How many rabbits can be kept in one cage: the optimal number and problems

Beginner rabbit breeders have many questions. One of the most important is how many rabbits can be safely kept in one cage. This depends on the size of the cell. Thanks to this knowledge, the adaptation period of an inexperienced business executive to these seemingly calm little animals is reduced. Rabbits are what they are, you just have to know how to handle them.

Main ways of content

Rabbits have been raised for meat for a long time, so there are several practices for arranging their life on a farm or homestead.

Dugout

This is, in fact, a real house, only deepened into the ground. For the penetration of light, they either leave gaps between the logs in the ground part of the structure, or insert windows. In addition to physical labor, the minimum material costs for the log rolling device become a plus.

Rabbits in such housing are very comfortable. Those who want to retire dig holes for themselves. The dugout is warm in winter and cool in summer.

Pit

This is an isolated housing for a family of mother and cubs or foster siblings. Light enters through a transparent cover that can be removed in clear weather. Burrows rabbits dig at their own discretion in any quantities. The temperature regime is almost the same as in the dugout. Convenient for rabbits, not very comfortable for human service. Going down a hole a couple of times a day is not easy for everyone.

Aviary

Great way, close to life in freedom. It is convenient to serve food here. Easy to do cleaning. There is no need to be afraid that rabbits will spill water on themselves. There is no need to install automatic drinkers. In one place they arrange a canopy in case of bad weather. It is advisable to build a semblance of a stop for public transport so that those who wish can find protection from strong winds.

This area is used from snow to snow, except for rare snowless winters with severe frosts.

When choosing an aviary keeping of rabbits, one should not forget about predators. A good fence would be a metal mesh dug half a meter into the ground. Trees should not hang over it. The grid is installed strictly vertically. Otherwise, there is a high probability of eating rabbits by cats, even their own, and other animals.

Cells

The first two named methods are rarely used. The most popular method, suitable for small, medium and large farms, is the placement of rabbits in cages. The material for their construction is different:

tree;
plastic;
metal mesh.

For lighting in one wall, gaps are left between wooden slats or this side of the cage is made of metal mesh. To drain urine, the floor can be made of plastic mesh. Installing cages in two tiers saves space and time for maintenance.

Sheds

Widely used on farms, but also practical with small livestock. On both sides along the central passage there are even rows of cages in one or two tiers. The sectional arrangement allows for local water supply to water the rabbits.It is convenient to make a common retractable pallet for quick and accurate cleaning of manure. Other improvements are possible to facilitate and speed up the maintenance of rabbits. Cell blocks are placed either indoors or under a canopy.

How many rabbits can be kept in one cage

The rabbit brings 6-9 rabbits. Up to 2-2.5 months they can be kept in the same cage with their mother. For them at this age, 0.2 m² is enough for each. 0.4 m is added to the rabbit^{2 In a separate cage, mating is carried out. A pregnant female is kept in a cage alone until the birth. For fattening, females are placed separately, males are placed separately. As many rabbits are placed in the cage as its area allows. They try to keep males in 2-3.}

What problems might you encounter

Rabbits are lovers of showdowns. Therefore, it is not always possible to keep several males in one cage. If they are mated at the age of over 2 months, they can constantly fight. In this case, pugnacious individuals are planted alone.

Females sort things out on the first day they meet, usually without injury. Then they coexist quite peacefully. In order to avoid conflicts between rabbits, it is better to keep either females or males of the same litter together.