Topic: Wild bunny hurt (Read 5114 times)

Countrygirl · « **on:** May 29, 2005, 01:57:57 AM »

I have a wild bunny that I am guessing is only a few days old. My husband found him in our field and thought he got hurt by the hay mower, did not think we could do anything for him, so we went on. A bit later our Lab brought him over to us, so we decide to take him home and nurse him to health and then set free. He seems to be doing very well. I gave him a little milk via syringe and he took it well. I have him in a box of hay, anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to help him along? Should I just continue to give him a bit of milk like before and raise him sort of like a bottle baby. I used to help wild bunnies that would get hurt at my grandmas but none ever this small. Any suggestions are very much appreciated.

Tristain

Countrygirl · « **Reply #1 on:** May 29, 2005, 12:34:46 PM »

Well, he seems to be a bit more lively this morning but will not take anymore milk. I have tried to pry open his mouth and get it in but he is not interested in it at all. Anyone have any suggestions? I just really wanted to see this guy get all better so that we could set him free.

Tristain

Jamie · « **Reply #2 on:** May 29, 2005, 02:07:53 PM »

I sure don't Tristain. I never had any luck with wild rabbits. We've raised coons and a groundhog on a bottle and they did fine but the rabbits never would eat. Sorry.

Barnes · « **Reply #3 on:** May 29, 2005, 02:21:28 PM »

Tristain the only experience I have had witrh bunnies is helping a freind raise a couple. These bunnies ate great but then right at the point we thought they would be ok they all died. I have heard that wild baby bunnies are the hardest to raise. Good luck!

Cutiepieacres · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2005, 04:51:35 AM »

How is the baby? Does it have fur and open eyes? If it has its fur and open eyes its at least 2 weeks old. If it can run around and looks like a bunny but smaller its probably even older. If it has no fur then it is still a baby and why it would be out of its nest is questionable. Mom bunnies only feed their kits once or twice a day so be very careful not to overfeed. Goats milk with a little corn syrup or glucose adding a little baby rice cereal as they get older is a great formula for bunnies or small animals. I have raised quite a few chinchillas on it. If the bunny can eat solids a bunny food or even a mash(bunny food and water or baby apple juice) would be good too. No veggies are necessary and probably not a good idea anyhow. Fresh water should be available at all times. Just keep it in a small covered cage with a soft bedding(avoid as much human contact as possible to keep it wild). Ill add some pics of baby bunny progress and maybe you can tell how old your baby is by that. Good luck. I hope the little one does ok.

Cutiepieacres · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2005, 04:54:58 AM »

pics. This is a litter of Netherland dwarfs but should be pretty similar on development and since they are chestnuts even pretty close on color.

Cutiepieacres · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2005, 05:00:58 AM »

a few more...sorry I don't have past 3 weeks yet as these little guys are still growing but as you can see at three weeks they look like miniature rabbits...they lost all that baby fat and can eat solid foods but still need the milk.

Countrygirl · « **Reply #7 on:** June 02, 2005, 11:14:12 AM »

Jackie, thanks for all of your help. I would say by looking at the pictures that he is even older then 3 weeks. He has a good set of fur and can jump quite impressively. He does have an injured front foot. From looking at it I would think that it was not from the mower or tractor it looks ore like he was born with it that way. No scars or anything just is shorter then the other and is rounded in front, like it is half there. If that makes sense. I was giving him milk thru a syringe he did great the first day but after that did not really want any. So I put it in a bowl and left him. I had him in just a box with not top in the feed room in the chicken barn. He successfully hopped out of that several times and has made his way into the chicken area in the chicken barn. I found him yesterday morning cuddled up in the middle of the 25 baby chicks. He is getting along very well. I am going to go to the feed store today and try to get some rabbit pellets, also figure out a new arrangement for him. I don't think that the baby chicks need to eat the rabbit food. Although I must say that he seems very much comfortable in there with the chicks

as do they. Do you think that there is a good chance that he will be ok to set free and remain on his own once he is old enough? We have not handled him much at all. Thank you again for your help. I do have a picture of him if I could get someone to post it for me if you want to see it?

Tristain

Barnes · « **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2005, 12:19:26 PM »

Tristain you are doing a great job with that bunny!
I can post your pic but it will be this afternoon, maybe Amy can post it sooner?

Amy Goatress · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2005, 01:12:49 PM »

Tristain,
You are doing a good job with that bunny, yes you can just send the picture on to me and I will be glad to post it for you.

Countrygirl · « **Reply #10 on:** June 02, 2005, 03:13:05 PM »

Thank you Cassandra and Amy. I sent the picture on to Amy. If you look closely at the right foot (according to the picture) or it would be HIS left foot. You can see what I am saying about it being deformed. Although he does hop pretty impressively. I hope that we can get him to grow up and be healthy enough to be set free. If not I guess I will have to talk my husband into keeping him

yeah right, like that would ever happen. He is afraid that it will attract foxes and other predators, and then we would have problems with all of the other animals. We have a lot of foxes in this area, they like to live in the wooded lot behind the house over by the big pond.

Tristain

Cutiepieacres · « **Reply #11 on:** June 02, 2005, 03:16:07 PM »

Great job keeping him healthy! I would just feed him rabbit food(get a bunny food with plain green pellets only, no junk food or colorful bits in it) and not even worry about the milk. You can also give him hay,little bits of alfalfa or free feed grass hay. If his little foot is not quite right chances of him doing well in the wild are pretty slim. That may be why he was out away from his mother in the first place. I wouldn't keep him with the chicks for health concerns a cage would be best. We kept a young wild rabbit we found here in a cage with food and a water bottle for a couple weeks before we let him go and he did great. I would just try and see how the little one does. If the leg seems to not be a problem maybe he could be let go if it slows him in any way maybe he will need to be a permanent house bunny.

Amy Goatress · « **Reply #12 on:** June 03, 2005, 04:25:39 AM »

Here are the pictures.

GoatTalker · « **Reply #13 on:** June 03, 2005, 04:41:06 AM »

Oh my goodness, he is darling, but without a family group I doubt he would make it in the wild. Now that he has human scent his original family probably won't take him back, soooooooo he can stay with you until he is 3/4 of his full sized, and then you can release him?

Countrygirl · « **Reply #14 on:** June 03, 2005, 12:47:24 PM »

Oh yes Nic, we had intended on keeping him until he was close to his full size. I don't think he is anywhere near ready to go at this point. He is absolutely adorable. We searched near where we originally found him looking for any trace of other family. My MIL found a nest but there was nothing else in there. There was however a 5 foot black snake near where he was, so we assumed that the snake may have gotten the rest :( He is adorable.

Tristain

Countrygirl · « **Reply #15 on:** June 04, 2005, 11:21:53 AM »

Well, pickles, I am so upset. I thought that he was doing so well and I had gotten him to eat the rabbit pellets from the feed store and everything. I put him in a cage with hay and fresh water. He was doing wonderfully, and I was so proud. The next morning when I got up to go feed everyone and check on him, he had died. I was so upset. I don't know what happened, I thought he was doing beautifully. He seemed to have a lot of energy and seemed to be doing well. I guess not, I feel so awful. Like I should have done something else. I feel even worse knowing that I probably only prolonged the suffering for him, by bringing him home and trying to keep him alive.

Just wanted to update you all, thanks everyone for the great tips and encouraging words. I wish I had better news.

Tristain

Amy Goatress · « **Reply #16 on:** June 04, 2005, 12:46:04 PM »

Oh Tristain I'm sorry to hear this news.

Take care,

classicironman · « **Reply #17 on:** June 04, 2005, 12:56:23 PM »

tristian rabbits are very hard to help as babies and as i was reading i thought you were going to make it . its really tough loosing an animal even one that was in bad shape when it came to you but thank god for people like you that will at least try a few more animals and a few less politicians would make this world a much better place!

Barnes · « **Reply #18 on:** June 04, 2005, 12:58:46 PM »

Tristain that is exactly what happened to my friend. She thought she was over the hump and they just died one day!
You gave that bunny the best chance he had but for some reason those wild bunnies are way to hard to raise.

Jamie · « **Reply #19 on:** June 04, 2005, 01:37:32 PM »

Yep, that's the same thing that always happened to my wild bunnies. You didn't prolong any suffering I don't think though. I think you prolonged his life for a little while. I'm sorry.

Countrygirl · « **Reply #20 on:** June 04, 2005, 02:44:34 PM »

Thank you all so much. You really know how to make a girl feel better. I had truly hoped to get him better. I do believe that I did all I could for him, thanks to everyones help here. You guys are the best, thanks again.

Tristain

GoatTalker · « **Reply #21 on:** June 04, 2005, 04:38:47 PM »

Oh Tristain, I am so sorry you lost your little bunny. You tried so very hard for him, and I am sure he was happy for the time he spent with you. If you had left him, he would have died, hungry and alone. At least this way he had all a little bunny could want for the time he had.

Countrygirl · « **Reply #22 on:** June 05, 2005, 01:22:29 AM »

Thank you Nic, I appreciate it.

Jean · « **Reply #23 on:** June 05, 2005, 04:03:41 AM »

Tristain, what a precious little thing!!! You did your very best, so don't feel bad. Bunny knew you loved him and was happy while he was with you!!!

prairiewolf75 · « **Reply #24 on:** June 06, 2005, 09:51:08 AM »

You did the best you could, but wild baby rabbits are probably the most difficult animal to raise. My cousin had a special gift for rehabilitating and raising wild animals, I don't know how many wild birds she raised and released among other animals. People would bring her all the injured found wild animal babies to rehabilitate, even with all of her experience and special gift she never had any luck with wild baby rabbits either, you did the best you could and you really deserve respect for trying, a lot of people would not have even cared enough to try, so good for you!

Countrygirl · « **Reply #25 on:** June 06, 2005, 12:38:15 PM »

Thank you Jean and Jenifer. I appreciate the kind words. I love to help all animals, wild or not. I know that if the time ever arises again I will be right there to help. It is what I love to do. Thank you again.

barefootchef · « **Reply #26 on:** June 06, 2005, 02:19:37 PM »

Oh, I am so sorry to hear you lost your little one! I know you did the best you could do and the bunny had a good life while it was with you.

Countrygirl · « **Reply #27 on:** June 06, 2005, 04:12:53 PM »

Thank you Cathy

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Author Topic: Wild bunny hurt (Read 5114 times)