The first 2 weeks are very critical for domestic baby bunnies. At first, they have no fur to keep them warm and they are not able to open their eyes until 10-12 days after they are born. Once they open their eyes though, they are excited and curious about their new world.

They build their bunny skills by hopping up into the air from a sitting position or they do crawling like hops to get from one side of the cage to the other. They are the most adorable baby animals but they are a living thing that needs care and love from their Mom and their owners.

(Click on the thumbnails for a larger photo)


Neglecting these beautiful creatures is not humane. They are a living being that can live to be 5-10 years old just like many dogs and cats.

I have had 2 dwarf rabbits that lived to be 11 years old. They need a safe and large enough cage to house them but they need special time with their owners to be free and to experience love and enjoyment with their owner. Purchase rabbit care books and read them thoroughly. There are some great rabbit care books out there.

Even pet stores have small rabbit care books that they sell. Pick up some of those for sure. I found 2 small and thin rabbit books at local pet stores by a publisher called Barron's. Additional information can be found on the internet and it's a great resource if you have a specific question or an issue.

Some very critical steps must be taken to ensure the safety and health of domestic newborn baby bunnies:

1. Make sure the Mother of the babies and the baby bunnies are in their own cage with no other rabbits.
   
   
2. Make sure the cage is always clean and safe with no protruding wires, nails, sharp ends, etc.
   
   
3. The rabbit(s) should never have direct sunlight, wind, rain, snow or drafts exposed to them. Harsh elements like these can take their life and the baby bunnies lives as well. Do not have air conditioning or heating directly blowing on your pet rabbit or baby bunnies.
   
   
4. The mother rabbit will pull out pieces of her fur to line the nest and to keep the baby bunnies warm until their fur grows in.
   
   
5. There should be a baby bunny nest. First, I put 1/2 of a soft and clean towel and put that down first. Then I got a soft cotton T-shirt and laid that on top of the towel. I created a man-made bunny nest with the cotton T-shirt. It's somewhat flat and free of wrinkles where you place them at the bottom of the nest. Then I pulled the sides up and around to make a barrier to help keep the bunnies body heat in. Then I place the baby bunnies gently in the human made bunny nest. Sometimes a baby or two will crawl and sleep in between the T-shirt and the towel. Just make sure they are O.K. or move them with the rest of their siblings so they are all together. I have to give them a new bunny nest every other day. Sometimes the babies urinate in their nest and even the mother may do it. Creating a new bunny nest every other day keeps that babies clean and free from disease. A clean man made "bunny nest" will keep the babies warmer so they lose the least amount of body heat as possible.
   
   
6. For the first 2 weeks, don't handle the babies that much at all. The mother rabbit gets scared and stressed, the babies use the sense of smell to know if they are by their mothers and they get scared. The oils on your hands can irritate the baby rabbits skin. The mother needs this special time to bond with them and for her to get comfortable with her surroundings with the stress of a having a new litter of babies. She will feed her babies once or twice per day for only about 5 minutes. But her milk is rich enough for them to be satisfied with these short feedings. The baby bunnies should have healthy looking, slightly puffy stomachs after they have been fed. This should satisfy them enough where they don't excessively cry. The mother will lick their stomach and genital area to get them to eat and go to the bathroom. Plus, to clean them as well.
   
   
7. They baby bunnies will open their eyes at around 10-12 days. Their eyes are sensitive for awhile so I put a towel on the top of the cage and I gave them privacy with a towel hanging down the back of the cage. You just have to make sure nobody eats the towels. If it's an issue, remove the towel on top of the cage or if it hangs behind the cage.
   
   
8. They should always have fresh clean water and food. For several years I have always given my rabbits snacks such as fresh carrots, apples, celery, Timothy Hay, a strawberry here and there and a rabbit salt lick or a salt & mineral lick. Always clean the vegetables and fruit to get rid of insecticides and dirt. I have never given them lettuce because it can irritate some rabbits intestinal tracts causing diarrhea. Ice burg lettuce is mostly water and has NO nutritional value for people or animals. High quality rabbit pellets from the pet store or online pet store helps keep them regulated and healthy. Rabbits will STOP eating if they are not provided enough water.
   
   
9. If you use garden vegetables, please, please clean them to get rid of pesticides and fertilizer. People like to use Lime on their gardens. DO NOT use vegetables that have had lime on them. This chemical will kill a rabbit when they eat the vegetable.
   
   
10. Use the heavy ceramic/stoneware pet bowls that are coated with safe paint because rabbits have a tendency to pick their bowls up and move them and toss them around the cage.
    
    
11. When there is a mother rabbit and her babies it is a good idea to have 1 or 2 good quality water bottles in the cage. The mother rabbit will drink a lot to produce rich milk for her babies. Plus the baby bunnies will explore and lick the water bottle to get ready for when they are weaned from their mother. They are weaned in around 8 weeks. I had a bowl of water in their cage and I removed it. Baby bunnies have a tendency to hop in the bowls and sit in there or even sleep in them. Since the bunnies are so small, I was afraid they would fall in the water bowl and not be able to get out of the water. So, for their safety now, I removed the water bowl and added water bottles so there are no drownings.
    
    
12. Indoor cages are the best to reduce the effects of the elements outdoors. Buy the large wire cages with the trays at the bottom that you can pull out. You pull out the tray and line it with newspaper. Sometimes I have sprinkled a thick layer of pine shavings on the newspaper to absorb the urine and urine smells. When done, then you push the tray back in slowly as not to scare your pet and the baby bunnies if you have them. You will have to clean the tray once or twice per week. A fresh bunny is a healthy and happy bunny!
    
    
13. The wire any any cage bothers most rabbits. Put a soft clean towel or 1/2 a towel or old soft cotton T-shirt in the cage so the rabbit has a soft place to sit and sleep. Bunnies love soft blankets in their cage. Yes, they may nibble on them once in awhile and move them around. You have to replace the towel or old T-shirt or "bunny blanket" a few times per month. Hopefully, you will be able to put them in the washer and dryer to clean them so you can reuse them again.
    
    
14. There are too many people and pet stores out there who sell 4 week old rabbits because they are small and cute. Baby bunnies need to stay with their mother until they are weaned which can take around 2 months. The mother's rich milk keeps the baby bunnies healthy and it builds up their immune system. If you remove baby rabbits from their mother within 4 weeks or if it's too soon, they can develop stomach and intestinal problems which can be serious and critical. The babies need this special time to also bond with their mother and their siblings. At 2 weeks old and with their eyes finally open, they are grooming each other already, playing with each other, chasing their mother around the cage, chasing each other around the cage and snuggling together. This behavior makes them a better pet in the long run and may help with their bonding of other rabbits and pets when they are older. I am keeping them with each other and their mom for as long as possible. I'm pretty sure they will be together for well over 2 months.
    
    
15. Get a good veterinarian ahead of time because you never know when an emergency with your rabbit can happen. Talk with the veterinarian directly to make sure they know how to treat rabbits and perform surgery if needed. There are many veterinarians out there who really just specialize in dogs and cats. Be aggressive and smart so your rabbit gets the safest and best care possible. Use a large enough pet carrier with a soft towel or blanket or soft T-shirt lining the bottom. This makes your pet rabbit feel safe and comfortable. This also makes it easier and safer when taking your pet rabbit to the veterinarian.
    
    
16. Handle and talk to your rabbit(s) as much as possible. This will make them bond with you and make it easier to handle them and take them to the veterinarian. Do NOT poke at your pet rabbit or let anybody else do that to your pet. Keep loud noises to a minimum so your rabbit has a peaceful home.
    
    
17. Be cautious with other pets. A cat or dog may want to attack or bite your rabbit or even worse. Pick up books on how to introduce your rabbit to your other pets in a safe manner. Some pets may have to be kept away from your rabbit or rabbits for everybody's safety.
    
    
18. The baby bunnies are weaned at around 2 months of age or 8 weeks old. They may nibble on pellets and timothy hay here and there just because they see their mother doing that. The baby bunnies teeth are coming in so they are just testing everything out until they are weaned. Actually, rabbits teeth continue to grow their entire life. So healthy good quality pellets and timothy hay or hard blocks of hay help keep their teeth from overgrowing. If this happens, please take them to a vet to look at their teeth. You wouldn't want them to starve to death or die from tooth overgrowth when it can be quickly corrected by a reputable vet. I have never had this happen and I have had several pet rabbits in my lifetime. I think the vet files down their teeth.
    
    
19. Make sure your pet rabbit or your baby bunnies have a smooth and shiny coat without bare spots and free from parasites. Just like any pet, your pet rabbit should have eyes that are clear and bright and free from discharge. Any discharges and inflammations can be signs of a disease. They bunny should have a dry nose and with no discharge. They should have clean ears that have not deposits, no dirt and no crusts and no fluid. Always inspect their teeth here and there and make sure their teeth are healthy and not overgrown. Rabbits also have to have their nails trimmed by a reputable veterinarian. You do not want their nails trimmed too much because the veins in their nails can be cut causing excessive bleeding. Their anal region should be clean and not wet. Be concerned about diarrhea because it can take a rabbits life quickly. You also don't want any intestinal problems to spread to your other rabbits. Please take your pet rabbit to a reputable veterinarian so they can have a long, healthy and happy life.
    
    
20. Do not house your rabbit in a terrarium or glass fish tank. There's not enough fresh clean air to circulate throughout the cage.
    
    
21. Handle your pet rabbit safely. Grasp the loose skin of the rabbit behind the ears at the level of their shoulder blades with your right hand. While lifting your pet rabbit, support their rear end and rear legs with your left hand. You will be safely supporting their weight and you won't have your rabbit dangling in the air. * Very young rabbits or baby bunnies CANNOT be grasped by the shoulder skin but should be lifted with both hands placed around them. NEVER pick up a rabbit by it's ears. NEVER let a rabbit run around on top of a table or counter top because it can fall off and be seriously injured. Rabbits make sudden moves and jumps and can easily fall and be injured or worse.
    
    
22. If you take your rabbit outdoors, please watch them at all times. You do not want them to be exposed to harsh outdoor elements or pets or wild animals that can harm them or worse. Wild rabbits are prey animals for foxes, owls and hawks and other animals so you don't want your rabbit taken away from you by a wild animal. Do not let children poke and harass your pet rabbit. Teach children how to respect animals and pets.
    
    
23. Keep houseplants away from your pet rabbit. Some houseplants and outdoor landscaping can be poisonous to your pet rabbit and other pets for that matter. Get a list of poisonous plants from a veterinarian or rabbit care books. There is also valuable information online. I have always kept Christmas Poinsettas away from all my pets since many people believe they are poisonous to pets.
    
    
24. Always give very small amounts of alfalfa and clover. Very small amounts. These plants can cause bloating, intestinal problems or death. Even horses left to graze overeat these plants causing serious problems.

The information on our website is my opinion of how to successfully raise healthy and happy pet rabbits. I have had pet rabbits for around 25 years and all of them have lived very long lives. There is so much neglect with rabbit owners because they are only appealing around Easter Time at the pet store. Then, once the rabbit is purchased, it is neglected, abandoned, dumped in the woods or worse.

Rabbits make wonderful pets and they should be very well taken care of just like any other pet. They are very sociable and friendly. We have nothing but wonderful memories from owning several pet rabbits. There are wonderful books and websites with excellent information to help pet owners successfully raise rabbits. Some of these websites will be listed. Pet domestic rabbits can live around 5-10 years and deserve humane treatment.


IMPORTANT NOTICE:
PLEASE DO NOT breed your rabbits to have baby bunnies. Make sure that you do not have a female and a male rabbit in the same cage. They will breed at very young ages. There are plenty of books and online information about sexing rabbits to see if your pet rabbit is a female or male. If you are still not sure, a reputable veterinarian can help you determine the sex of you pet rabbit. There is a serious problem out there with people who go to pet stores and purchase rabbits and other pets and it's an "impulse buy." Rabbits are a serious "impulse buy" especially around Easter. Then they are purchased and abandoned or seriously neglected because the person only thought they were great to have around Easter.

(Click on the thumbnails for a larger photo)


Even if you purchase a pet and hardly any planning was involved, you have to understand that when you take this animal home that it can live for many years and that you purchased it and it's your responsibility to take good care of your pet. They need a safe and clean shelter with plenty of food and water. They need love and exercise so they can be healthy and so they can bond with their owner so they make a wonderful pet.

There is a serious problem with rabbits being abandoned and horribly mistreated. How we recently came upon our 3 rabbits was because of them being abandoned. We took a walk late one night by the woods by our house. We found 3 abandoned rabbits by our woods. I knew we had to catch them somehow to prevent them from being killed from a wild animal.

It took us 2 hours to catch them but we knew what we had to do for the safety of the 3 rabbits. I immediately purchased cages and all the pet supplies they needed. One of them is a boy and his name is "Snow Bunny." The other 2 are girls and they are named "Autumn" and "Zoey."

Autumn is the mother of the 6 new baby bunnies that were born December 1st this month. Autumn was already pregnant when we found them. This is how we ended up with the 6 new baby bunnies. We did NOT breed our rabbits to have baby bunnies. So now it's our responsibility to take care of all of them the best we can.

We put up a list of great websites for all the information you need to know about owning a pet rabbit. If you go online and look at some of these organizations, they have pet rabbits and other pets that need a happy home. There are too many rabbits being abandoned out there. It has become a serious problem. So think over everything before you purchase or adopt any pet. Do not breed your pet rabbits because there are so many out there who need homes. We put extensive rabbit care information out there because it may help save a rabbit's life. The baby bunny care information is for people like us who rescued a rabbit that happened to be pregnant. Please take care of your pets.

Article Written By Dawn La Follette