It's probably self-explanatory why many people raise rabbits. They do so primarily for their meat, which is a very healthy product. Rabbit meat is particularly attractive due to its eco-friendliness, as these animals, which are under seven months old, are free of harmful substances.
Doctors recommend eating rabbit meat. for gastrointestinal diseases, heart diseases, allergic reactionsAnother reason to eat rabbit is its cholesterol level, which is lower than that of veal and other meats. Rabbit is highly digestible, making it a recommended dietary choice for the elderly, children, and nursing mothers.
Today, meat prices on the market aren't as affordable as they were a couple of decades ago. Therefore, you can save a lot by taking up rabbit farming—all you need to do is buy a couple of rabbits. This way, you'll not only have a steady supply of nutritious meat but also a source of additional income. But before you start breeding, you should learn how to properly care for rabbits. It's actually not that difficult. You just need to familiarize yourself with the basic rules of care and follow them precisely.
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Movement is life
The first rule you must learn is rabbits need movementIf you can meet this requirement, your pets will be healthy, as exercise improves digestion. Furthermore, if you buy spacious cages for your rabbits, they won't have to inhale unpleasant manure fumes. Therefore, first and foremost, you need to get spacious enclosures to ensure each rabbit has enough personal space.
If you'd like, you can make your own floors for the enclosures. But even if you don't, keep in mind that they should be made of wood. Although it's fine to have half the floor made of mesh, using solid mesh floors is not recommended. According to scientists, the holes in the floor won't be able to contain any feces that may end up in the cages of other rabbits, who will then eat them.
Your pets should be provided with this "treat," as it's rich in various nutrients. Therefore, if you decide to install solid floors, you'll leave your rabbits without feces, which could seriously harm their health. Therefore, you shouldn't do this; your pets' health should be your top priority.
The subtleties of digestion
Keep in mind that rabbits' bodies differ from humans', primarily due to the lack of intestinal peristalsis. This physiological characteristic requires them to constantly chew their food so that each incoming portion pushes the food already in their intestines. Domestic rabbits oats should be given regularly — for this, you'll need to install special feeders in the cages. Although some people are more inclined to feed their rabbits a mixed diet.
However, it's not recommended to make it the main ingredient in their diet. If you do decide to feed your pets mixed feed, do so sparingly. You can feed them dry or soaked in cold water. This can be either rabbit or veal feed. However, avoid pork feed. Otherwise, your pets will have problems with reproduction, and their meat will turn red.
You should also ensure that your animals' diet includes salt. This can be achieved by adding it to their liquid food. Your animals should always have access to water, as they need it just as much as food. Therefore, you should always ensure there is fresh water in the enclosure. This is especially important if you decide to make salt the main ingredient in their diet. succulent feedIn this case, the animals will actively absorb water. In winter, it's permissible to feed these animals snow, as the water at this time of year becomes icy.
Providing sufficient iodine is crucial for raising does. A deficiency in this element in the diet can seriously affect the litter. Therefore, you should add iodinol to the water intended for young rabbits, which will help prevent intestinal diseases. However, don't assume that iodine tincture and iodinol are interchangeable; iodine tincture is only suitable for external use.
One of the characteristic habits of rabbits is sharpening of cutters, so you must create favorable conditions for them to perform this procedure. This is very simple: you will need to prepare special edible materials—tree branches and brooms. It is recommended to choose oak or birch brooms rather than simple ones.
How to feed domestic rabbits properly?
Nutrition is crucial for rabbits, as their health depends on it. These animals are highly dependent on food. Therefore, you should feed them foods that provide them with nutrients. These include feed, fresh hay, greens, as well as fruits, vegetables, and cereal grains (wheat, etc.). Domestic rabbits are not picky eaters and will eat whatever you give them.
It is important to remember that rabbits are constantly gastric juice is producedTherefore, you must ensure they are constantly eating, which means keeping water and fresh hay in the cage. In the spring, to ensure proper maintenance, these animals need fresh grass. It should be collected in areas away from car exhaust fumes. The best grasses for feeding rabbits are:
- alfalfa;
- dandelion;
- clover.
Most pet owners feed their rabbits food. This is a very important product, but it must be chosen carefully. It must be specially formulated for rabbits. Also, look for the label stating "grass pellets." By feeding this food to your pets, you can be sure it will cause less harm than grain-based food.
But even the feed you can't give it to rabbits for too longThese animals are more accustomed to eating succulent grass. However, given that the food contains increased amounts of trace elements and vitamins, it can be harmful to them. Therefore, to maximize the benefits of the food, you should combine it correctly with other foods.
Rabbit diseases
You should be very attentive to your pets, as they often get sick. To maintain their immune system at a high level, they will need to be vaccinated against myxomatosis. This is a dangerous viral disease that can affect both domestic and wild rabbits. When choosing a vaccine, pay special attention to the manufacturer. According to veterinarians, the Polish vaccine shows the best results, while the Russian one is the worst. The vaccination can only cause the female rabbit to become ill. mild form of myxomatosisTherefore, they generally produce healthy offspring. Those individuals who have suffered a severe form of the disease are unfit for reproduction.
Ear mites pose a serious threat to rabbits' health. This parasite can be found not only in domestic animals but also in wild ones. A couple of decades ago, this insect was controlled using turpentine mixed with vegetable oil. This mixture was later used for topical treatment. Today, more effective products are available, such as Entomosan, Neostomosan, and others. Using them is very simple: simply open the ampoule and dissolve the contents in a liter-sized plastic bottle. After treating your rabbits' ears, the solution can be stored in a cool place, where it will retain its effectiveness for up to a month.
Rabbit breeding
To avoid disappointment for beginners when breeding rabbits at home, they should take into account the following recommendations by content and breeding:
- Individuals are usually considered ready to breed at 3 months of age. This should be taken into account by owners who don't want to breed young. Therefore, it's necessary to separate them into separate cages immediately or even earlier.
- During the year, a female can produce more than 20 fruits in 6 litters.
- Animal skins are very popular among buyers.
Selecting a breed
You also need to decide on the breed of rabbits for breeding at the initial stage. This is a very important decision, as it determines the nature of your business. If you want to get rabbits producing offspring as early as possible, you should choose Californian males and New Zealand white does. The resulting litters become adults in just 4 monthsBut to ensure you get the offspring you're looking for from mating, you should use only purebred animals. A female remains suitable for breeding until she's 7 years old. She produces the best quality offspring at 3-4 years of age.
Mating procedure
Don't rush into mating rabbits. First, examine them carefully. They shouldn't show any signs of illness, rashes, or other symptoms that could indicate health problems. If you pay close attention to your rabbits, you won't find anything like that. Any rabbits that appear sick should not be used for mating. Don't rely on a female that ate her litter last time. Pay particular attention to the animal's weight—thin or overweight animals should be immediately eliminated from the list of potential breeding candidates.
Selecting animals for mating
These animals, if properly kept and fed, are ready to mate when they reach 3-4 months of age. However, to obtain the highest quality offspring, you should select rabbits as follows:
- males should be 4-5 months old;
- females - 8 months.
Please note that the female should not weigh less than 2.5 kg.
Rabbits are very easy-to-make animals, as they can mate with each other regardless of the season. This is because females come into heat once every ten days during the cold season and last for approximately four days.
The surrounding environment
Before mating, the female must be moved into the male's cage. This is to ensure that he doesn't feel uncomfortable in another's territory. Make sure there are no foreign objects in the cage. The pair must have enough space to mate. Therefore, clear the area of water bowls, feeders, and be sure to remove all manureGiving animals a full day to mate is not recommended; this is done experimentally, and you'll need to observe the animals.
It usually takes the male five minutes to mount the female several times. So you won't have to waste too much time waiting for the process to be complete. Not everyone knows how to tell when "the job is done." In reality, it's not that difficult. Afterward, you'll hear a soft purr from the female, and she'll fall over onto her side. Fertilization usually takes no more than a day.
Conclusion
Rabbits aren't just cute, fluffy creatures, they're also a source of valuable and nutritious meat. It's no surprise that in recent years, many people have become interested in raising these animals. You can also get involved, and you don't even need to invest in it. it will be necessary to study specialized literatureYou just need to pay enough attention to these animals, and then you can be sure that everything will work out for you.
You should not only purchase spacious cages for your rabbits but also formulate a proper diet. Feeding is crucial for these animals, ensuring they receive the necessary nutrients and vitamins. Furthermore, you must constantly monitor their health, as they are highly susceptible to many diseases. Therefore, those just starting out in rabbit breeding should pay special attention to their health when caring for them.
