Raising Newborn Rabbit Kits: Essential Care Guide

Proper Raising Techniques for Baby Rabbits

Successfully raising baby rabbits requires attention to eight key factors:

1. Early Lactation: It is crucial to ensure that the baby rabbits receive colostrum from their mother within the first 6 hours of birth. The mother's milk is rich in nutrients and antibodies, which are essential for the healthy growth and development of the rabbits, as well as for boosting their immune system.

2. Prepare for Foster Care and Artificial Feeding: Foster care involves having nonnursing does care for the kits. This is necessary when a doe has an excessive number of kits, leading to insufficient milk, or when she has too few kits, potentially causing overfeeding and digestive issues. In such cases, some kits can be fostered to does with fewer kits and ample milk. To prevent the foster mother from rejecting the kits, apply her milk to their fur. If foster care is not an option and the milk supply is low, artificial feeding is necessary. For kits under 5 days old, mix 200ml of fresh milk, 3ml of cod liver oil, 2g of salt, and one fresh egg. For kits over 5 days old, use milk, goat's milk, or soy milk. Around the 10th day, mix 50ml of condensed milk with 50ml of hot water, add a tablespoon of corn syrup, and a yolk. Feed using a syringe with a small rubber tube, ensuring the temperature is around 3738°C.

3. Support Breastfeeding: Some does, especially firsttime mothers, may not show strong maternal instincts and may not feed their kits. In such cases, the owner must encourage the mother to nurse. This can be done by securing the doe in the nest box, providing comfort, and placing the kits near her teats. The kits should be allowed to nurse freely, feeding them 12 times a day. After 34 days, the mother should become accustomed to feeding the kits.

4. Start Complementary Feeding Early: Around 17 days old, begin introducing complementary foods to the kits. As they grow, their nutritional needs exceed what the mother's milk can provide. By 3040 days, the kits should be weaned. Offer them easily digestible and nutrientrich foods like soy milk, rice porridge, and fresh forage. Gradually increase the amount and frequency of feeding to strengthen their digestive systems.

5. Timely Weaning: Rabbits are typically weaned between 30 and 40 days of age. Weaning involves more than just dietary changes; it also means the kits must leave their mother and live independently, which can cause stress. To minimize stress, it's best to move the mother to another cage while keeping the kits in their original home. After a week, the kits can be introduced to a new group.

6. Preventing Milk Dribbling: Insufficient milk or startled kits can lead to milk dribbling, where the kits are carried out of the cage by the mother, risking hypothermia or starvation. Always be vigilant and return any kits found outside the cage promptly.

7. Keep Them Warm: During winter and early spring or late autumn, ensure rabbits are kept warm and wellventilated with adequate light.

8. Disinfect the Doe's Breasts: Regularly clean the mother's breasts to prevent infections such as Staphylococcus aureus, which can lead to jaundice in the kits through milk consumption.

This is an overview of the proper care for raising baby rabbits, provided by Oxygen Pet Doctor. For more detailed information on rabbit husbandry, stay tuned to Oxygen Pet Doctor!