Animals

6 things you should know about raising rabbits at home

Rabbits are pets that can be raised at home. However, to carry out this process you will need time, money and a lot of patience. It’s not just about putting two rabbits in a cage so they can mate. It is important that you keep in mind other factors such as gestation, the nest and weaning.

Rabbits are animals that, depending on their upbringing, could perfectly serve as domestic pets, since they are small, friendly animals with fairly simple care.

Having a single rabbit at home represents a great responsibility, such as being aware of its feeding, vaccination, changes in the animal’s mood without neglecting the fact that you must provide it with a habitat in which it is comfortable. and happy. Now, for those who wish to carry out the breeding of this species, the work will definitely be intensified by having to carry out a series of preparations such as the selection of the animal’s partner.

There are several aspects to analyze and prepare so that the litter of rabbits is born healthy, which implies an economic investment to acquire the best cage for rabbits, high quality feed with extra nutrients and of course, the payment of the veterinarian’s fees for carry out the respective review.

How can I raise rabbits in the comfort of my home?

Rabbit breeding has several purposes. Regardless of the case, you will need to document yourself on the subject of raising this type of animal, so that you avoid any inconvenience that puts the health of both the mother and the offspring at risk. Next, we will talk about the most important issues related to this activity.

1. Select the partner of your rabbit

It is necessary that you have a pair of male-female rabbits, which, despite being of the same species, are not siblings or part of the same family nucleus, since any relationship in their blood group could generate future complications during the pregnancy process.

Also, it is of great importance that you pay attention to the age of the female and her size, because if she is small and less than five months old or large and has not yet reached nine months, it means that she has not reached adulthood and therefore, it is not prepared to fulfill the reproduction process.

So consult with the veterinarian about this couple of aspects so that in the crossing and subsequent birth you have a higher percentage of success.

2. Rabbit mating

With regard to mating, it is important that you introduce the female into the cage of the male rabbit, since in said structure there is a higher concentration of pheromones that will help the act to be more effective. Afterwards, you will have to pay attention to whether the coupling has been carried out, being a process that can take between a couple of seconds or several minutes. In this sense, everything will depend on how receptive the female is.

3. Gestation period

Once the act of mating between the pair of rabbits has been carried out, you must wait a stipulated period between 10 and up to 14 days to verify that the female is really pregnant. To do this, you will need to carefully feel her abdomen.

The gestation period can last from 29 days to a maximum of 31, during which the female should be as calm as possible, so you will have to select a spacious rabbit cage model and place it in a little place in the home. transited so that the animal does not get stressed or experience anxiety due to the noise. 

In this sense, experts recommend a structure with minimum dimensions of 75 x 60 centimeters, which is enough space for both her and her children at birth. Remember that the cage must be equipped with a nest, drinker and a container for food.

Another aspect that you cannot neglect is the feeding of the female, because during this period she usually loses her appetite, so you must supply her with hay and pelleted feed with a high level of quality. Keep in mind that she needs at least 15% protein during pregnancy, and it is necessary to increase it to 18% when she begins to breastfeed her young.

4. The nest

Most rabbit cages incorporate a removable nest, which makes it more practical to condition it by being able to place a generous amount of hay or straw at the bottom. These structures generally have a height of 25 centimeters and a base with measurements of 38 x 24 centimeters, being a suitable area for the delivery of the female.

It is recommended that you seal the nest during gestation and open it about three days before delivery, which will allow the female to enter to have the bunnies.

For her part, the female will make her own preparations to receive the rabbits, tearing their fur to protect them from the cold. This in view of the fact that at birth the young are totally naked.

5. Childbirth

The labor of the female takes place in the nest and can last a maximum period of 40 minutes, during which she can have between 12 and up to 14 rabbits. During this stage you cannot interfere, so you will only have to wait for the last rabbit to be born and then for the mother to leave the nest. 

The really important thing is that you do not force this process, since the female will come out when she considers it necessary. It is at this moment that your work begins, being necessary to remove the rabbits that have been born dead from the nest and the cage, as well as you will have to replace all the hay, straw or moistened fur.

6. Weaning

The weaning time is established between 30 and 35 days after the delivery has elapsed, being necessary that you consult the veterinarian so that they formulate a special weaning diet for the pups. In this way, the bunnies will have all the necessary nutrients to grow healthy and strong.

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