Things You'll Need
- 12-by-14 inch cardboard box
- Knife
- Straw or shredded newspaper
- Rabbit pellets
- Alfalfa, grass, timothy hay
- Cotton swab
- Small dish of warm water
- Kitten feeding bottle
- Canned kitten formula
- Scissors
- Lactobacillus Acidophilus
Instructions
Assemble a Rabbit Box
Build a nest box for the mother and newborn rabbits. Cardboard boxes that are approximately 12-by-14 inches work well.
Cut small holes in the bottom of the box to allow for drainage, and cut a hole in the front so that the mother (if there is one) can come and go as she pleases. Cut the front hole at least 4 inches up from the bottom so that the baby rabbits won't fall out.
Put hay or shredded newspaper in the box for the mother to build her nest. Make sure to check the condition of the box and replace it when it gets wet or dirty.
Keep the mother rabbit healthy by providing extra pellets and green vegetables and maintain the room at a comfortable temperature of around 70 degrees.
Care and Feeding of Newborn Rabbits
Listen to see if the babies are being fed. If the box is quiet that means all is well. If you hear what sounds like kittens meowing then that means that the babies are not being fed by their mother. If the babies are being fed then skip to Step 5. If the baby rabbits are not being fed then continue to Step 2.
Provide the babies with a kitten feeding bottle. Adjust the hole in the bottle by cutting off the end of the nipple. You will know the hole has been cut to the correct size when just a fine mist of formula comes out when you squeeze it.
Feed the babies either 2 times per day or several small meals throughout the day. Each newborn rabbit can receive a total of 5 cc of kitten formula and 1/2 cc of acidophilus per day. At one week of age they should have 15 to 25 cc of kitten formula and 1 cc of acidophilus per day. At two weeks of age the amount increases to 25 to 27 cc of kitten formula and 1 cc of acidophilus each day, and finally at 3 to 4 weeks daily intake should be 30 cc of kitten formula and 2 cc of acidophilus.
Assist the babies with elimination. This is important when caring for newborn rabbits. Dip a cotton swab into warm water and use it to wash their faces and bottoms.
Introduce alfalfa, grass, timothy hay, and water at around 4 weeks of age. Let them wean off the formula gradually as they become ready for more adult foods.
Baby-proof the area where the rabbits are going to roam. At around 2 to 3 weeks the babies will begin to leave the nest. If you have them in a cage or crate make sure there is no way that they can fall or climb out of it.