How to Feed Desert Rabbits

Jackrabbits are commonly known as desert hares. Feeding desert rabbits varies depending on the maturity of the animal. Infant hares demand more specific attention and nutrients than mature rabbits. Keeping a desert rabbit on a steady diet is a wise way to maintain healthy growth. Avoid feeding or caring for desert rabbits unless you purchase them in a store or are certain they are orphans. Mother rabbits often keep their distance from babies during the day to keep predators at bay.

Things You'll Need

  • Unilact
  • Warm water
  • Heavy cream
  • Soy-based baby formula
  • Mixing bowl
  • Spoon
  • Eyedropper
  • Syringe
  • Grass
  • Mesquite
  • Sagebrush
  • Cactus
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mix together one part powdered Unilact or Esbilac --- dried rabbit formula --- with three parts tepid water. Add in two parts heavy cream. Stir the mixture together.

    • 2

      Use an eyedropper or syringe to feed the formula to baby and infant desert rabbits. Feed the rabbits 1/2-cc to 3-cc of formula every six hours. Continue the feeding process in this manner until the rabbit is 30 days old.

    • 3

      Feed a mature desert rabbit 1 to 2 oz. of freshly picked grass during the daytime --- every six hours. Supplement fresh grass for fresh mesquite, sagebrush and/or cactus. Provide a small bowl of water to rabbits at all times, keeping in mind desert hairs derive much of their water intake from fresh vegetation.