https://s3.amazonaws.com/tgn-certifications/Rabbits/rabbits_module_5-5.mp4
Transcript:
Raising Backyard Meat Rabbits – Help! When Things Go Wrong Transcript
Resources:
Conditioning Recipe:
– Black oil sunflower seeds
– Whole wheat
– Rolled oats
– Whole or crimped barley
– Wheat germ oil
Mix equal parts of grains then pour wheat germ oil over and mix.
Store in fridge or cool dry place
Raising Baby Rabbits When Something Happens to Mom!
Join us as we visit a permitted wildlife rescue volunteer. She teaches us step by step how to successfully raise baby rabbits, when something has gone wrong with mom.
(https://youtu.be/t6hmyOAH6YI)
In the video my friend Kristi is a saver of all things small and helpless. I myself have to dig deep, very deep (except when it comes to my kids) to summon up this level of compassion! Disclaimer: Mother Nature is so hard to duplicate. Do your best, especially when kids are involved, but don’t become too attached to the outcome. Try to prepare your kids for the worst and then if it turns out good, well great! Remember you are potentially going to be eating these rabbits in 12 weeks. In the end it all boils down to trying to keep those human kids alive, right!?
Written instructions to raising newborn bunnies:
1. Start with kitten/puppy replacement milk sold online or at most pet stores:
https://www.amazon.com/PetLac-Milk-Powder-Kittens-10-5-Ounce/dp/B005OYJHJW/ref=asc_df_B005OYJHJW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167144421804&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3336095893435646820&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=
2. With the Miracle nipple; feed newborn babies kitten/puppy replacer; https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Nipple-Regular-Size-2-pack/dp/B00TKCPY14 (-Warm the milk first! (Congrats, you have not one, but up to 8 new born babies in your charge! Get used to VERY little sleep!)
3. Stimulate the abdomen of each baby so that they will pee!
– Feed 4-5 ml 3x per day (because you really have nothing better to do with your life!)
-If bunny aspirates (milk goes in the nose) hold one nostril down and it will come out the other side. Basically, a bunny Loogie! (I am a mom of 4 boys. What can I say!)
4. At 2-3 weeks old switch to raw goat’s milk, but not all at once because that would be way too easy! Oh, and good luck finding raw goats milk in your area and if you do; IT WILL BE EXPENSIVE! See your profits flying out the window! Just smile and wave goodbye to those little green backs, because you don’t want your kids to think you are cold-hearted. Put on your Mother Theresa hat and go with it! A saint you are not, but for your kids you can suck it up and pretend for a few weeks. Right?! It is going to be a LONG few weeks, let me tell you! When they are looking up at you with those big brown, innocent, beautiful, soulful eyes. (Not the rabbits, the kids!) with a small warm baby bunny clutched in their hands. You really don’t have any choice in the matter at this point. Am I right?! Who can resist that!?!
Hold strong we can do this! I see a light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not a train coming!
1. Mix formula with raw goat’s milk- 2 parts formula + 1 parts raw goats milk
2. Go to 1 parts formula- 1 parts goats milk.
3. Go to 1-part formula- 2 parts goats milk
4. Then all raw goats milk baby!
Keep trying to give babies to doe to see if she will come around! Get down on your knees and beg her! At this point, you are probably getting very little sleep. If your family finds you on your knees, then tell them you were praying for all involved, which at this point might not be far from the truth.
Weaning babies:
There is hope in sight; they are eating solid food! Don’t get too excited, this is a venerable time; they could drop dead at any minute! Not going to sugar coat this for you!
When weaning at 4 weeks old- start adding water
Here we go again: 3 parts goats milk 1-part water
-2 parts goats milk- 2 parts water
-1-part goats milk- 3 parts water
Finally, just water baby!
-During this period slowly & gradually over a period of days start offering a dish of alfalfa pellets and rolled oats.
If your baby bunny gets diarrhea at any point, then switch to hay only!
-Offer timothy, coastal Bermuda, Orchard or even alfalfa hay.
Good Luck, and may the force be with you!
Homework:
1. Research where to purchase or how to build a nest box for each doe.
2. Consider your options for housing.
3. Research where to purchase ingredients for conditioning recipe for your nursing does.