When and at what age can baby rabbits be separated from their mother and rules

Rabbits are born completely helpless. They are born blind and bald. Therefore, at the beginning of life, animals need maternal care. At the same time, an adult rabbit can simultaneously feed a maximum of 8 cubs. When more rabbits are born, the excess is moved to another nest. Many farmers are interested in: when is the best time to separate baby rabbits from a female rabbit?

At what age are baby rabbits separated from their mother?

For 14-20 days, the cubs feed on mother's milk. This promotes the development of normal immunity and strengthens the body of the rabbits. There comes a time when they need to be moved to a new location. There are several options for carrying out this procedure.

Drop off on day 28

It is recommended to leave one-month-old rabbits with their mother. At this time, their digestive organs are just beginning to adapt to the food of adult animals. It is allowed to wean the cubs on the 28th day if the male covered the female the day after birth. Thanks to this, the female rabbit will have a chance to rest for 2-3 days before her next litter. But this option is considered the most unprofitable.

Weaning at 35-40 days

Separating the cubs from their mother at 35-40 days has certain features. It is recommended to ensure that the rabbits do not overeat. If you neglect this recommendation, there is a high probability of digestive upset and diarrhea. In addition, the female is covered for 10-20 days. The later this is done, the more rest she will get from the rabbits.

In 40-45 days

Gastric acidity drops significantly in the first 10 days of the newborn rabbits. This is due to a decrease in the strength of the juice and the appearance of catarrhal symptoms in animals that are just beginning to adapt to roughage. Therefore, it is best to move the rabbits to a new place within 40-45 days. This ensures better utilization of plant and other feeds. At the same time, it is worth transitioning animals to new food gradually. It is very important to carefully care for the animals in the first 1.5-2.5 months after separation.

Broiler rearing

Broiler hatching is performed at 56-60 days.In this case, the animals are immediately slaughtered. Before slaughter, it is permissible to grow them for another 15-20 days using protein feed. This breeding option is considered optimal for meat species. The carcasses of these animals contain more protein and fat compared to 4-month-old rabbits that were raised in the usual way.

How to properly place baby rabbits

There are several options for carrying out this procedure. Each method has certain features.

Simultaneous Jigging

This method is used in the case of compacted breeding. In this case, animals are separated at 30 days. During the procedure, it is worth taking into account the condition of each rabbit. All cubs should have the same development. Weaker individuals should be provided with additional nutrition and more careful care.

Due to the lack of competition between animals, it will be possible to obtain healthy individuals.

When placing rabbits in cages, it is worth taking into account fatness and sexual characteristics. Animals are assigned by sex no later than 3 months. It is permissible to place 3-7 individuals in cages.

Weaning with periodic refilling

If some of the released animals are not developing well, and the mother has a lot of milk, the cubs are allowed to be returned to her periodically. This ensures their strengthening.

It is worth considering that this method is not considered the most effective, and therefore is rarely used. Rabbits must develop independently from the moment they are laid out. If animals are stunted, they should be housed separately and immediately raised for meat. Such individuals are more likely to encounter diseases, which threatens to infect the entire family.

Sorting by degree of development

This method involves placing the largest and strongest babies first.After 2-3 days, the rest are moved to a new place. This is done in turn, taking into account growth and development. This method can be used if the female has a sufficient amount of milk.

Equipment of a new place of residence

Cages are made for 3-7 individuals. It is permissible to place 10-15 animals in enclosures. 1 rabbit requires a minimum of 0.2 square meters of space. You should not keep rabbits from different litters together. If there are no other options, you should use a new cage that is not familiar to the animals from either litter. This will help avoid fights and damage. If this is not possible, quarrelsome rabbits are kept alone.

When choosing a new place, it is worth considering that it should be dry and warm. Rabbits have difficulty withstanding cramped conditions and exposure to drafts. Before transplanting animals, housing should be treated with an antiseptic. The bottom of the cage can be wooden or plastic. The organization of proper bedding is of no small importance. It will help you keep warm. The bedding can be made from cardboard, hay, fabric, sawdust.

Food for separated rabbits

It is recommended to feed the cubs properly as they have an underdeveloped digestive system. The first complementary foods are given at 3 weeks. When switching to a new diet, the pH in the stomach decreases significantly.

Removed rabbits should be provided with a varied diet. However, at first it is permissible to use only those foods that the nursing mother ate. Otherwise, babies will face severe diarrhea or inflammatory bowel disease.

New food should be introduced gradually. This is especially true when using greens. Giving fresh grass to rabbits is prohibited. It is recommended to dry it first.It is forbidden to put a lot of food in the bowl, as rabbits can overeat. Raising baby rabbits has a number of features. There are several options for carrying out this procedure. For everything to go well, it is recommended to provide the animals with suitable conditions.