Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm not familiar with cottontails nesting habits that much but I figured that they would have their babies in a burrow and maybe the mother would pull out some hair to make a nest like regular rabbits do. The reason I ask is because I found three babies in my barn today laying right out in the open next to a bail of alfalfa. No pulled hair, or anything to cover them. Is this normal? Just curious.

MissHisssss

Out in the open..... that is weird. I wouldnt think that would be normal. Are they warm in there? YOu seen mommy at all? If she sint around check them to see if they feel warm enough, and if they do just keep checking on them to make sure they look like they are getting fed. Mom only feeds them once a day. But then, I dont know.... are they safe from cats and all? If they feel cold to you I would take them...my personal opinion though.. Your call really. Good luck.
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Zoooooooooooooooocrazy lady

Yeah, out in the open. This surprised me too. I think they were behind the alfalfa stack at first, but the days were getting pretty warm. So I figured she took them out to cool off. Then a cold front came in and now I'm worried about them. I was afraid to touch them or change anything for fear the mom would reject them. I noticed they had a little hair on them tonight, which made me feel better, but I still fear for them. A cat could have an easy meal for sure. I haven't seen the mom in the barn, but I didn't before she moved the babies either.

I'm amazed that baby rabbits can grow with only one feeding. That would make it easier for me if I had to hand raise them. But what would I feed them? Is it alright to touch them?

MissHisssss

I hope the momma comes back. It is good of you to worry about them, and I don't mean to sound negative ot to discourage you, but wild bunnies can be hard to hand raise. We have had many at the hospital i work at at not many make it. We usually syringe feed them diluted kitten milk replacer every couple of hours. It is a good idea to give them a touch of ben-e-bac every couple of days, just to keep them on track. They can be a lot of work. I don't know what kind of time you have available to you. Are there any wildlife rehabilitators in your area? You might be able to get advice from them or hand the babies over to them.

It is not very unusual for wild babies to be out in the open. But you should check to see if they are getting fed by looking to see if thier bellies are rounded. Yes, it is alright for you to handle the babies, for rabbits will not abandon babies because of human scent upon them.

I guess it got cold enough for her to put the babies back behind the alfalfa stack because they were gone this morning. Either that, or some cat got them. Dog gone it, I hope not.

I wonder what's in bunny milk that is so good that they only have to be fed once a day by their moms. Has anyone ever tried to get the formula for rabbits milk so that when one has to hand raise them then they can only feed them once a day instead of several times a day. Perhaps that's what's killing them. Over feeding. Or perhaps it's the kitten formula. Just running all this through my noggin. I'll let you know if she puts them back out again when the temps start rising.

Thanks ya all
MissHisssss

I really wish someone would make a rabbit milk replacer. I have wondered myself about the kittenn milk. It seems like goats milk would be more suitable since a rabbits diet is closer to that of a goat than a cats. We always have powdered goats replacement milk on hand. I've wanted to try that but usually stick to what I'm told to do by the wildlife center.

I agree that goats milk sounds more logical to use on rabbits than cats milk, just as I think that cats milk would make more sense to use on puppies instead of the goats milk we used to use before puppy milk was made. Did I loose you on that one?

No sign of the babies today. But it's going to get really warm this week so we'll see. I'm in NM by El Paso TX.
MissHisssss.