There are many ways to keep rabbits. One of the modern methods is cell content. It is simple and common among rabbit breeders.
Pros and Cons of Cellular Content
Most rabbit breeders believe that with proper care, the animal grows in the cage more resistant to infectious diseases. But in this method, there are both pros and cons.
Cell Content Advantage:
- you can monitor the health of the animal and prevent disease;
- the ability to control reproduction;
- control of animal feeding;
- This is an economical option, as the cage can be made independently.
Disadvantages of keeping a rabbit in a cage:
- cleaning takes a long time;
- the immunity of animals is reduced.
Cages rabbits
The content of rabbits in the cells is considered a modern method. There are currently several cell construction options. With the help of some of them, it is possible to reduce the time for cleaning the house and distributing feed to animals. Others allow you to keep the rabbit year-round, others can be called combined, as they accommodate both of the previous options.
Optimal cell parameters
To place rabbits in one cell, it is necessary to know its optimal parameters, since the size of the cell depends on the age and breed of the animal.
Important! The drinking bowl, like the feeding trough, is always placed outside the dwelling of animals.
Cells are for adults and young individuals:
- A cage for adult rabbits is built in size 140x60x50. Between the two departments is placed a feeder and a drinking bowl for animals.
- The parameters of the cage for rabbits should be 200x100x35, because they are lined with groups.
Conditions of detention
The main condition for keeping rabbits in cage housing is the proper placement of their home. The cage must be installed in an elevated area where there will be trees or buildings nearby. This is necessary so that the animals are not in a draft and do not get sick, especially if you are going to keep rabbits in the winter. The housing of animals must be kept in the shade, avoiding direct sunlight. The animal may overheat.
Basic requirements for keeping rabbits:
- temperature - +10 ... + 20 ° C;
- humidity - 60–70%;
- air speed - 0.3 m / s.
Litter must be laid in the room where the rabbits live, for several reasons:
- cell insulation in the winter;
- simplification of cell cleaning.
You can make litter from straw, hay, sawdust and even paper. The highest thermal conductivity of sawdust. Litter should be changed no more than once a month.Is it possible to keep rabbits of different breeds in one cage?
Rabbits of different breeds and sexes do not contain in one cage. Each beast must have its own separate housing. Females from one offspring to gentle maturation, as well as males from one litter to three months coexist in one cell. When adult animals are kept in large numbers in one dwelling, fights for territory can begin, which will lead to serious injuries of animals.
How to care for rabbits
Healthy offspring of rabbits need proper care. Good nutrition, timely cleaning of the cage and litter change are the most important rabbit care processes.
Hygiene
Animal hygiene primarily involves cleaning the territory in which they live. Cell harvesting should be done once or twice a week. And also it is necessary to carry out disinfection of animal housing once or twice a year. To do this, you will need the following tools:
- shovel;
- scraper;
- sponge;
- bucket;
- water;
- spray
- disinfectant.
Important! Routine disinfection is carried out most often at the time of the settlement of young animals, as well as to protect animals from various diseases.
Before disinfection is necessary:
- Remove rabbits from their cages and reassign to temporary housing.
- Then remove the feeders and drinking bowls.
- To clean the room from feces, completely remove the entire litter.
- Inspect the cell to make sure there are no defects in it.
- Take the scraper and clean the remaining dirt. Then wipe the treated area with a washcloth and water.
- Pour disinfectant into the sprayer and clean up the entire area. Then rinse with running water and wipe with a washcloth.
- Dry all items in the sun.
- Clean and wash drinking bowls and feeders.
- If the cells are in a living room, it is worth washing the walls, floor and ceiling.
There are several methods of disinfection:- using a solution;
- aerosol spraying;
- burning by fire.
Vaccination
Vaccination is necessary to protect the body of rabbits from viral infections:
- The first vaccine is given to rabbits when weaned from the female - in one and a half to two months. Injection is needed to accelerate the process of antibody production in the animal. The vaccine is recommended for rabbits weighing at least 500 grams.
- The second vaccine is given at the age of six months from HBVC (rabbit viral hemorrhagic disease). Repeat vaccine administration twice a year.
- A third vaccination against myxomatosis is done every year before the start of the summer season.
Important! The vaccine is given only to healthy individuals.
During vaccination, two-week quarantine must be observed, during which time the immunity is restored.
What to feed rabbits
Animal nutrition affects their immunity and productivity. In order to raise a healthy rabbit, it is important to know in advance what the feed rate should be and how to feed the animal in summer and winter.
Summer
Feeding in the summer is different from the winter diet. The food of the animal include:
- legumes;
- beet tops;
- forage cabbage and its leaves;
- sugar and fodder beets;
- potatoes;
- hay;
- salt lizun;
- a piece of chalk;
- grains of cereals and legumes;
- turnip.
Did you know? The remains of the first rabbit farms, which are more than 4 thousand years old, were found in Portugal and Spain.
In winter
In the cold season, animals need more nutritious food. Additionally, the animals are given:
- carrot;
- apples
- silage;
- potato peelings.
Breeding young
Rabbits are very prolific animals. In one year of life, a mature female can produce more than twenty rabbits. Puberty occurs in animals at 4 months. But the first mating is carried out in 5-6 months in small and medium-sized individuals. In large breeds, mating occurs in 6–7 months. Animals can be bred all year long. But the most optimal months for breeding are considered to be the period from December to May. A mating is performed during the period when the female develops hunting. You can check this on the genitals of a rabbit.
Hunting occurs every 6-10 days and depends on the length of daylight hours. The male is transferred to a separate cage, giving him time to get comfortable. After the female is hooked up to him and left together. At the same time, it is ensured that mating occurs no more than 2 times per day. Pregnancy in rabbits lasts from 28 days to 35 days. Before lambing, the female begins to build a nest, tearing wool from her abdomen and collecting straw in the corner. She will bring rabbits to this nest, if not to make a nest box for her. The rabbit gives birth, as a rule, in the morning.
A pregnant female must be provided with nutritious food and fresh water. Add carrots, celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, alfalfa hay to her diet. Before giving birth, protect her from unnecessary irritants in the form of noise, light, excessive heat or cold. Rabbits need to warm themselves immediately after birth. If you do not protect them from hypothermia, they may die. Mother feeds her cubs twice a day. On the 12th day after birth, the rabbits leave the nest.
Did you know? Rabbits can make sounds like purring kittens.
In no case do you need to pick up the rabbit, as you can leave your smell on the baby. The rabbit can be frightened, sensing it, and crush the newborn. For inspection of rabbits, use disposable gloves. Keeping rabbits allows you to get healthy and tasty meat, as well as beautiful fur. In order for the rabbit breeder to eventually receive the required products, it is necessary to take care of the animals correctly.
