 2.1oz. It lost a little weight this week. I began at 2.6oz three days ago. The baby looks pretty good but I constantly check on it. When am I pretty much over this period? When will it start eating solids?
Also, I tried to get it to pee but no lick tonight. Is that a problem?
Most kits start to nibble on pellets at about 2
1/2 to 3 weeks. You\'ve got a way to go. At 8 days, the kit should not be losing weight. It is normal for a kit to lose a little in the first 3 days, but as the doe\'s milk increases, the kit should grow rapidly. I suggest you supplement a little more. Let the kit eat all it wants. If the doe is actually nursing, you can get by on one feeding a day. If the doe isn\'t nursing, I\'d suggest you take over the care of the kit entirely.
Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com
Day 9, Mom nursed, I feed goats milk. Baby weighs still 2.1. Could not make bunny pee. Why is that important?
Kits cannot voluntarily eliminate feces or urine. The urogenital reflex must be stimulated after every feeding by gently swabbing the perineal area with a warm, moistened (with water or vegetable oil) cotton ball or soft cloth. If the kit can\'t eliminate, the bladder can literally burst from becoming overextended.
Since the doe is helping care for the kit, she may be stimulating the kit herself. Is the abdomen of the kit distended? If not, it may be voiding its urine as a result of stimulation by the doe.
Charlcie Gill
Zodiacrabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com