Help! Wild bunny in my brooder!

[Tiny Egg]

I think I’ve kidnapped a baby cottontail rabbit and now I’m not sure what to do. My neighbor came over today and gave me a baby rabbit that was in her yard. She was worried that her dog would catch it, which is a very real concern, as her little dog has killed a few of my chickens (completely my fault, they strayed over her fence while I wasn’t watching). I know I shouldn’t have taken this bunny inside at all, but what could I do? I put it in an empty brooder and bought rabbit food for it. From the start I decided to only keep it inside for a day or two until I can release it.
This rabbit isn’t super young, its ears are perky, its eyes are open, and there’s enough fat or meat or something to make a little jiggle. But obviously it’s so scared, and I’m so worried that it’ll die overnight from fright or from not eating or drinking, but if I release it into my yard, it might go back into my neighbor’s and then Murphy will catch it, or it’ll eat my neighbor’s beautiful garden. Or it’ll stay in my yard and eat the garden I had just decided on growing.
Am I allowed to release it in a park? Would it know what to do in an unfamiliar territory? Should I just release it in my yard anyway? I’m in Pennsylvania if that makes any difference.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would just let it go out in your yard. It is somewhat familiar territory and it may still find it's mom around.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

How small is it? If it is small enough to still need it’s mother she won’t take it back because it won’t smell right so do some research before releasing it

 

[chooki]

How large is it?

I have found some baby bunnies under my driveway 1.5 year ago:

I even took them out to take a few pictures (bad, bad me). Mother rabbit knew it, I saw an adult rabbit checking out the kits in the burrow a minute after I had put them back.

This was them two weeks later:

This was one of them hanging out with my chickens:

 

[Tiny Egg]

It’s at least the size of a baseball and can move around on its own. I checked on it this morning and it had burrowed under the overturned cardboard box I had put in for it, with just its face sticking out.
Last night it was standing up scratching at the cardboard as well. I have no idea if it’s eaten or drunk, but the food was overturned as well.
It’s supposed to be rainy the next few days, is it still ok to release it soon?

 

[Tiny Egg]

This is it this morning.

 

[RubelliteRose]

I found this page that can help you decide if the baby is old enough to be on its own: https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/healthy-young-wildlife/if-you-find-baby-rabbit

 

[Tiny Egg]

@RubelliteRose thank you, I did come across the video on that site last night. I weighed the rabbit just now and it is 92 grams, just short of the 100 required by independent rabbits. I just gave it some sprouted wheat grass I was making for the chickens to see if that might tempt it.
I read that you shouldn’t release baby rabbits if it’s going to rain in the next few days, but should I do it anyway? I couldn’t stand it if I killed it by keeping it inside.

 

[chooki]

The size of a baseball is fairly small, but then you mentioned that it's a cottontail rabbit, so it's probably a small sized breed of rabbits. Maybe ask your neighbour where did she get the rabbit - if it's in or near a burrow, then it's probably still with its mother. If it's on the lawn or in the garden by itself, then it's probably independent and doesn't need to be fed any more.

This was a baby rabbit in my backyard, all on its own:

The rabbit stayed in our yard for a couple of month, before ventured out more often. Then one day, I found it on a neighbour's driveway, likely ran over by a car.

 

[RubelliteRose]

Is your neighbor sure it is a cottontail? We have both cottontail and marsh rabbits in our yard. Marsh rabbits look like cottontails, but have smaller ears, slightly darker fur and are smaller in general. You may have other smaller types near you too. I think it would be ok to release before rain if you have or can provide a sheltered area near by for protection.