Willamena's Answers To Questions
This is My Board.
To Post A New QuestionPlease Go Here To Send It In.
With a Answer from Willamena
With a new Comment from Warren
2. Question 2 from Paul about what baby Rabbits eat
With an Answer from Willamena
With a Comment from Krystal
With a new Comment from Willamena
3. Question 3 from Sophia about falling Rabbits
With an Answer from Willamena
4. Question 4 from Sophia about Rabbit Moms and Babies.
With an Answer from Willamena
5. Question 5 from KC about Willamena and Babies.
With an Answer from Willamena
6. Question 6 from Devon about Sleeping with Rabbits.
With an Answer from Willamena
7. Question 7 from Devon about Picking Up Rabbits.
With an Answer from Willamena
8. Question 8 from Dehrion about Why her Rabbit Is Acting Strange.
With an Answer from Willamena
9. Question 9 from Erin about Wild Baby Rabbits.
With an Answer from Willamena
10. Question 10 from Erica about Wild Orphan Baby Rabbits.
With an Answer from Willamena
11. Question 11 from Lowell about a very bad thing that makes Rabbits sick. Oh!
With an Answer from Willamena
12. Question 12 from Louise about a Rabbit her Cat brought to her.
With an Answer from Willamena
13. Question 13 from Jeffrey about a Mom Rabbit and her babies
With an Answer from Willamena
14. Question 14 from Jennifer about pregnant rabbits
With an Answer from Willamena
15. Question 15 from Lyndsay about getting a rabbit friend for her rabbit
With an Answer from Willamena
16. Question 16 from Brittany about how much rabbits eat
With an Answer from Willamena
17. Question 17 from Kiera about how rabbits have babies
With an Answer from Willamena
18. Question 18 from Celeste about knowing a lot of good things about rabbits!
With an Answer from Willamena
19. Question 19 from Celeste about how to tell how a rabbit feels by her ears
With an Answer from Willamena
20. Question 20 from Elizabeth about how to tell if a rabbit is happy
With an Answer from Willamena
21. Question 21 from Kiera about Rabbit Names
With an Answer from Willamena
22. Question 22 from Michael about baby Rabbits
With an Answer from Willamena
23. Question 23 from Nichole about baby Rabbits and carrots
With an Answer from Willamena
24. Question 24 from Teneale about Rabbits and baths
With an Answer from Willamena
25. Question 25 from Trevor about Rabbits and poop
With an Answer from Willamena
26. Question 26 from Trevor about Rabbits and toys
With an Answer from Willamena
27. Question 27 from Joseph about what rabbits like to do
With an Answer from Willamena
28. Question 28 from Nicole about baby Cottontails
With an Answer from Willamena
1. Lisa, from Washington, in the 11th grade, asks;
Willamena, what else do you like to eat besides vegetables?
Willamena replies,
I think you must hang out with Rabbits, maybe even Warren, because this sounds like
a trick question to me. Which makes you a trickster too. Because what I like to eat and what I am suppose to eat are two different things. I like eating baseboards and carpet and candles and shoes. Those things are not okay to eat according to the humans I live with. Thankfully I also like to eat things that the human does think I should eat. I really like to eat Timothy hay and about once a week I like to eat the fruit that the human gives out. Just a little bit though. Also I eat some pellets, but not much. Mostly I like to eat my hay.
Warren replies,
Lisa has not been hanging out with me Miss Willamena. I think she is maybe a Rabbit herself because she is smart enough to ask a trick question and she is in the 11th grade, which takes a lot of smarts.
What kind of food does a baby Rabbit eat and how often?
Willamena replies,
That's a tough one Paul. It depends on how old the Rabbit is. And people have different answers. I'll tell you what I know.
The best thing for a baby Rabbit to eat is their Mother's own milk. Some people say that they only eat once a day, very late at night. Like at around midnight. Other people, including some Rabbits I know who had babies before they were spayed, say that babies eat a couple times a day.
When babies are not with their mothers, humans try to help them by giving formula. But which formula? And what is formula? Oh my. This is something to talk about with a Vet or a foster person who has done a lot of bunny feeding about. You have to be very careful how you feed them and have the right kind of bottle so they don't get formula in their poor little bity noses!
When babies eyes open up, (did you know they are closed when they are born?), they start nibbling on grass and hay. Some people say they had better not eat to many vegetables. When babies are at The Sanctuary, where I live when I am not in cyberspace, they are with their mothers and their mothers get lots of vegetables. The babies eat as much as they want and they are always ok. They can eat pellets and hay too! They should get their Mother's milk or formula for at least eight weeks.
And guess what? They can have alfalfa hay! It's good for them!
Gee Paul, you sure asked a tough question. Good thing I am so smart!
Comment From Krystal from Washington, in the 7th grade.
I have had to bottle-feed 5 or 6 litters of baby rabbits and its not easy to do.We had ready made formula which made it a little easier. My Mom did a stupid thing though. She held the original Mom down so the baby rabbits could eat the mom's special milk and the Mom(rabbit)kicked one of the babies. (That baby had a dislocated hip but is still alive)
Comment From Willamena
Just so everyone knows, Mother Rabbits usually feed their babies when no one is looking. They feed a few times everyday, but mostly late at night. To make sure a Mother is feeding her babies, weigh them everyday on a small postal scale. They can be bought at an office supply store. If the babies are gaining weight, the Mom is feeding them just fine.
How delicate is a rabbit when you drop him?
Willamena replies,
Verrry Delicate. Rabbits have very fragile bones, kind of like Birds. It is very important not to drop them. So that you don't it is good to know how to hold and pick up a Rabbit. There is a picture in one of the Quiz's, (Click here to see it.) that shows someone holding a Rabbit. She has her hand under the Rabbit's rear. That helps to keep the Rabbit feeling safe, because they don't like having their feet in the air. It reminds them of getting carried away by a big Bird. It is also good to have your other hand on the back, ready to grab the fur if the Rabbit starts squirming.
Willamena, how likely is your rabbit to die if she has another litter when she's ready got one to take care of?
Willamena replies,
Well, I can't tell you exactly. It would be very hard for a Mom to make milk and new babies at the same time. It would take a lot of calcium and protein, more than she might get in her feed. So both she and her babies may not be very healthy if that happened.
Rabbits who have lots of litters have problems inside too. The part of them that carries the babies, the uterus, can fall out of place. It's true. Ask your Vet about the danger of a, here's a big word, "prolapsed uterus."
There are also lots of homeless Rabbits so having lots of babies adds to that problem. Rabbits also get cancer if they are not spayed real easy. So having lots of babies and not getting Rabbits spayed, may not be a good idea.
How many kits do you have?
Willamena replies,
Babies? Me? None! Thank you very much. I am very proud to be a spayed Bunny!
Should I let my bunny sleep with me?
Willamena replies,
Well, that really depends. Some rabbits, such as myself, like to explore.
After all, as much as we love our people, sitting on the bed all night is a real drag. Which means that if chew up carpet, or chew on the baseboards during the day, we most certainly will do it while you're asleep :) Not to mention sometimes we forget were the litter box is and you might wake up in a puddle (eww!), or surrounded by a few "bunny berries." Or maybe we might chew some holes in your covers, or find those electrical cords that you *thought* were well hidden.
If your bunny wants to jump on top of the bed with you, she will do it by herself. Let her decide if it's the right place for her. And remember...if she sleeps on your bed be VERY careful so you don't squish her by mistake.
Of course the answer to your question also depends how bunny proofed your room is and how behaved your bunny is. Rabbits really don't like to sleep with people, so you should treat it as unsupervised play time. Which we *love* but really isn't safe for us.
How can I get my bunny used to being picked up?
Willamena replies,
Want in on a secret? Bunnies don't like to be picked up. We've got lots of things to do and places to see. And being picked up by our people is NOT our idea of having fun. We can struggle and kick, and may scratch you. Not on purpose of course, but because we want to stay on the ground. Also, our back are VERY fragile, and if you drop us or we kick too hard, we can seriously hurt our backs. And nobody wants that.
I think it would be best to let the grown up in your house pick us up first. They will need to learn to do this anyway in case your bunny has to be picked up when you are not around to go to the Vet or something. They can help get her use to be picked up.
They can pick her up by putting a hand under her chest and use the other hand to support her bottom...so she can't kick. No ear grabbing or pulling please! Some people think ears are handles, but they aren't. It hurts us very badly to be grabbed by the ears, so please don't. And no chasing. We get *very* scared, and become very afraid of people that do this. Nobody wants a friend that scares or hurts them.
When it is your turn to start learning, start out small. Remember, we bunnies are tiny so please don't swing us up in the air. That makes us feel like we're on a roller coaster. Not fun for us. We don't like roller coasters. Be very gentle but hold your bunny nice and safe in your arms up against your chest. Stay pretty close to the ground and don't move around too much. Do this a little bit each day. Pretty soon your bunny will start to trust you to pick her up more and more and more.... Now, if you want a bunny to come up and say "hi" and maybe even crawl in your lap, that's a different story. Something I like to do instead of getting picked up is to sit next to people when they watch TV and stuff. To get her use to you, sit on the floor (a bunny's favorite place to be), with a few treats in your hand (like slices of carrots, or pieces of parsley). We'll run around for a while and do our happy jumps, but when we've calmed down enough we will probably come up and see what you've got! And you know what piggies bunnies can be. The more often you do this with us, the more likely we will come up and maybe even jump in your lap!
Whew! This was a very BIG answer for a very important thing that all Rabbit Caretakers such as yourself have to learn.
My bunny Thumperina was just spayed. She still runs in circles trying to mate. Why does she do this?
Willamena replies,
Before they get spayed or neutered Rabbits have chemicals just like Humans and other Animals called Hormones. Hormones tell them to get pregnant or build a nest or to find a husband or wife. When they get spayed or neutered, these hormones start to go away. It takes some time though for this to happen. The behavior you are talking about is usually what her hormones are telling her to do. It takes between one month and six months for these hormones to be gone. But they will be eventually. And then maybe she will stop doing this or maybe not. It could be that she just really really likes you!
What do baby rabbits found in the wild eat?
Willamena replies,
Baby Rabbits in the wild eat the same thing Baby Rabbits everywhere eat. Their Mom's milk! Of course when they get a little older, they start to eat a little bit of grass. And then a little bit more. And then they start eating other plants and fruits and tree bark just like big Rabbits. Did you know that the Rabbits who live in the wild in the U.S. are Cottontails and Jack Rabbits? They are different from the Wild Rabbits in Europe. We are from the family of Rabbits from Europe. We're just a little bit different than the Rabbits in the wild here. That's the truth!
Someone I know was on a rabbit hunting trip, and shot a mother rabbit. He gave me her babies. What do I do???
Willamena replies,
They need to get to a Wildlife Rehabber Right Away!!! It is very, very difficult, hard, almost impossible to care for Baby Wild Rabbits. There is a whole great big article on Kind Planet about this, Orphan and Baby Rabbits. There is also an article about how to find a Rehabber on Kind Planet, Wildlife. Even Rehabbers have a lot of trouble savings these poor little guys, and it is against the law for people to try with out special permission. So get yourself over to those links and find somebody who might be able to save them!! Thanks for caring about them. Poor little Boos and Mom. Oooo, this stuff really feels bad. Guns are so yucky!
A friend told me that your web pages had an article about a disease that can be rapidly fatal to rabbits. The disease apparently originated in Australia and is now in the U.S. Can you be of more help here--I can't seem to find out anything about such a malady.
Willamena replies,
Those are some awfully big words Lowell! But I know what you are talking about. You are talking about VHD. And I have to say, it is a good thing you asked! I've been meaning to tell the kids all about it. But first things first.
Let's talk about "rapidly fatal." That is not a nice idea. It means that you get dead real quick. And you are right, VHD is "rapidly fatal."
The next thing we want to explain is "apparently originated in Australia." "Apparently originated," means that it "looks like it started in." As for in Australia; No, no no no no. The first sign of it was in China, but it might have started in Europe.
Then you say it is here! Well it was, and now it is not! Good news, huh? Now a "malady" is a disease. And the disease you are asking about is VHD and if you are a Kind Kid, you can read all about it in A Special Message From The Cyberbitz! If you are a grown up, and we bet you are one Lowell, you will want to read all about it in VHD In The US Coalition's Website. Now, not to worry everybody. Once you read the story, you'll see everything is going to be just fine! We are all being very well watched over. That old VHD is not going to get us!
My cat brought home a very little rabbit, we can't find it's mother or where it lives, what should I give it to eat, the baby has hair and it's eyes are open. it weights about 2 oz.?
Willamena replies,
If I remember right, I just answered this question for Erica in Question # 10. Of course, Erica's problem came to her because of a gun and a hunter. This time, the poor baby is all by itself because of a Cat. A long time ago, Elvis Goat did a special story on why Cats need to stay inside. He interviewed Mama Bird in Mama Birds Message. Now if Elvis had interviewed me, I would have told him how it isn't just Birds who get hurt by outside Cats. So here, thanks to Louise is a good example. In any case Louise, please go read the answer I gave to Erica, and you will know what to do.
My sisters rabbit doesn't really look like she want to have anything to do with the bunnies she just recently had. What should we do?
Willamena replies,
Well Jeffrey, it always looks like that. She pretends like she doesn't even know them so that you will not pay any attention to them either! She probably feeds them when no one is around. Usually late at night. What you can do to make sure is weigh them every day on a postal scale to make sure they are gaining weight. Then if there is a problem, get over to Kind Planet's Rabbit Babies Article.
My rabbit is pregnant but she has been for the past 3 months, about when will she have her baby rabbits? How many? Should I leave them with her when they are born? Also I think she had a miscarrage would that effect the baby rabbits that should arrive soon? PS ....Please respond I have no idea how to preform this matter. Sincerely, *jenny*
Willamena replies,
Gee Jenny, it only takes a Rabbit 28 days to have babies. So your rabbit could not be pregnant for that long. I'm not sure what having a miscarriage would do to new babies. I am more worried about why she had a miscarriage. And why you think she's been pregnant for so long. To be honest I think you should get her to a Rabbit Vet. Good Luck!
Can I get a rabbit friend for my rabbit?
Willamena replies,
Absolutely. Sort of. You do want to have your rabbit spayed or neutered first if you haven't already done that. And then you have to get the new rabbit spayed or neutered too. And you may have to wait until they settle down. And then you have to introduce them very, very slowly in the bathtub or in the car. You have to watch them to make sure they don't fight. After a few introductions they will probably be fine. Or not. You may have to work very, very hard to help them become friends. But it will be well worth it when the two are finally sitting together cleaning each others fur! Make sure your parents are willing to help you with all of this.
How much do rabbits eat a day?
Willamena replies,
That depends on how big the rabbit is! For every five pounds a rabbit weighs, the rabbit will eat 2 and a half cups of fresh vegetables, a quarter cup of pellets and a couple handfuls of timothy hay. So if you want to know how much your rabbit eats, first you have to weigh her!
My question is how do rabbits have babies? And where do they have the babies?
Willamena replies,
Boy rabbits and girl rabbits get together and make babies. They play around and the boy plants seeds inside the girl that grows into the babies. She carries the babies, in her uterus. Then she has them in a nest that she makes about 28 days later. Of course, if she is spayed, she won't have babies and if he is neutered, he won't have the seeds. And then they can play around all they want without making too many babies!
My sister just got a new rabbit. We decided to give her a treat. So, we found some lettuce in the fridge and she ate it all up. Then I found out that lettuce wasn't good for her (unless it romaine lettuce! Imagine my relief when I found out I gave her romaine lettuce!
Willamena replies,
Boy that is good thing! What is really great about it is that YOU KNEW what kind of lettuce was good! Congratulations for being so knowledgeable! I wish all humans were like you!
Can I tell if my rabbit is happy or sad by the position of her ears?
Willamena replies,
Not by the ears so much but by the whole body language. If a rabbit is laying on it's tummy all stretched out, then the rabbit is very content. If a rabbit is laying on her side, if she just flops over on her side all of a sudden, then she is doing a bunny flop and is very very content. If a rabbit is sitting all hunched up then the rabbit is sick or scared. If a rabbit is sitting very close to the ground with her head pushed down to then she is really scared. If she puts her ears back all of a sudden then she is MAD!
How do u know when a rabbit is happy?
Willamena replies,
A really happy rabbit will dance across the room, tail up, back legs kicking, her body twisting in mid air. This is a happy rabbit doing a rabbit dance!
Whats a good name for a rabbit?
Willamena replies,
Willamena!
My Grandpa just caught some baby rabbits out in the woods. They aren't eating or drinking anything I give them. What should I feed them?
Willamena replies,
They are not eating because what they eat is their mothers milk. It is not a good idea to bring in baby rabbits. They belong with their mother. If something happened to their mother, then it is best to find a Rehabber. You can do that Here
Is it okay to feed a baby rabbit really tiny pieces of carrots?
Willamena replies,
If the rabbits are ready to start eating things other then their mothers milk, they will eat carrots. But they don't have to be tiny peices. They can chew a carrot just like a big rabbit does!
Can I give my rabbit a wash? if I can, how do I wash him. He is just a bit smelly and dirty on his feet
Willamena replies,
Hmmm... That's not a very good idea. Why does your rabbit smell? Does he have a problem with his bladder or his butt? Maybe a Vet should see him to find out. He will clean his own paws as long as he is not sick. Rabbits are naturally very clean. I really think he should see a Vet.
Will my 4 month old bunnies ever stop pooping all over the house?
Willamena replies,
Maybe they will and maybe they won't. If they're related to Mr. Eats To Many Carrots, who you know as Warren, they will probably poop everywhere! Warren loves his poop very much. Did you see his Poop Page? Warren can't walk without pooping. Some rabbits are like that. Now I put my poops in my box. That's because my human taught me to poop there by putting my box in the same corner of my condo where I put my poops when I was very young. And I went to the Vet to make sure I didn't end up with lots of babies when I was six months old. Warren didn't go until he was two years old. There is something in a rabbit who can have babies that says "Poop!" And the longer a rabbit has that voice inside, the hard it is to get rid of it. I'm not sure why that is, but if you take your rabbits to the Vet to get rid of all those "have babies" voices, it will be easier to get them to stop pooping everywhere. I will say one thing in Warren's favor though, he is right when he says, "If you love rabbits, you gotta love our poops!"
What do rabbits like to play with?
Willamena replies,
Just when I thought no one would ever ask! Toys, Toys Toys! Give us Toys! We like to play with hard plastic rattles and toilet paper tubes. We play with phone books, and pine cones, paper bags, and boxes. We like and sticks and twigs. We like to have toys for those moments when we don't have anything to do. Now if you give a rabbit a toy and she ignores it, don't worry. She may not play with it today, and then tomorrow she'll say, "It's time to play with my new toy!"
What do rabbits like to do?
Willamena replies,
Oh gee. Rabbits like to do many things. We like to eat fresh veggies and hay. We like to snuggle with each other and we like to groom each other. We like to run, and when we are young we like to dig. We like to sleep and hop around smelling things. Sometimes we like to dance. When we are very relaxed, we like to flop on our sides and just lie around. We like to play with toys and eat baseboards and walls. But we are not suppose to do eat those things. To sum it up, we LOVE being Rabbits!
If you have a baby wild rabbit that is a cottontail that is about 3 week old what do you do? Please help!!!!
Willamena replies,
I think people have asked this before. I'm pretty sure. Really the best thing is to contact a wildlife rehabber. They have lots of experience and know what to do. The get special classes to learn about it. You can find someone by going to Kind Planet's Wildlife Page. If you don't find one close to you, then go to Kind Planet's Orphan and Baby Rabbit Care. Get an adult to help you, there is a lot to understand and do. Good Luck.