Handfeeding 7 day old kits

[dayna]

So Bunny abandonded her first litter.

I've been keeping an eye on them and they've not been fed since at the very latest yesterday morning.

They are getting weak and a little cold and obviously dehydrated.

So I brought them inside. I got them warmed up. I attempted to feed them some 11 breed milk replacer. It's 25% fat and 24% protien.

I got each to take about a half a cc. I know that's not enough but A) I don't want to "force" them and cause aspiration and B) I wasn't sure just HOW MUCH they should be getting.

I've successfully handfed many avian species from parrotlets to ravens to bald eagles (I used to volunteer at the raptor center).

I've got the milk at about 103° but they are not interested, should I up to about 105°?

How much should I feed them? Should I feed them more than twice a day as they are getting started?

Do I have to "poop and pee" them like kittens and puppies?

I wanted to post this here while I did some searches on both this site and others. If anyone has any advice, I could sure use it. I was going to cull all of them but hubby told me I should try and if it doesn't work in the next 24 hours and they look worse cull them then. (I do NOT want to cause the suffering of these babies).<br /><br />__________ Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:18 pm __________<br /><br />So here they are. You can see their body condition is not good.

 

[Sinnfox]

I had a new mom abandon her litter recently...first day or so the lil ones I tried to save didn't want the formula mix I was giving them...but by day three they came around...so the lil ones may just need to get used to the taste...after that they would get real excited to be fed...I only have one its 16 days old and doing great so its worth trying

 

[Marinea]

Oh Dayna, I am so sorry you're having to deal with this. (hugs)

I have no first-hand experience with rabbits, but I know there are threads here about formula recipes.

I will be thinking of you and the kits and hoping for the best.

 

[dayna]

So they each just took 1.5 cc's of the 11 species milk replacer. A couple were REALLY excited and drank it really fast. Others not so much.

I know it sounds silly but I shaprie marked 1-5 on the white ones and the ear on one of the dark ones. That way I can keep track of who is who.

 

[Marinea]

So glad to read this update!!

*fingers crossed they all do great*

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

That's not silly, it's smart. That way you know at a glance who has been fed and who needs a feeding without having to check their tummies.

 

[dayna]

Thanks, I'll grab some benebac tomorrow to help with good bacteria too. I figure if they make it through a couple days they have a better chance of survival. I'm not getting my hopes up yet though.<br /><br />__________ Thu Mar 07, 2013 4:44 pm __________<br /><br />Oh and another question that I can't really seem to find an answer to. Should I try to feed them again tonight and then in the morning or just wait till the morning. I fed them at 4:00pm my time here in Hawaii. I go to bed at 9 so I'd feed them around 830. That seems really close but at the same time they missed at least 2 feedings from mom, maybe 3.

 

[AnnClaire]

I would recommend that you wait until the morning ... their tummies need time to digest what they have had and it "ain't mom's milk" which would be easy on their systems. Then, for the first week, you will probably want to feed 2x per day. Good Luck!!!

 

[Miss M]

I did 3 feedings a couple of times when I had to hand-feed. Since they're taking such small amounts right now, I'd think it might be a good idea.

I'm not familiar with the 11 species milk replacer, but here are a couple of things:

If it has cow's milk in it, the kits may not metabolize it well, and may get the runs. If it has goat's milk instead, the chances of issues are much less.

Rabbit milk is incredibly rich. You should probably mix the replacer double strength. Goat's milk at regular strength is sometimes not rich enough, but canned goat's milk (which is evaporated to double strength) is. Especially if you add some egg yolk, and a little corn syrup.

Feed them, if they will take it, until their bellies look nice and round like they each swallowed a marble. That should be several CCs each. I fed mine with an eyedropper, and newborns got about 3 of them. Most will get to the point at which they will absolutely refuse to take more. The occasional popple doesn't know when to quit, though, so you can't rely completely on that. If they won't eat that much, you can give them 3 feedings a day until they will.

Half a drop at a time, with a napkin handy to wipe their little noses. As they get bigger, they'll start sucking it out of there. And you won't need the napkin as much.

Wrapping them up in a rag sure helps keep the mess under control.

Good luck!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Aww- poor little popples.

I haven't ever tried hand feeding such little ones, but I know Miss M has had success.

Our theory here is that the doe does not lick them to stimulate bowel function, but that it is the movement of the other kits when fighting for a nipple- so lacking that a little stimulation by you is in order.

I hope you can save them. :clover:

 

[dayna]

oh my goodness! I just checked the tummies and they've already shrunk down to almost nothing. In an hour and a half!

I think I will feed them again tonight. They are sleeping soundly. Before feeding them, they were weak but restless and sucking on each other. Now just sleeping.

They were so dehydrated that I'm sure they really just needed some fluids to keep from having their organs shut down. As long as their tummies are showing that they're processing the food I should feed them right?

Should I bump it up to 2ccs for this night time feeding? I did 1.5 cc's at 4pm. I'm just worried about over feeding them and aspirating them. With parrots if you over feed you can stretch the crop or they can regurg it up into their lungs. I know rabbits are not parrots but still...<br /><br />__________ Thu Mar 07, 2013 5:42 pm __________<br /><br />Oh and I stimulated one and pee shot across the floor! OMG! My husband laughed so hard! He was like, guess that one is at least moving fluid through it's kidneys! haha!

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Isn't it amazing how much pee can come out of an animal that fits in the palm of your hand??? :lol:

Sounds like they're in good hands. Trust your gut...if you feel they need another feed, go for it.

 

[AnnClaire]

What Miss M said She is much more experienced than most unk:

 

[dayna]

I went ahead and did another feeding. Some were VERY hungry! I weighed each and also wrote down the cc's I fed them.

I'm going to use this thread as a way of keeping track. I wonder how many (if any) are going to make it? From what I've read the odds are not in my favor. I have a gram scale for measuring kava but set it to oz's maybe tomorrow I'll switch it to grams.

Stripe 1.94oz fed 3.5cc
Blackie 2.67oz fed 4.5cc
#1 2.51oz fed 2cc (refused anymore)
#2 2.56oz fed 4cc
#3 2.11oz fed 2cc
#4 2.67oz fed 3cc
#5 2.20oz fed 3.5cc

Do you all think it's normal for such a vast difference in amounts fed? Some started really refusing after 2cc's even when re warmed. I didn't want them to choke.

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

I think your odds are better since they are a little older and not newborn. Also, if they can hang in for few days they might start nibbling some hay and you could sprinkle a few flakes of whole rolled oats to start them on real food. That will help fill them up, too.

Good luck. I read a recipe on here that called for evaporated goat's milk (you can get at walmart), molasses/honey/or corn syrup, and an egg. You might try that if they don't thrive on the formula.

 

[Miss M]

What Miss M said She is much more experienced than most unk:

<br /><br />__________ Fri Mar 08, 2013 9:41 am __________<br /><br />Coffeenut is right... they have a way better chance because they are already a week old. It would be a lot more iffy if she had abandoned them at a few days, and their chances would have been pretty low if she had abandoned them immediately.

Watch the two that took the most. Being a week old, it might not be too much for them. Just watch their bellies and their behinds. If their bellies start looking like toad bellies, or like pears, skip a feeding or two to let their bodies catch up. If their poop becomes yellow and runny, cut back on the amount.

 

[dayna]

So far all are alive when I woke up this morning and tummies look empty. I'm going to take my daughter to school then come back home and feed them.

I'll get a weight on everyone before I feed. I figure that'll help me know if I'm giving them enough forumla or not.

__________ Fri Mar 08, 2013 9:13 am __________

How bad is it if they inhale (possibly not sure) a small amount of milk? One of them looked like it choked a bit and I don't know if it inhaled it. Antibiotics?<br /><br />__________ Fri Mar 08, 2013 4:15 pm __________<br /><br />I got a kitten bottle today.

Lets just say they figured it out quickly! Happy full baby bellies!

 

[Marinea]

Now THAT'S a happy picture!

*fingers still crossed for the babies*

 

[dayna]

Now THAT'S a happy picture!

*fingers still crossed for the babies*

Thank you, I'm trying my hardest!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

They look pretty good. I'm glad they took to the bottle!

I wouldn't give any antibiotics at this age especially. Rabbits have delicate gut flora even when older, so it would be very risky in my opinion to give it to one so young. Just hope for the best. :clover: