How to Care for Baby Bunnies

Baby bunnies are usually weaned by 8 to 10 weeks of age.

While a domestic bunny mother will take care of her young just as well as a wild bunny, environmental changes are required to make caring for the baby bunnies easier on her. Since a domestic mother cannot forage for what she needs, as she would in the wild, additional care from you is necessary to ensure that the baby bunnies grow healthy and strong.

Things You'll Need

• Cage
• Litter box
• Food and water bowls
• Rabbit litter
• Timothy grass
• Small pet crate with water bottle and attached food bowl
• Kitten milk replacer

Instructions

1. Remove the male from the cage when the baby bunnies are born. Not only will this leave more room for the mother and her babies, it will also prevent further breeding. Mother bunnies can become pregnant again within three days of giving birth.

2. Provide the mother bunny and her babies with a clean, quiet and safe environment. Choose a cage large enough to accommodate a small litter box, a bowl of rabbit chow, a water bowl and enough space for some romping room. A 2 x 4-foot commercial bunny cage is fine.

3. Fill the litter box with a 2-inch layer of rabbit litter and cover it with a generous amount of Timothy grass. The litter box will act as a nest for the baby bunnies. The litter will absorb urine and the Timothy grass will add softness.

4. Observe the baby bunnies over the first few days following their birth. Pay careful attention to their skin and tummies. If the skin looks healthy and tummies plump, the mother is nursing and taking good care of them.

5. Maintain a full bowl of rabbit chow at all times. After two weeks, the babies will begin to nibble on rabbit food in between nursing. At eight weeks, the baby bunnies will begin to wean and by 8 to 10 weeks, nursing will cease. They will even begin to feast on some of the treats you offer the mother, such as vegetables and tasty grasses.

6. Clean the cage once, or even twice a week, if need be. Place mother and baby bunnies in a box lined with a thick towel while you clean the cage and nest. Remove all of the Timothy grass from the bottom of the cage and nest, and change the litter. If the mother has plucked out her fur and lined the nest with it, save it, and place it back in the nest after cleaning. Return the mother and baby bunnies to the cage after cleaning.

7. Continue to provide the baby bunnies and their mother with food, clean water and a clean cage as they grow. Allow the baby bunnies to leave the cage for exercise sessions with the mother when they reach two weeks of age. A wide-open, carpeted area offers a safe place to play. Supervise the mother and babies at all times during play.

Tips & Warnings

• Change the water in the cage daily.

• Consider neutering the father bunny to avoid future pregnancies.

• Handle the babies as minimally as possible and with extreme care. Always carry the baby bunnies in your cupped hand, with your other hand cupped over top.

• If the baby bunnies appear shriveled and their stomachs have a sunken-in look, the mother may be neglecting them--in which case, you will have to offer support. Line the bottom of a small pet crate with a thick layer of Timothy grass and attach a food bowl (filled with rabbit chow) to the door along with a water bottle. Place the mother and the babies inside. After a few days of this confinement the mother usually begins to nurse and care for her baby bunnies. In rare instances, it can take several weeks. If this is the case, allow the mother 1 to 2 hours per day of free time out of the crate to get some exercise and then put her back in. All can go back to the original cage when the mother is nursing.

• In some cases, the mother will never bond with her baby bunnies and refuse to nurse. If this is the case, the babies will require a diet of Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR). Follow the instructions on the packaging label for dosage amounts and feeding techniques.

• Do not use Timothy or dried grasses from outdoors; they may contain pests. Use bagged Timothy grass.

References

• Earth's Kids: How to Raise Baby Bunnies
• House Rabbit Society: Newborn Baby Bunny Facts

Resources

• My Bunny: How to Care for Newborn Baby Rabbits