When you pet rabbits then they may gift you with some really cute and beautiful baby rabbits. But have you ever thought if there any situation comes when you need to take the responsibility to feed those baby rabbits milk? But which milk you should give them?
If your question is: Can Baby Rabbits Drink Cow’s Milk?
This answer is – No. Because baby rabbits’ stomachs are too sensitive, that’s why they can’t purge her stomach if they take something toxic.
Why baby rabbits need milk?
After born like other animals, baby rabbits depend on their mother’s milk. They need milk until six weeks of age because it provides them with extra nutrition. But, when they are high in number, their mother cannot feed them all sufficiently. She can feed them for a short time.
Because of that, at the age of two weeks, your rabbits start to eat solid foods. When their age reaches four weeks, they begin to eat the same food as their mother. If the number of rabbits is high, both in the wild or domestic, they may not breastfeed properly.
Somehow baby rabbits can be separated from their mothers for many reasons.
If you have such a rabbit, you must take responsibility for feeding them. In that case, you can never give cow’s milk because Cow’s milk is harmful to baby rabbits.
Let’s talk about this in detail,
First of all, Cow’s milk is a very significant source of vitamins, lactose, high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive components.
You already know that baby rabbits can’t drink Cow’s milk because rabbits’ stomachs are very sensitive, and they are unable to digestion cow milk. Besides, if they feel sick, they can’t vomit. Moreover, baby rabbits are quite different from other baby animals. So, you have to feed them very carefully.
Which milk can baby rabbits drink?
Here, a greater portion of rabbit experts recommends that you should feed your baby rabbit goat’s milk instead of Cow’s milk.
Goat’s milk is better than cow’s milk. The main difference between Cow’s milk and goat’s milk is the amount of sugar and lactose. Goat’s milk contains less sugar and lactose than cow’s milk. So, it is less likely to have an adverse reaction in their stomachs. That’s why this makes it easier for baby rabbits to digest.
Goat’s milk also contains less fat and protein than Cow’s milk.
Goats are treated with lesser amounts of the hormone than cow’s, which has less harmful ingredients for baby rabbits than cow’s milk.
There is also a special formula for feeding baby rabbits, known as the Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR).
Tips for feeding baby rabbits
If you have an orphaned rabbit, you must take responsibility for feeding them. Feeding a baby rabbit is a bit tricky.
Because there are many nutrients available for baby rabbits in the milk of the mother of the rabbit, so if you want to feed your baby rabbits instead of mother milk, your baby rabbits won’t get enough nutrients.
You have to make something as an alternative to mother milk. So that they get enough nutrients from it, it’s called Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR).
How can you create your own homemade rabbit’s milk replacer?
Follow this instruction,
- Take one cup of goat’s milk and mix it with another 56 grams of goat’s milk and stir it.
- Take one tablespoon of sugar-free heavy whipping cream in it, and stir well. It can be replicate the calories found in rabbit milk.
- Now heat this formula about 98 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Instead of her their mother’s milk, these ingredients will be able to meet the nutritional needs of your baby rabbits adequately.
However, if you are in doubt, you can buy Pre-Mixed Milk Replacement and feed your baby rabbits.
In addition to providing the right foods, you also need to have proper knowledge of the amount of food.
In fact, determining the amount of food for baby rabbits are difficult. And it’s also essential for baby rabbits to maintain their proper health.
Below are some instructions which you can follow to feed your baby rabbits properly,
- Less than one week old – Only formula milk 2 or 2.5 ml/cc each feeding, twice a day.
- 1 to 2 Weeks Old- About 5 to 7 ml/cc each feeding, twice a day. First at noon and second in the late afternoon.
- 2 to 3 Weeks Old- About 7 to 13 ml/cc each feeding, twice a day.
- 3 to 5 Weeks Old – About 13 to 15 ml/cc each feeding. And alfalfa hay concurrently.
- 5 to 7 Weeks Old- Formula milk and hay, here you have to reduce the amount of milk slowly, so they wean onto solid food.
- 8 and above- Weaning milk so that you do not use any milk. Also, introduce solid foods like fruit and vegetables. Of course, you have to do it gradually.
Remember that, slowly increase the amount of milk helps a baby rabbit. Then as they get older, you have to reduce their milk formula, and gradually give them solid foods.
In this way, they will be attracted to solid foods. After a week or two, baby rabbits start eating solid foods.
The sooner the rabbit starts consuming hay, the better.
Things to consider
Cow’s milk contains a lot of vitamins, lactose, high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive components. Which is harmful to a baby rabbit.
So, you have to avoid cow’s milk for a baby rabbit. And, according to the instructions given above, you can make nutritious food for your baby rabbit.
Conclusion
You have to keep in mind that bunnies are a little different from other animals. Besides, they are very sensitive animals. You have to take care of them a bit differently.
Therefore, you have to feed them carefully, with care and caution.
By following the above procedures, you can expect that your bunny’s health will stay good.