Rabbits are characterized by high fertility. This is due to the fact that the ovulation process in the female crawl does not occur on certain days of the cycle, but during the mating period, which guarantees almost one hundred percent conception. Rabbit makers need to be very careful about the definition of pregnancy, because at this time the rabbit's behavior, habits, and character change. There are special methods to determine the "interesting position" of the animal. Consider the issue of pregnancy in rabbits.
How to find out that the rabbit is pregnant
It is not easy for inexperienced farmers to establish the fact that a rabbit has a pregnancy. However, this analysis will help them:
- behavior. Often the behavior of a pregnant rabbit changes. If, before this, she was active, frisky, then at sutryness she becomes quiet, calm, fearful, begins to pile on one pile everything that falls under her hands, thus forming a nest. In addition, she begins to roll down from her belly and put it in the nest. In relation to the male, she becomes aggressive, does not allow herself to approach her. May bite the owner when he stretches his hand;
Important! Nesting is the most accurate and sure sign of pregnancy in a rabbit. Some females begin to build a nest 3-4 days before the bow, others just before.
- appetite and weight gain. The female eating habits change, she begins to eat and drink a lot, is rapidly gaining weight. However, when determining the sukroolnosti by weight, you need to be guided by exact figures, compare the current weight of the rabbit with the weight before mating. Usually in the first 7 days of pregnancy, the animal in the mass gains 0,029 kg, and by the end of the second week - 0,057 kg. Over the next two weeks, her weight does not change drastically;
- roundness. Approximately 7 days after mating, the female's abdomen begins to acquire a slight roundness. However, it is not always possible to notice this because of the thick layer of fluff on her body. Closer to the circumference of the stomach becomes like a ball, while the rabbit moves very hard, mostly lies.
Important! Feeling small "balls", you can not press them or squeeze them, because rabbits can suffer.It is impossible not to mention the so-called "false" pregnancy, when mating has occurred, but there is no conception. At the same time, the follicle inside the uterus burst, and the "yellow body" got into the body. During this period, the rabbit exhibits all signs of pregnancy: it becomes calmer, starts nesting, etc. However, after two weeks, when the action of the corpus luteum stops, the behavior of the female becomes the same.
How many bears and in what period occurs okot
Pregnancy in rabbit, depending on the breed can last 28-35 days. This indicator will also be largely determined by the age of the female and the number of rabbits in the litter. The more rabbits the rabbit is bearing, the faster the lambing will occur. If it lasts longer than the term, then the female may have a “false” pregnancy or the fetuses die. Many veterinarians recommend in order to avoid the risk of complications after the loss of rabbits to artificially cause childbirth on the 32nd day.
Did you know? The maximum maximum litter of the rabbit, which was 24 cubs, was recorded only twice, in 1978 and 1999.
How to care for a pregnant rabbit
To preserve the health of the rabbit and provide her with a comfortable, successful field, she needs to create the most comfortable, favorable conditions and good nutrition.
Nutrition
In order for the rabbit to receive all the necessary nutrients and vitamins that positively affect the development of the fruit, she needs to provide a special dietary food, based on:
- feed and legumes (peas, beans, soybeans): in summer, the daily dose is 80 g, in winter - 100 g;
- cake from sunflower seeds - 30-50 g;
- soybean meal - 20-30 g;
- boiled vegetables (potatoes, carrots) - 100-150 g;
- hay or fresh grass - 150-120 g and 500-700 g, respectively;
- bone meal and chalk - 1-2 g;
- ordinary salt - 1.5 g;
- crushed eggshell - 1-2 g;
- fish oil - up to 2 g.
Important! With a deficit of salt, the rabbit is able to eat the rabbits after it is around, and therefore the supplements should be constantly in the diet of the animal.Approximately a week before delivery, the amount of food should be reduced by 20-30%, while leaving enough water. Two or three days before the amount of food you need to cut by half. This will reduce the likelihood of developing problems such as mastitis and ketosis. You can not overfeed rabbit, because overweight has a negative impact on the viability of the fruit. It is important to remember that high-quality nutrition and fresh clear water in unlimited quantities during pregnancy, the rabbit dogs are a guarantee of the normal development of the fetus and the full production of good, nutritious breast milk.
Cell preparation
It is important during pregnancy to pay attention to hygiene, clean the cell. In the house where the female lives, should always be clean and dry. It is recommended to organize a muffled atmosphere without the presence of bright light and high temperatures. You also need to provide good ventilation, but without drafts. On the 26th day of pregnancy, a nest box should be installed in the cage, in which the female will give birth and nurse the babies.
Make a cage and a hay feeder for the rabbit.
It can be purchased at a specialized pet store or made independently of a cardboard box. The presence of such a box is very important, because rabbits are born blind and naked, without the ability to regulate the temperature of your body during the first week. However, it is not necessary to install it before the last week before okolom, since the animal will perceive the box as a toilet. At the same time, it is already too late to install the nest a day before the birth, because the bunny will not be able to carefully prepare and adapt to it. For the arrangement of the nest you can put hay, sawdust, pieces of newsprint. The procedure of disinfection of the dwelling, which is carried out by means of disinfectants or a weak solution of potassium permanganate, is obligatory. If a purchased disinfectant is used, after applying it, the cage must be rinsed with hot water.
Behavior rabbit before okrolom
The pregnancy of the rabbit lasts about one month, and it is the last weeks that are the most difficult for her. At this time it is not necessary to let the female out for a walk.
Find out when you can let the rabbit on the mating.
Determine the imminent onset of okrol can be on the following grounds:
- the animal becomes aggressive, shows aggression towards the person and other rabbits;
- often the behavior of females is radically different from restless, they become too calm, climb into a dark, secluded place and lie quietly;
- the rabbit has a strong appetite, she begins to actively eat and drink plenty of fluids;
- the female energetically sets up the nest: she puts hay and sawdust, pulls down from her tummy and scatters over the nest.
Important! If a few days before the alleged rabbit is not pulling out of the belly fluff, then this person should help her. Carefully, in gloves, you should pinch a little fluff and scatter it over the nest.The female can tear the fluff long before giving birth. In this case, it is better to remove it from the cage so that it does not create debris, and to put it back into the cage a few days before the bout.
Tips
In the period of the approaching birth, the female should be provided with the most comfortable environment for her and should not be disturbed once again. Stressful situations or strong shocks can trigger the birth of dead rabbits. A pregnant rabbit should be transplanted into another cage, away from males or other females. At the same time housing must meet the following requirements:
- lack of noise, loud sounds;
- dim lights, no bright lights or flashes of light;
- the absence of irritating aromas and odors (alcohol, tobacco, perfume);
- constant access to fresh clean water.
Did you know? In rabbits, the uterus is bifurcated, which makes it possible to carry two litters simultaneously conceived at different times from different males. However, for the health of the animal is not desirable.
Pregnancy problems
Pregnancy is an important point for every breeder. The main task of the farmer is to get healthy, strong offspring. But sometimes the female may have health problems:
- mastitis. Immediately before the “delivery” the mammary glands of the rabbit are poured with milk. And if bacteria get into the gland through the ducts, mastitis can appear. Its development arises due to improper or inadequate hygiene during the maintenance of the animal, or is the result of improper structure of the mammary glands. Mastitis is particularly deadly when the milk with infection gets to the rabbit. Therefore, it is very important to timely recognize the disease and cure it. Signs of mastitis are: swelling, inflammation, redness of the glands, fever, general weakness. If the glands have acquired a bluish tinge, then the situation is very serious and requires the immediate intervention of a veterinarian;
- toxicosis. It is not surprising, but pregnant rabbit can also face toxicosis. It does not manifest itself in all breeds, in most cases only in Polish, Danish and English females. Its cause is considered to be malnutrition, during which the rabbit did not receive a number of useful substances. In the last weeks of pregnancy, the female becomes lethargic, weak, she has convulsions, coordination is lost. The treatment is carried out with special droppers and glucose;
Important! If the rabbit is not treated for toxicosis, then she can literally die in a few hours.
- eating offspring. Of course, eating offspring is not a disease, but this syndrome can manifest itself in many females. Its reasons may be different, so it is very important to exclude the possibility of eating: to provide clean, comfortable conditions in the home, not to allow other animals or pets in the cage, if possible not to touch the rabbits in the first days of their life.
Of course, to exclude all possible risks during pregnancy, the person is not under the forces, but to minimize them in reality, providing a high-quality content and full-fledged diet.
Familiarize yourself with the nuances of breeding rabbits Rex, California, Butterfly, White Giant, Belgian Giant, Gray Giant, Baran, Black Brown, Risen, Soviet Chinchilla.