The Bunny Chat Thread - For Bunny Owners

[Birdie mom]

Is Angelica a wild rabbit? If so you should let her go immediately in the area you found her. She's old enough to be weaned and on her own. (Wild rabbits wean at 4 weeks.) Wild cottontails stress out and die in captivity extremely easily so keeping it could be as likely to kill it as leaving it wild.

They can also carry diseases that could infect your domestics.

So that's what i was thinking, but there's a problem in letting her go... My dog, T.J. Is a expert small rodent killer. And my three other younger siblings will KILL ME if I try to let it go, also we have friends staying at our house for the week and they will also be mad at me if I let it go.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Is there an adult worth talking to? Maybe a rehab center you can contact? Or just drive it away from the area and release it far enough away it wouldn't be hurt.

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-find-wildlife-rehabilitator

 

[Flockincrazy]

So we got new bunnies and yes they do hang out with my flock and are very happy to so we have Zeezee bear (gray) Fluffy butt (black) and Forest (gray/black)

 

[AltonaAcres]

Do not keep wild animals as pets. That is cruel

 

[Birdie mom]

how old do y'all think it is?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

It's well developed for a wild rabbit. 6 weeks is my best guess.

https://dfwurbanwildlife.com/2011/0...rban-wildlife/eastern-cottontail-hand-raised/

This rabbit has been wild and on its own for 2-3 weeks I suspect.

 

[Birdie mom]

a while after we caught it we saw another older rabbit nearby, so i don't think it is totally independent yet.

 

[Birdie mom]

a while after we caught it we saw another older rabbit nearby, so i don't think it is totally independent yet.

i think the other rabbit may be its mom, is it too late to reunite them?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

They hang around the nest burrow for a few weeks after weaning to get their bearings, but they are independent. They do not rely on or interact with their mother or siblings beyond maybe having a place to sleep at night. In another week or two it would leave on its own.

https://www.ohiowildlifecenter.org/help-wildlife/found-an-animal/helping-wildlife-rabbits/

Seriously, that rabbit is genuinely all but on its own by now. Cottontails are NOT domestics. This is why so many places say not to touch them and just let them be. They are much less helpless than they look.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Real talk, mom is probably gestating her next litter already and is just tolerating the babies being in her territory because they are young. She's NOT caring for them any more.