Monday, April 26, 2010

I was honestly going to do a post about knitting, but the Universe has bitten us on the butt once again...

We were excited because one of our rabbits had her first litter. But before we could even send out birth announcements, she got out of her cage and was killed. (We suspect a dog did the evil deed. A wild predator would have dragged her into the woods. The evidence shows that whatever did it entered and exited by our long driveway, and was comfortable spending time out in the open right next to our house. Don't even get me started on my leash-law rant. We've had trouble with 'visiting' dogs before.)
Madman rescued the babies from the nest box and brought them inside.

Here's three of the six babies -

They're a little bigger than a mouse.

And now we're doing this

at least 3 times a day. (We've since bought smaller syringes - that was the only one we could locate at short notice. )

They're messy eaters, so you have to stop and wipe their faces now and then.

Check out the two on the left side of this picture.

They're actually the same size, but baby rabbits seem to have a lot in common with accordions...

11 comments:

Cookie said...

Oh no! Gayle, I'm so sorry. Can you add a gate to the end of your drive? I'd be trapping/shooting those dogs, but that's me.

Fingers crossed the baby bunnies make it.

xo

Joansie said...

Oh.......what a labor of love!

Erika said...

Aww! So - laughing - is hand-feeding them from birth going to change your long-term dinner plans?

Anonymous said...

Good luck with the babies. You don't happen to have a lactating mother cat or small dog, do you? CuteOverload.com leads me to believe that they would take care of the baby bunnies, no problem.

We don't let our dogs run. This is just another reason not to.

Bullwinkle said...

oh ... quiet squeeeeeeee! I'm so sorry about the situation but they are just darlings.

Good luck with them, and, uhm, your sleep :)

sophanne said...

bunny orphans find perfect home.

Wanderingcatstudio said...

You can post about baby rabbits anyday! Adorable. I'm so sorry they lost their mama though.

Laurie said...

Oh NO. Can't stand that wandering dog stupidity.

Poor little bunz.

Diane said...

What Erika said. That's really eating locally. :-D

amy said...

Aww, I'm sorry about your rabbit. It's scary to think that it might have been some random dog on your property that did it. All the best to the baby bun-buns. They're in good hands :)

Pat said...

Poor little babes - Are they old enough to have a good chance at making it??
Sure looks like you are giving them all the help and love you can!!