baby rabbit care in the first month, the SG owner's guide

updated 13 May 2026 by xavier fok

baby rabbits (kits) ideally stay with their mother for 8 weeks. occasionally SG owners end up with orphaned kits — abandoned by the mother, found on rescue intake, or purchased prematurely from pet shops. this guide covers what realistic care looks like.

note: it’s not always possible to save very young kits. acceptance of that reality is part of the responsibility.

the developmental timeline

week 0-1 (newborn)

pink, hairless, eyes closed
around 30-60 grams birth weight
mother visits to feed (twice daily typically)
otherwise huddled in the nest

week 1-2

fur growth begins
gaining weight rapidly
still feeding from mother

week 2-3

eyes open around day 10-12
ears begin to lift
starting to wobble and walk

week 3-4

moving around the nest
starting to nibble at hay and pellets
still nursing from mother

week 4-6

exploring beyond the nest
eating solid food in increasing amounts
still nursing intermittently

week 6-8

weaning naturally completes
fully eating solid food
approaching adult-like behaviour

week 8+

ready to leave mother
can be transitioned to new home (responsible breeders/rescues at 8 weeks)

SG-specific care concerns

if you’re caring for kits orphaned at any point:

week 0-2 orphans (no mother available)

this is the most fragile period. without specialist care, mortality is significant.

immediate steps:

contact a SG rabbit rescue urgently (Bunny Wonderland, Stray Wabbit, HRSS, SPCA)
if rescue can’t take them, call an exotic vet for advice
arrange goat milk replacer formula (NOT cow’s milk — toxic to baby rabbits)
maintain warmth: 28-30°C ambient, heat pad on low under part of the nest
feed every 2-3 hours, day and night

realistic outcomes:

with experienced rescue handling: about 30-50% survival
with unprepared owners: significantly lower
expect to lose some

week 2-4 orphans

still need milk replacer
introduce hay and pellets gradually
4-6 feedings per day
monitor weight gain (should gain steadily)

week 4+ orphans

transitioning to solid food
2-3 milk feedings per day initially, reducing
monitor that solid food is being eaten
ensure adequate water once eating solid food

milk replacer specifics

if you must feed a kit:

what to use:

KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer) plus heavy cream mixture
specific recipes available from rescues — contact them for current best practice
never cow’s milk
never goat’s milk fresh from the goat (lacks rabbit-specific composition)

how to feed:

1ml syringe, no needle
approach calmly
feed in small amounts to avoid aspiration
after feeding, gentle wipe of the kit’s anal area with a damp cloth to stimulate elimination (mother does this naturally)

how often:

newborn (week 0-1): every 2-3 hours
week 2-3: every 3-4 hours
week 4+: 3-4 times daily reducing to 2-3
weaning complete: stop milk gradually

the warmth question

baby rabbits are very temperature sensitive:

optimal temperature:

newborns: 28-32°C
2-4 weeks: 26-30°C
4-8 weeks: 24-28°C

if your home is normally air conditioned at 22-24°C, baby rabbits need supplemental warmth (small heat pad on low, partially covering one end of the nest area so they can choose).

watch for:

huddled together (cold)
spread out (potentially overheated)
vocalisation (often distress)

weight tracking

healthy kits gain steadily:

newborn: 30-60 grams
week 1: 70-100 grams
week 2: 120-180 grams
week 4: 250-350 grams
week 8: 500-700 grams

(varies by breed; smaller breeds are at lower end, larger at higher end)

weigh daily for first 2 weeks, then every few days. weight loss for more than 2 days = urgent vet visit.

between weeks 4-8, kits learn:

normal rabbit social behaviour
how to interact with humans
food selection and eating patterns
elimination habits

raised together, kits learn from each other. raised alone, they may be less socially developed. if possible, ensure orphan kits have at least one rabbit companion (often a calm adult can serve as surrogate caregiver).

what to feed when

up to weaning (about 6-8 weeks):

milk replacer as primary nutrition
hay introduced from week 3-4
water always available from week 4
specialised alfalfa-based pellets from week 4-6 (high calcium appropriate for growing kits)

after weaning:

transitioning to adult diet
introduce variety of greens slowly
maintain alfalfa pellets until 6 months (then transition to timothy)
gradual diet expansion over months

our feeding guide covers adult transition.

red flags

contact vet/rescue urgently if:

not eating in 12+ hours
diarrhea or soft droppings
vomiting (rabbits can’t vomit, but they can’t bring up gas either)
lethargy or unresponsiveness
weight loss in 24+ hours
visible respiratory distress

the rescue option

most SG rabbit rescues will take orphaned kits if you can’t manage. don’t wait until the kit is critical — contact early. SG rescues:

experienced rescue mothers (or skilled human caretakers) have significantly higher kit survival rates than first-time owners.

what owners often get wrong

three patterns:

buying kits under 8 weeks from pet shops. these are often too young. wait until 8+ weeks
trying to bottle-feed without experience. aspiration pneumonia from incorrect technique is common and fatal. work with rescue if possible
assuming “they look fine, no need to weigh.” subtle weight loss precedes serious decline. daily monitoring catches issues early

feeding rabbits in Singapore’s climate — adult diet transition
adopt vs buy — SG rescues vs breeders honestly compared — for source decisions
first week with a new rabbit — once weaned and home
our rescue directory — for emergency support

community-sourced information here is not veterinary advice. for kits in emergency, contact a SG rabbit rescue or exotic vet immediately.