Cages for breeding rabbits can not only be bought, but also made by hand. The main thing is that the “home” for furry animals should be as comfortable as possible, then the animals will grow quickly and gain weight well. Cages for domestic rabbits are very different, for every taste and budget.

What should be the design

Available for sale great amount varied cells. The design can be either single-tier or consisting of two or more tiers. Here are the basic requirements for the design of any dwelling for rabbits:

Cells consisting of several tiers have another name - "sheds". Sheds intended for kindling, keeping young animals and adult animals have minor differences in design. But general principle remains unchanged: the space is divided into zones using cells separated from each other by partitions. The number of tiers depends on the number of rabbits. Additional insulation is laid at the bottom. All wooden elements and accessories must be made of the most durable wood species so that animals do not gnaw through them.

When choosing cages for industrial production, you should not purchase European houses, you should give preference to domestic ones, since other breeds of rabbits are bred in Europe, and animal housing is made according to other standards. It is better to buy the simplest dwellings aimed at Russian livestock breeders, or construct cages on your own, for example, using the Zolotukhin method.

The size of the cage for rabbits is calculated, depending on the breed and the number of livestock.

Cell types

It happens that a person has long decided to breed rabbits, but cannot choose a place to keep them. A novice rabbit breeder can easily become overwhelmed by the abundance various kinds cells. As a rule, the following varieties are used in Russian farms:

• Cages intended for the rounding of the female;
• Premises for rearing young animals until puberty;
• "houses" for adults;
• Premises equipped with an aviary, with the possibility of walking;

Each species has its dedicated supporters. Also, very special cages are made for animals belonging to the Giant and Californian breeds. Depending on who exactly the dwelling is intended for, the cells have a different size and a different internal structure. You can make a cage of any kind yourself using drawings and diagrams from the Internet. Also, good ideas for beginner rabbit breeders can be gleaned from the old Soviet magazines "Plant Farming".

Author's cell designs are also very popular. Among them, cages made according to the Mikhailov method and dwellings for animals “according to Zolotukhin” should be noted. Such cages for rabbits are much more convenient and compact than purchased ones.

Cells designed by N. I. Zolotukhin

Cages developed by N.I. Zolotukhin are very popular with domestic farmers. Here are their main distinguishing features:

• The animal housing consists of three tiers;
• 6 rabbits live in one cage;
• The floor is made of wood or slate, there is no mesh on the floor, there is also no pallet;
• The mother liquor can be removed and moved from place to place.

Animal houses made according to this model are compact, inexpensive, they can be easily made with your own hands from improvised materials. They are also very easy to clean, which greatly simplifies the care of animals. Such "houses" will be appropriate both on a small farm and on a farmstead with a large livestock. Making cells according to the Zolotukhin method at home will not take much time if you have the basic skills of a joiner and carpenter.

Cells designed by N. I. Zolotukhin

Sheds for rabbits

Translated from English word Shed means barn. Shed, in fact, is a construction of two or three tiers of cages installed under one common canopy. Here are the main features of the sheds:

• Base made of metal or durable wood;
• Mesh cells;
• Dimensions 60×3 m;
• Automatic supply of food and liquid for animals.

One shed is designed for 500 individuals, but if the rabbit breeder makes the building with his own hands, the dimensions may be different, it all depends on the number of livestock. Shed gives good protection from wind and sun; in cells of such a plan it is easy to maintain the required temperature and humidity. This is a truly versatile home, suitable for both young and adults.

Important! If the shed is standing on the street, the canopy must be especially strong so that street dust does not get into the houses.

Aviaries

An aviary is, in fact, not even a cage, but just a place fenced with a chain-link mesh. But, despite the numerous advantages, the aviary has a serious drawback: in the conditions of aviary keeping, animals can quickly become infected with dangerous infections from each other. However, many farmers consider an aviary the most convenient home for furry animals. In order to make an aviary, it is not necessary to search the Internet for drawings and diagrams, it is enough to drive pegs around the perimeter of the site and cover the place where the animals are kept with a strong mesh with small cells. Still, sheds are better for rabbits than aviaries, especially in regions with a cold climate.

Sheds

Many rabbit breeders successfully keep their livestock under a canopy. The canopy allows you to keep animals in the fresh air, but at the same time the rabbits will be reliably protected from rain, wind and sun. The following requirements are imposed on the canopy:

It is also necessary to provide for the possibility of ventilation and protection against drafts in advance, since rabbits catch cold easily, a draft can cause mass death of livestock. The design of the canopy should be the simplest, but reliable. It is not worth looking for industrial-made canopies for sale, since their independent production will be much cheaper.

Bunk cages

If the livestock is small, cages consisting of two tiers are well suited for keeping animals. Below are their main features:

In order to make it easy to remove the litter, you can create an additional gap between the two "floors". A litter tray is placed in this gap. If the rabbit house will be in a garage or shed, it is enough to cover it with a chain-link mesh. If the cage will stand on the street, it should have solid walls. Outside, the tree can be treated with a composition that is resistant to moisture and mold. Designs consisting of two tiers are suitable for keeping rabbits of any breed, including giants. The main thing is to regularly clean the room, otherwise the animals will often get sick and may die.

On a note! Bunk dwellings are also suitable for keeping nutria.

Cages for rabbits with mother liquor

During the littering period, females require increased attention. During this time, rabbits can be aggressive, so they must be kept separately. For this, special cells with a queen cell are used. The design of such a house is by no means original and is a kind of "nest" for the mother and newborn children. The rabbit should feel as comfortable as possible. They differ in the following features:

• The room is equipped with a separate place for childbirth and feeding of cubs;
• Sawdust is suitable as a heater. The main thing is that they are out of the animal access zone;
• If the cage is spacious enough, the mother liquor is placed inside;
• If the cage is crowded, a paving stone base is attached to the front wall, which is then covered with a mesh.

In regions with cold weather, an additional heating source can be installed under the floor. The main thing is compliance with fire safety rules. If the female is kept outside, the cage must have a canopy. Inside, the complete absence of metal parts and accessories is desirable.

If a farmer needs a cage for a rabbit with a mother liquor, the dimensions of the dwelling depend on the “dimensions” of a particular female. The main thing is that the rabbit should be spacious, and not cramped.

Cells with mother liquor

Materials for making cells

To make your own house for rabbits, you can use almost any material. Which material to choose depends on the financial capabilities of the farmer. Plastic will be the cheapest, metal and wood will be more expensive. At the moment, domestic farmers prefer the following options:

• Wood combined with chain-link mesh;
• Polycarbonate, which is also used for greenhouses and greenhouses;
• Metal;
• Plastic.

If a metal mesh is used in the structure, it must be fixed with wooden or plastic rails.

Important! All parts made of wood that are inside the cage must be free of sharp corners and notches so that the animals cannot injure themselves. Highly flammable materials such as certain types of plastic must not be used.

For the floor, wood or mesh is usually used. Wood retains heat well, and mesh floors are easy to clean. Metal is not used in the manufacture of the floor, otherwise the animals will be cold. If animals are kept outdoors, wooden walls can be galvanized for insulation and as protection against moisture.

How to choose a grid

A rabbit net is one of the main expenses for a novice farmer. Choosing a mesh for making a "house" is not easy. Here are the main requirements that must be met:

• The strength of the material from which the mesh is made;
• Small cell size;
• The mesh must be securely fastened;
• It is desirable that metal fittings are not used for fastening.

Important! For the manufacture of the roof, the chain-link is not used, because even the smallest cells will let rainfall inside.

The mesh is used not only for finishing the walls and fences of the enclosures, but also for making the floor. Thanks to the mesh floor, the litter will easily fall through the cells, which will greatly facilitate cleaning.

It is better to buy a cage mesh in specialized stores for livestock breeders and farmers.

Features of cell location

Rabbits are quite vulnerable animals, so their health and development largely depends on where the cage is located. Here are the basic requirements for the place where animals are kept:

If all the above requirements are taken into account, the animals will grow well and gain weight quickly. Also, cages and enclosures should not be located in the immediate vicinity of the place where dogs are kept, since rabbits are shy animals, and dogs have a pronounced hunting instinct. If the dog suddenly breaks off the chain, he will certainly want to eat rabbit meat, so you should not intentionally provoke the dog by placing animals at his side.

For those who are just starting to breed furry rodents, it is best to use commercially produced cages. More experienced farmers may well design the simplest houses on their own, using improvised materials and drawings.

Depending on the age and size of the pet, cage parameters may vary. For example, rabbits of the "" breed will require special cages. Certain breeds will also need their own special cages.

The length of the cage for females with hatching should be 175-185cm, width - 1m, height - 60-70cm. During the hatching period, it is important that the female feel comfortable. Rabbits are incredibly afraid of dampness and drafts. Position the cages so that they are not under constant sun exposure. The facade of the cell must be placed to the east or west. Dig the post into the ground (to a depth of 0.6-0.8m), place stationary cages. Portable cages can be placed on stands or on wooden goats. At the level of 70-80cm from the ground, single-tier cages can be installed. In order for rabbits to move easily in cages, the structures must be free. For rabbits weighing over five kilograms, cages with a length of 130-150 cm, a depth of 70 cm, a back wall height of 40-45 cm, and a front wall height of 55-60 cm will be required.

Group cages are used for transplanted young animals. In such cages, from eight to twenty rabbits can be kept at the same time.

From three to five animals under the age of three months or two to three rabbits over the age of 3 months are kept in individual cages.

For one rabbit, the cage area should be at least 0.5 square meters. m, not less than 35 cm - the height of the walls.

When making group cages, consider the number of individuals, because each animal will need at least 0.15-0.20 square meters. m.

Outdoor cages for keeping rabbits are one-, two-, three-tiered. From the surface of the earth to the cells of the lower tier should be 35 cm.

In winter, when you need to take care of suckling rabbits, you should cover the floor in the nesting compartment with straw. A layer of straw - up to twenty centimeters.

Choose non-artificial materials for making the cage. Synthetic materials have a bad effect on the development of rabbits - this rule is important for all breeds of rabbits.

Cage for adult rabbits

Since large cages are needed for a female with a hatch, then for an ordinary rabbit a cage with the following parameters will be enough: width 60-70cm, height - 60cm, length -100cm. These are the minimum cage sizes for one adult.

Rabbits are growing and they will need bigger cages. For adult rabbits, cages with the following parameters will be suitable: width - 60-80cm, height - 50cm, length - 120-150cm. Farmers say that in such a cage, an adult will feel free and will have personal space. The experts agreed that the floor of the cage should be mesh or slats. In appearance, the cage should resemble a block consisting of two cages, each of which can contain an adult.

It is possible to protect the feeding and nesting compartments of the cage with a wall, although the pet will not get lost and will find food.

Even when choosing cells, you need to consider gender. A rabbit cage will not fit a rabbit, although they will be of the same species. Consider the dimensions of the cage and the external conditions when creating the cage.

Two-tier shed - a row of cages placed in one or several tiers. Details about. A two-tiered shed is a suitable choice - it reduces the working area, does not complicate the control and care of pets. This design is used in the southern regions or on the street. But such an aviary can be organized in a barn or for the use of summer keeping of rabbits. Shed should not stand on the ground. It is preferable to place it at a height of 50-60cm. Given the size of the pet, the width of the shed should be up to 2m, and the depth should be up to 1m. You can also make a two-tier shed yourself. You will need boards, slate and a strong steel mesh. They build a shed on a one-way principle. A concrete foundation will increase the stability of the structure. The improved design includes the presence of a manure channel and pallets. Sheds - The best way for keeping rabbits. The arrangement of the shed allows you to keep several pets, makes it easier to care for rabbits.

It is important to make a blueprint of the cage and add additional houses or even rows of houses for new pets in the future. In sheds, all cells are the same in size, the houses are covered with a canopy, placed close to neighboring structures and placed one above the other. The convenience of this design is that rabbits will spend spring and summer outside.

In winter, rabbits in sheds are fed with specially heated water. Usually a nursery for grass or hay is arranged between two houses. The cages have non-waste bunker feeders - they need to be loaded for 3-8 days. The bunker feeder can be made from steel sheets. In the spring and summer, the sheds use an automatic water supply for the rabbits to drink. The passage in the shed is located at a slight slope from the central to the exit. The back walls of the cell form the walls of the shed. Sheds have small windows with bars. In winter, the windows with bars are closed with folding doors. Doors are made from the inside of the cells. Be sure to hang drinkers and feeders. A suspended road for trolleys (for transporting feed) is equipped along the middle aisle.

You will need a double cage with a mother liquor. The mother liquor is a removable compartment where babies up to a month old will be. It is also called the feed section. Most of such a cell is called feed. Between the cells there should be a hole, 17x20 cm in size. A similar design is suitable for a male and a female, for two rabbits with babies. A solid wooden partition or mesh will separate the compartments. It is best to make the floor from wooden slats (1.5 cm step), then the manure will fall into the lower pan.

Rabbits do not live long and they should be comfortable in the house. You should not overly save on materials, because healthy pets will fully recoup the costs. A double cage with a mother liquor includes a nursery, a door to the nesting compartment, a mesh door, a folding drinker and a feeder, a support post, a feeder axis.

The designs should be such that it is not necessary to constantly open the doors to fill them. Sawdust or small shavings are not suitable for bedding - the dust from them will cause the rabbit to sneeze.

Double cages with mesh aviary

To build a double single-tiered cage with a mesh aviary, you will need 0.6 sq. m grid (cells 35x35mm); lumber - 0.2 cu. m, 1.3 sq. m of metal mesh (cells 18x18mm) - if it is not there, then an all-welded mesh (cells 16x48mm) will do. Similar designs are needed for non-pregnant rabbits of reproductive age. They can also contain adult rabbits, young animals, weaned from the uterus.

Cages for rabbits with devices for laying feed for 1-2 weeks

These are advanced cells, they are made from various building materials. Features: in the center there are structures for the breeding stock, and along the walls there are enclosures for young individuals. Designs can be two-, three-tiered. But make sure that feces and urine do not fall from the upper cells.

For the uterine compartment: 40x70x60cm, for the light compartment: 60x70x60cm. Autodrinkers, feeders, nurseries for grass and hay are located in a bright compartment. Install a mesh or rack grille at a height of 5-10 cm in the uterine compartment and at a height of 10-15 cm from the floor in the light compartment. In summer, you need to clean the cages more often, because worms form in the manure.

Cages for rabbits Zolotukhina

Zolotukhin Nikolai Ivanovich - a well-known rabbit breeder, developed his own concept for keeping rabbits.

There are no pallets in such cages, the floor is made of boards or slate, the back walls are mounted at an angle, there are no special queen cells, grain feeders are fixed on the doors, only along the rear walls of the structure there is a narrow strip of a mesh floor. Cell sizes: 70x100 cm, cells are placed one above the other in several tiers, queen cells are also placed. So that the rabbits do not fall out through the open door, they put a board in front of the mother liquor. The mother liquors are placed one above the other. Common to all structures put a separate opaque door. The mother liquor is located in the cage itself, only part of the removable board is fenced off.

Sizes of cages for rabbits "giants"

The breed of large rabbits of the meat-and-skin direction was called the “gray giant”. Required design dimensions: width 35cm, length - 60cm, height - 40cm. You can make a more spacious cage: height - 61cm, length - 96cm, width - 68cm. The gray giant rabbit lives in areas with different climatic conditions.

Sizes of cages for fattening rabbits

The following design will fit: width 50cm, length 70cm, height 30cm. To make a rabbitry, you will need a soldered mesh, the cells must be square. You will need wire rod, diameter 6mm. Thinner wire should be wrapped around the joints on the structure. In such structures, water is supplied through teat drinkers, and there are also small feeders with a supply of food. Approximately a week fatten animals. During this period, they should be carefully looked after.

Cage dimensions for Californian rabbits

Californian rabbits are easy to care for. This is a hybrid of Russian ermine, Soviet chinchilla and New Zealand breed. The dimensions of the structure can be 1.5 times smaller than for the "grey giant" rabbits. These rabbits can tolerate the cold well even without bedding. For a cell with a queen cell, 0.4 sq. m, for one individual - 0.3 sq. m. It is easy to keep them. On the paws of Californian rabbits - hard wool. When placing individuals in grid blocks, settle pets of the same age - this will make it easier to care for, feed, and conduct veterinary examinations.

To breed Californian rabbits solely for meat - keep them in a pit. It is very easy to equip a pit, and the living of these rabbits in a pit will be as close as possible to the natural conditions of their habitat.

To arrange a rabbit pit, you need to dig a hole with approximate dimensions of 2x2x1m, strengthen the walls with slate or concrete, lay a mesh or plank floor, enclose the hole with a fence, and make a roof. California rabbits will burrow, mate, breed, raise young.

To avoid degeneration of rabbits - do not allow closely related mating. The rabbit breeder is obliged to supply water, feed, periodically conduct selection selection. To avoid closely related mating - the first generation that has grown to puberty, obtained from a specific male, must be caught and replaced with other rabbits.

California rabbits eat dairy products, fish or meat meal, and various protein supplements well. In winter, pets should have warm liquid to drink. Permanent access to water is a must for rabbits.

IN last years it is very popular with farmers to breed Californian rabbits. This breed is easy to breed on specialized farms. European rabbits are the ancestors of this individual. Initially, breeders set themselves the task of breeding a meat breed of rabbits with good skins. This breed is one of the most famous meat breeds of rabbits. 7-8 rabbits - the average fertility of rabbits. When breeding, rabbits can bring 11-12 rabbits. The rabbits are white (grayish) at birth, and by the age of 3.5-4 months they become similar in color to adult rabbits. In two months, newborn rabbits gain two kilograms of weight. Adult rabbits weigh 4.7-5.2kg, rabbits - 4.5-5kg. If you cross white New Zealand rabbits with California rabbits, you can achieve excellent breeding results. Rabbits of this breed have lowered legs. California rabbits are successfully bred on slatted floors. The tail of the California rabbit is close to the body, the chin is symmetrical, the head is set on short neck, broad back and shoulders, cylindrical torso of medium length.

This breed may also be called the "California White Rabbit" because it is pure white color. However, the tips of the ears, tail and paws may be colored brown or black. Usually such a rabbit weighs no more than 5 kg. If it weighs more, it is obese. The paws of the rabbit are thick and short, the eyes are pink, the skeleton is strong and light. The length of the ears does not exceed 10 cm. Experienced breeders advise beginner rabbit breeders to pay attention to breeding California rabbits, because they are not difficult to keep.

The length of the coat is approximately 3 cm, the length of the body is 50 cm. The head is rounded, not large. The rabbit's coat is shiny and thick. California rabbits can also be bought for entertainment, because they have a peaceful disposition, a cheerful character. With proper care, California rabbits can live up to ten years. However, due to their large size, such individuals will be difficult to keep as ornamentals. For their maintenance, rooms with a moderate, constant air temperature, with lighting are suitable. You can feed them with hay, grass, cereals, flour, vegetables, cereals.

Optimal cage sizes for rabbits

Cells with dimensions will be suitable: length - 120-150cm, width - 60-80cm, front wall height - 45-50cm, the door should be mesh, dimensions 65x70x50cm, slatted or mesh floor.

Sizes of industrial cages for rabbits

The constructions of industrial cells are modular, which, taking into account the stages of the process cycle, allows you to add new designs to the existing ones. Dimensions: 2x2x1x7m, there are ten uterine compartments, 40x92cm in size. To facilitate access to the boxes - there are spring-loaded covers. The operator, with the help of lifting covers of the partitions, can easily clean up the rabbit section in the section, perform weaning, individual therapy, palpation, insemination. To remove litter, all cages have removable corner panels.

Cells can be made from any locally available building material. The cage should be simple in design, convenient for animals and maintenance - distribution of feed, inspection of animals, cleaning. It is best to install it at a height of 0.8 to 1.0 m from the ground. Cells can be single or double.

The norm of the cage floor area per head should be as follows, m2:

For adult rabbits - 0.5-0.7;

Commodity young animals - 0.12,

Young replacement rabbits - 0.17; males - 0.3-0.5.

The most widely used in the outer cell system of keeping are double single-tiered cages designed by the Research Institute of Fur Farming and Rabbit Breeding.

Their length is 220-240 cm,

Width - 65 cm,

The height of the front wall (from the floor to the roof) - 50-60 cm,

Rear - 35 cm. The roof is shed, with a visor protruding forward by 20 cm and on the sides by 10 cm.

On the sides there are two permanent nesting compartments with a solid wooden floor, and in the remaining part there are two aft compartments with a metal mesh floor (mesh size 18x18 or 16x48 mm) for wooden slats 2 cm wide with a distance between the slats 1.5 ^ 1, 8 cm. A partition with a hole 17 cm wide and 20 cm high is placed between the nesting and aft compartments. To prevent babies from getting from the nesting compartment to the aft compartment, the hole is made at a height of 10-15 cm from the floor.

Rice. 1. Double cage for adult rabbits with nest compartment:
1 - door to the nesting compartment; 2 - pillar-stand; 3 - mesh door; 4 - folding drinker; 5 - nursery for roughage; 6 - folding feeder; 7 - feeder axis

On the front side of the cage, two mesh doors are hung leading to the aft compartments, and two solid plank doors to the nesting compartments. Removable feeders and drinkers are hung on the doors leading to the aft compartment. For the distribution of roughage between the feed compartments, a nursery is installed, made of two wooden frames, covered with a mesh with a mesh size of 20X50 mm. The lower ends of these frames are aligned, and the upper ends are moved apart towards the feed compartments of the cages. Roughage is distributed into the thus formed V-shaped nursery.

The construction of a double single-tier cage requires 0.2 m3 of lumber, 1.3 m2 of a metal mesh with 18x18 mm cells (you can use an all-welded mesh with 16x48 mm cells) and 0.6 m2 of a mesh with 35x35 mm cells (you can use a mesh with cells 24x48 mm).
For keeping adult rabbits, as well as young animals weaned from the queens, single-, double-seat cages with mesh paddocks-enclosures are convenient.

Rice. 2. Double cage with mesh aviary

The length of a double cage with an aviary is 2 m; width 1.65 m, including cage width - 0.65 m; the height of the front wall is 0.75 m, the back wall and the enclosures are 0.6 m. A manhole leads from the cage to the paddock, which can be blocked with a plug-in partition. The floor in the cells is mesh (cell size 18x18 or 16x48 mm); during okrol and in cold weather, solid wooden shields are placed on the floor.
Young animals are usually kept in group cages, which are a wooden frame, the back and side walls and the roof of which are wooden, and the front and floor are mesh. The roof is made of wood with a visor measuring 30 cm. The length of the cages should be 2.0-4 m, the width is 1 m, the height of the front wall is 0.5 m, the back wall is 0.4 m. Two doors are arranged in the front wall, on which self-tilting feeders and drinkers, nurseries for hay and grass.

Rice. 3. Group cage for weaned young animals(dimensions in cm)

It is not very convenient to install cages in the open air, since you have to work in rain and snow, in wind and frost, without any mechanization of the distribution of feed and water. Much more rational than open shed content.
The Swede is a barn with a wooden frame. metal, reinforced concrete (Fig. 4). The side walls are the cells themselves, installed in two tiers, with facades inward
The end walls are made in the form of double doors. The gable roof of the barn is somewhat raised above the cages and looks like a lantern, the walls of which are glazed. In a shed, rabbits are protected from wind, rain and snow. For the distribution of feed in the shed, you can mount a suspended road to move the feed container.

Rice. 4. View of a shed with a two-tier arrangement of cages

The rabbitry (Fig. 5) can be built from logs, boards, bricks.
The walls of the rabbitry should be dense, without cracks - to avoid drafts, which rabbits are afraid of, and the penetration of mouse-like rodents and larger predators.
The floor of the barn should also be tight, without gaps, and have a slight slope towards the entrance, which will facilitate cleaning.
The rabbitry room should be sufficiently light and well ventilated through windows, ventilation pipes and openings. The lack of light and clean air is the main reason for the "puffiness" of rabbits, that is, the deterioration of the hairline. The fluff becomes rare, thin.

The roof of the barn is better to make a shed. It serves as an additional platform for drying hay for the winter. To raise the grass to the roof, a ladder attached to the porch canopy is used. Here, above the canopy, a window is installed in the attic for laying ready-made hay.

Rice. 5. Type of rabbitry for garden plot:

1 - blind door; 2 - mesh door; 3 - windows; 4 - ventilation grille; 5 - door-window of the attic-hayloft; 6 - balcony; 7 - balcony railing; 8 - stairs; 9 - hay dump hatch; 10 - hatch cover; 11 - mesh fence paddock; 12 - rabbitry door to paddock; 13 - a chest for collecting manure; 14 - cover of the chest, 15 - window-hatch for ejection of manure into the chest; 16 - ventilation pipes

At the door of the shed, a lined, closed pit is arranged outside for storing and storing manure. A closing hatch is made in the wall of the barn above the pit.

In the barn, it is necessary to allocate a corner for storing equipment and feed. For the storage of hay and brooms, a hayloft is used, which communicates with the rabbitry room, in addition to the external ones, also with an internal hatch and a ladder.

At the southern wall of the rabbitry, you can arrange a summer net paddock for young animals. The doors of the rabbitry are made double: the first is dense - plank, and the second - mesh. While in the garden in the summer, you can keep the barn closed only with a mesh door, which will create additional ventilation and lighting for the rabbitry.

In the rabbitry, enclosures for young animals are installed along the walls, and cages for the breeding stock are installed in the center (Fig. 6). In order to make fuller use of the rabbitry area, cages are installed in two or even three tiers. It is only necessary to ensure that urine does not drip from the upper cells into the lower ones and feces do not fall.

Rice. 6. The layout of the aviary and cages in the rabbitry measuring 5x3 m:

a - enclosures for transplanted young animals; b - cages for breeding and replacement livestock of rabbits; in - passages; g - doors; d - open range; e - containers for collecting manure and urine flow; g - a place for a hatch in the hayloft, storage of feed and equipment

Cells can be made from a variety of building materials. What are the requirements for a cage that provides for keeping rabbits with food for 1-2 weeks?

The uterine compartment will have dimensions: 40x70x60 cm, light compartment 60x70x60 cm (Fig. 7). d;

In the bright section, a nursery for hay and grass, feeders and automatic drinkers are installed. The rack or mesh grille is installed at a height of 10-15 cm from the floor and 5-10 cm in the uterine compartment. The space between the floor and the grate ensures the accumulation of manure and guarantees cleanliness in the cage for a month, but in summer it is necessary to remove manure from under the grate more often, because, decomposing, it releases gases harmful to rabbits, and worms appear in the manure itself.

Rice. 7. Scheme of the cell

The rack flooring in the dark uterine compartment of the cage should be 5-10 cm lower than in the light one. Otherwise, before birthing, the grating from the nest compartments must be removed or turned over so that it fits snugly on the floor of the cage. And only then put a nest box or lay a plentiful litter.

Two feeders are attached along the rear wall of the feed compartment: one for compound feed, the other for succulent feed, table waste and wet mixers. Both feeders are closed from above with a common lid 2 ^ $ m wide and from the manger to the partition. On it, the rabbit can rest from the grown up rabbits.

The dimensions of the cage for keeping adult rabbits are standard, with two compartments. The total length of the cage is t20 cm, width 70 cm, height 60 cm.

For young animals, it is better to make more spacious aviaries, also with two compartments, which makes it easier to clean the cage, since it is possible to keep rabbits in one compartment and clean the other at the same time. It should be borne in mind that in the group keeping of young animals after jigging, each rabbit should have from 0.15 to 0.20 m2 of area on the mesh floor of the enclosure and from 0.20 to 0.30 m2 on a solid wooden one.

If the dimensions of the cell area can be left standard, then the feeders should be increased accordingly by 5-10 times. A nursery for laying roughage must be arranged outside the cage. In the aft compartment of the cage, on the back wall and on the partition, capacious feeders for grain and compound feed, for succulent feed and grain waste, as well as an autodrinker are suspended (Fig. 8).

Rice. 8. General view of the cage with devices for laying feed for 1-2 weeks:

1 - feeder hopper for nurseries for laying grass and roughage; 2 - lattice of a manger; 3 - a feeder for root crops and waste from the table, covered with a lid, which also serves as a shelf for the rabbit to rest; 4 - feeder for compound feed; 5 - a partition dividing the cage into aft and nest compartments; 6 - manhole; 7 - floor rack; 8 - chute for urine drainage and dropping; 9 - manure collector; 10 - valve for closing the manhole

Young animals in groups of 10-15 pieces. contain in cages, which are a wooden or metal frame. Their sizes are determined by the number of rabbits that are supposed to be placed. The main thing at the same time is not to create crowding of animals. In case of group placement of young animals, the cage floor area should be at least 0.12 m2 per rabbit for slaughter young animals, 0.17 m2 for replacement females, 0.23 m2 for males. From the age of 3 months, it is better to transfer males from the repair group to individual maintenance, and leave no more than 2-3 females. in a cage.

Baby rabbits after weaning from their mother can be kept in cages intended for adult rabbits. But more economical are special cages, the back and side walls of which are wooden, the front wall and floor are mesh, the roof is shed. Its length is 300-400 cm, depth is 80 cm, the height of the front wall is 50-60 cm, the back wall is 35-40 cm. Mesh doors are made 70 cm wide, 50-60 cm high. A bunker feeder is placed in its lower part. A drinking bowl is hung next to the door.

Not only one-sided, but also two-sided cages with a gable roof, mesh paddocks with shelter, etc. are used.

If possible, individual seating of young animals is used and, accordingly, double-sided mesh cages are built. Usually they are made up of a block with a width of 120 cm and a wall height of 35-40 cm. The length depends on the need for rabbit places. An open nursery for grass or hay is arranged along the entire length of the cell block, and every 25 cm it is partitioned off with transverse partitions made of various materials. In each place formed, one rabbit is placed, which is kept there until slaughtered for the skin. The cover of each cell section is made in the form of a mesh door opening upwards. And from the outer longitudinal sides of the block, feeders are hung in the lower part, and drinkers are higher. Such cages are installed under canopies.

Rice. 2 Reticulated double-sided cages

Individual seating of young animals prevents the appearance of "snacks" on the skins, which are formed during the fights of rabbits when they are kept together. They soon begin to overgrow with new hair. And dark spots appear on the mezdra of these skin areas.

Being in a group, males older than 3 months of age especially fight, bite each other. They are placed one by one in a cage. When there are no such opportunities, sometimes they resort to castration of animals. Moreover, this operation contributes to faster fattening of rabbits, increases the slaughter yield and quality of meat, and, according to some observations, improves the hairline.

If animals are kept in a barn, then, as a rule, only a nest compartment or an insert nest is made of wood or chipboard, the rest of the elements are made of mesh. An easy-to-maintain portable cage is shown in fig. 3. It's easy to make yourself. The main thing to consider in this case is that the roof must be waterproof, and it is arranged with a slight slope towards the rear wall. This condition is especially important when installing such cells in several tiers. Depending on the conditions that have arisen, it can be moved to any place.

Rice. 3 Portable cage

DIY rabbit cage

General requirements: hygiene, simplicity of device, no gaps on the roof and in the walls. To determine the need for a cage, it is assumed that 1.5 individual cages will be required for the stocked young and the uterus, the male and each head of the young. In addition, for each rabbit in a common cage, you need one and a half to two square meters of area.

To save space install cages on pillars whose height is 70 - 80 centimeters and are made in blocks of two, three or four together. Floors, the area of ​​​​which is from 0.5 to 0.7 square meters, are made slatted or mesh. If the floors are mesh, then use a metal mesh with cells 17x17 - 20x20 millimeters. If rack - plastic or wooden slats, the width of which is 25-30 millimeters. They are placed across the entire cage at a distance of fifteen millimeters from each other. However, in the nesting compartment, a solid floor is certainly made.

Cage for queens with a permanent compartment. So that the rabbits do not crawl, the third part of the cage is fenced off, but a hole 17x17 centimeters in size and 12-15 centimeters high from the floor is left in the partition. The manhole must be made closer to the front wall, because. the female makes a nest deep in the cage where they will not be disturbed. The door of the aft compartment must be made mesh, and in the compartment for females - solid. You can replace the partitions by strengthening between the feed compartments of the feeder. They can be made from frames, which are tightened with a mesh or metal rods. V-shaped frames are set across the cage. The manger in front remains open. Then the doors are hung on the front wall, two of which are mesh, they lead to the aft compartment, and 2 solid plank doors that open into the nesting compartment. Already in the aft compartment, folding and mounted feeders and drinkers are placed. Any roofing material will work for a roof.

Growing young. Often found cells with solid walls, a mesh floor, a mesh door in the middle of the cage and a shed roof. One feeder is installed on 2 cages - a nursery from the end side. Such a cage will accommodate fifteen rabbits, from one to three months old, or ten older rabbits. The box cage is used for an adult rabbit or rabbit. On the front side, on the side, a door is made of a 4x3 cm wooden lath in the form of a frame, which is covered with a metal mesh. A significant part of the box is allocated for the nesting compartment, in which the mother liquor is built. The box is equipped with a feeder, a drinker and a manger. All feed, except grass and hay, put in a cage in a bowl.

Keeping rabbits: cages, drinkers and feeders, sheds, etc.

Cages for young rabbits: combined and group

Combination cage for young animals designed for keeping 12 heads up to 3 months of age in groups of 6 heads, and later - for individual keeping. This ensures that good quality skins are obtained.

Cage size: length 3 m, width 60 cm, front stack height 50, back stack 40 cm.

The floor is mesh or slatted. The roof is shed in three parts, attached by canopies to the front trim of the cage. Inside there are eleven mesh or wooden hanging partitions measuring 36 x 59 cm.

Nurseries and drinkers are installed outside, along the entire back wall. Feeders with lids are suspended from the outside along the front wall. The cage is mounted on posts 65-70 cm high.

Group cage for young animals has a length of 3 m, a width of 1 m, a front wall height of 50 and a back wall of 35 cm. The roof is shed, the door is double.

Mesh nurseries are installed inside the side walls, which consist of frames measuring 100 x 50 x 35 cm. The cage is installed on posts 65-70 cm high. It is designed for the simultaneous maintenance of 18-20 young animals up to 3 months of age or 15-16 older age.

Group cells can be built double-sided . In this case, the roof is made gable, and the wall dividing the cage into two compartments should have a height of 75 cm and a width of 2 m. Instead of an adjacent wall, a nursery is installed. Being in the same cage, the rabbits get used to each other and fight less.

For feeding fodder and root crops, troughs with handles are used with a size of: length 110-120 cm, width at the bottom 8 cm, at the top 15 cm, wall height 8 cm To prevent the rabbits from throwing food away, strips are attached above the side walls of the feeder with an inward overlap of 1 cm.

Cells are completed glazed clay, bunker or hanging feeders for forage, float, valve or bottle drinkers

To create the most favorable veterinary conditions, cells are equipped mesh or slatted floors. There is no need for cleaning, as the excrement falls into the cracks. For the convenience of periodic washing and disinfection, the floors are made removable or retractable.

The main herd of rabbits and replacement young better kept on slatted floors. They are assembled from plastic, metal or wooden slats 25-30 mm wide with rounded edges with a radius of 1.5-2.5 mm. Between the rails leave a space 17-18 mm wide.

Metal rails of the channel shape are made of steel 1-1.5 mm thick, galvanized or coated with plastic.

Hard or coniferous trees are suitable for wooden slats. The thickness of the lath is 12-15 mm. In the cage, they should be located along the feeder.

Finishing young animals can be kept on floors made of galvanized or plastic-coated welded mesh with square cells ranging in size from 16 to 20 mm. Along the perimeter of the grid, a frame is made of a bar with a diameter of 6-7 mm. It is attached to the frame with wire staples 0.7-0.8 mm thick.

Cages for keeping young animals

Cages for keeping young animals and fattening rabbits

For growing young animals, it is better to build group cages. They have a mesh floor, solid walls and a pitched roof. The doors are mesh. In the middle of the cage they put a common feeder-day nursery. Such a cage is designed for the simultaneous maintenance of 15 rabbits up to 3 months of age or 10 older rabbits.

Aviaries with a shelter for young animals have proven themselves in household plots with positive side. These inexpensive plank and net structures allow large numbers of rabbits to be fattened. They are especially suitable for the use of compacted and semi-compacted rounds and intensive fattening of rabbits. Rabbits can be kept in these enclosures from spring to late autumn. If possible, these enclosures should be located in shady areas or where constant sunlight is excluded, especially in hot weather.

In these enclosures, rabbits can be transferred after weaning at the age of one month, from enclosed spaces. However, it should be borne in mind that before the transfer, it is necessary to carry out the so-called acclimatization, that is, to create conditions in the rabbitry for several days close to outdoor conditions, when ventilation increases, the temperature drops, etc.

Individual amateur rabbit breeders use boxes, barrels, plywood, etc. to build cages. Such materials are short-lived, and cages are inconvenient to use. Keeping rabbits in sheds on an earthen floor, in trenches, behind fences is unacceptable. With this method of keeping, rabbits are exposed to dampness, which leads to their illness or death.

How to make a group cage for young rabbits?

Many rabbit farms use group cages for young rabbits of this simple design. Cage dimensions: length 2-2.5 m, width 1-1.5 m, height of the front wall 1 m and back 75 cm, door height 80 cm and width 60 cm. The side and back walls are wooden. The front wall and door are covered with a mesh. The floor is mesh, raised above the ground. Nursery indoor or outdoor. Cells are installed in blocks of several pieces. The partitions between the cells are made of wooden solid or mesh.

Sources: fazenda.sam-stroy.info, ofrabbits.ru, teh-agro.ru, sibkrolik.ru, rusfermer.com

Sheep breeding

Sheep breeding has been a very popular livestock industry since ancient times. To date, breeding sheep at home is one ...

Types of cages for rabbits

The success in breeding rabbits directly depends on the conditions of their maintenance. The room must be kept clean, it must be dry, ...

How to cook lamb rack

An excellent choice for dinner is a rack of lamb. The recipe for preparing any dish from this part of the lamb is simple, as it is prepared ...

Premises for raising pigs

The main requirement for premises for pigs is to create warmth and dryness in them. To do this, make a moisture-proof ceiling and ...

Infectious runny nose treatment

put on the basis of history, clinical signs and laboratory methods. excluding rhinitis of non-contagious origin or effects on...

Nevertheless, the cage should be selected with special care, based on the number of individuals, their age, sex composition.

Group for youngsters.

The concept of "young animals" includes animals that the mother has already stopped feeding milk, but which have not yet reached reproductive age. In the case of rabbits, cessation of lactation occurs in 70% of cases between 30 and 45 days after birth.

At this time, and produce jigging. Individuals are divided into slaughter and intended for breeding. The latter are also differentiated by sex. The container for young animals should be located at some distance from the ground when kept outside, free and clean. If a utility room is used for keeping, it should be well ventilated and bright.

Slaughter animals are placed in groups of 6-8 individuals (more on slaughter). Some breeders increase the number of animals to 10-15. The area of ​​the enclosure must be at least 0.12 m² per animal. Breeding young animals are kept by 4-8 individuals with an area of ​​0.17 m² per individual. Sometimes up to 3 months of age, females and males are kept together, but it is better to separate in advance in order to avoid premature mating.

The roof in such cases is used single-pitched. This creates a certain height difference, which allows pets to feel comfortable. It is made of dense waterproof material. The optimal height difference will be from 60 cm to 30 cm. The depth for a group of 6-8 individuals can be up to 80 cm.

For adult animals.

Seating of young animals after 3 months of age is carried out due to their growing aggressiveness. Males are increasingly entering into fights, they do not tolerate the neighborhood of other members of their sex.

Females can be kept in small groups of 2-3 individuals. Males of reproductive age should be only one at a time. If there is no possibility for individual seating, castration is carried out. It is especially important to avoid fights and "snacks" on the skin in order to obtain fur. Therefore, castration is usually subjected to slaughter, while the rest are seated.

The cage size for adult rabbits depends on their breed. The norm is a height of 35-40 cm and a width of 120 cm, and for them it is better to hang on a mesh wall. This will eliminate the possibility of turning over the bowls, and the animal will not feel hungry or thirsty.

Shed is two-tiered.

Such a system serves to save space when breeding. Shed is a series of cells arranged in one or more tiers. Two tiers are the best choice, as they allow you to reduce the working area, while not complicating the care and control of the growth and development of animals.

This design serves mainly for their location on the street and is used in the southern regions. However, some breeders use it for summer keeping of animals or as a way to organize an aviary in a barn.

To do this, he will need a strong steel mesh, roofing material (for example, slate) and boards. Shed is built on a one-way principle. A concrete foundation will increase its stability. A more advanced design includes the presence of pallets and a manure channel for the disposal of waste products.

Double cage with mother liquor.

This design is used for females. The mother liquor is a removable compartment in which newborn cubs are until they reach the age of one month. It is also called the aft compartment. The main part is called aft. Between them there is a 17 * 20 cm manhole.

Double is suitable for two females with rabbits or a female and a male. The separation between the compartments can be done with a mesh or a solid wooden partition. The floor is best made of wooden slats in 1.5 cm increments so that the manure can be poured into the pan below. This will save the "house" from excessive pollution and moisture.

Double cages with mesh aviary.

This design also has the name "Klenovo-Chagadayevo". It is used for non-pregnant females of reproductive age. Also suitable for youngsters. Sometimes a container with an aviary is used for mating. Then a male is placed in one of the halves of the structure, and a female is placed in the other.

The arrangement of cages for breeding in a garden or household plot usually involves keeping animals in it only in the warm season. For its location, it is better to choose a moderately shaded place. A good solution would be to place it in a dry, tree-lined area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe garden. This will protect the animals from overheating and wind. When choosing the size of cells for, it is worth starting from their number and needs.

An interesting constructive solution for the construction of cages was proposed by the breeder Nikolai Zolotukhin. In its version, the floor has a narrow strip made of mesh. In his experience, over time, without any training, animals begin to defecate in this place, minimizing pollution. When choosing a Zolotukhin cell, the dimensions should be increased by 10 - 15 cm.