MAKE COOL MONEY FROM REARING RABBIT

We can refer to a rabbit as a mammal with long ears, long hind legs and a short fluffy tails.

- Rabbit are very small herbivores

- They convert vegetables to meat

- They convert green foods to flesh

- The average is 5kg

- It weight varies from 1kg-8kg

- They are commercial hybrids

Characteristics of a good rabbit for rearing

A good rabbit for rearing must have the following qualities,

1. it must be genderly identified

2. it must be healthy

3. it must be proficient

4. it must be strong

5. it must be able to grow fast and attain 1.8kg after 7 weeks

6. it must be of a good and healthy genetic history.

Housing and equipment

Rabbits are believed to be comfortable in a cool area. They don't like water lodged area, they must be protected from rain splash, drought and other unhabitable areas.

In housing Rabbit, all these must be considered :-

1. Ventilation :- easy entry and exit of air.

2. Disturbance (intruder or noise) :- rabbits hate seeing different faces around them, likewise they don't like noisy environment.

3. Pest :- rabbits housing and equipment must be pest free I.e solder ant, thermite e.t.c.

4. Rabbits must not stay too long under sun.

5. Sanitation :- rabbits house must not situated around refuse site or polluted area.

6. Space :- rabbit house must be spacious, such a way that it can accommodate an adult rabbit and 7 kids at a time.

7. Light :- shyness don't means they don't love light, in fact, they do well with light.

8. Equipment :- all the equipment use in rabbitry must be sanitized.

TYPES OF RABBIT HOUSING

1. caging

2. Hutches

3. Concrete floor

CONSTRUCTION

1. PEN :- This is when the hutch is been divided.

2. The hutch must be raised above the ground.

3. The hutch construction will be of wood and wire netting.

4. The dimension of the hutches are :-

- 60cm high

- 90cm long

- 60cm wide

- 90cm above the ground for good sanitation and ventilation.

FEEDING AND DRINKING EQUIPMENTS

1. Bamboo

2. Earthenware pot

3. Metal pot

4. Stainless pot with hook

NB:- since the rabbit likes playing with the pot, the pot must be heavy or hooked so as not to waste the food.

WHAT TO FEED YOUR RABBITS

1. HAY

2. water leaf

3. Tridax

4. Cabbage

5. Potato

6. Lettuce

7. Dry bread

8. Pelleted ratio

9. Clean freshwater

GENDER

Male rabbit - Buck

Female rabbit - Doe

BREEDING

In the process of Breeding, you must ensure the following:-

1. Your Buck must be of 10 months before breeding while your Does must be of 6 months before breeding.

2. The Doe must be taking into the Buck pen. This is done in the morning or late evening.

3. A mature and healthy Buck can serve about 10 to 15 Does.

4. Kindling occurs when rabbit give birth to young ones.

5. For safety purpose don't disturb the rabbit during kindling and weaning.

6. Don't rush to carry the baby immediately after birth, the rabbit may kill the baby.

7. For the adult Doe to have enough milk, it must be fed well.

8. Weaning is the time required for the Doe to nurse the baby.

9. It better to wait for 6weeks to start another breeding.

HOW TO KNOW A PREGNANT RABBIT

1. rate of water consumption increases.

2. The rabbit eating habit decreases.

3. They urine a lot.

4. They start showing altitude.

5. They are not active.

The only two ways to know that a rabbit is about to give birth is :-

1. They start to make nest from any available materials (hay)

2. They start to remove wool from their body.

DISEASE CONTROL

1. When rabbits itch and scratch their ear, use liquid paraffin on cotton wool to clean regularly.

2. Regular sanitation

3. Inspection

PURPOSE OF REARING RABBIT

1. DOMESTIC

2. COMMERCIAL

ADVANTAGES OF REARING RABBIT

1. Pet

2. Consumption (eating)

3. Art work :- shoe and bag from their skin.

4. Waste :- rabbit urine are best fertilizer.

5. Diet :- doctors recommend it for good health as it is white meat.