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Rearing a baby leveret (2 days old) UD Post 35 almost 3 weeks
- Thread starter parsnipbun
- Start date
parsnipbun
Wise Old Thumper
Thank you -
that gives me three sets of people to chat to! the more the better.
At present we are desperately re-arranging our work schedules to ensure someone is here to feed him every few hours! Not easy when we both travel across the country a lot - but we will manage.
Jenova
Wise Old Thumper
I just thought of this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1334368/Agoraphobic-hare-pet-saved-farmers-plough.html
I have no idea how you'd go about contacting the family though. :?
Just wishing you loads of luck and sending vibes. I also don't think a hand reared leveret could be fully wild unless acclimatised back slowly so you'd need a specialist centre for that.
One other place that might be able to offer advice is East Winch. They are absolutely fantastic and can probably give you some tips.
http://www.rspca-eastwinch-wildlifecentre.co.uk/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1334368/Agoraphobic-hare-pet-saved-farmers-plough.html
I have no idea how you'd go about contacting the family though. :?
Just wishing you loads of luck and sending vibes. I also don't think a hand reared leveret could be fully wild unless acclimatised back slowly so you'd need a specialist centre for that.
One other place that might be able to offer advice is East Winch. They are absolutely fantastic and can probably give you some tips.
http://www.rspca-eastwinch-wildlifecentre.co.uk/
RubyTed
Wise Old Thumper
I remember reading a blog about a hand reared leveret (found in a similar condition to yours, I think in Scotland) but can't for the life of me find it now. She survived and thrived, but ended up too tame to ever release.
If you need any help, even for a couple of hours then let me know. I remember the feeding from Pippin, so would only need a recap.
(I need to make you…and bring over….a housewarming cake)
If you need any help, even for a couple of hours then let me know. I remember the feeding from Pippin, so would only need a recap.
(I need to make you…and bring over….a housewarming cake)
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parsnipbun
Wise Old Thumper
Just a little update.
Sunshine Daydream is now a week old and weighed about 215gms this morning - so growing at a decent rate (started at 160gms 6 days ago).
We are comparing weight/feed amounts across several other websites of people who have raised hares as all seem to differ.
He (or she) is healthy and is now free range part of the time in our spare bedroom which is bunny safe no wires, no dodgy fibrous carpets, etc etc.
Rest of the time in his/her 4ft cage in the same room, cage stuffed full of dried second cut fine grassy hay from farmer across the road - feeding double strength Royal Canin every 4 hours - except at night when has pause from 12 to 7.
Seems remarkably stress free for a hare - let me feed him earlier as Steve away and we had no trouble - though Steve is the main carer. Hops around - though still very small and spends most time just sitting/laying as they would do in the wild at this age.
We have all of our fingers crossed that he will continue to grow and then get past the difficult stage as stomach develops and he starts nibbling hay and then we have to tackle weaning.
Is having 1ml Avipro a day as well to try and help keep got bacteria up in gut.
PS Thank you for kind offer Ruby Ted - at present we are managing to cover every day except today - when he had to wait from 9am until 5pm - but has made up for it now!!
PPS please lets not re-open the debate of release/keep at preset - he is so tiny every day he survives is a small miracle and although we are aware that how he is treated now will partly determine his future life we are just concentrating on keeping him growing and healthy
Sunshine Daydream is now a week old and weighed about 215gms this morning - so growing at a decent rate (started at 160gms 6 days ago).
We are comparing weight/feed amounts across several other websites of people who have raised hares as all seem to differ.
He (or she) is healthy and is now free range part of the time in our spare bedroom which is bunny safe no wires, no dodgy fibrous carpets, etc etc.
Rest of the time in his/her 4ft cage in the same room, cage stuffed full of dried second cut fine grassy hay from farmer across the road - feeding double strength Royal Canin every 4 hours - except at night when has pause from 12 to 7.
Seems remarkably stress free for a hare - let me feed him earlier as Steve away and we had no trouble - though Steve is the main carer. Hops around - though still very small and spends most time just sitting/laying as they would do in the wild at this age.
We have all of our fingers crossed that he will continue to grow and then get past the difficult stage as stomach develops and he starts nibbling hay and then we have to tackle weaning.
Is having 1ml Avipro a day as well to try and help keep got bacteria up in gut.
PS Thank you for kind offer Ruby Ted - at present we are managing to cover every day except today - when he had to wait from 9am until 5pm - but has made up for it now!!
PPS please lets not re-open the debate of release/keep at preset - he is so tiny every day he survives is a small miracle and although we are aware that how he is treated now will partly determine his future life we are just concentrating on keeping him growing and healthy
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Vegan_Bunny
Warren Veteran
Sending vibes that this little one survives. 
Hares have to be one of my most favourite animals ever! They are absolutely stunning and are really nothing like bunnies!
Keep us updated. x
Hares have to be one of my most favourite animals ever! They are absolutely stunning and are really nothing like bunnies! Keep us updated. x
parsnipbun
Wise Old Thumper
will try and get a photo (no flash of course) once partner is back home from conference and can feed whilst I photo.
s/he is adorable. Looks nothing like a hare - oddly enough Pippin our wildie bun looked like a hare when he was going through his teenage period - all legs and ears like a young deer - the hare looks like a small fluffy round thing - all short ears and eyes. But thats the way they look apparently - helps them hide in the small above ground nests.
So hope he can be safely reared and weaned. (worry, worry, worry . . . )
s/he is adorable. Looks nothing like a hare - oddly enough Pippin our wildie bun looked like a hare when he was going through his teenage period - all legs and ears like a young deer - the hare looks like a small fluffy round thing - all short ears and eyes. But thats the way they look apparently - helps them hide in the small above ground nests.
So hope he can be safely reared and weaned. (worry, worry, worry . . . )
Captain Helen
Wise Old Thumper
Great news So glad little Sunshine is doing well xx
So glad little Sunshine is doing well xx
hurricanhoney
Wise Old Thumper
How's the little one doing?
parsnipbun
Wise Old Thumper
Sunshine Daydream now weighs over 400 grams and is probably almost 3 weeks old. We had a bit of a wobble last week when he lost some weight after he started to loose a bit of interest in his milk - we think he was thinking of weaning but not getting enough body building stuff from the hay and dried forage stuff. We changed syringe size so that he did not have so many opportunities for 'pausing' and getting 'bored' during the feed and his intake went back up - as has his weight. We did try him outside today as several sites say to let them graze during the day in a run, but he is not really a daytime creature and did not graze - just as well as I am very nervous about the grass being new. He was much happier when he was back in the spare bedroom - where he free ranges. he spends the day asleep in a pile of hay and the nights he runs round trying out things with his teeth - so Steve tells me - Steve is his nursemaid and also sleeps in the room with him so we can monitor his activity levels and type and listen for hay eating to see if he is weaning at all.
Sounds like you're doing a brilliant job! So glad he's doing well.
Can't wait for pics x
Captain Helen
Wise Old Thumper
Great news Glad he's doing well xx
Glad he's doing well xx
Vegan_Bunny
Warren Veteran
Can we have some piccies of him?
parsnipbun
Wise Old Thumper
Can we have some piccies of him?
He is very shy and will sometimes stop his feed if there is a noise or another person enters the room whilst he is feeding - but will try and get some soon.
