How to Hand-Raise Just-Born Kangaroos

Set a box or crate next to a wall. Line the box with soft fabrics to pad the bottom and sides. Insert two hooks in the wall above the edges of the enclosure from which to hang a pouch.

Gather a piece of fabric which is as tall and wide as the kangaroo when folded in half vertically. Maintain the fold and sew the bottom and open edge together with a threaded sewing machine or a threaded sewing needle. Hang the pouch on the hooks mounted in the wall and position the bottom in the center of the enclosure.

Plug in the electric blanket and adjust the temperature dial until it consistently functions between 30 and 32 degrees Celsius. Slide the electric blanket between the side of the pouch and the padding in the enclosure.

Rub the joey's skin gently with lotion if the joey does not have fur. Gently place the joey into the pouch and provide a quiet, draft free and stress-free environment. The joey should be kept separated from other animals, children or the elements. Lotion should be reapplied as necessary to keep the skin moist, but it is not required for joeys with fur.

Mix the milk replacement powder with water in a bottle according to the manufacturer's preparation instructions. Place the teat on top of the bottle. Warm the bottle in a container filled with warm water until it reaches room temperature. Shake a small amount of milk on the inside of your wrist to make sure it is warm, but does not burn. Allow the milk to cool or heat longer as necessary. Place the teat in the joey's mouth and hold the joey while it feeds.

Remove the joey from the pouch after each feeding and hold gently. Rub the genital area with a tissue or paper towel until the joey begins to urinate and/or defecate. Continue rubbing the area until the joey has completed relieving itself. Place the joey back in the pouch.

Bundle fresh grass with the roots and attached soil with string. Suspend the grass on the side of the enclosure so that it extends into the pouch. Provide the joey with carrots, apples, bark and salt bush as food supplements. Grass and food supplements should only be offered to joeys who have begun spending time outside of the pouch. The milk replacement mixture should still be their primary food source.

Taper the amount of milk and increase the amount of available supplements starting around 14 months of age. Allow the joey to access the pouch as needed during the weaning period to reduce stress. As the weaning process evolves, joeys will spend all of their time outside the pouch and will begin to rely on a milk-free diet.

Wipe the joey's skin and fur with a baby wipe to remove any urine or feces that may be present.