Rabbits are prolific animals. A lot of cubs are usually born to a female. And in most cases, the mother is able to feed them all. However, sometimes it happens that rabbits do not have milk. It happens that the uterus also develops mastitis due to improper maintenance. In this case, due to pain during feeding, the animal may even become furious and bite its cubs.
Of course, it also happens that the uterus completely dies, for example, due to a birth infection. Of course, without a female, the cubs will also die. In the early days of life, rabbits are completely helpless and completely dependent on their mother. If the farm has more recently born females, you can try to put the remaining milk-free babies under one of them. If this is not possible, it is worth trying to offer the pups an artificial mixture. This article will deal with all the details of how to feed rabbits without a rabbit.
How to determine that the uterus has abandoned the cubs
Immediately after birth, it may seem to an inexperienced rabbit breeder that the female has abandoned her litter . Bunnies usually do not show a special maternal love for their offspring (like, for example, cats). After birth, the uterus does not sit in the nest and practically does not fit rabbits. To worry about this is not worth it. Rabbits are fed only in the dark.
But sometimes, of course, it also happens that a mother abandons her offspring for whatever reason. In this case, the babies, she is likely to bite. However, first-born females often simply abandon their babies without feeding them and doing nothing. Determine that the rabbits were left without food, you can first of all on their hollow tummies. Ribs in hungry cubs stick out. In this case, the farmer and the question arises about how to feed newborns rabbits without a rabbit.
Getting enough milk, the calves look well-fed. Their tummies are usually very plump (even disproportionately to the body).
What you need to know
So , is it possible to feed rabbits without a rabbit? We will talk about how to do it right below. For starters, let's look at a little theory. This will help to act with artificial feeding consciously, and therefore to save more babies.
Milk in rabbits contains a lot of nutrients. That is why the female is able to feed a large number of babies at once. In terms of caloric value, rabbit milk is significantly superior to cow. Only goat can compare with it in terms of nutrient content. However, milk of these animals is also slightly less high-calorie than rabbit. This is the main difficulty of artificial feeding of newborns. In any case, rabbits will receive less calories.
However, it is still possible to feed young animals without a uterus. The only thing that can save rabbits at 100% may not work.
What to feed
Sometimes inexperienced farmers ask, for example, in specialized forums on the Web the question of how to feed rabbits without rabbits with cow's milk. Unfortunately, this product cannot be used due to low calorie content. To save at least part of the cubs will be possible only with the use of goat milk . Also, sometimes animals are fed and infant formula (from 0 months). You need to add grass and grain granules from ordinary rabbit feed to it, crushed into powder in a blender or coffee maker. The infant mixture is heated to 37 ° C. Next, herbal “powder” is poured into it so that the final product has the consistency of a very thin porridge.
Cat milk substitute can also be a good answer to the question of how to feed rabbits without a rabbit. Sometimes this product can be found in veterinary pharmacies or pet stores.
Feed frequency
In nature, a rabbit feeds cubs usually in the evening or at night 1-2 times a day. Due to the calorie content of milk during this time, they manage to get all the nutrients they need. Since not a single substitute with rabbit milk can be compared in caloric value, feeding babies artificially will have to be very often. This will need to be done at least 5-6 times a day. At the same time, each rabbit should drink at least 5-6 grams of a substitute at a time. The only exception is baby food with herbs. This mixture is quite high in calories, and you can give it to babies less often - 3-4 times a day.
How to feed rabbits without a rabbit: nipple or syringe?
You can try to feed goat rabbits with milk from a pipette. However, this method is not too convenient. More often, in this case, special bottles are used for feeding newborn kittens. For the slurry mixture, you should buy an insulin syringe without a needle.
How to feed
Often a female who gives birth does not die immediately. Sometimes, for example, farmers have a question about how to feed weekly rabbits without a rabbit. In this case, most likely, it will be possible to save more cubs. After all, babies have already gained strength and received quite a lot of substances from their mother’s milk that support their immunity. It is much more difficult to feed newborn babies. But in any case, the instinct of self-preservation in rabbits, as in any other animals, is very well developed. Therefore, an artificial substitute for breast milk, they will be necessary .
Difficulties can arise mainly only in the first few feedings. It will be difficult for a pet rabbit to understand that a pipette or syringe is a source of food. Pour food into the baby’s mouth by force. The body of these animals has its own characteristics. With a forced infusion, the cub can simply choke.
If the little rabbit does not take a pacifier or syringe, at first he just needs to lubricate it with milk or a mixture of mouth. A hungry baby will surely lick the offered food. After some time, with the persistence of the owners, he will understand what a nipple or syringe is for. It is possible to determine that the baby swallowed food while feeding by its full tummy.
When feeding the rabbit should be held upright, for example, above the table. The surface of the latter should be covered with a cloth.
What you need to do
The question of how to feed rabbits without a rabbit is quite complicated. A farmer who decides to take such a step, among other things, should know about some features of the organism of these animals. At first, rabbits do not know how to go to the toilet. The mother also takes care of the timely release of their intestines. In the absence of a female, the owners will have to do this. Otherwise, babies may experience rupture of internal organs.
Stool is stimulated by rabbits before each feeding. To do this, take a damp cloth and several times hold it from top to bottom on the baby’s tummy, gently pressing on it and simulating a lick. You can also massage this place of the rabbit in a circular motion clockwise. All these actions should be performed until the baby urinates and defecates.
Also, do not allow the milk to dry on the face of a rabbit. These animals, as you know, are very susceptible to various kinds of infectious diseases. And peroxidized dried milk is a hotbed of a huge number of pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, after each feeding, the rabbit must carefully wipe its face with a damp cloth.
Also, some attention to the owners, who decided to feed the cubs on their own, will have to pay places around the anus of the babies. Here, rabbits often dry stool. It must be wiped. Feces can also cause the baby's illness and death.
How to feed little rabbits without a rabbit: basic rules
Of course, hygiene rules should also be observed when feeding babies . It is advisable to boil a pipette, nipple or syringe each time, or at least rinse thoroughly under running very hot water. Baby formula for rabbits should be prepared exactly according to the instructions. It is impossible to store it for more than a day even in the refrigerator. Goat milk, of course, should not be sour. It must be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 3 days. Before giving milk to rabbits, it should be heated to t 38-40 0 C.
How long will it take to feed
For the first time, rabbits growing with their mother begin to try ordinary food a little at the age of about two weeks. However, with artificial feeding, babies usually still grow somewhat weakened. Therefore, they will begin to try simple food, most likely, later - by three weeks. By this time, in a cage or box for babies, you need to start to plant a little dried grass. Also, rabbits usually eat barley crushed well.
Thus, if the cubs were left without a mother at the age of 14 days, they will most likely be able to be saved. The answer to the question of how to feed two-week-old rabbits without a rabbit is relatively simple. In this case, babies will have to give a mixture or goat milk 2-3 times a day. As an additive, you can use hay and a cage. In any case, such rabbits will have to be fed artificially for no more than 2 weeks.
Each new variety of ordinary food should be introduced into the diet of growing babies gradually - increasing the dose for about two weeks. The digestive system in these animals is structured in a special way. If the rabbit eats too much of a new product for him, he will certainly have diarrhea. Moreover, a small animal may even die. For the same reason, beets should not be given to young rabbits. This product is a strong laxative.
Instead of a conclusion
So, now you know what to do if the rabbit died on the farm . "How to feed rabbits without a rabbit?" - Oh answer to this question is quite complicated. In this case, no one can guarantee the survival of all the cubs. However, if n is observed, the chances of maintaining a large part of the litter are still quite large. In any case, it is worth trying to feed the rabbits artificially when the female dies. Most farmers consider this to be quite reasonable and economically viable. Artificial feeding of young animals is used, for example, even in very large rabbit farms.