Anyone know anything about rabbits?

[Wildcard Ky]

I got home today and was handed two baby rabbits in a tupperware bowl. Momma is roadkill. These things can't be a week old. They have fur, but their eyes aren't open yet. I've got two small girls expecting Daddy to pull the miracle and get them to live. Is there any chance of hand raising rabbits this small? If anyone has any advice or information, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Guest]

Not good news: baby bunnies

You'll need to prepare your daughters for the worst. Sorry,

Perdita

 

[CharleyH]

All I know is what I terrigyingly saw in University . . . a rabbit likes to hump baby kittens, and MIN, probably goslings! STAT AWAY.

Dita P knows best and better

 

[minsue]

Not good news: baby bunnies

You'll need to prepare your daughters for the worst. Sorry,

Perdita

I was about to post the same link. Google?

WK -

 

[Guest]

Here's more info if you're willing.

Perdita

(I got my bunny at a year old so I'm not personally familiar with newborns.)

 

[Boxlicker101]

I got home today and was handed two baby rabbits in a tupperware bowl. Momma is roadkill. These things can't be a week old. They have fur, but their eyes aren't open yet. I've got two small girls expecting Daddy to pull the miracle and get them to live. Is there any chance of hand raising rabbits this small? If anyone has any advice or information, it would be greatly appreciated.

You are probably better off asking the local Humane Society. They even have the expertise and the supplies to raise them until they can be either released into the wild or given back to you as house pets.

 

[Wildcard Ky]

Well I believe that I did the smartest thing possible. I got ahold of a local wildlife rehabilitation shelter. They were kind enough to take the babies. I'm sure they have a 10 fold better chance with them than they would have with me. Hopefully they will make it and be relased back into the wild.

 

[minsue]

Yup, you did absolutely the smartest thing. Not that it will probably help your little girls wanting to keep the baby bunnies, though.

 

[shereads]

I got home today and was handed two baby rabbits in a tupperware bowl. Momma is roadkill. These things can't be a week old. They have fur, but their eyes aren't open yet. I've got two small girls expecting Daddy to pull the miracle and get them to live. Is there any chance of hand raising rabbits this small? If anyone has any advice or information, it would be greatly appreciated.

I keep the phone number of our local state-licensed volunteer wildlife rehab person posted for crises like this one, Wildcard. Try Googling "Wildlife rescue" for your nearest city.

Good luck with the little guys.

 

[shereads]

TRY THESE SITES:

http://www.geocities.com/queenwitch_40505/

859-225-5072 (seems to be an individual effort to answer questions about wildlife rescues)

Also: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm
How To Locate a Wildlife Rehabilitator
------------------------------------------------------------------------

When you find an injured animal, it is important to know who to contact for information on what to do and where to bring the animal.

Below are links to listings of wildlife rehabilitators/centers by state and country. It is by no means a complete listing of rehabbers, but the individuals and groups listed here will be able to help or refer you to an appropriate person in your area.

If you do not find a specific contact person in your area, call your local Game & Fish Department, Animal Control Officer, Humane Society, or veterinarian. These individuals often will know of local wildlife rehabilitation facilities and can give you their numbers.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

I'm sorry to say from personal experience, baby rabbits have a very slim chance of survival.
Every year my kids and their friends bring my countless baby animals and birds to care for or fix up.
I find my self researching the web for info and try to explain things to them as honestly as possible.
Rabbit moms tend to leave the babies in the nest alone during the day, usually in high grass, they are pretty much on their own.
I can still see my husband in front of the computer, playing solitaire while holding this tiny rabbit in his huge hand, close to his body to keep it warm. It died in his hand. Mother Nature sets things up her way, we can at least have compassion to care for her creatures.
I could never understand a person who doesn't love animals and can be cruel.

I hope things work for the best.

~A~

 

[gauchecritic]

I think you probably gave up a very valuable lesson for your kids wild.

If you'd tried to care for them and they thrived you would obviously have been a hero (more than you are now) if they had died then the kids would have had a better chance at not being completely emotionally attached to something which can't grow with them.

Having pets for years and then having them die before, during or shortly after the kids experience puberty can be stultifying, in my opinion, the younger kids are when pets die the better.

Gauche

 

[lewdandlicentious]

In the long run Gauche, I have to agree.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Well I believe that I did the smartest thing possible. I got ahold of a local wildlife rehabilitation shelter. They were kind enough to take the babies. I'm sure they have a 10 fold better chance with them than they would have with me. Hopefully they will make it and be relased back into the wild.

You certainly did the best thing you could. The shelter will have the facilities and the kindly volunteers and the proper nourishment for these babies. I know you woud have done the best you could but the people at the shelter will also do their best, and their best is a lot better than yours. No way of knowing how things will work out for the bunnies unless the shelter keeps you posted but their chances are much better than they would have been at your place and infinitely better than if they had been left motherless.

 

[shereads]

I think you probably gave up a very valuable lesson for your kids wild.

If you'd tried to care for them and they thrived you would obviously have been a hero (more than you are now) if they had died then the kids would have had a better chance at not being completely emotionally attached to something which can't grow with them.

Having pets for years and then having them die before, during or shortly after the kids experience puberty can be stultifying, in my opinion, the younger kids are when pets die the better.

Gauche

I don't think that young children should be in charge of caring for their pets, because having been a young child I know it's not fair to the animals.

But I disagree about the value of pets in children's lives. As difficult as it is to lose a pet, I don't regret a moment of the love and pleasure I felt in the company of our family dogs. Losing something we love teaches us that we do get past the pain. It prepares us for the inevitable losses that come later, the loss of grandparents, parents, other people we love.

Having pets, and being taught that weaker creatures deserve our kindness and respect, can help kids learn empathy.

Having a dog also provides a child with a first, and maybe only, experience of unquestioning, non-judgemental love. When there are days where you feel like a screw-up, having failed a test, forgotten your homework, dropped the ball and cost your side a game, your dog will still believe that you're a young god. You might lose your temper with the dog, yell at him because your sister was mean to you or your mom's mad or you can't have a pony...but your dog forgives you.

Animals have a lot to teach children that human beings simply can't. They teach forgiveness and compassion by example.

When we lose these friends, we grieve, but we take what we've learned from them and are made better.

 

[snooper]

Later on ...

I hope that when you handed these two infant rabbits to the shelter, you arranged to have them back in a few months time.

Once they are fully grown, rabbits make excellent eating.

 

[Guest]

 

[Wildcard Ky]

Re: Later on ...

I hope that when you handed these two infant rabbits to the shelter, you arranged to have them back in a few months time.

Once they are fully grown, rabbits make excellent eating.

Actually I have made arrangements to get the rabbits back. Both are alive and apparently doing well. The lady at the wildlife center has agreed to let me have them when they are old enough. Me and my two daughters will then take them out and release them on a 500 acre farm that I lease. This way my daughters can get the enjoyment of seeing them return to the wild.

I am an avid hunter myself, and have killed many rabbits. If these rabbits wind up on someones table, so be it. The only thing that bothers me is when someone kills an animal just for the sake of killing. Kill it only if you are going to eat it. Part of the responsibilities of hunting is ensuring that the species continues. If all goes well, these two rabbits will produce many offspring and the species will continue to thrive after they are gone. Such is the nature of things.

 

[Mhari]

/cheer Wildcard

Not only did you do the best thing for those bunnies, but it's so refreshing to meet a hunter who hunts only for food.

Now for a blatant /threadjack...

Perdita, how is your bunny doing?? If you've posted any updates, I've missed them in my very sporadic reading of the board.

 

[Guest]

Mhari, good to hear from you and thanks for asking. Petya's very well. Craps on everything, including me; just can't figure out the training bits. But it's OK, easy to clean. He doesn't like carrots, but eats mangos and bananas, and I love his tiny licks. I don't think he's very smart, but that's OK, he doesn't need to be. I love a dumb animal.

do'cvedanya, Perdita

 

[Guest]

I got home today and was handed two baby rabbits in a tupperware bowl. Momma is roadkill. These things can't be a week old. They have fur, but their eyes aren't open yet. I've got two small girls expecting Daddy to pull the miracle and get them to live. Is there any chance of hand raising rabbits this small? If anyone has any advice or information, it would be greatly appreciated.

Keep them in a shoe box with lots of soft, warm material, such as clean pieces of cloth, cotton balls, etc. They need to conserve their own body heat. Obviously, of course, before you put the lid on the shoebox make sure you put enough breathing holes in it.

They need to be fed vitamin rich, fat rich milk. Get a glass eyedropper (their teeth will chew through plastic), and use it to feed them 100% whole milk, with liquid vitamin supplements mixed in. If you're not sure where to go to get this, call up a vet. They're very helpful.

Sometimes baby bunnies need some stimulation in order to go to the bathroom, but not always. If they seem to be pooping just fine, don't worry about it. If a whole day goes by and you don't see them poop, take a warm, damp rag and gently rub their bottoms until they do.

They will develop rapidly. I'm talking within two weeks. As long as you feed them, keep them warm, etc, you'll soon see them itching for running about and jumping around. Let them out, let them exercise as much as they want. Test them out with pieces of carrot and clover and such to see if they're ready to eat it. IF they are, let them out into your yard and see how they do. If they do fine, let them go because at that point they're ready to go back into the wild. Wild rabbits cannot be tamed and don't make good house pets.

 

[snooper]

Re: Re: Later on ...

Actually I have made arrangements to get the rabbits back. ...

If you are going to share your home with them, I hope they don't turn out like this one:

 

[Mhari]

So glad to hear that Petya is doing well, Perdita! Though I'm not sure he's likely any less-smart than the average bunny. I mean...they're bunnies...

Poka!