Features breeding rabbits in the pits

Breeding rabbits is an interesting and exciting, but at the same time troublesome task.

Since ancient times, our ancestors were engaged in raising rabbits. Having no idea about the possible adaptation to retain these pets, they settled for the most natural conditions for them: dug a hole and placed there several families of rabbits, gave them food and water. At the same time, animals independently set up conditions for their development and reproduction. But in the process of developing this kind of occupation, the breeding of rabbits in the pits is used less and less. This article is a drawing and detailed instructions for choosing a place for the pit and its arrangement with your own hands.

Consider the pros and cons of keeping and breeding rabbits in the pits

occupied territory , which contains rabbits - small size( even when a large number of livestock);

time saving and physical strength;

increased immunity and animal resistance to diseases ;

Pit for rabbits

• obtaining additional nutrients directly from the soil;
• improved and accelerated the process of reproduction ( with this type of content in the females maternal instinct is developed at the highest level);
• reduction of the amount of required feed;
• optimal approximation to the natural conditions of existence;
• with a large population of people, there is the possibility of self-control of rats ;
• improved taste of meat .

The disadvantages are considered

• inbreeding ( related mating), which further leads to the degeneration of the offspring;
• inability to control the diet of animals depending on age;
• the difficulty of controlling the process of mating ;
• wildness of animals ( alienation from people);
• the inability to sell skins , as a result of damage during fights between crawls;
• rabbit isolation when a disease occurs;
• inability to grow, using this method, rabbits with valuable fur or large breed rabbits.

How to choose the right place for the pit and equip it with your own hands: drawing, detailed instruction

Drawing of the pit for rabbits

The place where the hole is dug should be in the shade and placed on a raised platform to avoid filling the hole with water. To control breeding, it is worthwhile to equip the second pit for females, which will be selected for divorce, their babies and the male sire. From each other pits are located at a distance of 20 meters or more. Do not worry if there are trees, basements or wells near the chosen place for the pit, because they will in no way harm the pets.

The size of the pit depends on the number of heads, for 100 or 200 individuals it is necessary to dig a hole of 2x2 in size and a depth of at least 1 meter( preferably 1.5 m).

In the form of pits are different, they usually use the shape of a rectangle.

Pit for rabbits with burrow

Now you need to process the walls of the pit, for this you can choose any material( the best option - slate leaves), it will not gnaw rabbits. We process three walls completely, the fourth one is also fenced, but at the same time we leave a hole, which will serve as the entrance to the hole. You need to dig a little ( down or straight, but not up), so that the rabbit can figure out where he needs to dig.

The bottom of the pit should be dusted with sand - about 20 cm. And lay a flat flat grid above it. In this case, the urine will easily enter the soil, the feces will be easily collected with a shovel, and the mesh will not allow rabbits to dig additional holes. Additionally, the bottom is covered with straw, which must be changed from time to time. The best option for the required number of cleanings will be 1 cleaning in several days or a week.

Above the pit, you need to put a shed with a slope in the opposite direction from the entrance to the hole. A good option would be to protect the pit, which will protect the animals from predators and dogs.

Install the door at the entrance to the hole, feeders and drinkers( in sufficient quantities) along one wall. They are the size required to be suitable for adult rabbits, and for kids. Now we can run rabbits.

We release rabbits into the pit.

It is necessary to settle rabbits into the pit, which have reached 4-5 months of age, this is the most crucial moment. If there is a question of choosing a breed for this type of rabbits, then you can choose any breed, but giants are best kept in cages.

The best breeds for keeping rabbits in this way are: California, Butterfly, Soviet chinchilla, Silver.

What to do when rabbits do not dig pits

There are cases when rabbits released into a pit do not dig holes. This is due to the fact that the rabbits lost, the digging instinct laid down by their ancestors. More often similar situations arise with adult rabbits( from 1 year and older). The digging instinct wakes up in females before is around, and by that time they don’t want to bother themselves with unnecessary worries.

Rabbit and rabbit in the hole

When this situation arises, you need to make it clear to the rabbits that they are in a hole. For young rabbits it is necessary to plant rabbits, who lived in similar conditions and they would push the livestock by the example to the correct actions.

You can also force the rabbits to dig in an artificial way( for this you will need a bayonet spade).Near one of the corners, you need to dig a long hole similar to the entrance to a hole, about 20 cm high. A course underground should have a slope of 20-30 ° down. The diameter of the entrance should reach 40 - 45 cm. And the length of the funnel is about 50 cm. We find a log with a diameter of 15 -20 cm, insert it into the workpiece for the hole, and the gaps above and on the sides should be carefully tamped with earth or clay. Until the soil has hardened, pull out the log, expand the entrance to the hole, making it cone-shaped.

After the work done, the rabbits sniff and inspect the object, and then begin to actively master it and settle down.

How to catch a rabbit in a hole?

Catching a rabbit with this kind of content is difficult, because rabbits become wild with time and become fearful. In order to catch a rabbit without any problems, it is necessary to equip valves, which will be located at the entrance to the hole.

The gate at the entrance to the pit for rabbits

Requires the rabbits to develop the instinct of exit from the hole during the process of distributing food. The signal that informs about the distribution of food, can serve as an whistle. After the animal is released, the bolt is closed and the rabbit is caught with a net.

What is the difference between the winter maintenance and the annual

? Beginners in the field of breeding rabbits have a question: is it worth it to warm the holes before the winter season?

You do not need to do anything of this kind, because the temperature in the pit is the same regardless of the season and ranges around 10-15 degrees Celsius .This temperature equilibrium avoids stress and illness.

Feeding animals in burrows

The feeding process is almost the same as with the cage content of rabbits. The diet includes:

• grain barley and oats;
• corn;
• hay;
• branches, hanging them on the walls of the pit;
• root vegetables.

Feeding the rabbits in the pit.

The pits are equipped with feeders and drinkers raised above the floor away from the hole to avoid falling asleep in the ground. Food is poured in sufficient quantity so that there is no fight between animals. Water should be changed frequently, and ensure that it is always present. It is necessary to accustom animals to the sound signal, which will call animals to the feeders.

Reproduction of rabbits in the pit

It is impossible to control the mating process with this technique , but still the reproduction of rabbits in the pit in most cases is a successful process.

Rabbits almost all the time in position and do not rest from a previous pregnancy, and therefore, rabbits are born a lot of .Being in a hole, the little rabbits feel more confident and calmer, recover faster after childbirth.

The little rabbits in the pit of the

The bunnies feed on all the bunnies of the , which are close by, resulting in better immunity and therefore do not get sick.

With this breeding method, producing rabbits must be replaced on time, which will allow increasing the herd without losing the properties of the breed.

Useful tips

1. As experience has shown, before planting rabbits in the pit of their , they take off antibiotics and pierce females to avoid possible infection of future offspring.
2. It is necessary to to accustom animals to themselves , feeding to watch them( in the future it will help catch the rabbits).
3. Above the pit, it is desirable to build an roof to prevent flooding of the hole during heavy rain.
4. When constructing an pit, they equip the ventilation system. To do this, you need to install a pipe so that the animals do not suffocate in winter.
5. A prerequisite for arranging a pit is the ensuring that sunlight enters the interior of the pit( you can put a grid at the entrance that will let the sun's rays through).
6. If the rabbits found their way to freedom, it is worth tracing where the escape paths are. And then all these entrances to the holes to hammer and make for the rabbits new holes with the direction down.

After analyzing the information provided, we can conclude that not only professionals in this field, but also amateur beginners can breed rabbits. Growing rabbits is not such a difficult thing, it just needs to be responsibly treated. Of course, rabbits feel better in the pits than in the cages, so why not arrange such necessary for them living conditions close to the natural environment.