Hand Rear Wildies

On Tuesday a lady called me at work to say she was at her allotment and her dog was digging and when she looked she had killed a mother rabbit and dug the babies in their nest out. She didn't know what to do so brought them to us. I was so disheartened when I looked into the nest. The babies had clearly only just been born and were still covered in their mothers blood. Their umbilical cords were still bright red with blood too.

I explained that I doubted very much wheterh or not these poor babies would survive. However I would give it a go.

I have them on goats milk feeds and we are now on day five. I am not counting my chickens but so far we are doing ok. The vet is pleased with them too.

The idea is minimum contact, get them weaned and then released once they have had a myxi/vhd jab.

Here are some pics I thought you would all like to see.

How very sad that the mummy was killed, its put a lump in my throat :-(
Sleep tight lovely lady x x x x

You are doing an amazing job with them Charlotte. With you in their corner anything is possible and a miracle can most definitely happen.

Sending them all the vibes I can muster and big thanks to you on behalf of their mummy x x x

Aw KAtie that is sweet but all I am doing is keeping them fed and warm. They are doing the rest while I try really hard not to get attached. It is hard though as I take them everywhere I go, to work, to friends, out and about. If I know I will be out when it is their feeding time, them and their milk comes with them. If I do have success rearing them I might write it all up incase anyone else is ever in the same sitution. At the so called "wildlife hospital" I worked at, they never successfully reared any kits no matter what their age. But with the batches we have had in it proves it can be done. We have never had a litter this small though so I am just praying they pull through.

Oh my God they are so beautiful and have brought a tear to my eye as I remember our bunny Grace when we got her she gave birth to 5 beautiful baby bunnies weeks after.

What a wonderful job you are doing as it's so hard hand rearing domestic baby buns and even harder when they are wildie babies.

Good Luck to you and I hope to see more photos of them as they grow bigger

So sorry about their Mummy
Binky free forever at the Bridge and watch over your babies and keep them safe xxxxxxx

IT was hard as I was rearing a stoat too when they came in. I kept looking at him in disgust at the thought that he feasts on wildies. But hey ho a guy has gotta eat I guess. We released him last night so just got these bubba's now. And infact they are due their next feed!

You are a star doing this love and I hope they will all be OK. I was so sorry to hear what happened and that mummy bun didn;t make it. Please keep us up to date.

Hugs

JO xx

Bless you Charlotte! You are a brave and determined woman. They
look quite healthy. Just look at those round tummies! Hopefully you
will find a warren where they will be readily accepted. It's so good
of you to make sure they have had their jab. Sending some
"grow up strong and safe" vibes for the baby wildies.

What a fantastic job you are doing - I do hope they make it

Am I right in thinking that when they go onto solid food will be a quite delicate time for them?

Oh that poor doe!! That's just awful, it makes me so sad that she died because she wanted to protect her babies I don't think I'd ever be able to look at my dog in the same light again.

What a great thing you are doing for her babies, that is dedication and a half!!! I really hope they make it.

Poor mummy bunny, I agree with Thumper I think I'd disown the dog.

They are so sweet, fingers crossed they'll continue to do well.

Well done hun keep up the good work xx

Catsknickers wrote:IT was hard as I was rearing a stoat too when they came in. I kept looking at him in disgust at the thought that he feasts on wildies. But hey ho a guy has gotta eat I guess. We released him last night so just got these bubba's now. And infact they are due their next feed!

That is hard! I think it was a stoat that killed Dave last month. But it was only following its instinct like the dog was.

aww so sad and yet so hopeful the poor mummy bun and the babies but they look as though they are doing wonderfully well thanks all to you.
you should be proud that you have given them a chance and a breath of life and a possible future
WELL DONE

They are so gorgeous. i bet you 50 quid this time next year you'll be wheeling them about in a pram wearing easter bonnets calling you mummy!

Aw how sweet are they

You are doing a sterling job

NickieM wrote:

Catsknickers wrote:IT was hard as I was rearing a stoat too when they came in. I kept looking at him in disgust at the thought that he feasts on wildies. But hey ho a guy has gotta eat I guess. We released him last night so just got these bubba's now. And infact they are due their next feed!

That is hard! I think it was a stoat that killed Dave last month. But it was only following its instinct like the dog was.

I totally get what you are saying about it being instinct to the dog, but the owner should have it under control

I can't believe how dark the babies are in colour! They're so cute!!!

Oh poor mummy
I really hope they make it, you are doing a fab job by the sounds of it for them to have lasted this long. They sound very strong too. Do your mummy proud babies

They are so gorgeous! So tiny and dark.

Aw the poor mum Looks like you're doing an excellent job, sending lots of vibes for the little ones, really hope they all pull through.

racheld69 wrote:They are so gorgeous. i bet you 50 quid this time next year you'll be wheeling them about in a pram wearing easter bonnets calling you mummy!

Ha ha don't tempt me.

I am sad to say that i lost one on monday morning. I opened up the box and one baby had left for the bridge. Needless to say i was gutted. It was one of the smaller ones who wasn't feeding so well. I now open that box in fear and trembling every time they are due a feed. Just pray i can hang on to the rest. There is one that isn't feeding as well as the others but i am just praying it will pull through.

Well i am sure if anyone can save them you can Charlotte....

Sending 'grow up strong' vibes for the wildies!
and strengthening vibes for you.

Charlotte, you are doing a fabulous and difficult job - any that you manage to save will be an incredible achievement, baby buns are just so difficult to hand-rear

Oh, and we need updated pics when you get a chance

I agree with Sparky, wildie babies are so very hard to hand rear and sometimes it ends in tears, the fact you have got them this far is all credit to you...well done!

Vibe top up for the baby wildies!
And and more for you!
Strengthening vibes for you AND the baby wildies.