box to keep the newborn litter from coming in contact with the cold boards, and then pack the nest box with clean straw so the doe will have to burrow into it to make a hollow for her nest. If the doe allows the litter to nurse and there is adequate dry fur for the litter to fluff to make a nest, the young can survive temperatures as low as -26 to -29°C in this type of nest box.
An electric heating pad covered with a moisture-resistant material has also been used with success. It is placed under the nest box and run at a very low setting. Care must be taken not to overheat the litter.
Identification Equipment
An adjustable tattoo box enables one person to mark a rabbit for identification. The box should be 51cm long × 20cm high × 20cm wide with a movable 2.5 × 15 × 46 cm floorboard that may be raised or lowered to accommodate the size of the rabbit. A small board that slides into slots spaced 2.5 cm apart is placed in back of the rabbit to keep it confined in the front end of the box. A top with an opening to allow the rabbit’s ear to protrude is fastened to the box at the back end with a 7.7 × 6 cm T hinge and at the front end with a door hook (Fig. 4.18). This type of restrainer can also be used to hold a rabbit for collection of a blood sample (Fig. 4.19). Be sure that the rabbit is held securely in the box so that it doesn’t struggle. A rabbit that struggles and fights will often dislocate the vertebrae in its back and be left with posterior paralysis. Alternatives to the tattoo box include a towel or a cat bag made of canvas. The rabbit is wrapped securely in the towel or canvas bag and does not struggle when it is tattooed or treated.
Fig. 4.18. An adjustable tattoo box.
Fig. 4.19. Restraining a rabbit for collection of a blood sample from the ear. (Courtesy of OSU Rabbit Research Center)
Feed and Utility Carts
A cart equipped for hauling feed, rabbits, nest boxes, and other equipment is a great convenience and a time and labor saver. A cart with three 30 to 45 cm bicycle-type wheels will provide maneuverability over obstacles on the floor as well as mobility for getting around cages and through the aisles. The cart can be purchased or built at home. Feeding from such a cart greatly reduces the labor of feeding as compared to carrying buckets of feed up and down the aisles. It is also possible to carry more than one type of feed at a time so rabbits can more easily be fed to their requirements. A special bed on the cart for holding rabbits can be used for taking does to the buck’s cage for breeding and for transporting rabbits out of the rabbitry.
Other Equipment
Other equipment needed in the rabbitry may include nail clippers for nail trimming, wire brushes for cage cleaning, and a propane torch or a vacuum cleaner for removing hair from cages. A very useful item is a fish landing net to catch rabbits that may escape.
5
Rabbit Management
Rabbits vary considerably in temperament and respond readily to kind treatment. If they are handled properly they will be gentle and easy to manage, and these characteristics should be considered in selecting breeding stock. A doe that is fairly aggressive for a few days following kindling should not be condemned if she is gentle at other times. Aggressiveness indicates that she is alert and ready to protect her newborn litter. Some of the does that are the best mothers show this trait. However, if she continues to be aggressive, culling the animal should be considered.
When entering the rabbitry, practise caution so as not to startle the animals. A familiar voice speaking to them will give warning and prevent them from becoming frightened. A background noise, such as the sound from a radio or a fan, is very helpful in keeping rabbits calm.
It should be emphasized that good management is the key to successful rabbit raising. The quality of the stock, the quality of the feed, and the sophistication of the cages, equipment, and building will do nothing to overcome the detrimental effects of poor management. Rabbit production involves a high degree of management skill compared to other livestock endeavors. Cleanliness, ventilation, and close observation of the animals are very important. Close observation is extremely crucial, since early detection may allow correction of problems before they become serious or uncorrectable.
Handling Rabbits
Rabbits should never be lifted only by their ears or legs, for they may be permanently injured. You may lift and carry a small rabbit or fryer comfortably without damaging the pelt or bruising the carcass by grasping the loin gently but firmly, with the heel of the hand toward the tail of the animal. With a medium or heavy weight rabbit, grasp a fold of skin over the shoulder with one hand and place the other hand under the rump to support the weight of the animal (Fig. 5.1).
Fig. 5.1. The proper method for lifting medium- or heavy-weight rabbits. (Courtesy of J.I. McNitt)
For carrying, grasp a fold of skin over the shoulder and lift, holding the rabbit against your body with its head under one arm, the forearm being extended along the side of the animal and the hand under its rump for support. This prevents struggling, and the rabbit may be carried comfortably (Fig. 5.2). The aim is not to totally confine the rabbit: rather the rabbit should be held so it feels safe. Gentle handling of rabbits should result in fewer scratching or biting attempts.
Fig. 5.2. The proper method for carrying medium- or heavy-weight rabbits. (Courtesy of J.I. McNitt)
Number of Bucks
Traditionally, 1 buck for every 10 does has been used. This underutilizes the buck and increases costs of operation. Research has demonstrated that the sperm count does not decrease below the level for optimum fertilization even when the buck is used daily for extended periods of time or used three or four times a day for a few days. The buck’s only purpose in a rabbitry is breeding. If he is not used often, he may become fat and lazy. If 1 buck is kept for 10 does and your rebreeding interval is 35 days, the buck is only used 10 times in 66 days (35 + 31 days gestation). This means it works about once a week. One buck could service 66 does if it were used daily. With a shorter breeding interval, more bucks are needed. Many commercial rabbit raisers are now keeping 1 buck for 25 to 30 does.
The bucks should not be overfed. They should be on restricted feed, but when they are working hard and during cold weather, they should be fed more. The greatest cause of decreased libido (sexual
