What Do Baby Foxes Eat?

It’s important to understand that baby foxes have specific nutritional needs that are crucial to their growth and development.

In the early weeks of their life, baby foxes rely on their parents for regurgitated meat until they can stomach solid food.  In captivity, kits can be fed puppy milk replacement formula. Once they reach the weaning stage, their diet should consist of only 10% solid foods before gradually increasing.

Establishing a feeding schedule and monitoring their weight gain and development are important aspects of caring for baby foxes. Keep reading to learn more about what baby foxes eat at different stages of their life and how you can ensure they receive proper nutrition.

Age By Age Guide to Feeding Baby Foxes

If you’re taking care of a baby fox, it’s important to know what to feed them at each stage of their development.

Newborn

Newborn fox kits rely solely on their mother’s milk for at least ten days, ensuring they receive all the essential nutrients for a healthy start to life. During this time, monitoring the mother’s milk production and the kit’s weight gain is crucial to ensure they are getting enough to eat. Here are some tips to keep in mind during the newborn stage:

• Allow the newborn kit to suckle on the mother’s milk for the first ten days of life to ensure they receive colostrum, which is rich in antibodies and essential for healthy development.
• Keep the mother fox well-fed and hydrated to ensure she produces enough milk for her litter.
• If the mother cannot produce enough milk or is not present, seek veterinary care immediately to ensure the kit receives the necessary nutrition to survive.

Remember, the health and well-being of a baby fox kit are dependent on its diet during the first few weeks of life. You can help ensure a healthy start to their life by providing proper nutrition and monitoring their development.

Two to Four Weeks

During this time, they should primarily be fed regurgitated meat from their mother or a milk replacement formula in captivity.

It’s important to remember that kits should be fed every three hours or two hours if they’re still very young. You should also offer milk replacers in a bottle to ensure they maintain a healthy weight and get all the necessary nutrition. Nestle the kit against your hand and give its back a pat after you’ve fed it, and this will help them to release any air it may have accidentally swallowed. Weighing the kit every day will help you track their growth and ensure they are developing properly.

Four to Six Weeks

The baby foxes will start to wean off their mother’s milk during this period. With their teeth now developed, they’re ready to start consuming solid food. At this stage, your kit should consume only 10% solid foods, with the rest consisting of milk replacers. Maintaining a scheduled feeding routine and gradually introducing more solid foods is crucial to ensure optimal growth and development for the fox kits. Once your kit reaches four weeks old, make sure to give them a shallow bowl of fresh water, and this will ensure they stay hydrated and healthy.

At this stage, the kits should be fed three to four times daily, depending on their appetite. Keep offering milk replacers in a bottle. To introduce more solid foods, follow these steps:

1. Start by offering small pieces of raw chicken, rabbit, or rodent.
2. Gradually increase the amount of solid foods in their diet, but be sure to keep it to only 10% of their total diet.
3. Keep weighing the kit every day to ensure proper weight gain and development.

By following these steps, you can ensure the kits receive the proper nutrition and care they need during this important stage of their development. Remember, the longer they stay with their mother, the better their health and physical development will be.

Six Weeks to Five Months

When your fox kit is between six weeks and five months old, it’s time to continue introducing more solid foods and gradually wean them off milk replacers. Raw chicken, rabbit, and rodents are great options for solid foods, as they mimic the fox’s natural diet. You can also offer live insects, earthworms, and taurine supplements to support its development. As a treat, you can give fruit, such as berries. However, keep in mind that grapes and raisins should be avoided to prevent potential kidney damage.

Feeding the kit three to four times a day is recommended. Keeping a scheduled feeding time and weighing your kit daily is important to ensure proper weight gain and development.

You’re helping your kit grow into a strong and healthy adult fox by providing a healthy diet. As your kit grows older, you can switch to a completely dry or all-canned diet, depending on their appetite. Remember to always keep a clean, shallow bowl of fresh water available at all times to keep your kit hydrated.

Baby Foxes Social Behavior

Observing the social behavior of young foxes can provide insight into their development and overall well-being. Baby foxes begin to show social behaviors as early as three weeks old when they start playing with their siblings. Play is essential for their physical and mental development as it helps them learn hunting skills, social cues, and communication. It’s remarkable that baby foxes can communicate with each other using various vocalizations and body language.

As they grow older, baby foxes become more independent and start exploring their surroundings. They also start to establish their social hierarchy within the litter, which can be seen through dominance displays and body language.

If you caretaker a baby fox, it’s essential to provide a safe and stimulating environment for baby foxes to develop their social skills and ensure a healthy transition into adulthood.

Conclusion

As you now know, baby foxes’ nutritional needs are crucial to their growth and development. Establishing a feeding schedule, monitoring their weight gain, and gradually introducing solid foods are important. During the weaning phase, puppy milk replacement formula can be used as a substitute for regurgitated meat.

Remember to pay close attention to their behavior and social needs as well. Baby foxes are social animals and require interaction and playtime with their siblings.

You can ensure the kits grow into healthy and happy foxes by providing a balanced diet and a stimulating environment. With these tips in mind, you can confidently care for and raise baby foxes with success.