You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
To start rabbit farming
- Thread starter muki
- Start date
revolvingagro
Member
visit Rabbit Farmers and Breeders for rabbit farming
Hi
Before entering rabbit farming to set up your rabbitry, there are a number of housing considerations to be made by the farmer. Rabbits are social animals that live in colonies requiring large space for proper domestication. A number of traits and biological behaviors exhibited by rabbits influence the building and setting up of their houses and cages. Rabbits display several behaviorisms including territorial, sexual, social, maternal and feeding behaviors.
Rabbits living in the wild mark their territories which serve as boundaries that disallow encroachment by other rabbits. Putting matured animals together must thus be avoided as the animals are bound to fight over control.
Matured does and bucks are also not “compatible”. Introduction is only made for breeding purposes. Matured female rabbits or does must not be allowed to be in the same cage with a nursing doe or dam as other female rabbits tend to show aggression towards the nursing mother and in most cases kill the kits. Rabbits are also known to feed almost 24 hours where feed is available, howbeit, most of their feeding is done at night as they are predominantly nocturnal animals.
Recommended Dimensions For Cages
As much as possible, cages which accommodate some form of litter should be used. Cages can be purchased as said earlier but should you decide to construct your cages, metallic materials should be used as no other material can withstand the gnawing of the rabbit.
Self-cleaning, wire cages elevated 2 to 3 feet (60 – 90 cm) from the ground are the recommended method of housing rabbits. Cages may be constructed with wood frames, but this is generally not recommended as wire cages are longer lasting, easier to construct, and more sanitary.
Each cage has a nest box for protection of young rabbits. A satisfactory nest box is 12 inches (30 cm) high, 12 inches (30 cm) wide and 18 inches (45cm) long. One end of the box is cut down to 6 inches. Ample straw should be added to the nest box before the does give birth.
To prevent contamination of food by manure, feeders should be mounted between 2.5 to 3.5 inches (6.0 cm) above the cage floor. If the producer assembles cages and nest boxes, he/she can expect to save 50 percent of cash construction costs over purchasing pre-assembled cages and boxes (provided the producer’s labor is relatively inexpensive).
Rabbits are herbivorous animals that feed on vegetables. The nutritional need of your rabbit varies, depending on the stage of growth and the purpose for breeding your rabbits. Like in humans and other animals, the purpose of the feed formulated must be geared towards meeting the nutritional need of the animal. Rabbit feeds are specialized for different stages of growth and development of the animals.
Lactating does need the richest, most concentrated feed. The milk produced by these animals is three times richer than cow’s milk, at the rate of 100 to 300 g per day, and they have few reserves in relation to the demand made on them. The next category is growing rabbits. Young rabbits are followed by pregnant non-lactating does. Their feed can be slightly less rich than that of young growing rabbits. The last category is bucks, which do not need a rich diet.
Commercial Pelletized Feeds
Commercially formulated pellets are available as feed for your rabbit. In modern production systems, which account for most of the output, the animals are given balanced pelletized feed. The pellets are usually specially formulated and come as balanced diet treats for the animals. Pellets contain the right proportion of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals for your animals and are usually formulated from plant sources such as alfalfa, grain (barley, wheat mill by-products), protein supplements (soybean meal), vitamins and mineral supplements.
Breeders of rabbit calculate the quantities of feed for total daily consumption for all animals as
follows:
• Young fattening rabbits (four to 11 weeks): 110 to 130 g;
… for other feed consumption rates for different ages see “How To Start A Succesful Rabbit Farm”.
Feeding animals on pellets is most economical for medium to large scale farms. For small holdings, 100 percent pellet feeding may not be an economically viable option. For such breeders, other feeding options may be adapted. These include home-made food and allowing your rabbit to graze.
To learn more about rabbit farm, please check out 'How to start a Rabbit FArm'
Regards
Ashwini
Before entering rabbit farming to set up your rabbitry, there are a number of housing considerations to be made by the farmer. Rabbits are social animals that live in colonies requiring large space for proper domestication. A number of traits and biological behaviors exhibited by rabbits influence the building and setting up of their houses and cages. Rabbits display several behaviorisms including territorial, sexual, social, maternal and feeding behaviors.
Rabbits living in the wild mark their territories which serve as boundaries that disallow encroachment by other rabbits. Putting matured animals together must thus be avoided as the animals are bound to fight over control.
Matured does and bucks are also not “compatible”. Introduction is only made for breeding purposes. Matured female rabbits or does must not be allowed to be in the same cage with a nursing doe or dam as other female rabbits tend to show aggression towards the nursing mother and in most cases kill the kits. Rabbits are also known to feed almost 24 hours where feed is available, howbeit, most of their feeding is done at night as they are predominantly nocturnal animals.
Recommended Dimensions For Cages
As much as possible, cages which accommodate some form of litter should be used. Cages can be purchased as said earlier but should you decide to construct your cages, metallic materials should be used as no other material can withstand the gnawing of the rabbit.
Self-cleaning, wire cages elevated 2 to 3 feet (60 – 90 cm) from the ground are the recommended method of housing rabbits. Cages may be constructed with wood frames, but this is generally not recommended as wire cages are longer lasting, easier to construct, and more sanitary.
Each cage has a nest box for protection of young rabbits. A satisfactory nest box is 12 inches (30 cm) high, 12 inches (30 cm) wide and 18 inches (45cm) long. One end of the box is cut down to 6 inches. Ample straw should be added to the nest box before the does give birth.
To prevent contamination of food by manure, feeders should be mounted between 2.5 to 3.5 inches (6.0 cm) above the cage floor. If the producer assembles cages and nest boxes, he/she can expect to save 50 percent of cash construction costs over purchasing pre-assembled cages and boxes (provided the producer’s labor is relatively inexpensive).
Rabbits are herbivorous animals that feed on vegetables. The nutritional need of your rabbit varies, depending on the stage of growth and the purpose for breeding your rabbits. Like in humans and other animals, the purpose of the feed formulated must be geared towards meeting the nutritional need of the animal. Rabbit feeds are specialized for different stages of growth and development of the animals.
Lactating does need the richest, most concentrated feed. The milk produced by these animals is three times richer than cow’s milk, at the rate of 100 to 300 g per day, and they have few reserves in relation to the demand made on them. The next category is growing rabbits. Young rabbits are followed by pregnant non-lactating does. Their feed can be slightly less rich than that of young growing rabbits. The last category is bucks, which do not need a rich diet.
Commercial Pelletized Feeds
Commercially formulated pellets are available as feed for your rabbit. In modern production systems, which account for most of the output, the animals are given balanced pelletized feed. The pellets are usually specially formulated and come as balanced diet treats for the animals. Pellets contain the right proportion of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals for your animals and are usually formulated from plant sources such as alfalfa, grain (barley, wheat mill by-products), protein supplements (soybean meal), vitamins and mineral supplements.
Breeders of rabbit calculate the quantities of feed for total daily consumption for all animals as
follows:
• Young fattening rabbits (four to 11 weeks): 110 to 130 g;
… for other feed consumption rates for different ages see “How To Start A Succesful Rabbit Farm”.
Feeding animals on pellets is most economical for medium to large scale farms. For small holdings, 100 percent pellet feeding may not be an economically viable option. For such breeders, other feeding options may be adapted. These include home-made food and allowing your rabbit to graze.
To learn more about rabbit farm, please check out 'How to start a Rabbit FArm'
Regards
Ashwini