I went to feed the rabbits today and observed some funny thing about the kits (children) of Flora (one of my female rabbit that kindled not long ago). I their eyes are now opened and I have removed the nest box so they can now go after their mom for breast milk which is still their main source of food at this stage.
How It Starts
I observed that at this stage anytime I put in food into the hutch for their mom, they don’t go after the food but rather dive under their mom and try to grab on to one of the nipples to suck for breast milk. You see, the mom will be busy eating at first that it doesn’t bother her, but after some time she jumps and kicks off so that they don’t suck on her breast. The kits will pretend as if they’re not interested but will still go near her and once she starts eating again the whole process continues, mom kicks off, kits fall off and it continues until they are full and go lay down somewhere else to rest.
Preparing To Leave Mama
As they grow older, say from 3 weeks up, they rely less on their moms milk, the mom by the is preparing them for weaning. By the time they’re a month or more the doe doesn’t allow them suck again, by that time they struggle to eat much of the food you put in the hutch. I wean my kits when they are about 5 to 7 weeks depending on their size and development. But the kits remain together until they’re about 10 to 11 weeks (I don’t want them to be sexually active before separating them to avoid any inbreeding amongst them. At that stage they’re put in their own hutch.
The Circle of Life is Complete
By the time they’re 5 to 6 months depending on their size, weight and development, I mate the doe among them with a different buck (not the doe brother though) and after 14 days I test for positive pregnancy and if she has taken in extra care is provided for her and in about 31 days after mating she’ll kindle (give birth to young ones). The Buck among them are used for mating while the non performing bucks are sold. And the circle of life continues.
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Didn't know any of these informations man.
Thanks for sharing.
Are you doing this for a living or just because you love rabbits? (or both? hahah )
I think it's kinda both. I use to keep them as a pet when I was way much younger. But I had to stop when I went to the university and after that I didn't think of keeping rabbits again. Early this year I thought of starting something sustainable in the agricultural sector and then rabbit rearing came to mind. So its partly for a living and because I love rabbits. Am currently trying to increase my stock to say 100 before I start selling some of them in larger quantity. Thanks for your comment always.
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It is also a health thing for me, I provide web based services, keeping them means I don't seat in front of a computer all day long.
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Awesome story bro.
Keep it up.
For sure it's healthy and if you can combine what you love with earning money it's great.
Much love bro and I hope you will achieve your goals.
Those are completely new information for me. Really interesting. To do a farm like this some one should have a good patience and sympathy towards animal. And also you have a very good knowledge in this field. Those may be come from experience. educate us regarding this future as well. Thanks
Thanks a lot for your comment and interest. I'll sure keep you posted of new developments.
These are very important and interesting information. Thanks for sharing your personal experience with all of us.
Thanks, i appreciate your comment.
Awesome post, I know you're an expert in this field.
Am really grateful for your comment.
I like these furry animals. My father once grew them. I can not grow an animal and then send it to the meat. During the growth he becomes a friend.
I am not a vegetarian. Tell the blog how you manage to keep calm from parting with rabbits.
I think you have to love them to take care of them and not be cruel to them. It's this same way if you plant a fruit tree, you take care of it if not it'll die. But when the tree matures and start producing fruit, you eat from it even though you love it. But I understand some people don't like to see killed, but they eat meat. How the meat came to the table they don't want to know. For me I just feel they should be treated with care, besides, mine hasn't started going to the market, they're about 50 now and I want them to get to 100.