Rabbits are bred as pets or for dietary meat and fur. When purchasing a rodent, even an experienced zoologist cannot determine its exact age. Determining this parameter is necessary in order to properly ensure the further life of the pet. How is the age of a rabbit determined, what characteristics do they pay attention to? There are a number of signs that we will discuss below.
How to determine the age of a rabbit?
It is unlikely that it will be possible to determine the exact age of a furry animal with 100% probability.But it is possible to find out how old a rabbit is by external signs.
The animal is examined in the following way:
- Palpation of the ribs. If upon palpation it is noted that the bones of the ribs are quite soft, this indicates that the individual has not been alive for even six months.
- Teeth color. In young animals they are smooth and white. Visually, the yellow color becomes noticeable after the pet is one year old. The older the individual gets, the more stains appear on the teeth. This is due to the fact that the animal eats hard foods, which gradually wear down the enamel.
- Length of claws. Before reaching puberty, a rabbit's claws are soft and have visible blood vessels. By six months they acquire a matte tint and harden. Breeders trim their nails to hide the age of the animal. But this is clearly visible upon visual inspection, so you should be careful when purchasing.
- Condition of the eyelids. In babies they are quite small, uniform in color. In adults, the eyelids are swollen and droop over the eye.
- Appearance of wool. Babies have no hair after birth. It appears after the first week of the pet’s life, in the form of a light fluff. The rabbit is completely covered with hair at two weeks of age. After a month, molting begins, which lasts up to 2 months. Then the molting is repeated, and the ornamental animal develops thick, beautiful fur.
You can find out exactly how old a furry rodent is only if it is purchased with documents. They indicate the date of birth of the animal.
The age of an individual can only be determined approximately by appearance.
At what age can gender be determined?
After birth, the rabbits stay with their mother for 30-35 days. During this period, it is impossible even for a specialist to find out the sex of the babies.A breeder or livestock specialist determines the sex of a rabbit when it is two months old. At this age they are separated from their mother and from each other. This is necessary so that related individuals do not start mating with each other. Such relationships lead to defective offspring.
It is important to determine the sex of baby rabbits by the age of two months, since during this period they begin puberty. The outcome of the offspring will be affected not only by inbreeding, but also by incompletely formed genitals. Such matings can lead to the extinction of an entire species.
Methods for determining gender
Once the rabbit reaches six months of age, even an inexperienced breeder will be able to determine whether it is a female or a male. To do this, a visual inspection is carried out based on primary and secondary signs.
The primary signs include the animal's genitals. The reproductive systems of females and males are different. In females, the genitals resemble a loop and a small tongue. The genitals are located close to the anus. In rabbits they are light pink in color. In adults, the genitals are dark pink.
The reproductive organs of males resemble a cylinder with a hole in appearance and are located further from the anus. In young animals the penis is light in color, in an adult male it is more pink and swollen. A characteristic feature of an adult male is the testicles. They are easily palpable and visible, resembling two small balls.
Secondary characteristics include: animal fur, mammary glands, body proportions, and shape of the skull. Puberty is also determined by the behavior of the rabbit. Males mark their territory with urine, which emits a characteristic odor that is not characteristic of females. Males mark the space with their scent.They rub against the cage, the feeder, trying to leave a reminder of themselves.
Females are characterized by different behavior: they dig new burrows, equip their home, and improve living conditions in it. They can hide in secluded places. Female rabbits are distinguished by a more balanced character and calm behavior.
Age by human standards: table
The natural lifespan of furry rodents is 6-8 years. Some individuals are able to live up to 10 years of age. By human standards, an eight-year-old individual is considered a long-liver. This age is equivalent to almost 70 years of age for a person. In more detail, the age ratios of rabbits by human standards are given in the table:
| Rabbit age | Person's age |
| 2 weeks | 2 years |
| 3 weeks | 4 years |
| 4 weeks | 6 years |
| 2 months | 8 years |
| 3 months | 10 years |
| 4 months | 12 years |
| 5 months | 14 years |
| 6 months | 16 years |
| 1 year | 21 years old |
| 2 years | 27 years |
| 3 years | 33 years |
| 4 years | 39 years |
| 5 years | 45 years |
| 6 years | 51 years old |
| 7 years | 57 years old |
| 8 years | 63 years old |
Correctly determining the age of your pet will help you find a healthy rabbit. Rodents bring only positive emotions, are not aggressive, and quickly get used to their new owner. Proper care and attention while keeping a furry animal will extend its life.
