Feeding Baby Rabbits: When to Switch from Milk to Solids
Baby rabbits (kits) are incredibly fragile. Their digestive systems change rapidly in the first few weeks. If you feed them the wrong food too early, it can be fatal.
Here is a timeline for baby rabbit food safety.
0-3 Weeks: Milk Only
Babies rely entirely on mother's milk.
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Orphan Care: If you have an orphan, use Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) or Goat Milk. Do not use cow's milk (it causes diarrhea).
3-7 Weeks: The Nibbling Stage
They will start nibbling on solids.
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Best Food: Alfalfa Hay. Unlike adults who need Timothy, babies need the high calcium and protein in Alfalfa to grow bones.
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Pellets: Introduce plain pellets freely. They need the calories.
7 Weeks - 6 Months: Unlimited Growth
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Unlimited Alfalfa Hay.
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Unlimited Pellets.
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Introduce vegetables slowly (one at a time) starting at 12 weeks.
6 Months+: The Adult Switch
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Switch from Alfalfa to Timothy Hay (to prevent kidney stones from excess calcium).
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Reduce pellets to 1/4 cup per day.
Summary
Baby bunnies need rich, high-energy food. Adults need high-fiber, low-calorie food. Knowing when to switch is key to a long life.