Their eyes are open

[garden lady]

Today, most of the eyes are open. Some have one open and one closed. They were all in the nest. I had to clean it, so I took them out and saved the fur and cleaned the whole bed out and put in new. One of them licked my hand all over. How long will it be before they start eating hay and other things? If they come out then they will have to go all the way to the front to get to their mother's food. What if she is eating grass, oats, BOSS, Calf Manna, pellets, do they get to eat some, or do I keep her food away from them? Since they are so far from the front, should I put food back in their box, and if so what age? They are sitting in hay, so they could start eating that when they wanted, but water is far away. When do they get water?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Look at those bright little eyes! Eyes normally open at nine days- when did you find the little guys, again?

The only food I would be careful with is the Calf Manna. You can put rolled oats in their nest now. When they first start eating they just nibble here and there, so the variety (and fresh greens) wont hurt them.

They will start drinking water once they come out of the nest. You said in another thread that all of the rabbits have water crocks and bottles... I would either remove the crock from that cage or make sure it is a very shallow pan so none of them drowned.

 

[garden lady]

Look at those bright little eyes! Eyes normally open at nine days- when did you find the little guys, again?

The only food I would be careful with is the Calf Manna. You can put rolled oats in their nest now. When they first start eating they just nibble here and there, so the variety (and fresh greens) wont hurt them.

They will start drinking water once they come out of the nest. You said in another thread that all of the rabbits have water crocks and bottles... I would either remove the crock from that cage or make sure it is a very shallow pan so none of them drowned.

I think I will only give the Calf Manna to Lulu while she is nursing and then stop using it. I can see Lulu is going to cause trouble with walking in a shallow pan of water and eating their oats. I saw something not sure if on this forum where they put a rock in a bowl so they could not drown? Good idea, bad? Their eyes were half open yesterday. I could see part of their eye and they jumped when the flash went off on the camera. They were found on Sept. 20 and question if born early morning of 19th or early morning of 20th, but I think they were born after 2 a.m. Sept. 20 and she was carrying them at least 33 days and that is saying she was bred the day we caught her, so she could have been carrying them longer.

 

[MaggieJ]

I sometimes put a rock or two in a water crock so the kits can scramble out if they fall in. I still try to use a fairly shallow flat crock like a casserole dish. They learn pretty quickly but are a little clueless the first few days that they are out and about.

 

[garden lady]

I sometimes put a rock or two in a water crock so the kits can scramble out if they fall in. I still try to use a fairly shallow flat crock like a casserole dish. They learn pretty quickly but are a little clueless the first few days that they are out and about.

I measured it and it is 2 inches deep and holds 2 cups of water? Too big, go with 1 inch?

 

[Piper]

the less you feed pellets, the more you need a salt block. If you feed pellets exclusivly, you may be able to get away without an salt block.
about the licking - it will slow down when they start eating pellets.
post69359.html#p69359

Not merely not enough, NONE. When we got our first pair, we immediately began transitioning them to grain feed. We were amused that they seemed to love to lick our fingers as a dog would, but not knowing a lot about rabbits, we didn't think it unusual. I did notice, however, that if I had just washed my hands, they would ignore my fingers. I thought that perhaps the scent of the soap turned them off.

Then, one day we found our buck lying motionless in his cage. We were relieved to find that he was still alive, but we noticed that he had not eaten his food nor drunk much of his water, nor could we get him interested in it.

Finally, we had a flash of insight and it dawned on us that he was dehydrated, and why. It was late on a Sunday evening, and everything was closed except Wal-mart. Hubby and I went out and found some unflavored Pedialyte. We put it into the buck's water bottle, and once he tasted it, he sucked it down as fast as he could. Suspicions confirmed!

The next day, I went to the feed store and bought a couple of salt/mineral blocks for our rabbits. The buck recovered completely from his dehydration within 24 hours, and we've never had a problem with it since.

The only drawback is that not too long afterward, my youngest came to me in tears one day, saying the rabbits didn't like him anymore, because they weren't licking his fingers like they used to! It took a while to convince him that the rabbits had been licking us because they were sick, and that now they were well, not that they didn't like us anymore.

 

[garden lady]

the less you feed pellets, the more you need a salt block. If you feed pellets exclusivly, you may be able to get away without an salt block.
about the licking - it will slow down when they start eating pellets.
post69359.html#p69359

Not merely not enough, NONE. When we got our first pair, we immediately began transitioning them to grain feed. We were amused that they seemed to love to lick our fingers as a dog would, but not knowing a lot about rabbits, we didn't think it unusual. I did notice, however, that if I had just washed my hands, they would ignore my fingers. I thought that perhaps the scent of the soap turned them off.

Then, one day we found our buck lying motionless in his cage. We were relieved to find that he was still alive, but we noticed that he had not eaten his food nor drunk much of his water, nor could we get him interested in it.

Finally, we had a flash of insight and it dawned on us that he was dehydrated, and why. It was late on a Sunday evening, and everything was closed except Wal-mart. Hubby and I went out and found some unflavored Pedialyte. We put it into the buck's water bottle, and once he tasted it, he sucked it down as fast as he could. Suspicions confirmed!

The next day, I went to the feed store and bought a couple of salt/mineral blocks for our rabbits. The buck recovered completely from his dehydration within 24 hours, and we've never had a problem with it since.

The only drawback is that not too long afterward, my youngest came to me in tears one day, saying the rabbits didn't like him anymore, because they weren't licking his fingers like they used to! It took a while to convince him that the rabbits had been licking us because they were sick, and that now they were well, not that they didn't like us anymore.

They have salt/mineral blocks. It has cooled off some and so they are drinking less it seems. I just got a new bale of alfalfa that looks better and going to put some of it in and nothing else until tonight and then gives some greens that are wet and about less pellets. I looked at pictures of small hard poop, and theirs is not bad, just not as large as the females, but something is going on.

 

[ZRabbits]

Thanks so much for sharing! What a sweet face on that one. They really are growing fast. The three week old Flemish kits we saw were very active. The nest box was gone and food and water bottles were supplied for Mom and babies to try. I didn't see any eat or drink when we were there, but they all were just so friendly and curious. Hope you keep us informed on how they are doing.

Karen

 

[garden lady]

Thanks so much for sharing! What a sweet face on that one. They really are growing fast. The three week old Flemish kits we saw were very active. The nest box was gone and food and water bottles were supplied for Mom and babies to try. I didn't see any eat or drink when we were there, but they all were just so friendly and curious. Hope you keep us informed on how they are doing.

Karen

They still stay in the nest together and I think today are 8 days old. We decided to keep them where they are for now. We are going to put wire across the back door so that when I open it they cannot fall out. My husband will see them today and see what I mean. They like to be handled and funny to watch when you talk to them.

__________ Fri Sep 28, 2012 10:59 am __________

the less you feed pellets, the more you need a salt block. If you feed pellets exclusivly, you may be able to get away without an salt block.
about the licking - it will slow down when they start eating pellets.
post69359.html#p69359

Not merely not enough, NONE. When we got our first pair, we immediately began transitioning them to grain feed. We were amused that they seemed to love to lick our fingers as a dog would, but not knowing a lot about rabbits, we didn't think it unusual. I did notice, however, that if I had just washed my hands, they would ignore my fingers. I thought that perhaps the scent of the soap turned them off.

Then, one day we found our buck lying motionless in his cage. We were relieved to find that he was still alive, but we noticed that he had not eaten his food nor drunk much of his water, nor could we get him interested in it.

Finally, we had a flash of insight and it dawned on us that he was dehydrated, and why. It was late on a Sunday evening, and everything was closed except Wal-mart. Hubby and I went out and found some unflavored Pedialyte. We put it into the buck's water bottle, and once he tasted it, he sucked it down as fast as he could. Suspicions confirmed!

I still think Snickers is not drinking enough. They all eat about the same food, but he drinks less water. The other male seems to be drinking more. I gave them half the amount of pellets last night and they had hay and a little bit of the rolled oats. I noticed this morning Cream had more poop and was licking the salt lick. Snickers was eating hay when I went out and seemed hungry, but still not much water drank. I think I will try the Pedialyte in his water bottle. He has the crock too. I gave him a little piece of watermelon in a bowl and took some watermelon juice mixed with water and put that in there and I saw him drinking that.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I gave him a little piece of watermelon in a bowl and took some watermelon juice mixed with water and put that in there and I saw him drinking that.

Be careful with giving watermelon if you are concerned about dehydration. It is a natural diuretic...

 

[garden lady]

I gave him a little piece of watermelon in a bowl and took some watermelon juice mixed with water and put that in there and I saw him drinking that.

Be careful with giving watermelon if you are concerned about dehydration. It is a natural diuretic...

Okay, I will stop that.

 

[ZRabbits]

A little apple cider vinegar could help with water intake. My rabbits love it. Plus good for them as well. Just watch the amount you put in. I started with a few drops in their water crocks and worked my way up to about 10 drops. Some still enjoyed the taste but Dobby and Willard backed off so I stopped for a while with them.

Karen

 

[garden lady]

A little apple cider vinegar could help with water intake. My rabbits love it. Plus good for them as well. Just watch the amount you put in. I started with a few drops in their water crocks and worked my way up to about 10 drops. Some still enjoyed the taste but Dobby and Willard backed off so I stopped for a while with them.

Karen

I might try a few drops. He decided he liked the Pedialyte. I put that in the water bottle. I am trying to figure out if he likes drinking from the water bottle better than the crock. The others will get a sip now and then from the bottles, but drink from the crocks, but he just does not seem to drink from the crock.

 

[Piper]

A little apple cider vinegar could help with water intake. My rabbits love it. Plus good for them as well. Just watch the amount you put in. I started with a few drops in their water crocks and worked my way up to about 10 drops. Some still enjoyed the taste but Dobby and Willard backed off so I stopped for a while with them.

Karen

I love apple cider vinegar for the chickens, but watch the rabbits, too. I gave one cage two bottles, one had the vinegar and they would not touch it. Did not think that I should have started by the drop, instead of the teaspoon full.
*hits head against wall* It was during the hottest part of summer, and was not going to fool with things too much, time to goof around with it, before winter gets here. Thank You, for bringing it up!

I still think Snickers is not drinking enough. They all eat about the same food, but he drinks less water. The other male seems to be drinking more. I gave them half the amount of pellets last night and they had hay and a little bit of the rolled oats. I noticed this morning Cream had more poop and was licking the salt lick. Snickers was eating hay when I went out and seemed hungry, but still not much water drank. I think I will try the Pedialyte in his water bottle. He has the crock too. I gave him a little piece of watermelon in a bowl and took some watermelon juice mixed with water and put that in there and I saw him drinking that.

There are some rabbits that are better at handling weather extreams than other rabbits. You might offer a crock of plain water and one with the addition. He 'may' be getting what he needs. Rabbits seem to often self medicate, if given the chance.

 

[ZRabbits]

A little apple cider vinegar could help with water intake. My rabbits love it. Plus good for them as well. Just watch the amount you put in. I started with a few drops in their water crocks and worked my way up to about 10 drops. Some still enjoyed the taste but Dobby and Willard backed off so I stopped for a while with them.

Karen

I love apple cider vinegar for the chickens, but watch the rabbits, too. I gave one cage two bottles, one had the vinegar and they would not touch it. Did not think that I should have started by the drop, instead of the teaspoon full.
*hits head against wall* It was during the hottest part of summer, and was not going to fool with things too much, time to goof around with it, before winter gets here. Thank You, for bringing it up!

I still think Snickers is not drinking enough. They all eat about the same food, but he drinks less water. The other male seems to be drinking more. I gave them half the amount of pellets last night and they had hay and a little bit of the rolled oats. I noticed this morning Cream had more poop and was licking the salt lick. Snickers was eating hay when I went out and seemed hungry, but still not much water drank. I think I will try the Pedialyte in his water bottle. He has the crock too. I gave him a little piece of watermelon in a bowl and took some watermelon juice mixed with water and put that in there and I saw him drinking that.

There are some rabbits that are better at handling weather extreams than other rabbits. You might offer a crock of plain water and one with the addition. He 'may' be getting what he needs. Rabbits seem to often self medicate, if given the chance.

Piper,

Definitely could have been too much too fast. I found that with anything rabbit, small gradual changes in their diet is the best. Some of my bunnies liked the strong taste of the cider, but others didn't. Just a hint of it works for the two who stopped drinking their water because of too much cider in it. They just didn't like the taste of it at a stronger level.

GardenLady,

Some rabbits prefer water bottles, some crocks. I'm not a fan of water bottles, but if one of mine who all came from water bottles didn't like the crock, I'd get one. Maybe Snickers is a water bottle type. Once you put the bottle in, he'll start drinking. But smart move to put both in and see what Snickers prefers. Water intake is so important for rabbits to help with their digestion.

Karen