How to understand the language and gestures of a rabbit

74 comments October 2, 2013 Vladimir Khomyakov

Talk to me

It has been noticed that for the safest existence in the wild, rabbits, like all potential victims, extremely rarely use their vocal apparatus, and lead a secretive and silent lifestyle. But look how developed the ears are? With the help of such, so to speak, locators, rabbits quickly detect the source of danger and, as soon as possible, immediately hide in holes or other hidden places. For the farmer, this feature of the behavior of domestic rabbits is often beneficial and distinguishes our smaller brothers favorably from other brothers.

Silence almost always reigns in the rooms where these animals are kept. But the famous proverb says: “He who speaks less is listened to more.” What then to do with a rabbit who is almost always silent? It turns out there is nothing complicated here. If you want to understand a little and find out what our long-eared friend wants to tell us, this article is just for you.

When does a rabbit stop being silent and start screaming?

However, in rare cases, rabbits can still give their voice. In moments of extreme danger or severe pain, they emit a piercing scream or rather a squeal. They try to endure ordinary pain in silence. For wild rabbits, this innate quality often saves their lives, since enduring pain means preventing themselves from being detected by a predator. In households, on the contrary, it can play a cruel joke. Often a sick pet does not reveal itself in any way and thereby misleads inexperienced farmers. Only at the last moment does the rabbit suddenly begin to squeal loudly and immediately die in front of the owner’s eyes. But timely treatment could certainly correct the situation.

The loud screams of rabbits can also be heard during their martial arts. If, for example, a wild brother defends his right to a certain territory or two adult males were inadvertently placed in one cage, as well as during a planned replacement of a male during pit (aviary) keeping. At first, the animals seem to measure their strength, then the strongest begins to pursue the weaker. Sharp teeth turn out to be formidable weapons, the bites of which cause severe pain. Yes, and hitting with paws can lead to irreparable losses.

Possible preventive measures

Pathology can be successfully avoided if due attention is paid to the conditions of keeping rabbits. Firstly, you need to take care of proper nutrition: animals should receive a full range of vitamins and microelements; lactating rabbits and young animals should be given calcium supplements

Secondly, cages and premises must be promptly cleaned, disinfected, and monitored to ensure that rodents do not enter them. Sick pets need to be isolated from others in a timely manner. Thirdly, you need to look after the rabbits while walking so that they do not fight, fall from great heights, bump into sharp objects, get injured or break their paws or spine.

One of the preventive measures is a nutritious diet.

Grunting, ticking and other sounds.

In addition to loud and shrill sounds, rabbits can also “talk” in a quieter voice. This type of communication with their relatives and people resembles grunting. As a rule, you will hear such “speech” when animals approach each other or approach you. Rabbits often make exactly the same sound, only a little louder (ticking and cooing), during mating games. And by the characteristic relatively weak squeal of a male who has fallen on his side, an experienced rabbit breeder will immediately determine that he has conscientiously completed his mission of procreation.

Rabbits can also snort, thereby showing that they don’t like something. This is a kind of moderate act of aggression towards a potential offender. Most often these are people and pets (cats, dogs). Although silent themselves, rabbits nevertheless distinguish human voices very well. If the owner often communicates with the rabbit, talks to it, shows affection and friendliness, the rabbit quickly notices this, remembers it and begins to perceive you as its friend.

Prevention measures

Preventative measures can reduce the risk of paralysis by 50%. To protect your pet from such a fate, adhere to the following rules:

Have your rabbit checked regularly by a veterinarian.
Monitor the animal's diet. He should get plenty of fiber, as well as other vitamins and minerals in sufficient quantities.
Keep your pet clean. Clean your rabbit's cage, tray, and feeder regularly.
Do not leave your animal unattended for a long time, especially during walks, to avoid injury.
You should provide him with the most peaceful life possible. Do not provoke fear and stress in him.
If there are children in the family, make sure that their games with the rabbit are not harmful to the animal.

The language of smells in the life of a rabbit.

Determines one's own - a stranger, a friend or an enemy.

Rabbits have a well-developed sense of smell. With its help, he distinguishes food even in the dark. Can recognize its owner or, for example, another of its brothers. This property plays an important role in the distribution of influence zones. The fact is that each rabbit has three categories of the concept of the surrounding territory: its own, someone else’s, and common. He doesn’t go into someone else’s unless absolutely necessary. In general, he coexists peacefully with his fellow tribesmen. He doesn’t let anyone in on his own. At first, when an uninvited guest appears, he behaves a little warily and studies him from a distance. Then one sits behind the other and begins to sniff, sometimes grunting. By smell, a rabbit primarily determines the gender of its visitor. If the individuals are of different sexes, then no act of aggression will follow. Such acquaintance often turns into mating games. If two males or two females get acquainted, then it’s not far from “hand-to-hand combat.” However, I have never noticed an aggressive reaction towards small bunnies. Of course, they are also sniffed, but then they lose all interest in what is happening. Also, by smell, a rabbit can remember a certain tribesman. Often during matings, the female does not cover if her cage is next to the male's cage. In such cases, rabbit breeders say that the rabbits sniffed.

Additional Information

The rabbit transmits information intended for other animals (enemies or friends) to humans in different ways:

characteristic poses;
specific movements;
olfactory marks;
touches.

In the wild, the powerful thump of a rabbit's hind leg is a danger signal to all members of the pack. This is the most common non-verbal signal of rabbits living in stable groups - colonies. Both females and males knock with their paws; the signal has no sexual specialization.

Knocking with a hind paw is a danger signal for all members of a rabbit colony.

In short, that's it. A rabbit taps its paw when it is scared and wants to tell others about it. Everything that follows is additional and optional information.

Why does the rabbit knock?

You've probably heard a loud knock more than once, sometimes coming from the cage. And you probably know the source of its appearance. Quite right, this is the male knocking his hind legs on the floor of his home. This means your pet is worried about someone, considers it necessary to scare away the stranger, and at the same time notify the entire herd of the approaching danger. If there are several males, they often pick up this impulse and the knocking becomes even more impressive. This kind of cry and call to action was passed down from rabbits living in the wild. Sometimes a rabbit can take more active actions, attacking an uninvited guest, defending its home. In the wild, males often defend together.

One day I took a little rabbit to my home so that he would get a little stronger after his illness. He quickly got used to it and after a couple of days he already felt great. He showed an excellent appetite, rushed around the entire apartment, gnawed on electrical wires that were not hidden in time, and sometimes dozed off. And he did it in one favorite place, under the coffee table. Imagine my surprise when, while trying to remove the garbage underneath, the little rabbit began to attack the broom and almost growl, mistaking it for the aggressor.

How does the treatment work?

Paralysis of the hind limbs always entails side effects, so treatment includes various measures. The animal is given painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve discomfort and prevent inflammation of the nerves and tissues at the site of the lesion. All medications are prescribed by a doctor, and the task of the animal owner is to remember all the recommendations and follow them exactly.

For rehabilitation, the rabbit needs to have a massage

It is necessary to massage the hind legs to quickly restore their mobility. This method avoids tissue death and improves blood flow. Artificial gymnastics will help the animal fully restore motor functions and coordination.

It is very simple to carry out: you need to slowly and carefully bend and unbend your paws for several minutes. If an individual with paralyzed hind legs generally feels well, then it can and should be taken for a walk in the fresh air and allowed to crawl on the grass under supervision

What do rabbit ears say?

Let me make a reservation right away that fold-eared breeds will not tell you anything using their ears. They will always have the same pose, that is, lowered. But all other rabbits have ears that are an inexhaustible source of information. Moreover, it matters not only how they are raised, but also how they are turned.

The ears are pressed to the body.

It is well known that in times of danger, when an animal is extremely wary or frightened, its appearance exactly resembles a lop-eared rabbit, its ears are lowered and flattened, its body is spread out on the ground. Your pet should not be allowed to remain in such a stressful state for a long time. Better move away and let him calm down. To improve the relationship, you can stroke, massage the corners of the jaws, talk in a quiet voice (they may be frightened by sharp and loud sounds), feed something tasty so that the hormone of joy is produced, and the rabbit begins to associate your presence with a feeling of comfort and security. Rabbits distinguish voices well and can already recognize people (their own and others) from them. In animals, instinct largely replaces and complements thinking. The same pinned position of the ears with a different position of the body can also indicate an aggressive state of the rabbit. But more on that below. With enough experience, you can easily determine the difference in the mood of your ward, primarily by their gaze. Far from being frightened, but rather focused, the rabbit’s eyes are hard to miss. And the body position is completely different. If the rabbit is angry, then the head is always raised, and the front paws are extended and spread to the sides to quickly transfer the center of gravity to them. The rabbit, ready to attack, looks directly at the object of attack. The front paws brought together indicate moderate irritability and an immediate attack should not be expected. If he also turns sideways, it means that it is no longer aggression that predominates, but banal resentment, confusion, offended feelings, so to speak.

How to decipher the turn of the ears?

And based on the position of the ears, experts determine four degrees of irritation:

When the ears are turned to the sides and slightly down towards the back, this is only a warning to the enemy.
Next, the position of the ears becomes vertical and the inner surface back - readiness for attack number one.
But if you see that your ears are pressed as close to your back as possible, this is the highest degree of irritation. You should be wary of an attack at the slightest careless action or even movement on the part of the offender. By the way, it can be either another animal or the rabbit breeder himself.
But if the rabbit is well-fed, calm and happy with everything, its erect ears are always turned forward. A slight deterioration in comfort is when one ear looks forward, the other is turned to the side or even lowered.
If the eyes are closed, then the position of the ears will not say anything, they will simply be lowered. There is no need to try to determine the state of a sleeping rabbit that is watching its next dream.

When is a rabbit good?

If you notice the rabbit's ears are flattened and at the same time his head is lowered, so that his chin is pressed to the floor, then he is asking for affection and wants to be stroked. Often, in addition to this, the animal will lightly nudge your hand with its nose or push its tip under your palm. If suddenly the rabbit doesn’t like your advances or is tired of them, he will turn sideways or take a completely different pose. You must always remember that rabbits really don’t like it when something is done against their wishes. They can scratch and even bite. It also happens: you reached out your hand and want to pet your long-eared friend, but he lowered his head, tilted his ears to the sides, without pressing them back. This means that he doesn’t need affection now or the animal is actually scared. Better leave him alone for a while. It is especially undesirable to approach a frightened rabbit when it is outside the cage. He can gallop away so quickly that it will not be easy to catch him.

The rabbit raised his ears.

We are fine.

More often than not, the rabbit still keeps its ears raised. If at the same time he lies with all his paws tucked under him and his muzzle down, then there is no need to worry about him. Your client feels good, is in good shape, and is in a normal mood. In this position he can relax. The greater the degree of relaxation, the lower the back bends down. With extreme relaxation, the back takes a position parallel to the floor. Raised ears still indicate that the animal is not sleeping, but rather is monitoring its surroundings. A similar condition occurs if a rabbit lies in hot weather with its ears raised, but with its front and hind legs extended. It can lie on its side and look like it is dead and this can quite frighten its owner. But no need to worry, the rabbit just relaxed and decided to rest for a while. In this position he can even fall asleep. As soon as he feels or even suspects danger, the position will be changed to a more mobile one. A very common posture for a rabbit is when it sits on its hind legs and makes chewing movements. This means that everything is fine with the rabbit, he is fine.

It happens that your ward begins to shake his ears and rub them against the structure of the cage. This is a clear sign of ear scabies. Carefully check the condition of the ears and, if necessary, carry out a simple course of treatment. If otodectosis is not detected, then the rabbit simply gives you a sign to leave him alone. Perhaps you overdid it with caresses and holding in your arms.

Infectious diseases that cause paw damage

Listeriosis in rabbits

One of the reasons why a rabbit's hind legs failed is listeriosis. This is an infectious disease of bacterial origin that affects the mammary glands, nervous and genitourinary systems. Most often, young animals and pregnant female rabbits are affected. Goats, sheep, pigs, cattle, poultry and people can get sick.

Sources of infection

Sick or recovered rabbits (long-term carriage, up to 2.5 months).
Rodents (rats and mice).
Wild animals (foxes, hares and others).
Insects (lice, fleas, ticks, gadfly larvae).
Man (as a mechanical carrier).

Infection can occur through contact with sick animals, through nutrition (contaminated feed and bedding), through damaged skin and mucous membranes.

Manifestation of the disease

The disease can occur in hyperacute, acute, subacute, chronic (latent) and atypical forms. Manifested by the death of pregnant rabbits (immediately after or before childbirth), abortion during pregnancy, mummification (drying out) and decomposition of fetuses, mastitis, metritis and endometritis (inflammation of the uterus), death of the entire litter after childbirth, brown vaginal discharge, paresis or paralysis of the hind legs. limbs in rabbits. Rabbits lose weight, eat poorly or refuse food altogether, and their fur becomes disheveled and dull.

With an atypical form of the course, the clinical picture may be similar to a false pregnancy. In such a situation, the rabbits die while they are still embryos, and the female rabbit cannot become pregnant and give birth. Other signs of the disease may be absent, although the animal remains a carrier of the pathogen.

Carrying out therapeutic measures in rabbit farms is economically unjustified. Even if recovered, animals remain carriers and will be infertile, and there is also a risk of infection in humans. Sick rabbits are killed, the rest are vaccinated. Meat can be eaten, but only after long-term boiling (at least two hours). The skins are disinfected.

For the treatment of decorative rabbits, antibiotics ("biomycin", "tetracycline" and others), immunostimulants ("roncoleukin"), stimulants of metabolic processes ("catozal", "gamavit", "mikrovitam"), homeopathic drugs ("traumeel", " Engistol", "Echinacea compositum").

If there are signs of damage to the nervous system, the therapy described above (treatment of listeriosis) is used.

Prevention

For prevention it is necessary:

Examination and quarantine of incoming animals.
Control of insects and rodents (disinsection and deratization).
Control and purchase of feed only from reliable and prosperous farms.
If there is a threat of infection, vaccination is carried out (with a vaccine from the AUF strain).

Encephalozoonosis of rabbits

The disease is caused by intracellular parasites of the protozoan class, manifested by damage to the nervous system, as well as the kidneys and other internal organs (liver, spleen, heart, eyes, intestines). Infection occurs through the nutritional route, the pathogen is excreted in urine, feces, and a transplacental (intrauterine) method of infection is also possible.

Symptoms

Pathology can manifest itself:

Loss of coordination and torticollis.
The pupillary reflex may be absent.
Movement of the animal in a circle.
Paresis, paralysis and atrophy of the muscles of the limbs.
Development of uveitis (inflammation of the eye vessels) and lens opacity.

A feature of the pathology is that in most animals the disease occurs as a carrier and begins to manifest itself only when exposed to factors that weaken the immune system. An accurate diagnosis is made only based on the results of laboratory diagnostics.

Prevention

Timely disinfection.
Prevention of weakening and support of immunity in animals (high-quality feeding, absence of stress, drafts, hypothermia).

Other rabbit signals.

CURIOSITY. A rabbit can be curious and explore and explore its surroundings, especially when there is no threat and it is in a good mood. Such a curious animal is revealed by its neck stretched upward, standing on its hind legs, and ears raised, catching new sounds. The long-eared animals take the same pose when the owner appears, when they expect him to give them something tasty and juicy. Often, in adult rabbits, the very tips of the ears are lowered and resemble the visor of a cap. The nose of a rabbit can tell about the power of curiosity. The more often it moves, the more interested your animal is in something.

Want to know everything. I respect you.

RESPECT. Your pet can express a sign of respect for you, show friendliness by licking your hand, or, for example, to its fellow friend. In this case, he begins to lick and lightly bite some part of the body. Don't confuse this with licking a wet, sweaty palm. If this is the case, then the rabbit most likely does not have enough salt in its diet. It is a sign of ultimate affection when your pet cuddles up to your chest or hugs you with its front paws. In general, among rabbits, licking is considered a tool for establishing and consolidating hierarchy in the herd. At the same time, the rabbit that is lower in rank licks the one that is “higher” in status. Therefore, in addition to respecting you, the rabbit makes it clear that it recognizes your privileges. And vice versa, when you pet your pet, you not only calm his nerves, but also stroke his pride. This makes the rabbit doubly good. A rabbit gets special pleasure from stroking its head against the grain. During molting, animals love to have their faded fur combed out. Some rabbits “mumble” at this moment, showing how pleased they are.

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DISCONTENT. You've probably noticed this in your practice. how rabbits throw and scatter various objects around the cage. If this is not the case with a female in heat, then the rabbit is dissatisfied with being confined to the cage and asks to be free to walk. But not only that. Once upon a time, I had ordinary tin cans in my cages as drinking bowls. So the rabbits began to throw them up with their teeth, making it clear that the water had run out and they were thirsty.

I WILL BE GIVING BIRTH SOON. If a rabbit is pregnant, two weeks before giving birth she may begin to make a nest, carry hay in her mouth, tear up fluff, and show excessive irritability. At the same time, sometimes she loses her appetite and stops eating altogether for a while. This is a signal to the rabbit breeder to begin preparing this cage and queen cell for the successful replenishment of the herd.

I WANT TO MARRY Males have their own problems. Sometimes the rabbit, moving around the cage, sprays it with urine. This is a sign that it is time to mate him with a female. When kept at home, this leads to unpleasant consequences, requiring frequent cleaning of carpets. Mating or castration will help change this behavior. There is no other option.

STOP! BACK! RESTRICTED AREA! There is another, already harmless function of the male - to mark territory. He does this with the help of glands located under his tongue. The secreted secretion is spread through the pores in the chin onto surrounding objects. Other rabbits, through their olfactory organs, transmit a signal to the brain, which translates as “be careful, foreign territory.” I called this secret harmless because people don’t smell it.

I'M SICK! Grinding of teeth is another signal given by a rabbit. Most likely, he is talking about the onset of pain as a result of a serious illness. For example, when bloating and gastrointestinal tract begin, animals usually emit a characteristic grinding sound. There is a misconception that it can appear as a result of overgrown teeth. This is wrong. When you hear a grinding sound, you need to carefully pay attention to your rabbit’s health. Just don’t confuse it with the “teeth purring” of pleasure. When stroking a rabbit, it may grind its teeth slightly.

I'M HIGH Sometimes, especially in young rabbits, a state of euphoria sets in. If he is healthy, well-fed, does not feel danger, and is still free, he can begin to run in circles and periodically fall on his side, roll on the ground and even freeze for a while, breathing rapidly. One day, this behavior of a pet really scared me, because at that time I didn’t know what exactly was going on. Some breeds of rabbits can meditate and relax. For example, a female white giant can sometimes cover her eyes and begin to slowly sway from side to side. At the same time, she looks detached and shows that the nervous system is in an extremely relaxed state. This may last several minutes and in no way indicates a health disorder. The rabbit may go into a trance. My rabbits love it when I pick them up and very gently pull their head back by their ears. Gradually the head tilts back almost 180°, the animal rolls its eyes and falls into prostration. You need to get out of it in the reverse order gradually, otherwise fear may occur. It turns out that rabbits simply enjoy bathing, although in nature they never do this themselves.

Decorative breeds

There are more than 200 breeds of decorative rabbits. They live 5-7 years, but with careful care their life is extended to 10 years.

How to care for rabbits depends on the characteristics of the breed. The following animals are most often bred:

Colored dwarfs, or dwarf shorthairs. They got their name because of the variety of colors (more than 60 species), but white is considered the most beautiful. Until they are one and a half years old, they scratch and bite. To reduce aggression, castration is performed.
Lion breeds (Lions). They are called so because a mane grows around the neck and head, like a lion. And even with their muzzle, some look like the king of beasts. This type is called Lion's Head. These are small animals, weighing no more than 1.2 kg. There are rabbits with long hair - the Angora lion. The fur hangs over the eyes and covers the ears. It needs to be trimmed regularly. Lions have such a calm character that it is safe for children to play with them.
Dutch rabbits. They have an interesting color, shiny, soft wool. They weigh no more than 1 kg, but there is a separate species that grows up to 2-2.5 kg. The animals are obedient, smart and sociable, get along well with children, but are energetic and require increased attention. Easy to care for.
Angora rabbits are fluffballs of two types. One has fur with a hair length of up to 20 cm, which feels like cotton wool to the touch. Your fur coat requires daily care. Another species has shiny fur that does not exceed 5 cm in length, which makes it easier to care for.
Dwarf rexes. They grow up to 1.4 kg in weight. They have royal status. They are called plush for the quality of their wool. A fur coat of amazing beauty and a wide range of colors requires careful care. Smart, obedient, safe for children, easy to train. This makes caring for rabbits easy and enjoyable.
Fold sheep are cute, harmless animals with a good character. They have a head similar to a lamb, long hanging ears (22-27 cm), due to which they have difficulty hearing. Thanks to this, they are extremely calm and fearless, which is why keeping decorative rabbits of this breed is recommended for families with small children. Caring for them is easy.

The smallest breed is Hermelin. Its representatives weigh less than 1 kg. Animals are capricious in their care: they are sensitive to temperature conditions, have a complex, independent character, which complicates communication.

Rabbits have a lot in common with cats in character and habits.

How to keep a rabbit? This is the daily work and attention that a furry pet requires. Sometimes maintaining them involves unpleasant troubles

Keeping decorative rabbits at home can be done by someone who is not afraid of worries, is ready to forgive pets for their pranks and put up with certain inconveniences. To care for and maintain decorative rabbits you need the following equipment:

A large, comfortable cage with a solid floor, because the structure of the legs does not allow free movement on the grid. Cover the corner of the cage or place a box for the pet to hide there.
Aviary, if walks around the apartment are not provided.
A drinking bowl or feeder is preferably heavy, for example ceramic, so that the eater who likes to scatter food does not turn it over with his teeth. A plastic feeder is attached to the cage. Container for storing hay.
A tray with litter, a scoop and vinegar to neutralize urine odor.
A thick branch for a rabbit to sharpen its teeth.
Scissors - cut nails, combs and grooming brushes.
Toys to chew on instead of furniture.

Caring for rabbits at home does not require special knowledge, although the animals are gentle, have weak immunity and are susceptible to diseases.

Caring for rabbits at home does not require special knowledge

General observations.

The more you communicate with rabbits, the more convinced you are that each of them is an individual. Everyone has their own character, inclinations, habits. Therefore, take these observations into account whenever possible. When a rabbit is comfortable, stress is minimized, he gets sick less, develops faster, and gains the required condition. I probably missed some points from the proposed topic. Perhaps your rabbits can express their emotions and feelings with other sounds and gestures. In this case, please share your observations and supplement the article. I will be very grateful to you!

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Keeping rabbits

In order for rabbits to feel comfortable, they should be properly looked after and provided with living conditions. Animals are sensitive to sudden changes in temperature, high humidity, excessive dry air, and in drafts they can quickly catch a cold.

Recommended maintenance temperature - 12-18 Cº Optimum air humidity - 60 - 75%

Rabbits need sunlight. But the cages should be protected from direct contact with it, so that the animals do not suffer heatstroke.

Selecting a location

The location for the rabbits' dwellings is chosen to be level, windless, and shaded. The approach to it should be free, so that it would not be problematic to distribute food or clean the cages.

It is advisable that breeding individuals and young animals be in different sections. It is also necessary to equip cages for female rabbits with queen cells.

A cage for sick animals and a quarantine room are placed separately, where newly acquired animals stay for 1 month.

Arranging a rabbitry

Rabbit farms are housing for rabbits. Separate cages, shads, enclosures, and pits are used for them.

The most common is cage placement of animals. The cages are made of wood and metal mesh, covered with slate (ondulin, corrugated sheet). The lid should be tilted and hinged. Install feeders and drinking bowls. Cell shapes can be different. The cells are placed in one row or 2-3 floors. The approximate size of the cage is 110 cm * 60 cm * 60 cm. Baby rabbits are usually raised in group cages 200 - 300 cm long.

In recent years, shad placement of rabbits has begun to be used. Sheds are heated canopies, under which there are cages of 1-2 floors. The feed and water supply system is usually automated. The shed system is very practical, because it is possible to save on the rabbitry area and mechanize feeding and cleaning.

Aviary living is a method that is based on the free walking of animals in an enclosure - an open space surrounded by a fence. By nature, rabbits are active and sociable, constantly moving. In the enclosure, long-eared pets gain the opportunity to run, jump, and frolic. Thanks to free placement, animals get sick less, eat better, and grow faster.

The Yamna method of living is also practiced. Rabbits are burrowing animals and can dig their own homes. It is enough just to select the necessary plot of land, make a hole of the required size and release the animals into it. But this method is not suitable for regions with cold winters.

How much space do you need?

A rabbit will not be able to live in crowded conditions; it will become bored there, which can cause it to get sick and even die. Always keep this in mind when choosing a cage. If you plan to build a house for two medium-sized individuals, keep in mind that each person must have at least 0.5 square meters. To save space, you can build a two-level cage. The main thing is that it is warm and light, but does not allow drafts or direct sunlight to pass through.

If animals live outside, they must be reliably protected from rain and wind. When cold weather sets in, don’t forget to move their house to a warm shelter, which is perfect for a barn or other outbuilding in the country. Some even raise rabbits in the garage, installing special pallets inside it.

Can domestic rabbits live in an enclosure? Of course, it is not only possible, but also necessary, if the climate and area of the site allows it. Fluffies require constant physical activity, and for a rabbit to want to frolic, it needs a lot of free space. Whether they live in an enclosure or a spacious cage does not matter.

If the rabbit is one of your pets, be sure to let it out of the cage to run around the rooms at least once every two days for a few hours. First, remove from the floor all wires and other objects that your furry can chew if they catch his eye. To prevent the animal's claws from scratching the parquet and walls of the apartment, they can be trimmed with special scissors. The rabbit plays with flowers very interestingly.

Always watch where your pet goes. Don't let him jump from a height onto a hard surface, remember that this is life, not an overgrowth computer game, so even a small flight can cause injury. If this does happen and your pet is limping a little or trying not to step on one of the paws, the tip of which is slightly swollen, most likely he has damaged it. Fractures must be treated after a preliminary examination in the clinic, and exactly as the doctor wrote.

Sterilization of animals

Sterilized rabbits gain weight faster, and their meat is more flavorful and tender. It is recommended to castrate eared cats no later than 4 months of age.

Sterilization is carried out in three ways:

Closed (remove the testis without damaging the membrane).
Open (the scrotum is dissected, the membranes of the testes are incised, the spermatic cords are crossed).
Percutaneous (the scrotum and testis are pulled at the base - within a week they fall off due to the cessation of blood supply).

Furry pet care

Those who want to have a furry pet are primarily interested in how to properly care for rabbits so that the animals grow healthy, reproduce, and do not create problems and discomfort for their owners. Looking after rabbits at home is as follows:

Feeding. The diet must contain the necessary components. You should not overfeed - this causes obesity, which has a bad effect on health and reproductive abilities.
Cleaning the cells. The presence of an unpleasant odor in the house depends on how to care for domestic rabbits. The feeder and tray are washed daily. The cage itself is cleaned once a week. Cleaning and disinfection are carried out every month.
Caring for decorative rabbits involves combing the fur and cutting it. This is done regularly so that the fur does not settle on the floor, furniture and does not accumulate in the stomach of the little tidy. Rabbits are bathed only in exceptional cases.
Trimming nails is a mandatory procedure, because they grow, and the rabbit grinds them down on furniture, walls, and scratches painfully. Shorten the claws carefully so as not to damage the blood vessels.
Vaccination. Animals are susceptible to the same diseases as ordinary rabbits. The most dangerous diseases are myxomatosis (spread by mosquitoes) and viral hemorrhoidal disease. They give a mortality rate of 70-100%. The first vaccination is carried out at the age of 28-45 days, and then once a year. If necessary, vaccinations are given against pasteurellosis, paratyphoid fever, rabies, etc.
Deworming. Held every quarter.

What does the diet consist of and how to solve the problem of vitamin deficiency

The main menu of rabbits is the ground part of herbaceous shoots and young shrubs. In summer they feed on greens. They go into vegetable fields and vegetable gardens. They feast on cabbage, beets, carrots, and respect lettuce leaves. Sometimes they sneak into the orchards and covet apples. In autumn, they look for hot spots on grain crops.

In winter, the diet changes. If dry grass cannot be obtained from under the snow, the tips of the lower branches of cherry, apple, and willow trees are used. The lack of moisture and nutrients is compensated by eating morning droppings. Such caecotrophs are similar to storage chambers for concentrated vitamins.

Useful waste is covered by a mucous capsule. They contain many enzymes important for digestion, cell growth, and metabolism. They are of particular importance for young animals during puberty and pregnancy.

In times of food shortages to save their lives, rabbits eat tree bark and try to climb higher to get juicier pieces. Because of such habits, rodents are considered pests of agricultural crops.

Health and the course of life depend on feeding. In nature, it lasts up to 3 years, although the potential is for 10-12 years. Nutrition is directly related to the number of animals per square meter, resulting in a vicious circle.

They try to regulate the number of individuals in different ways. They hunt, trap, and with the accelerated growth of the rabbit population, they use a bacteriological attack, individually spreading diseases.

The meaning of bodily movements

An attentive owner will notice a good mood and manifestations of a rabbit's joy by chaotic jumping. Increased activity, recklessness, interest in various things and toys also indicate increased tone of animals. Such playfulness is often an invitation to play with him.

Caution, anxiety, and approximate activity of rabbits are expressed by standing on their hind legs, alert ears, and intense nose work. On the other hand, such interest could be a request for a treat or a walk.

Pressing to the floor, drooping ears and freezing indicate the animal’s fear, intense need, and stress. A manifestation of relaxation and contentment is rolling from the back to the tummy, legs spread out to the sides. Lying on your back with your stomach open speaks of trust in the person and a sense of security.

Careless neglect of a pet often causes it to become aggressive, which manifests itself in the form of an urge to bite.

A stomping rabbit that stomps its hind legs on the floor tries to attract attention for various reasons.