>>From: Dana Goessl <[log in to unmask]>
>>I also breed show rabbits.
 
>Can you give us an idea of how big rabbits are as newborns?
>Can you give pointers on how you do this?
>Amy Flemming
 
I am NOT a rabbit breeder (proudly said), but I do take in **lots** of
new born domestic & wild rabbits (and domestic and wild rat and mice
babies) who have been taken away from their mom.  So, I'm qualified to
respond.
 
I find that rabbit babies (and rodents) are extremely easy to nurse and
successfully raise.  Rabbits do NOT have the same problems as ferret
babies as they will nearly double their size each day for the first
month.  See http://www.houserabbit.org/baby_bunnies_born_on_may_17.htm
to get an idea of the size of bunnies.  The above web site documents baby
bunnies growing from 3 days.  Newborn bunnies are approximately the same
size as newborn ferret babies.
 
Rabbit mom's only feed their young once a day, when we take over the
mom's job we may feed them twice a day if they don't take enough milk
in one feeding.  But just like ferret babies, we have to stimulate them
to poop and pee.  People generally kill baby rabbits by waking them
constantly and overfeeding them.  (As prey animals, baby rabbits need to
sleep for 23 hours and 50 minutes each day until their mom returns to the
nest.) Baby rabbits eat while laying on their back, and are less likely
than ferret babies to inhale milk into their lungs.  Also, baby bunnies
(and rodents) open their eyes at 10 days and will start nibbling hay and
veggies to supplement their milk diet.
 
Sooooooooooooooo, bunnies are MUCH easier to care for than ferret babies.
There's really not much comparison. :-)  And while I understand that very
experienced ferret breeders are all in agreement that motherless ferret
babies are extremely difficult to nurse; a "for-what-it's-worth" there
are numerous very small nursing tips available that are used for mice
babies (and their mouths open even less wide than ferret babies) and if
that doesn't work, putting a *small* drop of milk on the mouth will cause
the milk to be sucked up.  Sandi
 
Best Little Rabbit, Rodent & Ferret House
a non-profit animal shelter
14325 Lake City Way NE
Seattle, WA 98125
(206)365-9105
Open 7 days/week or visit our on-line store at:
http://www.rabbitrodentferret.org
[Posted in FML issue 4013]