Newborn rabbits. Caring for rabbits in the first days of life, possible problems when raising young animals

Beginning rabbit breeders in the process of work are faced with many questions and ambiguities. Wanting to get the maximum offspring from the female, you need to know how to properly and when to plant the rabbits from the rabbit, so as not to harm the growing pets. The rabbits are planted in different ways. It all depends on the technique of raising rabbits.

The most commonly used two methods of rearing rabbits:

28 days weaning of the litter from the mother.
Seating at 35-40 days.
Weaning at 40-45 days.
56 or 60-day weaning of young animals from the mother.

Deposition on the 28th day

Monthly rabbits are best left with the rabbit. Their digestive tract has just begun to adapt to the forage base of the farm. The rabbits are taken away on the 28th day only in the case when the male covered the rabbit the next day after the birth. The fence on such a day must be carried out so that the rabbit has 2-3 days of rest for the next offspring. This option is less profitable when. At this age, normally developed young animals should have a weight of at least: skin and downy breeds - 350-550 g, meat-skin breeds - 450-650 g, meat breeds - 500-700 g. Moreover, for a French sheep, 650 g is considered the norm and even more.

And although the newborn rabbits are naked and blind, but already on the 17-20th day, the rabbits are already trying vegetable food. Lactation lasts for females for about 12 weeks. That is why it is necessary to take care of soft food in female feeders. This is due to the fact that when the rabbits begin to leave the nest, they, imitating the mother, will eat from the feeder. Until this time, they feed exclusively on milk. And at thirty days, the stomach enzymes had not yet begun to function normally. That is why it is not recommended to wean rabbits at this age. There are also high metabolic costs in females.

At the 24-day day of life, the body of rabbits is already only 50% dependent on the milk of the rabbit. On day 35, the baby rabbit depends on only 5-8% of the milk of the rabbit.

Weaning at 35-40 days

If we plant on the 35-40th day, then there are not so many advantages for such rabbits over a 28-day-old weaned rabbit.

First, it is necessary to ensure that the 35-day-old rabbits do not overeat on the following days. Otherwise there will be upset in their stomachs and diarrhea will appear. Therefore, the next portion of food is given after eating completely the previous one.

Secondly, the female is covered after 10-20 days. The later, the more she will rest from the weaned rabbits.

Weaning at 40-45 days

Regardless of the timing of weaning, in the first 10 days of weaned young animals, the acidity in the stomach decreases very much. This is due to a decrease in the strength of the juice and the development of catarrhal phenomena in the alimentary tract of young animals, which are just getting used to roughage.

That is why the most optimal period is weaning at 40-45 days. Rabbits make better use of vegetable and other feeds. First, they give food such as was fed to their mothers in recent times before deposit. Transfer to a new food gradually. This is especially true for green fodder.

Particularly scrupulously necessary is the care of rabbits in the first 1.5-2.5 months after separation from the mother.

Broiler farming

When can rabbits be separated from a rabbit for meat?

Broiler jigging of rabbits is done on day 56-60. In such cases, they are immediately slaughtered at weaning. You can also grow another 15-20 days before slaughter on protein-rich feed.

Such rearing of rabbits at home is most suitable for meat breeds of rabbits. For example, for the Californian breed or the French ram. Rabbit breeders have noticed that such carcasses contain more protein and fat compared to 4-month-old rabbits that were raised by conventional methods. This is due to the fact that when weaning rabbits from a rabbit at this age, this increases the protein content in the body of newborn rabbits.

Jigging methods

Sedimentation is done in the following ways:

immediately do jigging of the entire offspring;
separated rabbits are periodically allowed to approach the rabbit for several days;
first, strong rabbits are separated from the rabbit, and when 2-3 days have passed, the weak ones are also taken away, and the more frail rabbits are kept with their mother for longer.

The third option is beneficial when abundant milk production in females. The cubs left from the offspring have more time to suckle the mother and due to this they are compared with the first ones in terms of development. Strong rabbits, which were taken away first, are left for the tribe in the future, and the last ones are slaughtered for meat.

The evenness of development of rabbits, from one litter, by weight is an excellent sign of the uniformity of all mammary glands in a female. Therefore, if the offspring is different in growth, then the weaker ones are planted later and, if necessary, are allowed periodically to the mother.

What do they do when they leave?

When settling the rabbits, from the rabbit, the babies are weighed. Then they are divided into groups by weight and gender. With this sorting of rabbits, it will be possible to grow them all.

for jigging there are 3-5 goals. Less often by 7. Can be transplanted into group cages-aviaries of 10-15 rabbits. Planting offspring from different litters in one cage is not recommended. If this cannot be avoided, then replanting from other offspring is done in an unknown cage for both broods. If there are fights, then the fighters are seated one by one.

On the third month, breeding males are seated one per cage, breeding females - 2-3 each. All the rest are planted 6-8 in enclosures and 2 in cages for the base herd.

So, the question: “When should the rabbits be separated from the rabbit?” Has several answers.

Let's briefly summarize them:

On day 28, weaning is done only if the female was covered by the male the next day after birth.
On the 35-40th day, young animals are planted for more frequent offspring from producers.
In 40-45 days, weaning is most profitable. Since the rabbits have gained immunity from the mother and will more easily endure the transition to roughage.
Broiler stocking at 56 or 60 days old gives a large weight gain in rabbits. If necessary, it is possible to increase the mass of young animals with compound feeds for 15-20 days.

Therefore, it is up to you to decide at what age the rabbits are separated from the rabbit and for what needs.

Jigging rabbits - video

Beginning rabbit breeders often have questions related to caring for offspring immediately after birth. Newborn rabbits are completely defenseless and need special care. caring attitude. Main principle- do no harm, so you should study some of the nuances in advance in order to avoid mistakes and the associated unpleasant consequences.

The pregnancy of rabbits lasts about a month. At one time, the rabbit can bring up to twelve cubs. The signal that the rabbits will soon be born is the behavior of the female, which should be carefully observed.

The rabbit begins to pull out the fluff from the chest and belly, which will then begin to insulate the nest. You can help the expectant mother with the construction of the nest. Wooden boxes with straw are quite suitable, they need to be placed inside the cage, after which the rabbit will arrange it according to her own taste. Wood - best material for the manufacture of queen cells due to environmental friendliness, which cannot be said about plastic containers, which are often offered for use as the basis of a rabbit nest. Plastic can cause allergies, and besides, animals can get poisoned or injured if they gnaw (and this happens) on a product made of unnatural material.

Considering the features nervous system rabbits, characteristic fearfulness, it is important to provide comfortable conditions at the time of childbirth - silence, peace, lack of lighting. Births usually take place at night and no additional assistance is needed. The rabbit bites the umbilical cord herself and licks the newborns. Rabbits from the first litter may be injured due to the inexperience of the mother at the time of cutting the umbilical cord.

Behavior after birth

For the first few days, newborn rabbits are completely dependent on their mother. The maternal instinct of a rabbit largely depends on how well she feels. A stressful state can give impetus to aggressive behavior towards rabbits. It is desirable to protect the female and offspring from external irritants, to provide round-the-clock access to a drinking bowl with fresh water.

For good lactation, it is necessary to take care of a balanced rabbit diet, with a sufficient content of vitamins and minerals. Lack of appetite after childbirth is an alarming signal and a reason for contacting a veterinarian. In a healthy state, the female feeds offspring with pleasure. Newborn animals are well-fed, their skin is smooth without wrinkles, their eyes are closed, they react exclusively to the smell of their mother.

With insufficient lactation, you can help the female give enough milk by enriching the diet with root crops (carrots, beets, turnips). Also, an increase in the work of the mammary glands causes oxytocin. The drug is prescribed by a veterinarian in the absence of contraindications for the animal.

The optimal number of one-time rabbit cubs fed by one rabbit is no more than eight. In the case when the brought offspring is much larger, it is necessary to distribute the surplus to other nests. Before putting the baby in, the attention of the female is distracted or they wait until she leaves the nest for a while. With the imperceptible appearance of another newborn in the nest, the rabbit most likely will not notice the replenishment.

Due to the behavior of the female, associated with the frequent absence of the rabbit in the mother liquor, a novice breeder may have an erroneous impression of insufficient care for the babies on the part of the mother. The fact is that rabbits are not characterized by constant presence with offspring. Quite often, females leave the nest after birth and return there twice a day to feed and lick the newborns. As a rule, visits to the mother liquor take place at night, when the effect of external stimuli is minimized. Because of this, the breeder may have the feeling that the female is not interested in offspring, but this is not so.

It is necessary to systematically inspect the offspring, focus on appearance, then you can draw the right conclusions about the quality of maternal care. If the cubs are well-fed and calm, then the attention paid to them is quite enough, and there is no reason for concern.

One of the reasons for the frequent exit from the nest is a defensive reaction. The offspring, unlike the female, does not smell, and the rabbit emits a pungent odor that can attract a predator. So with her behavior, the mother is trying to protect her offspring - a stereotype of behavior that has been preserved at the genetic level from the time when rabbits were part of the wild.

Knowledge of such nuances reduces the risk of misdiagnosing the absence of maternal instinct.

Refusal to feed

The unwillingness to feed the born offspring can have various reasons. Among them:

The reluctance to feed the offspring can cause the death of the offspring, given how helpless the cubs are born.

Depending on the reason for the mother's refusal to take care of the babies, you can choose an appropriate alternative to breastfeeding.

Shared with another female

The easiest and most painless way to put abandoned newborns with a more responsible mother. A lactating healthy rabbit will most likely not notice an increase in the number of babies and will continue to feed as usual. When planting in another nest, it is important to know some of the nuances. The rabbit is sensitive to smells. Foreign smell will cause aggression. The rabbit needs to be transplanted after washing his hands without the use of cosmetics, preferably choosing the time when the female left the nest.

Quite often, the female rabbit leaves the nest, returning only to feed.

force feeding

The method is used when the female does not show aggression towards the babies. After making sure that there is milk in the glands, for this you need to turn the animal on its back and slightly press on the nipple, the milk drop that appears indicates the possibility of feeding. The procedure itself is more convenient to carry out together. One person fixes the adult in the desired position, preventing it from making sudden movements. The other in turn brings the rabbits to the nipples. The signal that the cub is full is a change in the shape of the body, the rabbit, as it were, inflates, the body becomes elastic and smooth.

Artificial feeding

The most difficult way to get offspring left without maternal care. It is used as a last resort, if other methods are not possible. For artificial feeding, it is better not to use cow's milk. Goat is best suited, it is comparable in its characteristics to rabbit and is best absorbed by babies. If it was not possible to get goat's milk, the use of special dry mixes is allowed. You can buy them at the pet store. Breed in strict accordance with the instructions. For each feeding, you need to prepare a new portion. Before feeding, the rabbit is placed under a warm lamp. Using a syringe without a needle or a pipette (for older adults), milk is fed drop by drop to the cub. It is not recommended to pour the drink directly into the oral cavity, at least in the first days of life.

Daily milk intake gradually increases from 5 to 10 ml. Starting from two weeks of age, pureed vegetable puree can be given with caution.

The reasons for artificial feeding may be different, but the solution is always equally necessary. In this position, the efficiency and fidelity of actions directly affect the survival of babies. In the article you will find answers to your questions. Namely: how to replace rabbit milk, feeding rules and much more.

Video - Artificial feeding

Growth dynamics of newborn rabbits

At birth, a rabbit weighs up to 100 grams, the usual weight is 60-70 grams. The body is naked. The eyes are closed. Normal development involves the appearance of the first fluff on the body 5-6 days after birth. The baby begins to see after 10-12 days. At the time of opening the eyes, the weight of a newborn rabbit increases three times and is about 200 grams.

At this age, healthy rabbits completely switch to independent nutrition and no longer need further maternal care.

Further growth and development is quite dynamic. The body is covered with thick hair. At the age of three weeks, the rabbits try to leave the nest due to the resulting crowding. The weight of a three-week-old rabbit reaches 600-700 grams. In the event that the attempts of the rabbits to leave the nest begin earlier, we can confidently speak of underfeeding on the part of the mother.

An important nuance is the hygiene of rabbits. Under the care of the mother, the licking procedure prevents the accumulation and reproduction of bacteria, contributing to the maintenance of normal microflora. When caring for offspring on your own, it is recommended to use a wet cotton pad, which imitates maternal licking. Direction of movement along the body, starting from the navel.

Early exit of rabbits from the nest

Cubs leave the nest prematurely forcibly or by own will. In any case, this means a failure in the usual system of development and care for offspring.

Having begun to see clearly and covered with wool, the babies may not wait for their own fate, but try to leave the mother liquor on their own. The most common reasons for this behavior are:

lack of nutrition - delayed lactation of the rabbit, lack of milk gives an impulse to look for additional food;
tightness - too many newborns make staying in the nest uncomfortable, especially when the period of active growth begins;
external conditions - insufficient ventilation of the mother liquor, elevated temperature create an unfavorable microclimate and force them to look for more comfortable conditions outside the nest.

Jigging of rabbits

Weaning offspring from the mother can occur at different intervals:

Day 28 - early jigging is performed if the rabbit had a hormonal failure, due to which mating was carried out after childbirth. In the event of a new pregnancy, the rabbits should be transplanted to give the female a break before a new birth;
35-40 days - jigging at this time is usually associated with the need for a high-speed offspring, since the female is completely ready for a new pregnancy;
Day 40-45 is the optimal weaning period, digestive system rabbits are well developed and are able to adapt to coarser food without loss;
56-60 days - broiler jigging is used when the offspring are grown for slaughter, the meat of two-month-old rabbits is tender, meets all the necessary parameters. Due to full-fledged milk feeding, the protein content in meat is increased, which increases its energy value and taste of the product.

Full jigging is characterized by the simultaneous weaning of rabbits from their mother. Performed when the pups from the litter are equally well developed.
Partial jigging involves returning to feed to the mother every 2-3 days. Partial nesting allows the rabbits to learn to live independently and continue to benefit from mother's milk at the same time.
Selective jigging means assessing the condition of the offspring and weaning the strongest rabbits first. Less developed cubs are left on milk feeding for a longer time, the additional period spent on milk feeding gives even weak individuals a chance to develop normally.

Sorting of rabbits

An important point when leaving the nest is sorting animals according to external signs. This approach makes it possible to raise a generation regardless of the difference in development, to avoid situations when more developed individuals oppress those who are lagging behind in development. The offspring is weighed and distributed among the cells, planting representatives approximately the same in weight and size together. In the case when rabbits from different litters get into the cage, you need to make sure that the cage is new for each animal.

Interesting facts about newborn rabbits

For a rabbit breeder, the birth of rabbits is one of the most hectic periods. It is on how well the birth and rearing of young animals will go that income also depends. If everything is normal, then the female herself copes with the rearing of offspring, and the person is only required to control the process. For a beginner in rabbit breeding, it is important to know about all the intricacies of this process.

The birth of a rabbit is an okrol. A pregnant female is called rabbit breeders. For okrol, she needs a high-quality mother liquor, which is prepared by the owner. The rabbit will build the nest herself.

Nest

The mother liquor must be of sufficient size so that the rabbit can move normally in it even after the rabbits grow up. It is important that it be qualitatively closed on all sides and only an opening for the female to enter remains. It is convenient to make the roof of the mother liquor on hinges. Soft hay is best for bedding.

The approach of okrol is evidenced by the fact that the female begins to prepare the nest. She actively plucks the fluff on her stomach and chest and covers the bottom of the mother liquor with it. Starting from this time, you need to watch the rabbit especially carefully.

Okrol

Rabbits are born after 28-33 days. The more numerous the offspring, the shorter the gestation period. The duration of the round depends on the condition of the rabbit, her individual features and the number of rabbits in the uterus. Rabbits give birth from 10 to 60 minutes. It is important that during this period the female does not care about anything, so she needs peace and quiet. Without this, it is not uncommon for a young rabbit, falling into a state of shock, to trample, eat or scatter her offspring. The same effect occurs if the female does not have water. At the moment of birth, she is tormented by a strong thirst, and if she cannot satisfy it, there is a high risk of eating the offspring in order to compensate for the lack of fluid in the body.

The actions of the rabbit breeder

After the rabbit gave birth to all the offspring and got out of the mother liquor for drinking and food, the owner needs to urgently complete 2 tasks.

Removing dead rabbits. An experienced female most often rejects the stillborn young herself and eats it along with the afterbirth. When this does not happen, the owner throws out such rabbits. If the rabbit gave birth to dead rabbits, you need to pay attention to her health and what kind of care she received during pregnancy.

Livestock count. In the event that the rabbit brought more than 10 rabbits, and there are lactating females with fewer cubs on the farm, it is better to transfer part of the offspring to them. Newborn rabbits need a lot of milk.

It is important to do everything quickly and quietly, and so that the female does not see this, for which the entrance to the mother liquor is closed for the duration of the manipulations. In order not to bring an extraneous odor into the nest, due to which the rabbit is likely to abandon offspring, it is important to first wash your hands with warm water without using soap.

Barley should be included in the rabbit's diet, as it improves lactation in the animal. The temperature in the rabbitry should not fall below +18 degrees.

Stages of development of a newborn rabbit

A baby rabbit develops in stages. The rabbit breeder must definitely know all of them by age:

The introduction of the first complementary foods

You can carefully start introducing complementary foods to suckling rabbits from the age of 20 days. New food must be introduced very carefully so that diarrhea does not occur, which will be impossible to stop, and the livestock will die.

In a small amount, young animals begin to offer food:

carrots, grated on a fine grater;
herbal granules;
very high quality hay;
wet mixers with large quantity compound feed - they begin to be introduced only after the animals are completely accustomed to the previous 3 products.

During the introduction of complementary foods, it is important to monitor the stool of rabbits. If it begins to soften, complementary foods should be removed for 3-4 days. After that, if the litter has become solid again, complementary foods are reintroduced. Usually, soon after mastering complementary foods, the rabbit willingly begins to eat various foods on its own.

Nest exit

From the moment the rabbits have started to leave the nest, it is useful to clean the queen cell in their absence and completely replace the bedding. It, like the previous one, is only needed soft.

Also, after the release of the young, it is important to weigh it and examine the eyes and ears. This allows you to evaluate the quality of the young livestock.

Weaning baby rabbits from mother

The minimum age for weaning rabbits from their mother is 30 days. However, in this case, there is a high risk that the immunity of young animals will not be strong enough. The advantage of early weaning is the opportunity to start the female early enough for the next stage of reproduction and get compacted births. The average weaning period is 45 days, the late weaning period is 60 days. The latter is considered optimal, since the young stock in this case is as strong as possible and gives the best productivity indicators. When to plant rabbits, the breeder decides.

After the young are separated from the mother and placed in another cage, an increased amount of vitamin B is introduced into the diet of the rabbits to reduce the negative effects of stress. It is possible to combine offspring from different rabbits if the rabbits are of the same age. You should not keep rabbits and adult rabbits together.

emergency cases

The process of breeding rabbits does not always go smoothly. It cannot be ruled out that emergency situations will arise in which the rabbit breeder will need to intervene.

Refusal of the rabbit from the rabbits

In the event that the rabbit refuses offspring, it is immediately necessary to determine the cause of her incorrect behavior. The following factors can provoke it:

mastitis - inflammation of the mammary gland, in which the animal cannot continue feeding due to acute pain;
postpartum hunting - in a number of females, the hunt for the next day after the offspring is so strong that it drowns out the maternal instinct. In such a situation, urgent mating is carried out, after which the problem is completely eliminated and the female returns to caring for offspring;
inferiority of the young - if the rabbit feels that the born rabbits are not viable, she either eats them immediately after birth, or abandons them after a few days. Sometimes in such a situation, she bites even quite large cubs.

In the event that the rabbits are healthy, and it was not possible to establish the reason for the rabbit's refusal, they are either sent to another female, or they try to feed them on their own.

Squeak of rabbits

Usually the rabbits behave very quietly and lie full in the fluff of their mothers, without attracting attention to themselves. If they start to squeak and crawl, most likely they are malnourished. It is easy to determine this by the sunken bellies of the cubs and reduced body temperature. In such a situation, the female needs to adjust her diet to improve lactation. You can try to put rabbits to her nipples, but only if she does not treat them with aggression. Artificial feeding of rabbits may also be required.

Early exit from the nest

After opening the eye, the rabbits can leave the nest, and there is nothing to worry about. If necessary, they will also return to it. The situation is more serious if a blind rabbit is outside the nest. The phenomenon usually occurs when the female pulls it out on the nipple after feeding. If the case is not one-time, and, having returned the baby, he is again found in the cage, the rabbit's nipples are examined. If a rabbit has mastitis, then during feeding she experiences acute pain, which leads to the fact that she jumps up and leaves the nest, and the rabbits do not have time to let go of the nipples, and, hanging on them, are pulled out of the nest.

Is it possible to touch

You can touch the rabbits with your hands only if there is an urgent need. In this case, the female should be isolated first. Then, with your hands washed with hot water without soap, you need to touch the straw from the cage and the fluff with which the bottom of the queen cell is lined so that your hands acquire their smell. Only after that you can take the young.

As the rabbits grow older, you can take them more boldly, and after they have mastered complementary foods, there is no need to pre-rub your hands with straw and fluff.

Reproduction of rabbits is an interesting process that requires certain knowledge and skills from the owner. A beginner will quite master this business after a few rounds.

Rabbits are beautiful and fluffy animals. They are bred as pets or for profit from slaughtered meat and skins. Depending on the breed, one type of rabbit can bring from 1 to 13 babies. Little rabbits need careful care, affection and mother's milk.

Preparing for the advent

Before offspring the rabbit begins to behave in a special way: she tears out of herself fluff. This material is used for future offspring. Thanks to him, little rabbits will not freeze.

Cell preparation

The cage should contain a box no more than 7 cm high. The floor is lined with large sawdust or straw. It is necessary that the frame of the cage be made of wood. If you use plastic, then the harmful toxins released by the material will adversely affect the health of babies.

Caring for newborn rabbits after childbirth

Immediately after birth, babies are removed from the litter. If there are dead, then they are "revived" or removed from the mother. Healthy animals are returned to the rabbit. At first, you need to carefully monitor how mom takes care of her offspring. The female needs to be kept quiet so that she is not disturbed by other animals. You need to carefully monitor the hygiene of the cell.

The behavior of the rabbit after childbirth

How to care for newborn rabbits: a male should not be allowed near the rabbit. Otherwise, she may become pregnant again. The rabbits need to be disturbed as little as possible. Some females begin to show aggression after giving birth. To keep the rabbits at rest, you can not create unnecessary noise, otherwise the cubs may experience a nervous shock.

Description

When they open their eyes:

Rabbits are born blind, and their behavior at first is based on instincts.
Their mother's care is important to them.
The survival rate of babies is 98% dependent on the female.
At the age of 12 days, the eyes of the crumbs begin to open.

When they leave the nest:

Disinfection of the place where rabbits are kept should be carried out as often as possible. It is necessary to disinfect not only the cage, but also the very room where the animal is located. This will help prevent the occurrence of infectious diseases in young animals.

When do bunnies start eating on their own?

Babies should be taught to self-feed at two months of age.
The transition from breastfeeding to regular food should be smooth.
First, milk alternates with food.
Subsequently, the rabbits begin to get used to self-admission stern.
Mother's milk contains trace elements and vitamins that animals need.
Therefore, the diet must comply with the rules for the consumption of nutrients.
If this is not done, pets will experience stress, which will negatively affect their physical condition.

Feeding and care

How to care for newborn rabbits after they are born? They are born completely defenseless, an adult rabbit spends up to 3 months to leave their own offspring.

Stages of development of rabbits

Development of little rabbits:

The rabbit and her offspring must be provided with a separate cage. can't be touched. Other animals or rabbits should not be allowed to offspring. The cage should be located in a warm place. The room must be well ventilated.

A draft is unacceptable near the cage, and the dwelling should also be illuminated by the sun's rays. It is necessary to put a special box in the cage, put dry straw on the floor. The nest must be constantly cleaned. It is important that the rabbits are not located on a wet litter - in this case, they are in danger of hypothermia.

Questions of hygiene and feeding

Babies need constant care. Inside the nest should be the optimum temperature. The comfortable temperature for rabbits is 30 degrees Celsius. If the room temperature is below 20 degrees, then the kids begin to show anxiety. Animals do not require care, the female performs all the necessary procedures herself.

The breeder must monitor the behavior of individuals. If activity and curiosity decreases, this is a sign of a disease. Make sure rabbits have access to fresh, clean water. Babies get all the vitamins and minerals they need from mother's milk.

Rabbit lactation:

Why does the female refuse children

The rabbits fed by the female should have rounded and dense tummies. Hungry animals have a hollow belly. Due to the dehydration of the body, folds will form on the skin of rabbits. Hungry babies are inactive. They almost do not react to the touch of hands. If such offspring is found, it is urgent to contact a veterinarian. Experienced breeders recommend dropping them into their mouths. natural honey or jam. For a while, it helps to increase blood sugar levels.

After this situation, it is necessary to check if the female has milk. Her nipples should be swollen. The fur next to the nipples must be pulled out to make a nest. You need to press on the nipple, milk should stand out from it. If everything is in order with the mother, she is returned to the kids and allowed to calm down. If the female, after the described actions, refuses to feed her own offspring, then the reason is in instincts. You need to start looking for a rabbit who has milk so that she can feed the babies.

When babies are weaned from their mother

The offspring are planted when they can independently eat solid feed.

How weaning occurs:

Artificial feeding

Young animals eat from 2 to 6 in the morning. It is necessary to ensure that their tummies are always full. If the mother refuses to feed them, then she must be put in a cage with the children, and watch her for 15 minutes. During this time, she should begin to feed the babies. If the situation has not changed, then you need to start looking for another female.

How to cook for rabbits:

250 ml of whole milk is mixed with one chicken yolk.
Molasses and a few drops of liquid vitamins are added to the composition.

To properly feed babies, they need to be handled with care. Many breeders are concerned about the question: is it possible to touch newborn rabbits? They can be taken, but they must be handled very carefully. It is important not to crush or strangle them. For the artificial feeding procedure, you will need a medicine bottle and a cotton swab.

The mixture will seep through the cotton, reminding babies of their mother's nipples. The rabbits themselves must stop suckling. The cubs themselves know their dose of feeding. Feeding is done every 5-8 hours. The survival of the offspring depends on the feeding technique. The process should be similar to natural feeding.

At this age, they begin to eat more often. , they need to gradually expand the diet. In summer, they eat green food in the form of plantain and chamomile. And also sprigs of fruit trees and vegetables are introduced into the diet.

After the proposed meal, you need to carefully monitor the reaction of the intestines. If signs of diarrhea appear, then mother's milk returns to the diet. Babies should not be given human food. It is strictly forbidden to feed sweets, pasta and bread.

Feeding the growing young

The diet of babies is different from that of adults. They are given a small amount of feed. Babies should not be given a lot of such food, because it contains fats and harmful substances that will negatively affect the health of rabbits. It is necessary to increase the amount of vegetables, straw and green fodder.

Feeding in winter:

Straw 30%.
Concentrates 65%.
Juicy feed 35%.

Summer diet:

Concentrates 55%.
Green grass 45%.

How to keep baby rabbits left without a mother

After feeding it is necessary gently wipe the muzzles of newborn babies. There should not be any food particles left on them. Otherwise, they can get into the eyes, mouth or nose of the children. Because of this, animals can suffocate. It is necessary to check that no dried food particles remain on the wool.

After that, the genitals are gently wiped. It is important that the rabbits urinate. And also you need to gently press on the rabbit's stomach. This procedure exactly repeats the actions of the rabbit. She licks them when the kids are eating. The animal thus pushes stuck experiments in the intestines of babies. Otherwise, blockage will occur, which can lead to death.

Buying young animals

Experienced breeders recommend acquire young animals at the age of 3.5 months. At this time, the babies have already switched to an ordinary diet and do not need mother's milk. At this time, it is already possible to consider weakened or sick individuals.

Animal prices vary. It depends on the breed of rabbits. For example, the meat breed of giants reaches 200 rubles per individual. The price of decorative dwarf ears can exceed 6500 rubles. The price depends on the place of purchase. Rabbits from hands, in the market or in a pet store will cost less. And thoroughbred individuals at exhibitions or in nurseries are 2-3 times more expensive.

Tips:

The rabbit, as a rule, loses her first offspring. To be fully accustomed, the animal must bear at least 5 litters. The number of individuals depends on the subspecies. Large breeds bear up to 13 babies, decorative up to 10 individuals.

Rabbits are born defenseless, without fur and blind. Therefore, they require careful and thorough care of the breeder.

Attention, only TODAY!

Newborn rabbits are born naked and completely defenseless. In order for all babies to survive, you need to know a few rules regarding how to properly exit rabbits. All necessary knowledge you can learn from this article.

The comfort of rabbits must be taken care of even before they are born. In advance, you must completely disinfect the cage and all the inventory located there, change the bedding. Instead of sawdust, it is better to use cotton wool or something soft. Also equip a nest in the cage, in which the babies will appear.

As already mentioned, newborn rabbits are born deaf, blind, naked, and need care from both the mother and our side.

It is best to separate the rabbit from the babies for several hours immediately after giving birth and look at her behavior. It is also necessary to examine newborns and remove dead rabbits. Specialists also recommend removing newborns with noticeable damage from the female. They require more thorough care. If you are raising babies for sale, then rabbits with injuries must be sent for slaughter.

By the tenth day of life, the rabbit begins to be covered with a barely noticeable fluff. By this time, they also begin to slowly open their eyes, which are very similar to small black beads. Remember that you can’t touch newborn rabbits with your hands, as the rabbit will smell someone else’s smell and may refuse the babies.

For a rabbit, childbirth, especially the first, is a huge stress due to a lack of understanding of what is happening to her. It often happens that she involuntarily, due to a sharp, careless movement, injures newborns, can gnaw them, and sometimes even eat them. Unfortunately, the rabbits have a poorly developed maternal instinct, and if the mother abandoned the rabbits, you will have to nurse them.

To avoid unnecessary stress, the cage with newborns must be placed in a calm, slightly darkened place and try not to disturb them once again. Make sure that there are no drafts nearby, as they are very dangerous for the health of both rabbits and rabbits.

What kind of care do rabbits need?

It is very important to properly care for rabbits from birth. Before giving birth, be sure to equip a nest in the cage, in which newborn babies will be. The pregnant rabbit will completely fill the nest with her own fluff. Over time, when it becomes cramped for them, the rabbits themselves will dismantle the nest, trying to get out. Only after this moment it is possible to carry out general cleaning, throw away fluff, old bedding, and disinfect the cage well.

If you notice that there are weak babies in the litter, they must be fed separately. To do this, pull out the female and attach a rabbit to her. It is very important to rub the fluff from the cage in your hands before taking the baby so that he does not smell of foreign smells and the rabbit does not reject him later.

Be sure to make sure that the nursing mother has plenty of fresh water, otherwise milk may be wasted. Some owners even add food to the water. The diet of a nursing mother should be varied and with plenty of vitamins. Also add green fodder and fresh grass.

The rabbit, for a better bowel movement, licks the ass of the kids. If she refuses to do this, then you yourself will have to gently massage the tummies around the anus. This procedure is very useful for newborns.

It is very important in the early stages of life to examine rabbits every week, check the coat, ears, eyes, and observe if there are any suspicious symptoms. Rabbits that are lagging behind in development need to be additionally fed with vitamins and nutrient mixtures.

Caring for newborn rabbits is not a difficult process, but very painstaking. Therefore, if you have such a fate, approach it with all responsibility.

Video “Newborn rabbits”

In the video you can see little rabbits on their first birthday, it tells about the rules for handling babies.

Featured Articles

The calm disposition and excellent quality of the meat have made the bird very popular, but keeping homemade Indochkas in winter can be difficult.