Hand Feeding baby bunnies:

If you ever have the need to hand feed baby bunnies, here is what's worked for me in the past.  First and foremost.  you better be dedicated,  and patience to the task.  The information that follows was obtained by much research, reading from many different sources, and tons of first hand experience - not to mention trial and error.   After I commenced with this bunny hobby, and immediately after taking home my very first Flemish Giant doe, she had a litter of 10 baby bunnies.   Needless to say,  we were completely surprised and elated.  She made a great nest, but started to eat the bunnies, one at a time, day by day.  We felt that she was not settled into her new environment, and thus felt the need to eat them. We still feel this way, because she has never done that again, and is a great mom.  Well, after seeing her gobble up those babies, I decided to hand raise them.  Here is what I've done in the past, and works great.    Please note:   If you feel different, or disagree with any of the information listed.  This is what has worked for me in the past, and is only listed here in case that you might encounter this scenario in the future.

Milk or formula that I use:   I have used two different formulas.  The first is :  4 ounces whole cows milk, and 1 ounces heavy whipping cream, and 1 ounce baby unflavored pedialite.  You can vary the amount based on how many bunnies you will need to feed.  This amount is enough for a couple of days, keeping the unused portion refrigerated after use.  To this, I added one tablespoon of Nutrical (see picture listed below), and one full scoop of Colostrum milk replacement supplement formula (see picture listed below) , and a  1/2 teaspoon of molasses to slightly sweeten the formula.   I first heat up the milk, and then add the other previously listed ingredients into a small pourable storage plastic container.

My latest formula is much simpler and I feel that the bunnies like it the best.    I use equal parts of  goat milk, unflavored baby pedialite ( Oral electrolyte solution - that restores body water and minerals lost in diarrhea etc) , and one scoop of  Probiotic powder ( a concentrated source of Live Naturally Occurring Microorganisms and vitamins) to the milk formula.  I feed them three times a day.   The bunnies tend to like this much better, and I have had much better results, and less loss.   I feel that the probiotic powder(obtained at Tractor supply), has helped establish their gut flora.

Initially, I tried those small kitty baby bottles with nipples, but I found that the nipples were very hard, and the bunnies were very tinny compared to the nipples.  I  then, came across an alternative nipple substitute while shopping at walmart in the fishing department.   I found a set of very soft silicone fishing lures ( See pictured listed below) that I cut off the tail ends and used as the new feeding nipples.    The pictures show you how I modify them for feeding. 

  

Here is the silicone small lure kit that I purchased at                            These are the individual lures ( they are hollow)

at Walmart.                                                                                                        and they have small frilly silicone tails that I cut off

 

Here is the syringe that I use to feed the babies                                      I am cutting off the filly ends off of the silicone lures

and the needle used to poke holes in the lures

This taking the needle and opening small holes                                     Ready to insert the new modified lure soon to be

on the end of the new soon to be nipple                                                   the new nipple onto the end of the syringe with milk

    Here is the new super soft silicone nipple slipped over the

  end of the syringe. 

Once the modified lures are ready (now soft nipples), I can commence feeding the little bunnies.   I usually prepare several nipples, and have them ready so that I can change them out if they start to slip off, or if the bunnies bite them. You will find that as their teeth grow they will start biting the nipples and ruining them.  You will go through several nipples in one feeding.  

I feed my bunnies first thing in the morning and then again, later on at night, once I come home from work.  I have read that bunnies need to fed every couple of hours, and I have found that to be a bit much, and I tend to disagree.   Once I feed them, they are stuffed, ( like little balloons), and they aren't interested in more milk until later on that night.    The worst will be your first feeding, until you get comfortable with the whole process.  I  initially, place a drop of milk on their lips and let them taste it.  Most of them will immediately take the nipple and become little suckling pigs wanting more.  (The pictures listed below are from my latest sandy litter that I have decided to hand feed, since their mom is incompetent and doesn't understand the whole process.   Additionally, she wasn't interested in them, she was not being careful, and she was just sitting on the babies.  Needless to say, I wasn't going to let her crush them.)    I usually  give the bunnies as much formula as they will eat in one feeding.   These little guys were one day old, and they all consumed 5 ml of warm milk formula.   They were stuffed, and content little pigs.   You will find that as the bunnies get older they will want more milk faster and faster. They will also fight you to get more milk quicker, and sometimes literally knocking over the re-fill container trying to get more milk.   Every day will become easier, and you will find the whole process kind of funny as to how piggy they will become.  ( More milk, more milk, where's the milk, I want more).    They will get impatient, almost not giving you time to re-fill the syringe at times.  Additionally,  you will have to be very careful that they do not swallow the syringe as they get older- since the silicone nipple slip off easily.     As I mentioned earlier, they will bite the syringe, and it will get frustrating at times, but it will be a great bonding process.    One great side affect from all of this hand feeding is that these little guys will be very friendly bunnies.   You will also get to see their individual personalities from the very first day.    Some are, lazy, some, are gluttons for milk, others are very easy to feed.   They are all individuals, and you will enjoy every minute.  The following pictures are from my very first feeding.   Please note, that I place them on a towel that is laid over a heating pad to help keep them warm during their feeding session.   I also wrap them in a small terry cloth hand towel  while feeding them.   This hand towel will help mop up any excess formula that might drip from their mouths.   I only apply enough pressure to the syringe as they will consume.    After, the first couple of  feeding they will basically do all the sucking and you will barely have to push on the syringe.   

Here is my day old baby bunny getting ready for his first feeding.   Notice that I completely wrap him in the terry cloth towel that will keep him warm, and it will help keep him secure while you feed him.  It will also will mop up any dribbled milk, and most importantly, it will keep their heads up right (basically they are in a seated position) so that they don't end up inhaling any of the milk.    Bunnies usually feed upside down, but  for your feeding sessions please keep them in the sitting position to avoid them inhaling any of the milk.   If you manage to let them inhale any of the milk you will loose them.    Very, very important - I only give them enough milk as they will swallow.    As mentioned earlier, they will  later on literally suck on the syringe  so that you will not need to press on it at all.   After I feed them all, I place them in a nest box with some of the same original nesting material, and make sure that they are warm.   Well, I hope that the listed information will help you with your bunny feedings.  Please, feel free to let me know  if this has helped, or if you have done any improvements.    Please feel free to call me as well.  Good luck

Page last updated: September 29, 2011

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