Wild
You and your children can peek at the baby rabbits, but don't touch them. If anyone picks up a bunny, return it to the nest. A little human scent will not prevent the mother from caring for her young. If it's clear the mother rabbit was killed, contact a wildlife rehabilitator who can best raise the orphaned bunnies.
Handling baby rabbits
Gentle handling of baby rabbits can begin when they're about ten days old.
And with baby rabbits, touching them causes stress colitis, which eventually leads to the animal's death after dehydration. Furthermore, she said that if the mother even smells a human scent on the babies, she may not come back to the nest.
And don't panic if you or your child touches the bunnies. It's a myth that a mother rabbit (and many other wildlife mamas) will reject their babies if they have a human scent on them. Just cover the nest and don't touch the babies again; handling the little ones can cause injury and stress.
Baby rabbits, or kits, have less chance of survival if they are removed from their nest or if you move the nest elsewhere. That said, if you have already picked up a baby bunny, you can return it to its nest – the sooner, the better. The rabbit mother will still accept the kit even if it has been handled by a human.
Mother rabbits do not abandon their babies under normal circumstances. She only feeds her babies once or twice during a 24-hour period, usually between dusk and dawn. You may never see her return to the nest. If the babies' eyes are still closed, they are under 10 days old.
Wild rabbits won't abandon their young just because they detect a foreign smell. However, it's not advisable to touch them. Because they aren't used to interacting with humans, wild rabbits consider humans to be predators. Interfering with a wild rabbit nest puts the babies under a lot of stress.
By three weeks of age, they are on their own in the wild and no longer require a mother's care. This means that young rabbits found on the ground may be completely healthy. Even though they look small, they are not orphans and do not need any human intervention.
If you touch a baby rabbit, its mother will not usually abandon it. Rabbits are excellent moms. All they want is their baby back. If you feel the nest is in a spot where you can't possibly leave the babies until they're big enough to leave on their own, contact a wildlife rehabilitator for advice.
Three Weeks Old: At this age, their fur should be standing up a little more off their bodies and they should start to appear to have normal rabbit fur. Cottontails at this age should be eating natural foods — grasses, weeds, fruits and vegetables — and should now weigh 70-80+ grams.
WHAT TO FEED THE BABIES. Baby rabbits should be fed Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) or goat milk, which you can buy at pet stores, or sometimes even a local veterinarian's office.
Young rabbits, under approximately 7-8 months old, should be fed alfalfa pellets and alfalfa hay free-choice; they need the extra protein and calcium as they grow. They, too, can have a variety of vegetables.
Yes. Your rabbit may sleep with you. But you have to make your room "bunny-proof" by making it safe for your rabbit. At night, your rabbit may hop in and out of your bed - but it is not allowed to go out of your room.
The best places to pet a rabbit are their forehead and behind their ears. The cheeks and strokes down their backs are also good spots. But rabbits dislike being pet on their bottom, feet, chin, and underside.
It is best to handle the babies as little as possible until they are old enough to leave the nest box on their own. If your concerns begin on the day of the birth, wait a day before attempting to do anything. Some mother rabbits do not feed their babies until the evening of the first day or early on the second day.
In any case of domestic rabbit babies, do not remove the babies until they are a full eight weeks of age. Separate the male babies from the females at this time.
At most, baby rabbits can go without food for 3-4 days. In nature, most baby bunnies are fed only once a day, between midnight and 5 a.m. And, unlike many animals, rabbits do not nurse their young right after their born – their mother feeds them the following night. How do you feed a baby rabbit with a syringe?
Female rabbits will follow their instincts and defend their babies. Sometimes this will happen if they have false pregnancies, build a nest, and believe they have a litter. Whether your rabbit really has kits or simply believes she has, respect her space around her nest and if she is aggressive, leave the nest alone.
Hold rabbits gently but firmly - ensure one hand supports their back and hindquarters at all times. Help them feel secure by holding all four feet against your body. Never pick rabbits up by their ears - this would be extremely stressful and is highly likely to injure them.
If one or both of your bunnies are babies (spayed/neutered adult and baby, two baby littermates), you may begin bonding sessions early, but understand that they may need to be separated when the baby begins to mature and develop hormonal behaviors but is too young for spaying/neutering.
Baby rabbits leave the nest when they're 3 weeks old and about the size of a chipmunk. If you find a chipmunk-sized but fully-furred rabbit with eyes open, ears erect and the ability to hop, they are meant to be on their own. As small and helpless as they may look, they are not an orphan and don't need your help.
If the nest has been disturbed, the caller should: Remove injured/dead rabbits. Refer injured rabbits to the Helpline. Keep dogs and cats inside until the rabbits have left the nest on their own.
Only rarely does a mother rabbit truly abandon or ignore her babies. If you want definite proof that the babies are being cared for, check them early each morning. They should be warm and round-bellied. If you are concerned please call us for advice.