Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
can predispose a rabbit to this disease. A rabbit affected by urolithiasis will strain when trying
to urinate, will go off feed (meaning they will refuse to eat), have a painful abdomen, and
bloody urine. To prevent this from occurring, feed your rabbits grass hay and make sure they
have plenty of water at all time.
Rabbit Breeding
Rabbits reach sexual maturity at different ages depending on their size. A small breed, such as
a Netherland Dwarf, will be able to breed at 4 months old. A medium-sized rabbit like the
Angoras will be able to be first bred at 5 to 6 months, and large breeds such as the Flemish
Giant can be bred from 9 to 12 months of age. Most rabbits are bred through the natural
breeding method.
A doe does not have regular heat periods or an estrus cycle. Instead, she will ovulate after
mating. A doe can breed any time of the year, but she does have variable times where she will
not accept mating. You should watch the doe for signs she is ready to be mated. These signs
include:
• Restlessness and nervousness
• A deep red coloration of the vulva
• Rubbing her chin on equipment
• A desire to join other rabbits
To determine the sex of a rabbit, you need to turn the rabbit on its back. For small rabbits,
they can be turned on their back using the crook of your arm to hold them. For larger rabbits,
sit down and turn them on their back in your lap. If the rabbit struggles, hold it securely until
it stays still. Use one hand to hold the rabbit's chest and with the other take your thumb and
forefinger to part the hair near the tail to expose its genitals — the opening nearest the belly.
The anus is closest to the tail. Adult males older than 20 weeks will have flesh-colored
testicles lying near the genital openings. These may be covered by fur so you may have to part
the fur to find the testicles. If you do not see the testicles, you will need to place your thumb
and your index finger on either side of the genital opening. Apply gentle pressure to expose
the genitals. If you see a tube-like structure with a small opening, this is the penis. Females
will have a somewhat prominent structure, but instead of a small opening, there will be a slit-
like opening.
