When it comes to raising rabbits, you should not only know the proper care for them, but also the genetics involved. There are certain rules to follow when it comes to raising rabbits properly and to produce your best, you must adhere to them. While some people may think of rabbit farming as a simple task to do, this is not always the case. Let’s talk about the basics first. A small breed female or doe is ready to mate when she reaches 5 months of age. On the other hand, a male or a male would be ready once he is 6 months old. In general, it would be wise to breed rabbits whose ancestors have evidence of good genetics and high overall productivity. For this reason, you would need the pedigree listings and various earnings from the show. In fact, as a breeder, you must also keep your own records. As for the ratio, you can keep it at 1:10 if you want. That is, from $ 1 to $ 10. The male could reproduce up to 7 times a week effectively.
Now, let’s talk about the dos and don’ts of rabbit farming.
– Take rabbits of the same breed. The only exception to this rule would be breeding for meat or pets. Otherwise, you will not be able to mate rabbits that are not of the same breed. This is because you will not be able to sell a pedigree rabbit that has mixed blood and cannot trace its origin for up to 4 generations.
– Do not keep more than one rabbit in a single cage. This is imperative once the rabbit is 3 months or older. The reason for this is the fact that rabbits mature faster when kept alone.
– If you feel that you are ready to start raising rabbits, take the female to the male’s cage. Don’t do it the other way around because the male would be too busy sniffing around the female’s cage to even pay attention to mating.
– There are people who live the doe in the cage of the males during the night while there are those who take the doe out once the 2 rabbits have mated. If you opt for the latter, you should reposition the female after a couple of hours or more, as this would increase the likelihood of pregnancy and could even increase the number of pups.
Obviously, raising rabbits is not as easy as it sounds. However, with enough effort and research, you will be able to get it right. After all, raising rabbits is a science and it is something that everyone can learn if given enough time to do so.
