Taking care of bunnies is a tough job. They require a lot of attention, care, and love. You have to get specific foods for them and create the perfect atmosphere and a chaos-free environment. Baby bunnies are double the job.
They are many times more fragile and sensitive than adult bunnies. Like a human infant, baby bunnies go through stages of development that demand different foods and environments for smooth growth. Infants cannot drink water for some time, but can baby rabbits drink water?
Baby rabbits do not need water right after birth. Initially, they rely on their mother’s milk. These cute little buns crave water when they are a few weeks old. Paying attention to this is vital to avoid dehydrating the babies or the mother, in case they drink their mother’s water instead.
After the baby rabbits have been in the world for a couple of weeks, you can notice them looking for water. It would be a clue for you to provide them with a separate water source. Staying hydrated is vital for the little bunnies for many reasons. Keep reading to know more about your new guests’ water needs!
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Why Do Baby Bunnies Need Water After Some Time?
Little rabbits start feeling thirsty after some time after their birth. Time can vary from 3 to 4 weeks, depending on the bunny’s breed.
A baby bunny would start wanting water for 3 reasons:
- Their hunger has increased
- Its a part of their general development
- The mother’s milk is not enough
Each reason is a natural process. As the kit grows, its hydration and energy demand will increase. As soon as you notice the kit drinking from its mother’s bottle or bowl, start preparing a separate water source for the litter. It will prevent dehydration in both the mama bunny and the babies.
Understanding The Importance Of Water For Baby Rabbits
Water is important for every living being. It is the building block of our existence. It is essential for every young of every species as they are rapidly developing and adjusting to their new surroundings.
Baby rabbits need water for the following main reasons:
- It helps your furry baby’s organs to stay fresh and working.
- It keeps their blood healthy and oxygen-filled.
- It is great for better bowel movement.
- It helps excrete excessive calcium from their bodies.
- If the baby rabbits do not get water at this developing stage, they are prone to illnesses and death.
How Does Water Benefit Baby Bunnies?
Water has plenty of benefits for humans. It keeps our blood thing, our skin fresh, our organs working, helps with smooth respirations, etc.
Baby bunnies similarly benefit from water. There are three main benefits that a baby kit gets from drinking water:
Hydration
Bunnies share this top benefit with all of us, hydration. Baby rabbits seek water when their bodies are ready for a transition from their mother’s milk to exploring other possibilities. It is a natural process.
Another reason your furry little guy is looking for water is when the litter size is big. The kit starts this transition earlier for survival and hydration if the litter is big.
Timely Physical Development
Baby rabbits grow with the speed of light in the first few months after their birth. All they rely on for aid is mama bunny’s milk and fresh water. Both of these are not enough separately. The baby rabbit needs both to survive.
If you are not efficient in providing water for the thirsty babies, there is a high chance they will fall sick and die of dehydration and malnourishment.
Independence
The mama rabbit would like her babies to be independent after a month. To ease their transition, the babies have an innate sense of starting to look for things to fulfill their needs. It begins with their craving for water. It is the first thing they require that does not come from their mother.
The need of being independent starts growing from this stage. A kit gets accustomed to such rituals and adopts new ones. Soon they will begin looking for food and become fully independent, leaving their mother relaxed and free.
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How To Know If Your Baby Rabbit Is Dehydrated?
There is a high chance you would not realize that your cute litter has started to search for water. Do not worry! There are other ways to ensure that rabbit babies are not lacking hydration.
There are a few things you can do to check if a kit is dehydrated and in need of water:
- A baby rabbit’s skin can become stiff and lose its elasticity if it is not getting enough hydration. To check this, you should gently pinch the back of their necks and observe the skin.
- As they do not have fur, the sign will be easily visible to you. If the baby bunny’s skin does not smoothen right away, it is dehydrated.
- Give it water immediately and keep an eye on it for a few days.
- Try again after a day. The skin should be better and not stay tented.
- If the skin does not return to its natural texture, contact your vet.
How To Ensure Your Baby Bunnies Get Enough Water?
Now that their mother is no longer their only source of nutrients and energy, the responsibility will fall on your shoulders. As soon as you notice your furry babies are ready for water, do whatever you can to make them drink water.
There are many ways you can make water appetizing and accessible for your baby buns:
Let Them Pick Their Favorite Water Source
Human babies have their favorite milk bottles, sippy cups, and water bottles. So, why not baby bunnies? Let your precious litter choose what they want as their water source. Introduce a hanging water bottle and a bowl at the same time.
See which one they prefer to go to the most. It could be that half the litter likes the bottle and the other likes the bowl, keep them both! After all, they are your baby kits. They deserve the world.
Give Them Clean Water
Rabbits are very observant when it comes to their food and water. Adult bunnies disapprove of wilted or old veggies. Baby bunnies will refuse unclean and old water. Make sure to change their water every day or as needed. The water should not get smelly, or the babies will resent the water source.
Bottled Water
If your little bunnies are snobbish, try filtered or bottled water. It is economical to spend more on a bottle of water than on constant vet visits due to bunny dehydration.
Keep The Water Temperature Near 20 Degrees Celcius
Baby bunnies have just joined the world and are still exploring it when they start drinking water. A room temperature water will have fewer chances of startling them, making them sick or averting them from liquids.
You want the freshly born cute bunnies to be as comfortable as possible through their transition to teenager.
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Final Thoughts
When baby bunnies begin to take charge of their lives and gradually start becoming independent, it is your responsibility to make this process easy for them. It starts with water, growing gradually to finding their food and then mating partner.
All these transitions are difficult for the bunnies as they are anxious animals and get stressed quickly.
Water will be their best friend throughout life. You must make them fall in love with it. There are chances that your baby bunnies might not like water. In such a case, you can try the tips mentioned above on making your bunnies drink water.
If you follow everything here and give your baby bunnies attention, all will be well. Just remember, like all babies, rabbit litter needs affection, warmth, nourishment, care, and love