Baby Cotton Tails...

[xxxDarksidexxx]

we had a couple rabbits in the backyard yesterday. we actually have cotton tails all over the place around here. well, i was looking at one on the back patio yesterday and she layed one right there on the patio and then ran off. i didnt know what to do so i wrapped it in a small towel and started doing some research... a little while later i found two more by my gate.

everything i have read tells me that cotton tails are hard to raise. ive actually done research on them before since we have them all over the place ( PAW food ) i also got the number to a local lady who does animal rescue. she says the mother may in fact be coming back to feed them, though they are not in a nest...

i ended up putting the one from the patio with the other two. this morning they are still there and alive. the lady i spoke to said the fact that they are still alive this morning means she may have come back in the middle of the night to feed them.

does anyone have any info specifically about raising cotton tails. i guess i will know if shes feeding them in the next day or so, since im sure they will die if she is not. the animal rescue lady says she will take them if i am that concerned, but she feels ( from what i am telling her ) that the mother is feeding them...

they are just a few hours old in the photo.

[JFlagg]

They are a lot luckier than the baby cottontails in my yard, my pitbull finds them very deliscous unfortunately.

[Jeriah]

Hmm...try raising them as normal rabbits? I don't know what else you can do, really, short of keeping a good recipe book handy in case you fail at keeping them alive.

[xxxDarksidexxx]

Hmm...try raising them as normal rabbits? I don't know what else you can do, really, short of keeping a good recipe book handy in case you fail at keeping them alive.

i may try. i read today that you can mix up powder baby formula... we have some on hand for our son even though my wife is breast feeding. i may mix up a couple ounces this evening and try feeding with an eye dropper. a few drops each im guessing. i could have the wife hang her boobs over them and see what happens...

[Jeriah]

Hmm...try raising them as normal rabbits? I don't know what else you can do, really, short of keeping a good recipe book handy in case you fail at keeping them alive.

i may try. i read today that you can mix up powder baby formula... we have some on hand for our son even though my wife is breast feeding. i may mix up a couple ounces this evening and try feeding with an eye dropper. a few drops each im guessing. i could have the wife hang her boobs over them and see what happens...

I was gonna say, man, have the wife Grapes of Wrath that shit.

[Czechnology]

Goats milk is the universal replacement for the mother, in almost any mammal so far as I've read.

*ETA: From what I've learned raising domestic rabbits, then yes she must be feeding them if the lived through the night.

[xxxDarksidexxx]

Hmm...try raising them as normal rabbits? I don't know what else you can do, really, short of keeping a good recipe book handy in case you fail at keeping them alive.

i may try. i read today that you can mix up powder baby formula... we have some on hand for our son even though my wife is breast feeding. i may mix up a couple ounces this evening and try feeding with an eye dropper. a few drops each im guessing. i could have the wife hang her boobs over them and see what happens...

I was gonna say, man, have the wife Grapes of Wrath that shit.

hey rose! get out in the yard and grapes of wrath them wabbits!

Goats milk is the universal replacement for the mother, in almost any mammal so far as I've read.

*ETA: From what I've learned raising domestic rabbits, then yes she must be feeding them if the lived through the night.

i have read that too. my wife knows some mothers that give their babies goats milk ( they live out in the boonies )..... only problem is i dont have a goat.

maybe she did come back. everything i have read says cotton tails will go down hill real fast if not taken care of my the mother. maybe she did come back in the middle of the night. i tired using the eye dropper but couldnt get them to "latch" on... maybe ill just let mother nature do its thing and see what happens.

[Lex1785]

If you can get to a pet store you can check and see if they have substitute rabbit milk. You can also try baby cat milk, its worked on a few occasion with rabbits.

From the picture it looks like they are still very young and possibly dont have their eyes open. This should make things a little easier for you, if you do try to start raising them. You'll have to get them to accept a baby animal bottle, smaller nipple then a regular baby bottle. best way to do this is rub the nipple against their mouth and nose gently letting a bit of the milk drip out.

Don't over feed them, specially at first, eventually they should be able to down a full bottle but at first you'll only want to feed them a quarter of the bottle at a time, then give them a half hour or so especially at first between feedings to allow their systems adjust and make sure they food your using wont upset their stomach.

Hope this helps and good luck.

[xxxDarksidexxx]

well, as of sunday morning they were alive. this morning two were missing and the third one was dead.... i buried him in the banana plants.

[Grey Mann]

My guess is that the mother abandoned them. Maybe it was your scent on them, maybe they weren't healthy, maybe it was her first litter and she lost it.

It's better to leave them alone. Once you make contact, you've pretty much killed any chance of the mother taking them back.

[xxxDarksidexxx]

My guess is that the mother abandoned them. Maybe it was your scent on them, maybe they weren't healthy, maybe it was her first litter and she lost it.

It's better to leave them alone. Once you make contact, you've pretty much killed any chance of the mother taking them back.

rabbits will continue to take care of their young even after human contact..... thats a myth. i think she got spooked ( by my daughter ) and popped them out. since she didnt have them in a nest ( she had one on the porch and the other in the yard ) she just abandoned them... just my guess on that though.

from some web site... http://www.reddoorshelter.org/wildlife_rescue_info.html

If you accidentally disturb a rabbit nest, try to reconstruct it as best you can. Usually the nests are hidden under leaves, twigs and debris, or located under shrubs. But sometimes you will find a rabbit nest right in the open. You can move a nest up to 10 feet from its original spot if that will provide more cover for the nest. Cover it over with leaves, twigs and grass clippings. The mother rabbit will find it. It is a myth that rabbits will abandon their babies once human beings have touched them.

[Grey Mann]

Maybe I'm wrong, then. Asterisk: From my experience, blah blah blah.

[sherlockbonez]

It's easy to tell if mom came back for them. If they look pink and plump, they have been fed, if they look shriveled up and blue, they haven't been fed. I'm not sure about raising cottontails, but I had a few rabbits before and they are touch and go at this stage. Until they are furry and bouncy, I would just let nature take it's course. They are prolific breeders anyways and more will come in a month or 2.

[KentsOkay]

Ive raised cottontails before (desert to be exact) but they where a bit more developed (eyes open). Goat milk can be had at most grocery stores. Formula will work, be sure not to over do it and keep them warm.

Temperament when they grow up is a very jumpy domestic rabbit, turn them loose and they will accept handouts but also take care of themselves.

[evil0rphan]

Going to agree with the previous statement about "b/c you touched them" and how that is an old wife's' tale. Same with birds.

If some were missing the next day, first thing I would think is "Is there any blood?" b/c a cat or other predator could've made off with an easy snack in the night. Momma may have shown up to move the babies elsewhere... but I sort of doubt that. No empirical evidence to say, just a gut feeling. I could be wrong. However, 2-day old bunny snicker doodles would be a tasty treat to any 4-legged snack monster rolling through your yard...