A Simple Way to Feed Baby Rabbits

Backgrounder

Many times rabbit farmers lose young rabbits within five days of birth because the mother rabbit refuses to feed her young. The mother might be unwilling to feed her babies because she is nervous from too much heat or noise. As a farmer, you should do everything you can to make sure that the mother can deliver her babies, care for them, and feed them without too much stress. Farmers should make sure that the place of delivery is not too hot or noisy.

Here is a simple method you can use to feed baby rabbits if the mother refuses to feed them herself. It was developed by rabbit farmer John Okhulun of Agbarlio, Nigeria. Mr. Okhulun found a way to feed his young rabbits until the mother rabbit was ready to accept them. You will need a full tin of goat’s milk and an empty bowl. You will also need a small container, such as an eyedropper or the cover of a plastic ballpoint pen. Wash the bowl and the eyedropper or pen cover with hot water and soap before you use them. This will kill germs so they won’t be passed to the young rabbits.

Put a small amount of milk into the bowl. Hold the young rabbit in the palm of your hand. Take a little milk in the eyedropper or pen cover and feed it one drop at a time to the rabbit. Give the rabbit 10 to 12 drops of milk during each feeding. Feed the rabbit two to three times every day until the mother is ready to nurse it herself.

The goat milk will stay fresh for several days if you keep it in the refrigerator after each feeding. If there is no refrigerator, put the tin of milk inside a cup of cold water. This will keep it fresh for one or two days.

Here’s another simple method that might work if the mother will not feed her babies. Lift the mother rabbit into a sitting position, and hold her above the babies. In this position, the young ones will be able to reach up to the mother and feed from her teats. Feed the rabbits once a day in this fashion, just long enough to fill their bellies with milk. Try this for a few days until the mother decides to nurse them herself.

Many baby rabbits that might have died will now survive because of your feedings. And that means more nutritious and delicious meat for you and your family.

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