Unbelievable popularity in our families have found decorative rabbits, care and maintenance behind which differs from care for more habitual cats and dogs. However, having initially chosen a healthy individual and having prepared everything for her beforehand, as well as armed with knowledge of the peculiarities of nutrition and other needs, you will get every chance to find a nice fluffy friend for the next 8-10 years.
Types of decorative rabbits
There are many varieties of rabbits specially bred for home keeping. They differ in size, length of hair and ears, color. The most popular breeds of ornamental rabbits are the following:
- Dwarf short-haired rabbit. If this is your first experience with rabbits, it is worth choosing a representative of this breed, because it has a short and easy-care coat and it is compact in size. Of all the variety of colors, the most attractive is snow-white with small spots near the eyes.
- Dutch decorative rabbit. In appearance, he is very much like his bigger brother. A characteristic feature of the representatives of this breed is the same coloring of the eyes, ears and back of the body. All the rest of the body they have white. Common colors are blue, gray, black and brown.
- Angora decorative rabbit. At once it is necessary to tell, that representatives of the given breed differ a long and thin wool, which care is rather uneasy. They look cute, like fluffy lumps. Sometimes they do not even see the eye - they hide under the fur. There are 2 species of Angora rabbits - with long wool, reminiscent of cotton wool, and with a shorter and smoother.
- Lop-eared decorative rabbit (sheep). Very cute creatures, with hanging ears, which give them a touching look. They are quicker than others to get used to a person and generally less shy. Probably, this is due to the fact that they do not have such a subtle hearing as in rocks with standing ears. They differ in weight - they sometimes reach up to 3 kg.
- Fire. Very beautiful breed with a dark coat color: black, brown, blue. The fur itself is soft and shiny. Nostrils and eyes are clearly marked with a lighter shade of wool. The breast and stomach also have a lighter color in comparison with the back.
How to keep a decorative rabbit?
General conditions of detention, in which the home decorative dwarf rabbit will feel comfortable:
- rabbits are easier to carry cold than stuffiness - they can withstand temperatures as low as -20 ° C, while direct sunlight and overheating are extremely undesirable because they can not sweat and heat exchange occurs through their ears;
- increased humidity and drafts of decorative rabbits, care and maintenance of which is carried out at home, suffer poorly;
- the content of the domestic rabbit assumes the obligatory presence of a spacious cell;
- do not forget that rabbits are very shy - they can burst their hearts from sharp sounds;
- on their hands it is necessary to hold them tightly, since a fall from a height threatens them with damage to the spine with a fatal outcome;
- Do not let the children fiddle with a rabbit, from excessive attention and frequent contact with people, a rabbit can wither and fall ill.
Cage for decorative rabbit
A cage is a house for a decorative rabbit, which must be at least four times its size. It should have a lot of space for all the necessary equipment - drinkers, bowls, toilet, shelter. The bottom of the cell should be covered with a plastic pallet, since the feet of the rabbits are not adapted for the lattice. The bottom of the tray must be covered with hay, sawdust, paper and shavings of deciduous trees. The Drinker must be fixed to the side grate of the cage so that the rabbit can not turn it over. The bowl for the grain should be heavy for the same reason.
In the cage, there must be a shelter where the rabbit can rest. It can be a wooden house or even just a cardboard box. As a toilet, you can use a separate tray, but do not expect that the rabbit will obediently walk only in it. So the general pallet you will need to wash regularly and change the litter to avoid the appearance of smell.
How to care for a decorative rabbit?
The main care for the decorative rabbit consists in the regular combing of its fur with a special brush. This is especially true for longhaired breeds. Periodically, the rabbit needs to cut the claws with special tweezers. And to grind their teeth in the cage, they need to put branches of fruit trees and pieces of chalk. If you suddenly see a picture of pet overheating (lethargy, fever), you need to moisten his ears with a damp cloth. In particularly hot periods, it is recommended to cover the cage with a rag soaked in cold water.
How to feed a decorative rabbit?
By nature these animals are herbivores. What do decorative rabbits eat at home:
- hay and fresh grass;
- corn;
- juicy food - carrots, pumpkin;
- fruit;
- special dry food from the pet store;
- chalk and vitamin supplements;
- branches of trees (apple, pear, birch, poplar).
How to give a decorative rabbit?
Water is extremely important in the diet of decorative rabbits. She must be present in the cage constantly, especially in the summer heat. When the rabbit lacks liquid, it becomes sluggish, its appetite decreases. The best way out is when the decorative rabbit will receive care and maintenance at home in full - installing an industrial drinker with a dispenser. It can be poured in water for a few days, it will always be delivered to the rabbit in the required volumes. He himself will regulate this process by clicking on the dispenser and drinking as much liquid as he wants at the moment.
Breeding decorative rabbits
In most cases, decorative rabbits, whose care and maintenance are carried out in order to provide them with all the necessary conditions for a long and healthy life, are just pets for the joy of children. The appearance of offspring becomes a problem, as soon as questions arise - where to put the kids. Another thing is if you purposefully want to do their breeding for sale. In this case, an elite decorative rabbit in the apartment should be present in the pair.
Fecundity of rabbits is known to all. Pets can bring their offspring 8 times a year. For mating females and males, it is necessary to attach the female, and not vice versa. Immediately after the first mating, it is not necessary to settle them - it is better to wait another couple of hours for repeated pairings. The next day the procedure must be repeated. The fact that the female is pregnant can be understood after a couple of weeks. Her appetite will increase, and during this period, you need to add to her diet more fresh and juicy products - carrots, herbs, salad.
Already on the 31st day, there should be okrol. In one litter there are from 4 to 8 kids. About approaching births, you can guess by the behavior of the rabbit - it will begin to build a "nest" of hay and own wool, pulling it out of the chest and abdomen. Childbirth passes quickly - for the first baby all the rest are born immediately. The rabbit herself licked them, bites the umbilical cord, eats the placenta. Ideally, if she herself nurtures her offspring, but if this causes problems, you need to feed them through a syringe with artificial milk for puppies - the closest in composition to rabbit.
How to determine the sex of a decorative rabbit?
It is most reliable to buy rabbits from proven breeders - they will immediately tell what the sex of the purchased animals is. Self-determination of belonging to a particular sex is possible when the home dwarf decorative rabbit reaches the age of 3-4 months. The males during this period already have a good testicle. Turn it on the back and look into the groin area, pulling back the tail. The rabbit's testicles are not very similar to the feline - they soon resemble tumors, which is why many inexperienced breeders panic.
Life expectancy of ornamental rabbits
The average life expectancy of ornamental rabbits is about 7-8 years. There are long-lived rabbits that survive to 10 and even up to 15 years. In many respects it does not depend on the breed, as it is commonly believed, but on the conditions of detention, the level of activity, the health of parents, the feeding of a newborn (natural or artificial), the presence or absence of injuries and diseases. All these factors have a direct effect on how many decorative rabbits that are provided with care and maintenance will live in your home.
Diseases of decorative rabbits
Unfortunately, the content of decorative rabbits does not exclude the risk of developing this or that disease. The most common ones are:
- viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits (VGBK);
- diarrhea;
- constipation;
- bloating of the intestine;
- myxomatosis ;
- diabetes;
- abscess;
- pododermatitis.
Inoculations for decorative rabbits
Care for a home decorative rabbit is impossible without the necessary vaccination :
- On the 45th day of life, a comprehensive vaccination against myxomatosis and hemorrhagic disease is carried out;
- at the age of 2-2,5 months, a vaccination against rabies is done;
- in 4.5 months, repeated vaccination with a comprehensive vaccine;
- every half a year, the vaccination against myximatosis and VGBC is repeated.