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9:01:00 PM EDT
Feeling Worried
Baby bunny and baby bird updates
After following the advice of a rabbit rehabber and breeder led to the death of yet another baby (Tommy Girl kicked it out of the nest box and it died, either from the blow or from exposure), we are left with just two babies.
They are now four days old.
I am now ignoring all the advice I've received about only feeding them twice a day because they are always dehydrated. I fed them twice this afternoon and they are now hydrated and plump and when we piddle them they go a lot.
I also ignored the advice to keep them cooler rather than warm. They seem much happier with the heat lamp closer and a thick fur stole over them.
I am not leaving Tommy Girl alone with them for an instant.
Please pray for these little helpless ones. I am doing the best I can. It hurts so much to lose them.
On the other hand, I am proud of how hard my girls work to save the babies that come our way, and how pragmatic about death they can be. These smaller losses will help steel them for larger losses later in their lives, as well as teach them compassion and the value of even the tiniest life.
I do feel sorry for Tommy Girl. She is now terrified of me, and struggles whenever I try to pick her up. She does not understand why I turn her upside down and fasten these little babies to her to nurse. Mandy tries to make it up to her by holding her and letting her sleep in bed with her.
We did learn a great new trick for warming up an exposed baby quickly---wrap the baby in a baggy with just its head sticking out and float it in a cup of warm water. It works very quickly.
On a happy note, the baby mourning dove recovered rapidly. I would have thought for sure it would have died, but apparently it was badly stunned. It had a head injury, and it wobbled its head for three days, and then---poof--one day it was eating seeds and drinking well on its own, so we released it in the back yard for a trial and it flew away. :-)
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Two left...sigh. How long before they will be somewhat self sufficient?
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That makes me so happy that the bird is free and healthy now! Love the pics of Shelby. I wish you the best with the rabbits. I suppose even if they don't make it, at least they will be comfortably warm and full.
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OH Lord bless the little ones and give Kas wisdome to take care of them . AMEN
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Good luck with the last babies....I would just do whatever you think it working for each situation is somewhat different.
5/13/05 3:26 AM
are self sufficient by the time they are about
three weeks old, so you won't have to literally make
her nurse them for much longer.
I'm so proud of you Kas, and your girls!
Connie