Breeding rabbits in pits: advantages, features of maintenance and recommendations

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Some breeders are reverting to the old method of keeping rabbits. We are talking about a painstaking process for humans and ideal conditions for the animals themselves. Breeding rabbits in pits is a profitable business that significantly increases the productivity of individuals. In the natural environment, pets begin to settle down on their own, dig minks and actively breed. The article details information about this unusual technique.

Forgotten experience

People have been raising domestic rabbits for a long time. Having no materials at hand, they simply dug out a cellar, launched animals there, thereby providing them with their usual way of life. With the development of agriculture, new ways of arranging premises were found. Farmers build cages and aviaries, which, unfortunately, limit the freedom of pets. Such content contributes to their overcrowding and often leads to various diseases.

To date, detailed breeding experiencenot many people can share rabbits in the pits, because the method exists more in theory than in practice. From the advice left by the livestock breeders of past years, you can learn a lot of useful things. They describe both the advantages of the method and the consequences of the mistakes made. Careful consideration of these recommendations will help avoid unwanted complications.

Benefits

We have already mentioned that in natural conditions eared creatures live much easier. Their immunity is strengthened, they get sick less often and multiply faster. In addition, anyone can build and equip a basement.

Amateur farmers have noticed some features. Breeding rabbits in pits does not require too much scrupulousness. There will be no need to carry out frequent cleanings, since a significant part of the waste products remain in the ground. Animals have a better defense reaction when attacked by predators. They become more friendly and able to fight back against rodents.

Pets have the opportunity to replenish their diet with minerals extracted from the earth. It's very interesting to feed the babies. They get out of their nest and get the necessary nutrition from the first rabbit that comes across with milk.

Difficulties

But not everything is so smooth. Breeding rabbits in a pit at home is fraught with many difficulties. Living animals in their natural environment alienates them from their owners, they become wild. Only with full forcethe rabbit breeder will be able to receive the expected profit. The disadvantages of free keeping of pets include:

1. The gradual shrinking of the offspring, which is the result of incest.
2. The rapid spread of infection. One infected individual can kill the whole herd. When the rabbits go up to the aviary, they are regularly examined and sick are separated. In the pit itself, this is almost impossible to do. To reduce the risk of disease, preventive treatment is carried out in the underground room every 6 months.
3. Due to frequent skirmishes between animals, the decorative appearance of their skins is lost. The constant presence in the ground also contributes to a decrease in the quality of the fur.
4. Pit-eared breeding imposes restrictions on the choice of breed. Only small species are allowed.
5. Virtually impossible to control pets during mating season.
6. There is no way to provide the necessary diet for females during pregnancy.

What are the benefits of rabbits?

Rabbit meat is a valuable and expensive product. It has irreplaceable properties. And it's not only about taste, but also about the richest composition, which is of considerable benefit. Nutritionists recommend rabbit meat for many diseases. Dishes from it are very tender. Unlike the meat of other animals, rabbit meat is completely absorbed by the body. This is a hypoallergenic product that is used to prepare food for children.

Fans of this kind of agricultural activity have every reason to engage in mass cultivation of eared. Breeding rabbits in pits as a businessis a very lucrative business. First, the natural way of keeping pets saves a lot of money. Secondly, you do not need to have a large territory. The aviary, which goes underground, requires almost no space.

Be aware that rabbit meat is relatively rare in the markets, so your products will be in high demand.

From their counterparts living in cages, free inhabitants differ in good reproductive performance. However, not all varieties can adapt to such conditions. Females of certain subspecies may have difficulty bearing offspring. Giant rabbits and European breeds will not be able to adapt to the dungeon. They do not dig minks and do not lead an active lifestyle.

One of the decisive factors when breeding rabbits in pits is the soil. Clay and sandy soil is not suitable for arranging a pit. The first will get stuck between the fingers and under the claws of animals, which is fraught with bad consequences. After a while, the sand walls will begin to crumble, and this will lead to the death of the animals.

Pit making

Breeding rabbits in pits is possible only in those areas where groundwater is far from the surface. Before embarking on such a laborious process, it is necessary to clarify this issue. During spring floods, you need to observe at what level the water will rise. If there are no suitable conditions for creating an underground dwelling, it is better to make an ordinary aviary for fluffy animals.

To build an earthen room, the following materials will be required: slate, slats for arranging drainage, mesh (metal), wall cladding material, earthwork tools and a mosquito net.

We provide a detailed description of the arrangement of a pit for breeding rabbits. The diagram can be found below in the article.

1. Marking is being done on the elevated area. You can choose the sizes to your taste, but it is better to use the standard ones indicated in the description of experienced breeders.
2. Dig a square hole, each side of which is 2.5 meters. Its depth must be at least 1.5 m.
3. The first step is to strengthen the walls before they start to crumble. A facing layer is laid out of brick or slate on three walls. One stays free.
4. In the wall of the earth, a basting is made for the future mink. Stepping back 20 cm from the floor, you need to dig a small depression. Subsequently, the animals themselves will dig the hole to the desired size.
5. The first and all subsequent passages dug by rabbits are provided with shutters.
6. From above, the underground room is covered with a metal mesh, which will serve as protection against dangerous predators.
7. Required element is the roof. Do not allow precipitation and direct sunlight to fall into the pit.
8. A fence is installed around the entire perimeter of the recess. The remaining free space is covered with a mosquito net against mosquitoes and flies.
9. A drainage grate is placed at the bottom to drain urine. So that the paws of the eared do not get wet, it is necessaryinsulate the floor. It is good if sand (15-18 cm) is poured under the slats, and a layer of straw is laid on top.
10. Feeders, hay mangers and drinkers are attached to the wall. The size of the described dwelling is designed for 200 furry pets. Based on this figure, you need to allocate a sufficient amount of packaging.
11. Closer to winter, it is necessary to prepare straw mats for wall insulation.

The underground method of growing eared is more suitable for warm regions. In no case should the ground be allowed to freeze. If such a problem exists, you need to take care of additional heating. From this and other factors described above, it depends on how the rabbits will feel in the pit. Read about breeding and all the details of the content below.

Animal Settlement

Many pets learn from other pets, and rabbits are no exception. If possible, try to get a few individuals with experience living in natural conditions and a well-developed instinct for digging underground passages. When adult animals settle down, it will be possible to gradually launch young animals to them. You can not add animals that have spent most of their lives in a cage. Such animals have already lost their natural abilities. They will no longer be able to recover and get used to living in the wild.

If there were no so-called "mentors" among the animals, the owner will have to show the young animals what to do. With the help of a tool, a spacious mink is created in which a couple of individuals can be placed. This approach is useful in that it will serve as a stimulus for further activation of animals, as well as accustom them to the presence of a person.

You can't run a large number of pets at once. They are settled in certain batches - 15-18 pieces each, observing their behavior. When breeding rabbits in a pit, this is easier to do. It’s worth mentioning right away that the eared will initially fight, establishing themselves in spheres of influence. During this turbulent period, the main task of the rabbit breeder is to separate the most obstinate and aggressive individuals. Otherwise, there will be a significant division of the herd.

Don't worry too much about the fact that the first generation is not keen on digging tunnels. In any case, future rabbits will do this. Over time, the herd will begin to feel at ease and begin to actively breed.

Contents

The process of feeding is very simple, just refill the feeders twice a day with the usual food for pets.

We must not forget that animals need fresh air. This means that it is necessary to make sure that the exit of their pit to the aviary is convenient, and the eared ones can take walks at any time. At night, the door to the dungeon must be tightly covered.

Breeding and keeping rabbits in pits requires special attention, since the animals are not always in sight. So that they do not run away, it is important to follow the direction of the dug passages. If they are directed upwards, they must be immediately nailed down, and for a guideline, make new ones with the opposite slope.

Cleaning the room

Timely sanitization and cleaning of the floor has a positive effect on the behavior of animals. Dirt and feces are carefully removed, after which the room is ventilated. Often, digging accumulates a lot of earth, which should also be removed.

So that the eared do not interfere with the cleaning of the home, their minks need to be closed with shutters.

Reproduction

Tracking the breeding process will not work, and this is the biggest problem when breeding rabbits in pits. Uncontrolled mating of young animals can lead to mutation, extinction and animal diseases. To negate such a problem, you need to periodically replace the males. Some rabbit breeders prepare separate housing for young animals. At 4-5 months, the rabbits are moved to a new place. The main task is to reduce the incidence of incest.

Dead rabbits are thrown out by females. After the younger generation grows up, it is not necessary to clean the mink. The uterus itself leaves it, and by the next call uses another. Some females may eat their young. You need to get rid of them immediately.

Catching animals

Catching a rabbit without prior preparation is very difficult. The advice of experienced breeders will help here. First of all, shutters come into play. As soon as the pet gets out of its mink, you need to take a moment to close it. If you initially make friends with rabbits, they will not be afraid of people. Hand-feeding favorite treats such as carrots or apples will help tame the animal.

Another effective way is to teach the eared to react to certain sounds in advance. It can be clapping, whistling and other signals. Smoking animals with smoke is not recommended.

Reviews

According to the available information, the free way of keeping pets is not yet popular. There are different reviews about breeding rabbits in pits. So far, not many farmers decide to switch to this technology. Novice rabbit breeders speak well of the ancient technique. Many of them became interested in it as an experiment. As practice has shown, many advantages have been revealed in the once-forgotten method of animal husbandry.

Conclusion

Obviously, not all regions can breed rabbits in a pit. The Chinese method can be a suitable alternative in this type of farming. Instead of an underground dwelling or basement, a greenhouse is being built. It houses cells made up of four tiers. If you're a furry animal lover, try whichever method works best for your area.