**Updated Hand Feeding Formula**

[SarniaTricia]

Sorry for your loss!
Loosing a rabbit is always hard, but it is harder when it is a beloved breeding doe, that is more pet than livestock....

RIP Clover

 

[Homer]

The Bene-Bac, the pro-biotic I use can be purchased at Petsmart in a hurry or ordered cheaper from Dr. Fosters.

Thanks! I'll swing by there when I'm headed to tractor supply. I found it with the dog and cat over the counter meds.

As for making them potty I never did. Put them all back together and the wiggling around will take care of that for you.

Even the newborns? Not sure about that. Mine were a week old and just had to put my hand in with them and they started hunting for food again even though they just ate. Try rubbing their tummy with a warm damp cloth after feeding.

One last thing. Don't get the formula to hot before feeding. Even using hot water for the heat source you can burn their throat then you have a bigger issue to deal with...don't ask. Had that happen to one and it was a pain to deal with.

How warm should I get it? Like feeding a baby, use your wrist and put a drop on it. If you feel a "little" heat you're good to go.

Thanks so much for the quick reply!!

Good luck! I'm off to work now but will check in a lunch time.

 

[macksmom98]

Best wishes keeping these little guys going! I never did anything to expel waste, even on my singleton kit. I think momma licking when feeding was enough. I just never worried about it, although we did rub/pet her some, and she liked it

 

[2CrazyFools]

Thanks everyone, I couldn't find any bene-bac probiotic at petsmart, even asked them and they said they must no longer carry it. So I ended up going with the goat probiotic that I linked in an earlier comment, currently heating the mixture up and about to give it a whirl.

I assume this stuff will be just fine if I keep the excess in the refrigerator? Not sure how much of it they are going to eat today.

 

[Homer]

Goat milk doesn't keep all that well. I fed from the same batch all day then made a new one while waiting on the coffee to perk in the morning.

 

[Sagebrush]

Just like Homer said, change out the formula every day. Make fresh every morning, toss the remainder after the last feeding. Your local vet should have some over the counter that you can purchase if in a hurry.

 

[Shea]

I just had an idea on how to keep the formula warm when feeding a whole litter. An insulated coffee mug! Just make sure to pre-heat with hot water then add your to temp formula and cover.

I thought this would be the best place to post this. Maybe someone will find it helpfull.

 

[Ozarkansas]

Well, now that I always breed at least 3 does at a time I think I found somthing that might work! I have bottle fed 3 litters on pure goats milk (I have dairy goats) and I got about 5% survival rate... And the last orphaned litter I had was orphaned at 10 days I managed to wean them and got a 60% survival rate. But all the kits seemed stunted... I think my biggest problem with bottle feeding was that I always waited until I was sure the doe wasn't going to feed them to take them in. And by then it was too late.

 

[guardianoasis]

I'm really glad that I found this. I hope not to have to use it but with all the puzzle pieces I'm working with in my herd, I'd like to keep litters with does that birth them instead of fostering everyone out like I had to this year. I think this will help me a lot as I can go through the litters and bottle feed just the ones that need that little extra

 

[Shea]

I had a stray thought what if you used this concept http://rabbittalk.com/a-question-about-gut-bacteria-t32396.html?hilit=gut bacteria#p321353
With the hand feed formula? Say replace the probiotic with the natural form?

 

[MaggieJ]

I had a stray thought what if you used this concept http://rabbittalk.com/a-question-about-gut-bacteria-t32396.html?hilit=gut bacteria#p321353
With the hand feed formula? Say replace the probiotic with the natural form?

Rabbit kits will ingest some of momma's poop or cecatropes when they are with her, so it might be a help. I think, however, that it would occur naturally when they are a bit older. I don't know how helpful it would be for very young kits, but if you decide to try it, please post the results.

 

[MeadowView]

I’m using this formula with newborn checkered giant kits, but we are using whole goats milk fresh off the goat. I’m just curious if I should be using evaporated goats milk or if what I’m doing is fine? We lost two of the original survivors. She had ten, five were alive though one seemed to have some sort of neurological issue and we lost him the first night. The remaining three are five days old now and they’re alive but don’t seem to be growing all that well.

(Edited to remove double post)

 

[Homer]

Not knowing how whole goat milk stacks up but doubt it is as high in fat and protein here is Meyenberg Goat Milk label, (evaporated). When I worked on this I didn't lose any so it's either the milk or other issues you mentioned. Sorry I can't be more help. Mt grow rate was very good once I started adding the probiotic to stop the bloat some were experiencing. You might try making a couple batches with a can and see if there is any change.

Meyenberg
Nutrition Label

Serving Size: 2 Tbsp

Servings Per Container: 12

amount per serving

calories: 35

calories from fat: 15

total calories per container: 420

total calories from fat: 180

% daily value* (DV)

recommended (DV)

total fat 2g

3%


saturated fat: 1.5g

8%


trans fat 0g

polyunsaturated fat 0 g

monounsaturated fat 0g

cholesterol: 10mg 3%

sodium: 30mg 2%


total carbohydrate 3g 1%

dietary fiber: 0g 0%

sugars: 3g 12%

protein 2g

calcium 8%

 

[Scooter1A]

Sorry this is kind of long guys but I think it's worth the outcome.

This very well could be a game changer for those of us that get forced into the hand feeding of kits for various reasons. Off and on over the last few years I've read many papers on hand feeding. All seemed to have one thing in common, mortality. And then I came across a paper at the University of Miami.
Interestingly enough it contained Miss M's three ingredients of 1/2 cup of goat's milk, one egg yolk and 1/2 teaspoon of corn syrup. But it also contained 1 teaspoon of powered colostrum supplement. (Big R) But wait a minute, I'm getting ahead of myself.
4 weeks ago I had a Flemish Giant Doe give birth to 5 Lt. Gray babies on a Thursday morning. Friday morning I went to check on them and she was in the bunny bedroom with them. I didn't think much of it and went about lighting the stove for the day and feeding the others. When I got to her hutch she was still in the bedroom so I had a look in the inspection door. WHAT! Now there are 10 of the little buggers! They were scattered everywhere and some quite cold. I reached in and started gathering babies and thought this is strange. She isn't moving but let me gather up the kits. Into the house to warm the babies and then went back to check her. Still not moving. <hum> An hour later she finally tried to move but...somehow she managed to break her back!! NO movement in the back legs at all when she drug herself into the main part of the hutch. She didn't act like she was in pain so I left her for another hour and got the babies tucked away in the house in a basket from the garden.

When I went back out to the hutches she was still in the same place. When she did finally try moving all hell broke loose. She started screaming like crazy and then involuntary leg spasms started like you've never seen before. I did what had to be done. RIP Agnes.

Great, what to do with 10 wigglers? Calls started to everyone I knew in town looking for a wet Doe. Nothing! Then I remembered our very own PSF Angoras from here on R/T. She had a wet Doe and so did her MIL. So I loaded up Saturday morning and hit the road, she lives 50 mile from me. They all got something to eat but it isn't all roses my friends. Two were lost to bloat after the first feeding and one would pass the next day, (that one had a split lip and wasn't able to nurse). Two were taken to her MIL's to foster and are still doing great!

All was trying to settle in but PSF was fighting a bloat problem with the 5 she still had. We talked and she started giving a probiotic and fennel tea mixture (a natural gas-x). Things were settling down at last. There was one runt but isn't there always? ...Then PSF wrote on a Saturday two weeks ago, "I think my Doe is drying up". Really? This litter is getting to be a pain. Sunday she called and said they didn't get fed but I was ready for her. <eviil Grin here> I remembered the study I had read from the U of Miami. I had everything ready including the colostrum supplement. When I brought them home they were pretty skinny and the runt didn't look good at all.
Almost two weeks later and they love this formula. It's a game changer folks. If you ever have to hand feed give this a try.

1/2 cup evaporated goat's milk (undiluted)
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon corn syrup
1 teaspoon powered colostrum supplement for newborn animals
1/8 teaspoon Bene Bac probiotic powder (my addition to get their guts working better)

**DO NOT microwave to heat or you will kill the colostrum**
Heat in warm water so they can digest the formula and watch them grow!

3 weeks old.
View attachment 18416

Same bunny at 4 weeks today.
View attachment 18417
And a brother...
View attachment 18418

To be continued in the next post. It will not allow anymore attachments...

-- Fri Jan 01, 2016 9:19 am --

continued...

PSF's hubby holding one at his mom's house.
View attachment 18419
And now one of PSF's Does, (French Angora), has dried up and she is hand feeding a litter of 8 this formula. So far it has a 100% survival rate if you get them on it soon enough.
View attachment 18420
So there you have my contribution to the rabbit hole for 2016. Hope all goes well with all of you and your rabbits.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/orphan.html

The evaporated goats milk is pretty pricey. Can I skimp and use powdered goat milk with the rest of the recipe?

 

[Scooter1A]

Sorry this is kind of long guys but I think it's worth the outcome.

This very well could be a game changer for those of us that get forced into the hand feeding of kits for various reasons. Off and on over the last few years I've read many papers on hand feeding. All seemed to have one thing in common, mortality. And then I came across a paper at the University of Miami.
Interestingly enough it contained Miss M's three ingredients of 1/2 cup of goat's milk, one egg yolk and 1/2 teaspoon of corn syrup. But it also contained 1 teaspoon of powered colostrum supplement. (Big R) But wait a minute, I'm getting ahead of myself.
4 weeks ago I had a Flemish Giant Doe give birth to 5 Lt. Gray babies on a Thursday morning. Friday morning I went to check on them and she was in the bunny bedroom with them. I didn't think much of it and went about lighting the stove for the day and feeding the others. When I got to her hutch she was still in the bedroom so I had a look in the inspection door. WHAT! Now there are 10 of the little buggers! They were scattered everywhere and some quite cold. I reached in and started gathering babies and thought this is strange. She isn't moving but let me gather up the kits. Into the house to warm the babies and then went back to check her. Still not moving. <hum> An hour later she finally tried to move but...somehow she managed to break her back!! NO movement in the back legs at all when she drug herself into the main part of the hutch. She didn't act like she was in pain so I left her for another hour and got the babies tucked away in the house in a basket from the garden.

When I went back out to the hutches she was still in the same place. When she did finally try moving all hell broke loose. She started screaming like crazy and then involuntary leg spasms started like you've never seen before. I did what had to be done. RIP Agnes.

Great, what to do with 10 wigglers? Calls started to everyone I knew in town looking for a wet Doe. Nothing! Then I remembered our very own PSF Angoras from here on R/T. She had a wet Doe and so did her MIL. So I loaded up Saturday morning and hit the road, she lives 50 mile from me. They all got something to eat but it isn't all roses my friends. Two were lost to bloat after the first feeding and one would pass the next day, (that one had a split lip and wasn't able to nurse). Two were taken to her MIL's to foster and are still doing great!

All was trying to settle in but PSF was fighting a bloat problem with the 5 she still had. We talked and she started giving a probiotic and fennel tea mixture (a natural gas-x). Things were settling down at last. There was one runt but isn't there always? ...Then PSF wrote on a Saturday two weeks ago, "I think my Doe is drying up". Really? This litter is getting to be a pain. Sunday she called and said they didn't get fed but I was ready for her. <eviil Grin here> I remembered the study I had read from the U of Miami. I had everything ready including the colostrum supplement. When I brought them home they were pretty skinny and the runt didn't look good at all.
Almost two weeks later and they love this formula. It's a game changer folks. If you ever have to hand feed give this a try.

1/2 cup evaporated goat's milk (undiluted)
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon corn syrup
1 teaspoon powered colostrum supplement for newborn animals
1/8 teaspoon Bene Bac probiotic powder (my addition to get their guts working better)

**DO NOT microwave to heat or you will kill the colostrum**
Heat in warm water so they can digest the formula and watch them grow!

3 weeks old.
View attachment 18416

Same bunny at 4 weeks today.
View attachment 18417
And a brother...
View attachment 18418

To be continued in the next post. It will not allow anymore attachments...

-- Fri Jan 01, 2016 9:19 am --

continued...

PSF's hubby holding one at his mom's house.
View attachment 18419
And now one of PSF's Does, (French Angora), has dried up and she is hand feeding a litter of 8 this formula. So far it has a 100% survival rate if you get them on it soon enough.
View attachment 18420
So there you have my contribution to the rabbit hole for 2016. Hope all goes well with all of you and your rabbits.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/orphan.html

I am following your recipe and instructions. I have until next week to see if she feeds or not. If so lucky me, if not I'll let ya know. Thanks so much.

 

[MsTemeraire]

The evaporated goats milk is pretty pricey. Can I skimp and use powdered goat milk with the rest of the recipe?

I'm in the UK, where we have wild Oryctolagus cuniculus. The wildlife rescue centre Secret World uses full-fat powdered goat's milk to hand-raise wild European rabbits.

 

[Theryans813]

The evaporated goats milk is pretty pricey. Can I skimp and use powdered goat milk with the rest of the recipe?

I used the powder

 

[Scooter1A]

I'm in the UK, where we have wild Oryctolagus cuniculus. The wildlife rescue centre Secret World uses full-fat powdered goat's milk to hand-raise wild European rabbits.

That's great. thank you. i did buy the evaporated but now I know. Or I could get a goat.

 

[Scooter1A]

I'm in the UK, where we have wild Oryctolagus cuniculus. The wildlife rescue centre Secret World uses full-fat powdered goat's milk to hand-raise wild European rabbits.

I had to look up Oryctolagus cuniculus. What I read is they are devastating to the eco system.

 

[kusanar314]

I had to look up Oryctolagus cuniculus. What I read is they are devastating to the eco system.

That's just the scientific name for the rabbits that we keep in North America. They came from Europe and are still wild there. Here they are almost entirely domesticated (a few feral populations here and there), in Australia they are an issue because there are no native rabbits there.