help!!! found baby rabbit, orphaned

jnewberry123 · #1 (**permalink**) 28-09-2007, 04:26 PM

hi, please help me, walking home from school with my children today, we came across a baby rabbit, we think orphaned as there was a dead rabbit close by, hit and run, fairly recent too, looking at it, now i am stuck i do not know what to do, the children have persuaded me to bring it home as it would be cruel to let it die by being killed by a fox etc, ths innocense of children, bless them, now he or she is approx 4in in length, now the problem is what do i do with it as there is no animal shelter close by, i have a cage it can go in for now, but what does it drink and eat etc, i am not thick, i am just unsure as it is so small, can i give it milk, is it pass that stage, how heavy should it be, how much milk should i give it, please help, i know some would say, let it go free, but trust me until you have a very emotional 5 and 7 year old crying because they don't want you to let it go because it will die, i am in a very tricky situation, please help, thankyou looking forward to hearing from you soon lol julie

Vixen · #2 (**permalink**) 28-09-2007, 04:35 PM

if it is weaned and eating for itself a quiet place, with some grass and danilions from a garden that has'nt had pestersides use into it or not near a road.

if it not eating for itself, and still needs milk it will need hand feeding with kitten milk every 4-6 hours day and night. A phone call to your local vet may help in what milk to use and how much. There some web sites about hand rearing rabbits but don't have the links off hand.

I do know rabbits can be hard to hand rear, you realy think your getting somewhere and they just suddenly die. I think you may have to try and prepear the children that this little guy may go to bunny heven.

EDIT: here some links for you, that may help

FAQ: Orphaned Baby Bunnies

Caring for Orphaned Wild Cottontail Bunnies - Orphaned Rabbit Bunny

http://www.geocities.com/crawdadcree...anedBunny.html

hope they help

jnewberry123 · #3 (**permalink**) 28-09-2007, 04:40 PM

thankyou vixen, he or she has not eaten anything yet, could i not use any other kind of milk, we are in the sticks out here, i have a syringe without the needle, and three varieties of milk, is it only kitten milk thanks again lol julie

Vixen · #4 (**permalink**) 28-09-2007, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnewberry123

thankyou vixen, he or she has not eaten anything yet, could i not use any other kind of milk, we are in the sticks out here, i have a syringe without the needle, and three varieties of milk, is it only kitten milk thanks again lol julie

to be honest I realy don't know, I know it deffinotly can't be cows milk.

where in the country are you, even though there may not be a animal centre near you, there maybe a volenteer from one that is.

jnewberry123 · #5 (**permalink**) 28-09-2007, 04:47 PM

i am in a village called burghill in hereford, herefordshire, we have a lot of farmers and i know some farmers don't like rabbits, i will send my hubby out to find me some kitten milk, i will also prepare the kiddies for the worst, won't be easy, i will feel really awful, well thats part of being a parent i suppose,

Vixen · #6 (**permalink**) 28-09-2007, 05:38 PM

I know it no where near you but the Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital has exsperiance with hand reaing rabbits and may be able ot offer advice over the phone

contect details here Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital - Wiltshire based animal rescue.

info on posable closer place's here UK ANIMAL RESCUERS - UK WILDLIFE CENTRES

jnewberry123 · #7 (**permalink**) 28-09-2007, 06:38 PM

hi vixen thankyou i will contact one of them in a bit, i have just tried him on kitten milk as you suggested, i guess it may take a while for him to get use to it, will let you know how i get on lol julie x

Bunster · #8 (**permalink**) 28-09-2007, 07:36 PM

Hi,
Best of luck with the little one, shame I'm not nearer to you as I would happily help you out. I've just reared three orphans that are due for release soon.

Here is another link for you to look at. CottonTails Rabbit Rescue - Hand Rearing Orphan Baby Rabbits

Can you weigh him or post a picture? It will give a good idea of his age and requirements.

naturelover · #9 (**permalink**) 28-09-2007, 07:57 PM

hi julie will the rspca not help you,they take hedgies why not bunnies,what ever you do good luck.

jnewberry123 · #10 (**permalink**) 28-09-2007, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunster

Hi,
Best of luck with the little one, shame I'm not nearer to you as I would happily help you out. I've just reared three orphans that are due for release soon.

Here is another link for you to look at. CottonTails Rabbit Rescue - Hand Rearing Orphan Baby Rabbits

Can you weigh him or post a picture? It will give a good idea of his age and requirements.

hi bunster, i have just wieghed him/her and it is 200grammes, sorry i never replied earlier had to get kids ready for bed, they did not want to go they were worried that i would put the bunny outside for the fox to eat bless them, anyway please let me know as soon as you can, if you also give me an idea of its age, its between 4 and 5 inches long, don't want to hold it too often, have heard rabbits don't like it.