**Updated Hand Feeding Formula**

[Scooter1A]

She kindled this morning early, all seems well. I will look tomorrow morning and see if she has fed them, I sure hope so.

 

[Scooter1A]

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.

Haven't had to use it yet, she is feeding. It's a big relief to know I have this recipe in case I do need it.

 

[GreenRaccoon]

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!

So, I was a long time lurker here on the forum (just enjoying the cute pictures and learning a little here and there) until last year when I finally bought my countryside dream house and then immediately took the plunge and went right into meat rabbit breeding; recently I actually joined the forum. This Spring we had a huge barn built and dropped off on our property, and the Great Move began with our garage rabbits.

They started dropping like flies. I ended up losing eight rabbits in total due to a combination of stress and being hit with coccidiosis. Corrid did end up saving some of them, but at the end of it, we had heavy losses. Among those, was two of my best does who had just had litters. The remaining mama was tasked with looking after 22 babies. Obviously, there was no way she could keep up. I tried that powder nursing milk stuff that TSC sells. No luck, the babies hated it. So I started doing research and immediately thought to check on here to see if anyone had experienced this before (I figured the experts on here would have something about it).

And then I found your wonderful post. Thank you so much for this. Not all of the babies made it (I lost several runts to all of it) but the ones who have survived are flourishing. My New Zealand mama, Sunny, is so patient and kind while I hold each of them to nurse them. It's been a little over a week and a half. I just started weighing them weekly (have done it twice so far) and the data says that they're doing great! They're a little behind, but going in the right direction. And considering everything, I can't ask for more.

I cannot say thank you enough for that formula for milk. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

PS: I am unsure of how to "reply" to a post and am unsure if this is the right way. My apologies if it isn't, I tried to make sure to include the recipe portion but not the whole post, as it was quite long (and informative!!!)

 

[Scooter1A]

So, I was a long time lurker here on the forum (just enjoying the cute pictures and learning a little here and there) until last year when I finally bought my countryside dream house and then immediately took the plunge and went right into meat rabbit breeding; recently I actually joined the forum. This Spring we had a huge barn built and dropped off on our property, and the Great Move began with our garage rabbits.

They started dropping like flies. I ended up losing eight rabbits in total due to a combination of stress and being hit with coccidiosis. Corrid did end up saving some of them, but at the end of it, we had heavy losses. Among those, was two of my best does who had just had litters. The remaining mama was tasked with looking after 22 babies. Obviously, there was no way she could keep up. I tried that powder nursing milk stuff that TSC sells. No luck, the babies hated it. So I started doing research and immediately thought to check on here to see if anyone had experienced this before (I figured the experts on here would have something about it).

And then I found your wonderful post. Thank you so much for this. Not all of the babies made it (I lost several runts to all of it) but the ones who have survived are flourishing. My New Zealand mama, Sunny, isT so patient and kind while I hold each of them to nurse them. It's been a little over a week and a half. I just started weighing them weekly (have done it twice so far) and the data says that they're doing great! They're a little behind, but going in the right direction. And considering everything, I can't ask for more.

I cannot say thank you enough for that formula for milk. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

PS: I am unsure of how to "reply" to a post and am unsure if this is the right way. My apologies if it isn't, I tried to make sure to include the recipe portion but not the whole post, as it was quite long (and informative!!!)

that's so weird. i wonder if the mother chewed on some treated wood? Heck who knows. Glad the formula worked. I bought all the stuff and thank God I didn't have to use it but I got it when I do. Happy rabbiting!! My 7 babies are eating most weeds I pull from my garden along with pellets, oats, hay.

 

[MsTemeraire]

I have another hand-feeding formula recipe, which may be of use to people outside the USA or where some ingredients aren't available. I used this formula last year when I had to hand-raise 5 Tri-Colour Dutch babies after their mother died when they were a week old. All five were successfully reared.

RABBIT-KITTEN MILK REPLACER FORMULA
¼ cup full fat goat's milk
¼ cup cooled prepared kitten milk formula (I used Royal Canin Kitten Milk Replacer)
1½ ml Double (Heavy) cream.
Mix together. If babies are under 2 weeks old, add colostrum. Add a probiotic, Fibreplex is recommended.