This post explains the best food for baby rabbits, what to feed baby rabbits 2 weeks old, what to feed baby rabbits 3 weeks to 6 weeks old, and interesting topics.
The Best Food For Baby Rabbits
It all depends on how young the baby rabbits are. It’s hard to tell how old they are, but it usually takes 10 to 14 days for them to open their eyes.
So, if you come across a baby bunny that hasn’t opened its eyes, it’s too young to care for. They need to be fed by hand.
Sometimes the mom bunny won’t want to give the babies milk, and some babies are underweight, so you need to take extra care of them.
Keep reading to find out the best food for baby rabbits for each week.
What Is The Best Food For Baby Rabbits 2 Weeks Old?
If your baby rabbits are 2 weeks old or younger, you will need to feed them milk (if the mom won’t let them drink or if the baby is weak).
You can use goat milk or kitten milk replacer but don’t use cow or powder milk. You can find goat milk replacer or kitten milk at the pet store.
I hope it won’t be too difficult to find them. You will need to hand-feed your baby rabbit milk. You can use a sterile syringe to do this. These syringes are available at the local pharmacy.
The mom bunny usually feeds her baby milk twice a day. This should be enough. Overfeeding can be harmful to the baby rabbit.
How Much Should I Feed The Baby Bunny?
This depends on the breed of the bunny. Large bunnies should be fed a bit more than small or dwarf breeds.
- 0 to 7 days baby bunny (4-5 cc milk)
- 7 to 14 days baby bunny (10-15 cc milk)
You do not have to feed anything other than milk during this time. Milk is all they need to survive.
What Is The Best Food For Baby Rabbits 3 to 6 Weeks Old?
After 3 weeks the baby rabbit will start to eat the solid materials naturally. Now the baby rabbit’s digestive system is developing and ready to eat all other foods such as pellets, hay, water, etc.
The baby rabbits will still drink their mother’s milk, but they will also eat additional food products.
You should now have a good idea of the rabbit’s diet. Adult and young rabbits have about the same diet. Baby rabbits require more nutrition and fiber compared to adult rabbits.
You can feed the baby bunny high amounts of good quality healthy pellets and an unlimited amount of alfalfa hay.
The Baby Bunny’s Perfect Diet
So, let’s see what the perfect baby rabbit diet looks like:
1. Green Grass
Rabbits can eat grass from a yard. However, it is important to ensure that the grass is safe for the rabbit and is not treated with any insecticides. Otherwise, the experience may be unpleasant and unsatisfactory.
2. Vegetables
Rabbits can eat a wide variety of vegetables in the wild, with only a few being difficult to digest.
However, it is important to avoid providing sugary vegetables such as carrots, as this can lead to obesity.
Instead, it is recommended to provide baby rabbits with high-fiber vegetables such as cabbage and other similar vegetables.
3. Hay
It is widely accepted that hay is the safest food for both adult and young rabbits. According to a study, hay is rich in fiber, which is essential for the rabbit’s overall health.
However, it is important to note that consuming high-fiber pellets in large quantities may lead to obesity.
While many experts and veterinarians suggest alfalfan hay for the baby rabbit, it is also possible to provide Timothy hay.
In addition to alfalfan, Timothy hay can also be used to provide the baby bunny with a variety of hay sources, such as meadow, oat, and grass.
4. Fruits
Most fruits are sweet. Yes, you can feed the sweet fruits to baby bunnies. Baby rabbits love to eat different kinds of fruits like apples, guava, etc. You know that fruits are rich in nutrients. Therefore, it is good for baby rabbits.
5. Water
Water is one of the most important food elements for the bunny. At first, your bunny may refuse to drink water.
However, don’t give up. You can start by changing the water twice daily. I hope that your bunny will get used to it.
You can use a baby bunny water bowl or water bottle. The baby bunny tends to flip the water bowl, so I prefer the water bottle.
In the winter, an electric water bottle can be used to keep the water from freezing.
6. Pellets
It is important to note that not all pellets are safe for rabbits, especially for young rabbits. There are various types of pellets available on the market. Some may have artificial colors and materials in them.
It would be beneficial to use timothy hay-based pellets. The best supplier’s product is Oxbow, but you can also use other brands.
Pellets are rich in protein and fiber, which makes your baby rabbit strong and healthy.
7. Treats
Most of us like to spoil our rabbits with sugary treats. However, providing too many sugary treats can lead to obesity.
You could treat your rabbit twice or three times a week. Especially during the litter training season.
It will also create a strong bond between you and your rabbit.
Transition to the Adult Diet
When your baby bunnies are between 6 and 8 months of age, they are mature enough to follow the adult rabbit diet. At this age, you should concentrate on the hay. The adult rabbit diet is as follows:
- Hay: 80 to 85%
- Pellet: 10 to 15%
- Water: 5 to 10%
Rabbits are very sensitive animals. You need to be very careful with your dog and your cat. If you don’t, your bunny will get sick or even die in an emergency. I hope you will benefit from reading this article on the best food for baby rabbits.
A Word From GetMe Treated
Taking on the role of baby rabbit foster mom is a huge responsibility. Rabbits grow fast, so you need to be ready to adjust their diet every week.
To make up for the calories they don’t get from their mom, baby rabbits need a lot of calories in their supplemental milk.
FAQs Related To The Best Food For Baby Rabbits
Is milk good for baby rabbits?
Baby rabbits do not have a lactose intolerance but should not be fed cow’s milk. The baby rabbit will drink its mother’s milk naturally.
The baby rabbit is dependent on the nutritional content of the milk to develop into a healthy young rabbit.
Can baby rabbits drink water?
Yes. They begin to drink water from their mother’s water bottle or dish at around 3-4 weeks of age.
How do you make baby food for rabbits?
If you want to make it a bit more palatable, you can add some canned pumpkin or baby food that’s 100% pure.
You can also add a bit of banana puree or mix the pellets with some of your bunny’s favorite fresh greens to see if they’ll take the feed in the syringe.
Can a baby rabbit survive without milk?
No. Without it, they will not survive, they will get diarrhea and die.
What kind of milk can I give a baby rabbit?
Kitten Milk Replacer or goat milk
At what age can a rabbit get pregnant?
5 – 6 months of age
At what age do baby rabbits start eating?
2 – 3 weeks
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