Among the existing decorative rabbits, the colored dwarf stands out for its small size. This animal has a friendly character. Rabbits of this breed are very popular because they are easy and undemanding to care for. The animal comes in various colors. Due to the small size of the representatives of the breed, the colored dwarf is usually bred for keeping at home.
History of appearance
Representatives of the breed appeared in the first half of the last century. Breeders from the Netherlands were involved in breeding colored dwarfs. The ancestors of these animals were wild rabbits and representatives of the Polish breed. From the offspring they then began to select the smallest young animals of non-standard color for further breeding.
Description of the colored dwarf breed
Shorthair dwarf rabbit has the following characteristics:
- weight - up to 1.5 kilograms (on average 1.1-1.25 kilograms);
- strong and compact body;
- almost invisible neck;
- erect ears up to 5.5 centimeters long;
- short legs;
- short tail, tightly pressed to the body;
- shiny and dense coat.
A rabbit's temperament directly depends on the behavior of its owners. The animal reacts adequately to affection and aggression. Despite the above, the nature of rabbits of this breed is peaceful. These animals love affection and attention, and sit well in your arms. The character of a colored dwarf is manifested in behavior. In particular, when meeting, animals often stand on their hind legs, thereby attracting attention to themselves.
Colored dwarfs show their character most clearly during puberty. At this time, animals become restless and in some cases show aggression towards humans. The character is fully formed by 1.5 years.
Coat color comes in a wide range of shades. Pets of this breed come in chocolate, black, white, silver and others.
What are the pros and cons?
Among the advantages of this breed are the following:
- no need to wash regularly;
- good-natured character;
- easy to train to the tray;
- not picky about food.
Due to their character traits, such rabbits require constant attention. Animals are prone to mood swings. Like other rabbits, this variety sheds every three months. In addition, animals need a spacious enclosure.
Rules of maintenance and care
This type of rabbit has a well-developed nervous system. Therefore, these animals are susceptible to stress arising from:
- changes in diet and place of residence;
- sudden disruption of daily routine;
- prolonged lack of food and water;
- a bright flash of light in the dark;
- excessive control of nests in the enclosure and other reasons.
This animal is both curious and timid. Therefore, a rabbit, frightened by a sudden appearance, can bite a person.
To maintain the normal functioning of your pet, you must:
- Change the litter 2-3 times a week;
- Wash the feeder and drinker daily;
- change toilet filler in a timely manner;
- disinfect the enclosure weekly and inspect the animal;
- Trim nails at least once a month.
To keep the fur from matting, the rabbit must be brushed every day.
Conditions of detention
Rabbits find themselves in a stressful situation due to changes in the indoor microclimate. Animals cannot tolerate large accumulations of dust and dirt. Therefore, for colored dwarfs to live, it is necessary to organize good ventilation, otherwise the pets may suffocate and die.
Rabbits can be kept in an enclosure made of metal and unpainted rods. The dimensions of the latter should be 5 times the size of the animal. No more than seven adult individuals are allowed to be kept in one enclosure. It is recommended to place such a house away from direct sunlight and drafts. At the bottom of the enclosure it is necessary to organize bedding from:
- specialized materials;
- moisture-absorbing granules;
- straw;
- sawdust
The room temperature should not exceed +25 degrees. In frosts of -18 degrees, animals get sick.When raising rabbits, you need to remember that these pets do not stop growing teeth. That's why colored dwarfs constantly gnaw on everything around them. However, this breed is characterized by one feature: if necessary, animals can be weaned from this habit.
Rabbits need to be vaccinated against hemorrhagic disease, myxomatosis and pasteurellosis, even in cases where the pets do not come into contact with other animals.
Features of feeding
The basis of the rabbits' diet is to include hay. In addition, animals constantly require water and grain mixtures. To eliminate vitamin deficiency and to prevent disease, it is recommended to add carrots, beets, apples, fresh herbs and other vegetables and fruits to the diet. Colored dwarfs need clean, filtered water, heated to a temperature of +15-18 degrees. To supply liquid, it is necessary to attach a sippy cup with a metal spout to the walls of the enclosure.
In addition to these components, you can add specialized food to your diet, which is sold in pet stores. Such products are issued in accordance with the standards indicated on the packaging. Along with dry food, animals must be provided with constant access to water.
Representatives of this breed should not be given food from the table. Pets develop serious illnesses when consuming:
- cookies;
- chocolate;
- potatoes;
- flour products and a number of other products.
Miniature pets are not picky eaters and consume little food. But for normal development, rabbits need mineral supplements. When calcium deficiency occurs in animals, seizures occur. Over time, this can lead to heart failure, which causes pets to die.
Subtleties of rabbit breeding
To breed this breed, one male and 3-4 females are needed. Sexual maturity in these pets occurs by three months. Therefore, from this period, males and females need to be separated into different enclosures. The first mating can be carried out with the onset of the seventh month (but not later than a year). For mating, it is necessary to place the female in the enclosure with the male. This process is allowed to be repeated no more than twice a day with an interval of one hour. If mating was successful, the offspring will appear after 30 days. Each year, a female can give birth to up to nine litters, each of which contains up to eight young rabbits. Animals should be examined for the last time before the age of three.
Where to buy and price of baby rabbits
It is recommended to buy representatives of the colored dwarf breed in specialized nurseries. This is explained by the fact that it is impossible to determine the type of rabbits by appearance. Therefore, there is a risk of buying an animal of a different breed.
The price of a rabbit of this breed depends on the color. On average, a pet will cost 2 thousand rubles. But those colored dwarfs who have black circles around their eyes (oto coloring) are valued at up to 10 thousand rubles.
