The development of newborn rabbits. Newborn rabbits: caring for rabbits and rabbits Rabbits from birth to a month

The growth and development of rabbits in the first weeks of life is largely dependent on the mother. In addition, the heredity and quality of the breed of rabbits play a significant role. After birth, many novice rabbit breeders often wonder when the rabbits leave the nest. Below we will answer this question.

Rabbits are distinguished by a special intensity of growth in the first weeks of their life, this is due to the fact that they are born completely helpless: they have neither sight nor hearing, skin without hair. For the first few weeks, their survival depends only on the mother rabbit's qualities: milkiness and ability to care for her brood.

Most rabbits are very good mothers: they carefully take care of their offspring, starting from the womb. A few days before birth, the female begins to make a nest for future rabbits, covering it with fluff plucked from her chest. If on the first day after birth the rabbit did not scatter her cubs around the cage, then for the next few weeks you can not worry about the condition of the babies. During this period, the female rabbit requires special care. Here are the basic rules for caring for a rabbit for the first 2-3 weeks:

• balanced diet;
• availability of fresh water;
• maintaining the temperature of the environment not lower than 18 C;
• protecting the rabbit from harsh sounds and noise.

Make sure that the rabbit's diet is dominated by green and juicy food - this will provide a sufficient amount of vitamins and moisture, which, in turn, is reflected in the increase in milk. Do not allow poor-quality and rotten food to get into the food: this will help protect the young mother from possible infectious diseases.

Young growth is growing at a rapid pace: it begins to grow hair on the 6th-7th day of its life, having increased its body weight by almost several times, which is much faster than in other animals. Therefore, maintaining an optimal temperature is important for the rapid growth of rabbits, especially in a herd with 4-6 rabbits. The eyes open on the 10-11th day of life, during the first month the rabbits increase their mass by 9-10 times.

After how many days do rabbits start to leave the nest box? The first time the rabbits leave the mother liquor on the 16-18th day of life. At this point, their digestive tract is already sufficiently formed, they can begin to taste the first adult food. The strongest rabbits are the first to climb out. At this age they are very active and curious.

Sometimes rabbits start leaving the nest earlier. Basically, this happens for several reasons:

• malnutrition;
• temperature too high.

If the rabbit that has not yet seen the light is outside the nest box, you need to transplant it to the milk rabbit. This happens when a bunny clings strongly to its mother's nipple, hoping to get milk. In this case, the rabbit throws him out of the nest.

If the female rabbit has thrown out several young rabbits, inspect her udder. If it is inflamed and has a slight redness, she has mastitis. In this case, you need to force-feed the rabbits. To do this, you must, holding the female by the front and hind legs, lay on her side and attach the rabbits to the nipples. After a few forced feedings, the bunnies can soften the nipple and the mastitis will go away. If the rabbit even after that threw the rabbits out of the nest, they should be planted with another milk rabbit or nursed on their own.

Replanting to a milk rabbit can be done if the difference in the age of the rabbits does not exceed 3-4 days. During replanting, the female is removed from the cage, and the rabbit is thoroughly cleaned of maternal fluff and traces of its native nest.

Another possible reason for leaving the nest too early is high temperatures. To reduce the temperature, the cage with rabbits needs to be darkened. If this is not possible, move to an open barn, protect from drafts. It is also recommended to change the bedding or reduce its thickness.

At the end of the first month of life, their first coat reaches a size of 2-3 cm, and the first molt begins.

First food

On the 20th day after birth, the nest boxes are removed, as the rabbits become cramped in them and they are almost always next to their mother in the cage. The cage is disinfected, and if it is summer time, then it is darkened. If there are sick and severely retarded rabbits, remove them from the cage.

From now on, special attention should be paid to the diet of the younger generation. What food is suitable for young animals? The food should be balanced: contain soft and coarse food. The drinking bowl is filled with fresh water every day.

When the rabbits are already 18 days old, you can gradually begin to accustom them to adult food. It is better to start introducing complementary foods with soft varieties of grass. The amount of food should be increased at the rate of heads in the family. To accustom young animals to coarse food in the first days after leaving the nest, you can give them carrots. To do this, rub it on a fine grater. Oats should be given crushed and slightly steamed.

The ingestion of solid feed intended for a rabbit into the stomach can cause disease in young animals. To avoid possible digestive problems in young animals, feed the adult with crushed grain and soft grass for the first few weeks.

Weaning of rabbits

At the age of 35-45 days, young rabbits begin a new period in life - the transition to a completely plant-based diet. The optimal time is considered to be jigging at the age of 45 days: at this age, rabbits already receive enough vitamins and microelements from vegetable feed and do not need mother's milk. Feeding occurs 4-5 times a day, with a night interval of 8-9 hours.

Remember, accustoming to a new type of food should occur gradually, preferably 3-4 days before self-feeding. For rabbits, weaning is a big stress, so take care to reduce other negative factors for the rabbit: change of cage, feed, temperature, noise.

To reduce disturbance, jigging is carried out in nests for several days. First, the two strongest cubs are separated from the rabbit, after a few days - a few more. This method of jigging is the most gentle for the whole family.

What should be the correct jigging? As a rule, there are 1-2 weak rabbits in each nest, they are placed in a separate cage. Subsequently, these rabbits are left for meat, while the strong representatives of the breed are left to breed.

Young rabbits are planted 3-4 pieces in separate cages by gender. Females are separated from males. If aggressive individuals come across in the herd, they are removed, and later culled.

Very caring mothers, but there are situations when they refuse the cubs, and then the entire responsibility for the health of the babies falls on the hands of their owner. If you are a novice farmer, you need to know all the nuances regarding the life of small fluffy lumps from the first days of life.

Pregnancy and childbirth of a rabbit

The average pregnancy of a female lasts 30 days, there are cases when childbirth occurs on the 28th-35th day. The term depends on the breed variety, the age of the female, the number of births and cubs. During this period, the female creates the right conditions for the development of pregnancy and equips a nest for newborns.

It is very important to create a favorable environment for the expectant mother. She needs calm, silence, enhanced nutrition, insulation of the home. Closer to childbirth, the female becomes restless, it is difficult for her to move around, she lies more, plucks fluff from her stomach and chest, equipping a nest for babies.

Childbirth usually occurs in the morning or evening. The female licks the newborn, gnaws the umbilical cord and eats the afterbirth. All rabbits are good, caring mothers. who have enough milk to feed the entire litter. The female gives birth on her own, but if there are problems, you should seek help from a veterinarian. Childbirth is fast and takes from 10 minutes to 1 hour, sometimes a little longer, it depends on the number and size of the cubs.

It is very important to create comfortable conditions for the rabbit during the birthing period:

• The presence of clean boiled water, in case of lack of water, it can eat the offspring.
• Balanced nutritious diet.
• A warm nest without drafts and an air temperature of at least 18 degrees.
• Silence, calmness and lack of bright lighting.

Nest arrangement

For a more spacious cage, in which a mother liquor can be placed, there will be a place for active little rabbits. The mother liquor is placed in the far part of the enclosure, insulate with clean soft hay, cloth, sawdust and faded mother's hair. Hard straw is not suitable, it can damage the delicate skin of babies. The walls can be made of chipboard or thin boards so that it is warm and there are no drafts. During this period, it is very important to create favorable conditions for newborns and mother rabbits.

Examination of newborns

After giving birth, the eared one gets out of the nest to eat and drink, then she is denied access back to the mother liquor and the babies are examined. The inspection is carried out very carefully, trying not to leave your smell, before that you should thoroughly wash your hands with water without soap. Rabbits can be touched, but very carefully.

Experienced queens independently cull stillborns, but this rarely happens.

Why you need to inspect:

Appearance of babies

Small rabbits can look unusual, they are completely hairless, blind, deaf and tiny in size. Their body is thin, wrinkled, red or pink, the ears are small, the head is not proportional to the body, there are rather sharp white claws. Despite the lack of hair, newborns already have 16 milk teeth. During this period, they especially need care, because rabbits are absolutely helpless.

If the rabbit gave birth for the first time, it is worth watching how she behaves, whether she feeds the babies and how she takes care of them.

Development of rabbits by day

First day the crumbs are completely bald, they can’t see or hear anything. But by nature, they are given a rather high rate of development, so already on the third day they acquire a downy "plumage", which thickens every day. The weight of newborns is approximately 40-70 g, if the uterus has a lot of milk, then the weight is gained quickly. Like all babies, the first days the cubs eat their mother's milk and sleep a lot, huddled together. The rabbit constantly licks the babies, while calming and caring for them.

On the second day the weight of babies becomes twice as much as it was at birth. The main responsibility for the health of the cubs during this period lies with the mother, the breeder is only required to maintain a comfortable air temperature and the correct diet of the rabbit. For insulation, you can use a heater that is installed near the cage or aviary.

On 5-7 day noticeable guard hairs appear, the presence of which increases, and by 20–25 days they turn into a full-fledged fur coat. By a month, babies should be completely covered with wool.

On tenth day rabbits begin to open their eyes, and their weight increases 9 times. The eyes begin to open gradually from the inner corner.

When babies leave the nest

Usually, rabbits leave the nest on the 15-18th day. Already at the age of two weeks, the babies begin to crawl out of the mother liquor, run around the territory next to their mother and try to eat plant foods. The strongest and bravest pets are the first to get out of the dwelling, who try to quickly explore the territory and get acquainted with the outside world.

There are times when babies leave the nest prematurely.. This is due to high temperature in the mother liquor or lack of food. In addition, the rabbit may accidentally fall out. Whatever the baby, it must be returned to the mother liquor.

At the age of 1 month, the coat is fully formed, and its length reaches 2-3 cm. At the same age, the first molt begins, clearing the coat from the original fluff.

If the babies don't get enough milk

If the young leaves the mother liquor ahead of time, this indicates a lack of food. To do this, children are weighed to determine the level of starvation and developmental delay. If the uterus does not cope with the duties of the mother and is unable to feed the babies on its own, they are deposited or fed from a special syringe with a nipple. Feed with formula milk, breeding them according to the instructions. As a feeding apparatus, you can use a pipette, syringe or a dense piece of cotton wool moistened with milk.

The main rules for keeping offspring are:

Feeding and diet

After leaving the nest, the eared ones try plant food on the tooth, repeating after the mother. Like all children, young rabbits need a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals. To achieve the desired, vitamin supplements are introduced into the feed, which are purchased at a veterinary pharmacy or livestock store, the supplements must correspond to the age category.

The main diet consists of such products:

• Hay.
• Bran.
• Dry food.
• Dried grass.
• Carrots, boiled potatoes.
• Cereals: wheat, oats, barley.
• Feed yeast.
• Mineral supplements, salt, glucose in the form of molasses or honey in mixed feed.

At the age of 1 month, you should refrain from juicy food. In addition, poisonous plants, wet grass, mushrooms, rotten and rotten food, fruit and vegetable waste, flour products should not be given.

Young animals jigging

At the age of two months, the rabbits are ready for independent living, and they are placed in separate cages. It is desirable to transplant young animals into neighboring dwellings near the mother's house. They put 2-4 rabbits in one room, otherwise they will suffer a lot of stress, which can lead to fright or even death.

Attention, only TODAY!

Kira Stoletova

When do baby rabbits leave the nest? The moment when the young begin to lead an independent lifestyle is very important to notice in order to be able to protect the eared from the dangers of the outside world.

At this time, the farmer introduces a special diet to the little rabbits, which is different from that characteristic of adults, and transfers them to a new daily routine. Nests protect fragile pussies, and if the rabbits do not leave a secluded place for a long time, you should understand the reasons for the weakness of the pets.

Fluffy rodents are valued for tasty meat and valuable fur.

Rabbits are bred in large aviaries or small cages, depending on the size of the farm. Nests are covered with rabbits only before the birth of the young. The female is preparing for the fact that the rabbits will have to be nursed. Babies come out of the nest, who managed to get stronger. If the rabbit does not hatch young for a long time, the livestock grows sick or too weak. Whatever the reason why the rabbits do not leave the nest, the farmer needs to solve it urgently.

From birth, rabbits are blind and do not hear anything at all. The first fur does not appear immediately in furry animals either. Only on the third day on the body of rabbits can you see the first hairline. From the second week, the young begin to explore the world around them. Small forays from the nest last no more than half an hour, the cub quickly returns. Weak babies quickly get tired and lose energy. While the rabbits are with their mother, fluffy young animals do not need additional care. Experienced farmers recommend minimizing contact with small rabbits, otherwise the female may abandon the entire brood.

The rabbit's nests are far away, in the very corner of the enclosure. Males, after the birth of young animals, sit in separate cages or avoid nests. In the first month after birth, the female needs special care. Her complementary foods are completely changing, and the usual dry mixes, green food are diluted with vitamins and mineral complexes. Babies are completely dependent on the female and her well-being.

In order for the brood to leave the nest, it is necessary to create conditions that will suit both the female and the young.

The optimum temperature to be maintained in an aviary with newborn rabbits is 18°C. In the feeder and drinker of animals there should be only high-quality food and clean water. Rabbits open their eyes during the first week of life. Which mode is suitable for rabbits that will soon leave the nest?

Preparing for jigging

Rabbits are good and caring mothers who rarely leave their own litter. There are cases when, after giving birth, the female weakens and dies. Then the care of the brood falls entirely on the shoulders of the farmer. For the rapid growth of rabbits, a person creates conditions for their mother:

• balanced nutrition and vitamin supplements for the female;
• constant access to clean fresh water;
• optimal temperature regime, which cannot be lower than 18 ° C;
• protection of the rabbit from noise and other irritants.

The young grow very quickly, and soon every fluffy baby becomes an adult rabbit. From the first week, thick fur appears on the rabbit, which only increases. Rabbits are valued precisely for their own “fur coat”, the quality of which is formed from the first day of life. Eared quickly gain weight, so the farmer needs to make the right and balanced complementary foods for the female and her brood.

On the 11th day, the eyes of the rabbits fully open, and within a month, the young increase their own weight coefficient several times.

When the eyes are opened, the rabbit sits less and less in the nest. A box that serves as a nest for a brood should not become a permanent residence for small furry animals. Young animals should not stay in the nests for too long. Young rodents leave the mother liquor on the 18th day of life. At this age, the animals begin to feed on their own, but this will depend on how many days the babies need to adapt. 18 days is enough to lay the immunity of rodents.

rabbit development

Young animals come out of the nests only when it is warm and dry in the aviary. The nutrition of animals depends on their immune system and health. The rabbit takes care of the brood for the first couple of months, then the rabbits become independent.

On the third day, the furry animal's eyes open and it can explore its surroundings. The rabbit gradually leads the young to the feeders and drinkers. Newborns are very shy and reluctant to make contact with people.

The rabbit takes care of the young for as long as the fluffies require. As soon as the babies open their eyes, they can move around without the help of the mother. The rabbit feeds milk for a short time, but it is this period that lays the immunity of rabbits. Newborns without a female in most cases die. Experienced farmers have got the hang of warming the young and feeding newborns with pipettes, but such care is not a guarantee that the rabbits will be able to survive. Newborns are very weak and prone to various diseases.

After how many days should rabbits leave their nests?

The average time for which the young can have time to get stronger is 20 days. After 3 weeks, the most daring fluffy rodents crawl out. Curious by nature, rabbits explore the environment and learn about the world in which they will have to live. Premature release of rabbits, when the time has not yet come, can provoke aggressive behavior in animals. At the age of 20 days, fluffies begin to feed on their own.

Rabbits 14 days (two weeks)

When to clean the nest of rabbits

6th -19th day of inspection and cleaning of the mother liquor

Another case was when the mother abandoned the brood a couple of hours or days after giving birth (time is not essential). Abandoned young growth does not develop as quickly as the one that the female protects. Abandoned rabbits begin to hurt and weaken. At an early age, newborns crawl out of nests and often die. The adaptation period is the key to the health of the entire brood.

Jigging

Beginning rabbit breeders are often interested in when is the best time for jigging fluffy rodents from their mother? The withdrawal is gradual. You can not allow stress for the rabbit or young. Complementary foods and the conditions created will help to transplant rabbits without any problems.

Conditions under which jigging is carried out by experienced farmers:

• healthy youngsters;
• good weight gain of the brood;
• switching to balanced plant foods;
• age of rabbits is not less than 40 days;
• strong immunity of the young.

Each condition predetermines the resistance of young animals to diseases that adult rabbits suffer from. A brood that has been in the nest for too long will not be able to withstand threats or dangers on its own.

An experienced farmer or a novice rabbit breeder should be patient and take care of the rabbit, because it is always not easy to leave the whole offspring on your own. To protect the rabbit, a separate aviary with proper nutrition is equipped. Vitamin supplements will support the immunity of the mother and young. Depositing of rabbits during epidemics or mass diseases of poultry is postponed until the full recovery of adult animals.

Weaning rabbits

Vegetable nutrition, which serves as the main food for an adult rabbit, should not be given to young animals from the first day of life. You can gradually arrange complementary foods for animals, but do not completely replace the nutritious mash. The cage where the rabbits are kept is equipped with a separate feeder and drinker. Proper care of the eared is a guarantee of a healthy brood. After 40 days of life on special complementary foods, the rodent switches to plant foods in full. Jigging is carried out on the 45th day. The digestive system of newborns cannot cope with excessive stress, so it is very risky to transfer young animals to complementary foods before 40 days.

After a month, the brood can refuse mother's milk, and after another 2 months, it can completely separate from the female. The animal world is arranged in such a way that rodents need no more than three months to protect their mother. After this period, the rabbits begin to eat and take care of themselves on their own. Babies need to be fed up to 5 times a day, and the water in the drinkers should be changed three times a day.

For young animals, they choose compound feed, saturated with vitamins and mineral complexes. Such a dry mix will allow rabbits to gain weight and strengthen the body's defense mechanisms. It is necessary to accustom to new food gradually, without creating unnecessary stress for furry animals. At a young age, rabbits are very shy. The farmer should show increased attention to the young and provide him with special care.

Kira Stoletova

Rabbit meat is highly valued for its palatability. When breeding any domestic animals, it is necessary to ensure careful care of the newly born livestock. Depending on the breed and age, one female can bring up to 12 babies. Newborn rabbits are very fragile creatures, they need special care, it is better not to touch them with your hands at first. It is also important to provide pets with adequate feeding in the first days of life.

Preparatory work

An important step is the advance preparation for the appearance of babies. On average, the gestation period is a month. About a week before parturition, the female begins to pull out the fur to build a nest. Newborn rabbits are completely unsuited to independent survival. They are blind, deaf and have no hairline.

Before the appearance of newborns, it is necessary to properly arrange a place in the cage:

• install a container no more than 6 cm in height;
• lay a litter of straw or sawdust on the bottom;
• the cage for keeping should be wooden, plastic is not recommended.

Before the round, it is necessary to cut the rabbit's claws. Rabbits can be checked once a day, but not more often. This should be done with caution so as not to cause aggression in the mother.

What to do with newly born offspring

First of all, after the birth, you need to carefully examine all the babies. Some of them are born dead. If possible, individuals are reanimated, otherwise they should be removed from the cage so as not to provoke stress in the rabbit. It is very important to monitor her behavior during this period.

Female rabbits and newborn rabbits must be kept separate from other animals. It is very important to observe cage hygiene, this will help protect the offspring and the female from infectious diseases. When examining, it is necessary to wear gloves, it is undesirable to touch the rabbits with bare hands, otherwise the rabbit will refuse them, smelling the smell.

The behavior of the female after birth

It is necessary to study all the features of the behavior of females in the postpartum period, this will help to take appropriate measures in time to preserve the offspring. Separate maintenance of females and rabbits is perhaps the most important moment in the first stage, after childbirth. It is necessary to protect the rabbit from contact with males, otherwise she will become pregnant again, which will have a bad effect on the offspring that has already appeared.

It is important to protect the mother from stress, because she will begin to show aggression. In a fit of rage, a rabbit can crush her offspring. It is best to move the cage to a quiet place.

lactation period

A newborn rabbit, lacking milk, becomes weak from dehydration, its skin folds. To keep the sugar in balance, rabbits are given molasses or jam, literally a drop. In well-fed newborn rabbits, the contours of the body acquire roundness, and the skin on the tummy is stretched and slightly translucent.

The lactation of the female should be checked. To do this, lightly press or massage the peripapillary region. If milk oozes from the nipples, then everything is normal and there is no cause for concern. The mammary glands themselves will be slightly swollen.

The rabbit feeds her offspring once a day. If after 24 hours it became noticeable that the mother is not feeding the rabbits, they must be placed on another nursing rabbit or fed on their own. It is important to remember that the behavior of the female rabbit is very different from the behavior of other animal species. Often, novice farmers unreasonably take rabbits from the nest, believing that their mother has abandoned them. In fact, the female takes care of newborn little rabbits mainly at night, when the owner does not see this.

Rejection of offspring

Refusal of offspring is a fairly common occurrence among the eared. When the female scatters the rabbits around the cage, this is the first signal for action. Why does the rabbit not feed the offspring?

• lack or complete absence of milk;
• stress;
• pain in the nipples;
• hormonal changes.

If the rabbit does not feed newborns due to sexual hunting, she must be planted with a male. Immediately after mating, the hormonal background returns to normal, and she will begin to care for the offspring, otherwise you should consult a specialist. The veterinarian will give an injection of oxytocin, which stimulates milk production through uterine contractions.

If the rabbit ate the rabbits, it is necessary to examine how badly they suffered. If the baby can be saved, he will be resuscitated. There is a reasonable explanation for this behavior. These animals are not carnivores. If the baby's stomach is damaged, it means that the inexperienced female simply could not properly gnaw through the umbilical cord. Damage to the head, limbs, suggests that the rabbit tried to help the rabbits get out of the womb and bit the baby hard with her teeth.

If the female refused offspring

Many rabbit breeders face the question of how to feed rabbits if their mother has abandoned them. If the female scattered the offspring, the babies must be carefully collected with gloved hands and placed in the nest. Self-feeding begins with formula milk, which consists of:

• milk;
• egg yolk, molasses;
• vitamin supplements.

It is best to use a pipette for feeding. Animals should be fed every 8 hours. After the kids have eaten, they need to do an abdominal massage. This procedure is a stimulation of the excretion of feces and urine.

Newborn rabbits should be kept in a separate container. Initially, the cubs need constant heating, so they are placed on a plastic bottle of warm water wrapped in a towel. Over time, they will have enough rabbit down.

winter offspring

No matter how strange it may sound, but often the hardiest individuals are born in winter. Such rabbits are better able to withstand lower temperatures than those born in the heat of summer. However, the winter round differs in some nuances:

• for breeding choose the most experienced rabbit, preferably dairy;
• if the offspring is very large, as many babies should be left as the mother's nipples, and ideally one less, to ensure a greater degree of survival;
• it is necessary to feed the female abundantly;
• drink only warm water;
• if there is not enough fluff, cotton wool is placed in the nest so that newborn individuals do not freeze.

Formation features

In the room where the cage is located, it is necessary to ensure the optimum air temperature. Newborn rabbits in the photo do not look very attractive. They are born completely naked, deaf and blind, but quickly gain weight. Rumor appears already on the 7th day. The eyes are opened on the 14th day.

If the development process slowed down and the eyes did not open in time, it is necessary to check if pus has accumulated under the eyelids. This is usually easy to see from the bulging eyelids. In this case, use saline for washing. Wool begins to grow already in the first day. On the third day, the babies are already covered with fluff.

By 28 days after birth, the offspring becomes completely independent, and the rabbits can be separated from the mother. Their body is already covered with full-fledged wool, they no longer need increased heating of the room, so the temperature can be gradually reduced. At this point, they are already able to eat adult food.

Conclusion

Raising rabbit offspring is hard work. It is very important to monitor the behavior of the female immediately after birth. It is important to remember that the rabbit feeds her babies mainly at night, so in the first couple of days you will have to be on duty near the cage to make sure that the mother is viable. We must not forget about quality nutrition.

Immediately after childbirth, all offspring should be checked; rabbits should not be taken with hands without gloves. You can find out how to do it right from the corresponding video. It is very important to help the female to equip the nest ahead of time. If there is not enough fluff, cotton wool should be added to it. The full development of rabbits depends on the presence of breast milk in the female, therefore, if she refuses to feed the offspring, it is necessary to examine the nipples for mastitis.

Cannibalism among rabbits is a myth. Most often, a person simply cannot understand the behavior of an animal and draws hasty conclusions. The female can gnaw on the rabbits only when she wants to help them get out of the womb or when she chews the umbilical cord. Most often, this phenomenon is observed in young individuals, primiparous, so it is important to be near the cage during birth.

Newborn rabbits are completely helpless. They are born blind and deaf, their sense of smell is poorly developed, and there is no hair on the body at all. Babies are in dire need of maternal care. It is important to properly organize the care of rabbits. The number of future livestock depends on the correct actions of the farmer.

Okrol

The rabbit's pregnancy lasts 28-31 days. A week before birth, the female begins to prepare for it. She tears down on herself, fusses, drags hay into the mother liquor. Inexperienced rabbits do not always care about arranging the nest. If the expectant mother is not busy preparing for the birth, the farmer should do it instead:

• install the uterine house in a cage;
• pinch the rabbit's fluff in the chest and abdomen;
• lay a litter of straw and fluff in the nest.

Okrol usually begins in the evening or at night. No human help is needed. The female will do everything herself. Within 30-60 minutes, all rabbits will be born.

Attention! The rabbit needs plenty of clean drinking water after giving birth. If she is not in the drinker, the female can destroy the offspring.

The task of the breeder is to provide peace to the rabbit family. It is best to set up the cage in a safe, quiet area so that the mother and babies are not stressed by loud noises. There should be no draft in the room.

What do newborn rabbits look like?

In a litter, rabbits have from 4 to 12 babies. They weigh 40–70 grams, depending on the breed. Animals are born completely bald, their eyes are closed, and their hearing organs are not yet formed. Newborns already have 16 teeth in their mouths. Feeding on rich mother's milk, the cubs grow rapidly. Within a week, their weight doubles.

Is it possible to take rabbits in hands?

Immediately after the birth, the farmer inspects the nest, having planted the female. If there are dead among the newborns, they are removed. Otherwise, the mother may abandon all offspring.

The revision of the mother liquor is carried out with gloves. You can’t take newborns in your hands - an extraneous smell will remain on the kids. If someone takes them, then before returning to the nest, it is recommended to rub their bodies with mother's down.

Stages of growth and development of babies

Caring for rabbits in the first days of life is very important. Daily check-ups of newborns will help monitor their health. Under favorable circumstances and good nutrition provided by the mother, the animals grow rapidly. Changes in their appearance occur every day.

Vision

Babies blind from birth are completely helpless. If the rabbit accidentally falls out of the nest, he will not be able to find his way back. He will remain hungry and may die. It is important for the farmer to monitor the babies and, if possible, return them to the mother liquor.

The rabbits do not see anything for 10 days, and then their eyes open. If they remain closed for 12-14 days, the baby is examined for conjunctivitis. Having found purulent discharge from the eyes, you should show the rabbit to the veterinarian.

Important! Conjunctivitis is dangerous for newborns, their body is not able to resist infection. If help is not provided in time, the rabbit will die.

Hearing

The organs of hearing are finally formed on the 7-9th day of life. Now the kids are guided in space by sounds. Noise scares them, so it's important to keep the rabbits quiet. It is unacceptable for children to play near the cage with animals.

Wool

The body of a newborn rabbit is naked. All the folds are visible on it, and through the thin skin it is possible to examine the vessels. Due to the lack of wool, animals freeze. The first hairs appear on the second day. A day later, the skin is covered with a light fluff. The length of wool in rabbits at the age of one week is 5-6 mm.

Reference. When the rabbits are 1 month old, they begin to molt.

Teeth

Newborn rabbits have 16 milk teeth, the process of laying them takes place in the mother's womb. The age of 2.5 weeks is an important stage in the development of babies. At this time, the change of teeth begins. By the age of one month, this process ends. An adult pet has 28 molars in its mouth.

Attention! Rabbits' incisors grow throughout their lives. Animals grind them down by eating roughage, which includes hay, branches of bushes and trees.

Nest exit

Within a few days after the eyes have opened, the babies remain in the uterine house, but the most daring and curious leave the nest already on the 16th-18th day. The farmer should be alerted if the rabbits are in no hurry to leave the mother liquor. The reason for this may be the poor health of animals.

When do rabbits start eating on their own?

Immediately after leaving the nest, the babies begin to taste food from the mother's feeder. It is not entirely suitable for feeding, so farmers install separate dishes for cubs.

At the age of 20 days, rabbits can be given:

• grated carrots;
• grass in the form of granules;
• fresh soft hay;
• germinated grain.

Attention! The digestive system of small rabbits is weak. New products are introduced carefully, offering them in small portions. It is important to monitor the reaction of the body of pets.

At the age of two months, rabbits completely switch to adult food. Their diet becomes varied and includes:

• hay;
• fresh greens;
• branch feed;
• cereals and legumes;
• vegetables.

Weaning from a rabbit

Seedling of offspring from the mother is carried out at different times. Experienced farmers know that early weaning is dangerous for babies - their digestive system is still imperfect. Sometimes farmers are forced to wean cubs before they reach the age of one month. Possible schemes for weaning rabbits from the female:

1. On the 28th day. If immediately after giving birth, the rabbit was covered with a male, then in a month she will have a new offspring. In this case, the babies are deposited at the age of four weeks, then the mother will have a few days to recover before the upcoming birth.
2. For 35 days. The method of compacted rounds is practiced by many farmers, launching the female into reproduction a week after giving birth.
3. On the 45th day. One and a half month old rabbits will more easily endure jigging from their mother, because by this time their digestive system has fully formed.
4. On day 60. Late weaning is practiced when raising broiler rabbits. They are slaughtered shortly after weaning. The meat of such animals is tender, juicy and nutritious.

Weaning babies is done in different ways. Most often, the farmer removes the entire offspring from the mother at once and places the babies in their own home. Some practice partial deposition, in which the cubs are kept in a separate cage, but at the same time they feed on mother's milk 2 times a day.

The third option is selective jigging. The farmer removes the largest and strongest cubs from the rabbit first, and leaves the small and weak ones with her for a few more days.

Reasons why the rabbit refuses to feed the cubs

Not always females after okrol are ready to take care of the offspring. Due to inexperience or health problems, some refuse to feed the cubs. Caring for newborn rabbits includes daily inspection of the nest. Farmers check if the kids are fed. A sign of satiety are filled tummies and the absence of folds on the body of rabbits.

Attention! If the female does not feed the cubs, they crawl around the mother liquor in search of milk.

The reasons for the refusal of the rabbit to feed the offspring are different:

• a change in the hormonal background (the female has estrus);
• mastitis;
• lack of milk;
• inexperience;
• postpartum stress.

How to feed rabbits without a rabbit?

Regardless of the reasons why the mother cannot feed the cubs, they are in dire need of breast milk. There are several ways to help rabbits:

• to plant newborns with another rabbit;
• apply force feeding;
• resort to artificial feeding.

Shared with another female

You can feed newborn rabbits with the help of another lactating female, if one is available. To do this, the rabbit is removed from the cage, and the foundlings are rubbed with fluff taken from her nest. Foster babies are placed right in the center of the mother liquor between native rabbits. It is important to wear gloves before the procedure. After 30–40 minutes, the female is returned to the cage.

Attention! It is possible to lay foster rabbits to a lactating female if she littered at about the same time as her own mother. Babies should have a slight age difference (3-6 days).

force feeding

This method is applicable when the rabbit is healthy and does not show aggression towards children. It is worth enlisting the support of another person in order for the procedure to be successful.

The female is laid on her side, the babies are brought to the nipples in turn. A sign of satiety is an inflated tummy. Rabbits are applied several times a day for 2-3 days. During this time, an inexperienced mother usually gets used to a new role.

Artificial feeding

Rabbit milk is fatty and nutritious; there is no complete replacement for it. Newborn rabbits are fed:

• goat milk;
• mix for puppies and kittens;
• baby food.

Attention! Cow's milk is not suitable for feeding rabbits, it is not fat enough and contains a small set of nutrients necessary for the normal development of rodents.

The mixture in the form of a powder for puppies and kittens is bred according to the instructions, and the one intended for children is made more concentrated. The liquid is drawn into a syringe without a needle, a pipette is put on the tip, having made several holes in it. It looks like a bottle.

Newborn rabbits eat 1-2 ml of milk per day. At the age of 5-7 days, the volume of food is gradually increased. Before each feed, babies massage their tummies with a fingertip so they can defecate..

Possible problems when rearing young animals

When dealing with newborn rabbits, farmers must be prepared for various difficulties. Often, dead babies are found in the nest immediately after birth. They are immediately removed from there.

Injuries to the limbs and wounds on the body of the rabbit speak of a difficult birth. The rabbit, trying to extract the cub from the birth canal, grabbed him with her teeth. These cubs have almost no chance of survival.

Newborn rabbits die

If after birth all the rabbits were alive, but died after 2-3 days, they may have been too weak or did not receive mother's milk. You can avoid such problems if you provide a pregnant rabbit with good nutrition.

The female scatters the cubs

This behavior of the rabbit indicates the onset of sexual hunting. At this time, the animal becomes aggressive, loses its appetite, the genitals swell and acquire a bright pink color. Mating with a male will help solve the problem, after which the rabbit will calm down and begin to take care of the cubs.

Rabbits squeak

Well-fed and healthy newborn little rabbits behave quietly. They sleep almost all the time. If they are hungry or cold, then a plaintive squeak will be heard from the nest. The farmer should inspect the mother house regularly. Cold and wrinkled skin and sunken tummies are a sign of malnutrition and poor heating.

Babies leave the nest early

The main reason for early exit from the uterine house is hunger.. Having discovered that the rabbits are crawling out of the nest in search of their mother, it is worth examining the female's nipples. If they are inflamed, then it hurts her to feed her children.

Perhaps she has little milk or it has completely ceased to be produced. This is checked by squeezing the nipple. Nettle and dill will help increase lactation, these herbs are introduced into the diet of the female, and she also needs to drink more. When there is no milk in the glands, small rabbits will have to be fed from a bottle.

Caring for rabbits is not burdensome if you have experience. Newborns are examined daily by opening the lid of the uterine house. Attentive attitude will allow you to detect the problem in time and quickly solve it. It is important to remember that the health of the young is directly dependent on the nutrition of the mother during pregnancy and after birth.