Can you touch baby rabbits

Answer 1

In the wild, I would not recommend it. A mother(wild or not) will kill her young if she thinks they are in danger, she is stressed or something is wrong.

Obviously, in the wild, your smell and presence is wrong and considered dangerous. Most likely mother will be stressed.

(tip: if you find babies to be replaced to the nest place a spot of vanilla on nose and tails...not a guarantee but it works in the pet rabbit world.)

In domesticated rabbits, your hands and smells are normal. We breed rabbits and at birth we hold each kit and inspect them...count them and make sure they are fine. We hold them daily to inspect & make sure they are eating. You can even take a kit from one mother and give it to another if the situation calls for it. (vanilla can aid in this process)

The only time I had a mother kill her young is when I was forced to move her and her kits from one cage to another.

Answer 2

Not if the mother is watching you do it or she will kill her kits. Doe rabbits are very protective and want the best for her young. If the mother isn't there for at least a day, only touch it with clean hands without and soap chemicals.

Animalexpert40 should be more specific. Wild baby rabbits should NEVER be touched because the mother rabbit will abandon them (this is a survival instinct and the doe will do what she feels is best for survival of the warren.) Domestic rabbits are different. #1 they depend on us for their day to day survival, #2 they are used to our sounds and smells, and #3 they become accustomed to our help.

Baby rabbits should be checked as soon as they are born. Then they should be checked at least once a day to make sure none have died and that the doe is feeding them. Once they start jumping out of the nest box you need to start touching them to tame them down and socialize them.

Always wash your hands to free them of lotions, soaps and perfumes. If your doe appears a little nervous dab a bit of vanilla on her nose and on the rim of the nest box after you examine the babies. She will smell nothing but vanilla.

Answer 3

That would be a bad idea because if it doesnt have hair you could contaminate it and it might die

The scent of you touching the baby will cause the mother to abandon it (not contaminate it's skin....) Also all wild animals should be suspect for fleas.

Answer 4

A minimal amount of touching newborns is necessary after your rabbit gives birth. Dead kits must be removed from the nest and babies must be counted. Mama rabbits have only 8 teats so they can only successfully raise 8 kits. Extra babies must be removed and either fostered to another mother or disposed of. When checking your babies make sure your hands are clean and free of any perfumes or scents. A small dab of vanilla or Vick's can be put on the mothers nose to disguise your scent long enough for it to dissipate.

Answer 5

You can and should check them immediately to make sure there are no dead kits in the nest. Then once a day to check for dead kits until they start popping out of the nest box at about 2 weeks. You can count them freely then. You should wash your hands and make sure they are free from all lotions, perfumes and soap smells. You can dab a little bit of vanilla on the does nose and on the rim of the nest box if you think she is too nervous. Be sure to recover the kits after you count them. Also check to make sure that the nest is not wet while you are in there. If it is wet salvage as much fur as you can and change the straw out replacing the kits and covering with the does fur.

Answer 6

No you shouldn't touch them because it will leave a scent and the mother doe will reject them so do not touch them if you its an emergency pick them up with a towel thanks

Answer 7

Yes. Contrary to popular belief, an animal will not reject its offspring because it was touched by a human.

Answer 8

Yes. But preferably you shouldn't.