Rabbits are one of the cutest animals you can raise on the homestead. Their soft and fluffy bodies are irresistible. Rabbits are also diverse. You’ll find quite a difference in the colors, sizes, and hair textures; you can raise them as meat or pets.
兔子经常被忽略,而更大的牲畜,如牛、山羊或猪。也就是说,饲养兔子是有利可图的,而且不像大型动物那样占用太多的空间或资源。2022欧洲杯葡萄牙vs德国如果你缺乏空间,养兔子可能是你的家园的一个完美选择。继续读下去,了解更多关于饲养兔子的知识,包括如何饲养它们,以及常见的品种。
Housing Rabbits
Rabbits arecrepuscularwhich means that they spend the majority of their day sleeping and wake at twilight. They aren’t entirely nocturnal, but if you’re worried about raising rabbits that will make noise and keep you awake, locate their pen outside or away from where you will be sleeping.
你可能认为把兔子关在铁丝笼子里是最好的主意,因为这是许多主人提供的,但不要把你的兔子关在铁丝地板的笼子里。这可能是一个诱人的想法(这样兔子丸就可以从笼子的地板上掉下来,便于清理)。然而,兔子的脚没有衬垫,金属丝地板对它们来说很硬。
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If you do provide wire floors for your rabbit, make sure that they have plenty of solid flooring where they can escape and rest their feet. Rabbits that are kept on wire floors will spend the majority of their time on feeders and litter boxes, which is less than ideal. Something simple like a rug on the wire can provide them relief.
How much space do you need when raising rabbits?
Rabbits should be housed ina space that is at least 3 to 4 times their body size当他们躺下的时候。这是它们需要的最小空间,只适用于那些有活动围栏或更大的开放空间的兔子。
Like many other animals, the more space you can provide them, the better. Rabbits that are 100% confined need a much larger space to live and exercise. An exercise pen is a great way to get your rabbits outdoors in a more natural setting and provide them with much-needed legroom.
Litter Training Your Rabbits
You may be surprised to learn thatrabbits can be litter trained. Many rabbits can learn to use a litter box. Raising rabbits that are litter trained can allow them to have more freedom. Owners that raise rabbits indoors often litter train them and allow them to roam the house. Don’t worry about them making a mess. Once they are trained, they will return to their litter box.
Don’t Leave Rabbits Unattended At Night
晚上不应该把兔子留在外面或无人看管。把兔子关在围栏里,远离捕食者和好奇的狗。浣熊、狐狸、负鼠、郊狼、狗和猫都想把兔子当作一顿简单的美餐。
It is possible for rabbits to die by a scare from potential predators. Keep rabbit enclosures away from possible predators. A solid, enclosed house can give rabbits a space to escape and stay out of sight.
What To Feed Rabbits
兔子是食草动物,这意味着它们只吃植物。兔子的大部分食物应该来自长茎纤维。在野外,它们会通过吃草来获得这些。在圈养环境中,它们可以用干草获取纤维。干草应该占兔子饲料的大部分(80% - 90%)。它们是食草动物,所以它们会花大量的2022欧洲杯葡萄牙vs德国时间吃干草。
Hay
Rabbit teeth grow constantly to accommodate the frequent chewing that rabbits do. When picking out hay for rabbits, don’t purchase the same hay that you would for goats or cattle.
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寻找timothy,果园草,雀麦,或燕麦干草。避免使用苜蓿干草,因为苜蓿干草太丰富了,不能每天喂兔子。兔子有敏感的消化道,所以引进新的干草和饲料缓慢。不要喂会使它们生病的发霉的干草。
Store-Bought Pellets
You can find rabbit food in many stores. However, this rich food should not be the majority of a rabbit diet. There are different kinds of pellets.Some are made with timothy hay还有一些是苜蓿。比较不同的球团,选择纤维含量最高的球团。
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Avoid the pellet feeds that have corn, seeds, or nuts added. These can be harmful to rabbits. Rabbits don’t need much when it comes to pelleted feeds. An average-sized rabbit needs 1/4 cup of pelleted feed per day while a small rabbit only needs 1/8 cup of pellets.
Vegetables And Herbs
You may think that rabbits can survive on just carrots and lettuce, but this should make up a small part of their diet. Rabbits do enjoy vegetables and herbs and most greens are acceptable. Again, these should be a small portion of their diet. Don’t provide more than a couple of cups of vegetables per day.
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Introduce new vegetables or herbs slowly. Lettuce, okra leaves, bell peppers, radish tops, wheatgrass, zucchini, and herbs such as basil, cilantro, dill, mint, and oregano can be fed daily. Leafy greens like kale, spinach, collards, chard, and dandelion greens can be fed once or twice a week. Rabbits do enjoy fruit, but it should be offered sparingly.
Rabbit Health And Potential Problems
Rabbits are usually pretty healthy, and they are good at hiding when something is wrong. Rabbits are prey animals and the sick, weak, or injured prey are usually the ones targeted first, so they try to hide any health problems. Overgrown teeth, snuffles, and hairballs are the most common.
Overgrown Teeth
Rabbit teeth grow constantly to accommodate the frequent chewing required to break down the grasses they consume in the wild. Their teeth must be ground down to prevent them from overgrowing and forming sharp points.
A proper diet that is composed mainly of hay is the best way to prevent overgrown teeth. A veterinarian can remove any sharp points or file down the teeth if needed.
Snuffles
Rabbit snufflesare caused by bacteria and can infect the eyes and nose. Occasionally, it can cause ear infections and abscesses. The bacterium that causes the infection is always present in the nasal cavity of rabbits. Bacteria grow in times of stress, so the best way to prevent snuffles is to reduce stress. Introduce new rabbits (or toys and food items) gradually to minimize stress.
Hairballs
和猫一样,兔子也给自己梳理毛发。由于兔子无法呕吐和清除,所以它有望在兔子的消化道中找到毛发。毛球是影响兔子的最常见问题之一,如果饮食中没有足够的纤维,毛球就会成为一个问题。
Rabbit Types And Breeds
在网上快速搜索一下,你会发现有很多种类的兔子。有些兔子是为了吃肉而养的,有些兔子是作为宠物养的,还有一些兔子是为了观赏而养的。大型肉兔的体重可以接近20磅,而小型侏儒兔的体重只有2磅。
There are rabbit breeds out there for people who want fuzzy rabbits, spotted rabbits, rabbits with erect ears, or rabbits with ears that flop. Lop-eared rabbits are breeds that have floppy ears. Some fun breeds to check out include California, Lion’s Mane, Polish, Mini Res, and French Lop.
How To Properly Handle Rabbits
It’s important to handle your rabbits frequently from a young age to help them learn to socialize with people. Gentle, slow movements are crucial. Remember: Rabbits startle easily and can literally be scared to death. Handle rabbits gently but firmly — with a hand under the back legs and another hand over the back and neck.
If a rabbit starts to feel startled, you can cover its eyes carefully with your arm to help it feel secure. Don’t place rabbits on a slippery surface. A towel under them can help them feel more comfortable.
兔子可以很容易地融入大多数的宅基地经营,并且是一个很好的收入来源。纯种兔子可以作为宠物或展示动物出售。2022欧洲杯葡萄牙vs德国随着越来越多的杂货店发现对兔肉的需求,肉兔也越来越受欢迎。不管你养兔子的原因是什么,你一定会喜欢它们。
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Do you raise rabbits on your homestead? What are your tips for raising rabbits that are healthy and happy? Let us know in the comments below!
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