Description of Californian breed rabbits and their maintenance at home

Among breed connoisseurs, the California plump rabbit ranks at the top of the list of the best animals for breeding. A permanent supplier of meat and fur, the Californian does not require special care or constant attention. For animal lovers, a rabbit can become a family pet. His gentle, cheerful disposition and playfulness will make even the most complete pessimist smile.

History of the breed

The first mentions of wonderful rabbits appeared in the 20s of the last century. The founder of the breed was the talented American scientist, George Weston. The breeder’s homeland was sunny California, so no one was surprised by George’s desire to name the breed in honor of his native state. The path to success was long; breeding work was carried out for several years. The scientist was faced with a difficult task - to breed a special breed of rabbits that could serve as a source of dietary meat and valuable fur.

Over and over again, the scientist crossed representatives of the best breeds. The participants in the experiment were chinchilla rabbits giant, New Zealand white, Russian ermine. George's efforts were crowned with success, and in the mid-20s the breed saw the light of day.

The eared beauties received official recognition in 1828. From that moment on, Californian rabbits began to be considered a separate breed. However, the animal entered the territory of the Russian Federation only in the 70s of the last century.

The breed did not immediately gain popularity among Soviet specialists. It was believed that Californians are pampered animals, so it is difficult to breed them in harsh climates. Over time, farmers became convinced that animals adapt well to any living conditions. Today it is difficult to imagine farming without Californian pets.

Description and characteristics of the California rabbit

The rabbit's tightly built body resembles an even cylinder. The short neck and small head with erect ears give the pet a compact, neat appearance. Strong, thick paws reliably support a well-fed body. The main part of the rabbit's thick coat is white. Brown spots adorn only the area of ​​the animal’s nose, paws and tail.In rare cases, individuals of a blue, smoky color are found.

Beginners often confuse Californians with representatives of the butterfly breed. It is easy to resolve doubts: Californian beauties have red eyes, while the butterfly has dark eye color. Little rabbits gradually acquire spots. Initially, the color of the babies' fur coat is close to a light blue shade.

Californians are ideal pets. A calm, easy-going disposition and unpretentiousness are the hallmarks of the American breed.

The animal develops evenly, its weight gain is calculated literally month by month. If at the age of 1 month a rabbit weighs 0.9-1 kg, then after 30 days the weight of the animal increases to 1.8 kg. By adding 700-800 g every month, by the age of six months the pet gains 4-4.2 kg.

Despite Californians being industrial animals, rabbits can be kept as pets. The playful character and friendly disposition of the handsome eared cat invariably arouses the sympathy of people. But the habit of gnawing everything that is within reach is a big drawback of the animal.

Main pros and cons

The legendary breed has a lot of advantages, but even Californian rabbits have their disadvantages. Positive qualities of animals:

1. Short period until full maturity.
2. High rate of weight gain.
3. Female Californians are very fertile and child-loving. These features allow the female to bring and feed more than 30 rabbits per year.
4. Genetic failure in animals is extremely rare.

A disadvantage of American rabbits is their special sensitivity to the feeding regime and the quality of the feed mixture.

Rules of maintenance and care

Californians are famous for their ability to instantly adapt to any conditions.However, to achieve a good result, you need to provide the animals with a spacious home and a place to walk.

For active pets, an enclosure is fenced off in which they can stretch and take a walk. For this purpose, a metal mesh is used. The size of the cells should not exceed 5 cm. Considering that rabbits are unsurpassed masters at constructing tunnels, the mesh is buried 0.5 m into the ground. The enclosure is covered with the same mesh on top. This will help protect animals from sudden attacks by predators.

The floor in the walking area is poured with cement. For 5 adult individuals, the optimal area of ​​the enclosure is at least 5 square meters. m. The minimum height of the arena is 1 m. Once a week, the animals are scrupulously examined. Healthy rabbits are combed using a special brush. The tangles are carefully cut off.

In cells

At home, pets live comfortably in a cage. The home for the handsome eared creature is made of wood or mesh. The height of the rabbit's apartments should allow the pet to freely stand on its hind legs. For the comfortable existence of 5 adult individuals, a cage with an area of ​​0.5 m is enough. The bottom must be covered with a thick layer of straw or sawdust.

A separate uterine house is built for females. In this corner, the female rabbit will bear and raise numerous offspring. The cage is equipped with a feeder and drinking bowl. Pet housing is regularly disinfected using a bactericidal or blowtorch. In sunny weather, it is advisable to air dry the cage.

In the pits

Adherents of natural conditions for keeping rabbits will like the method of raising animals in a pit. This method is most often used for industrial breeding of rabbits. To do this, dig a large hole measuring 2*2*1 m. The earthen walls are reinforced with slate.The floor is covered with the same mesh or boards. The pit must be covered with a roof. In order to avoid attacks by predators, a fence is installed around the home of Californians.

This type of housing saves the owners’ energy; in the pit the pets live almost independently. People can only bring food and water to the rabbits. To prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases, pits are periodically cleaned.

What to feed California rabbits?

The animals' diet should be varied and nutritious, because Californians quickly gain weight. Pets need:

1. Cereals, legumes and oilseeds.
2. Roots.
3. Leaves and twigs of permitted plants (ash, maple, linden, fruit trees).
4. Herbs (meadow, field, forest). In winter - hay, silage.
5. Treats in the form of fruits and vegetables.
6. Fish or meat meal.
7. Vitamin supplements.

It is enough to feed adult individuals 2-3 times a day, small baby rabbits need feeding 5-6 times a day.

Breeding

For reproduction, animals from different breeding lines are selected. Rabbits must have breed characteristics, so not all individuals are suitable for breeding. Californians reach childbearing age at 5 months. From this moment on, the female is ready to mate and can bear offspring 4-5 times during the year.

Pregnancy lasts about 30 days. Each time a female rabbit gives birth to 8-10 little rabbits. In order for the female to actively reproduce, you need to monitor the animal’s diet. An obese female rabbit is not suitable for breeding. For mating, the female is placed in a cage with the male.

For the first month, the rabbits feed on their mother's milk; at the age of 3 weeks, the rabbits begin to be given a small amount of food for adult animals.After the rabbits reach 45 days, the offspring are separated from the mother.

Diseases, their prevention and treatment

Eared pets are susceptible to viral hemorrhagic disease. The disease is accompanied by bleeding, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat and fever.

Animals refuse food and soon die. The disease is transmitted through contact with sick individuals. Unfortunately, the disease cannot be cured.

The death of the entire livestock is threatened by a disease called myxomatosis. Infection is indicated by drooping ears of the animal, swelling and rolling of hair around the eyes. The disease is transmitted by ubiquitous insects. If infection spreads, all animals are destroyed.

Diseases such as pasteurosis and coccidiosis can be treated with antibiotics. Preventive measures will help avoid tragic events:

• keeping the cage clean;
• timely vaccination;
• weekly preventive examination;
• quality food;
• regular disinfection of cages, feeders and drinking bowls.

When to slaughter for meat?

The optimal age for slaughter is 6 months. At this point, the rabbit reaches a weight of 4.5-5.5 kg. After this age, keeping the animal becomes unprofitable, and the quality of the meat deteriorates.

Breeding prospects

The California rabbit is an ideal animal for developing your own business. The universal purpose of the breed allows you to get maximum profit from breeding animals. For the initial stage, it is enough to acquire a herd of one male and 4-5 female rabbits. The productivity of animals is beyond doubt, because Californians quickly gain weight and reproduce easily.

Where and how is it better to buy a California rabbit?

It is better to buy rabbits from large farms that specialize in breeding Californians. It is important to purchase animals from different breeding lines. Pets should not be closely related to each other.

Select rabbits in good condition, with clearly defined characteristics of the breed. The well-being of a pet is indicated by fatness, shiny fur, and clear eyes. A healthy rabbit actively shows interest in others, moves a lot and eats well.