Why does the rabbit push the newborn rabbits away?

Breeding rabbits has its own characteristics, which should be known to all novice breeders. Some of these are related to animal behavior and the maternal instinct of females. Beginner farmers are often worried about why the rabbit throws rabbits right after the show.

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  1. Features of the maternal instinct of rabbits
  2. Causes of unusual rabbit behavior
  3. If the reason is sexual hunting
  4. If the reason is animal nutrition
  5. The effect of mastitis on animal behavior
  6. The harmful effects of external factors
  7. What should a breeder do?

Why does the rabbit push and scatter the rabbits

Why does a rabbit push and scatter rabbits

According to experienced breeders, such an unusual phenomenon a hundred is manifested due to the influence of external adverse factors. But the question of what they are connected with requires careful study by the breeder. In addition, the rabbit can scatter her offspring due to the influence of instincts.

Features of the rabbits’ maternal instinct

Rabbit is a domesticated animal by man. Farmers of hundreds of countries are engaged in its breeding. The main goal of the activity is to obtain delicious dietary meat, offal and soft wool. But the breeding of these animals has its own difficulties. Often they are associated with knowledge in the field of selection. In addition, the help of nature, which endowed all living beings on the planet with instincts, is no less important. In farming, maternal rabbit instinct is important.

Like many animals, rabbits respect their babies. Do they protect them from threats from other individuals, provide the necessary comfort and coziness, without leaving their first few days more? than 1-2 minutes. But, as practice shows, the female does not always behave naturally. Most often, the rabbit does not have difficulties with labor, especially if the breeder knows how to help the animal. Often, problems come after a scam.

Features of the behavior of rabbits

Features of the behavior of rabbits

The female can behave aggressively towards her babies: beat them, push them away from herself, leave the litter of the nest, etc.

No less important for the beginning farmer is the question of why rabbits scatter their rabbits. According to experts, the problem can be solved only when the exact reason for this behavior is clear, so the breeder should find out if he provides proper care for his pets and if he made some mistakes.

Causes of the rabbit’s unusual behavior

The answer to the question why the rabbit throws rabbits, experienced farmers are advised to look primarily in their own mistakes in caring and attitude to animals.

If the rabbit scatters its babies from the nest, this may also indicate:

  • problems with the nest;
  • violation of the lactation in the female, as well as mastitis;
  • unfavorable temperature in the cell;
  • hunting instincts;
  • stress;
  • non-viability of the offspring.

According to experienced rabbit breeders, animals are very sensitive to any external influences. They are often subjected to stress both from the person himself and from other pets kept in the household. Replacing the nest after or before the birthing can also cause the female to be aggressive, therefore, experts advise against interfering in the life of the animals during this period.

To avoid problems, you should immediately make a separate place for future births. Most often, an ordinary cardboard box is used for this, with hay laid out at the bottom. It should be brought to the nursery no later than 2 weeks before the birthing, because from this period the rabbit begins to prepare for the upcoming birth. She prepares a nest and nibbles wool around the nipples. If she doesn’t have time to do this, she will become unsatisfied and aggressive.

If the reason is sexual hunting

A cage equipped for okrol is the basis for future babies. But sometimes the answer to the question why the rabbit immediately spreads the rabbits is not this.

Rabbits have a sexual attraction to representatives of the opposite sex.Sexual hunting manifests itself as instinct about once a month and lasts up to two days. Sometimes it begins in the period immediately after labor. As a result, the maternal instinct is supplanted by the stronger hormonal action of sex drive.

The maternal instinct is supplanted by the rabbit's sexual desire

Maternal instinct is supplanted by the rabbit’s sexual desire

You can recognize this period in advance if you pay attention to the behavior of the rabbit. During this period, she:

  • aggressive;
  • excited;
  • naughty: throws food into the cage and spills water.

In addition, such a reaction can occur not only after, but also before the showdown.

The dulling of the maternal instinct leads to the fact that the females throw their own nests and give birth in any other place, after which they throw out their babies and leave. They are especially excited if they smell the male, therefore it is recommended to keep pregnant animals separately from the rest of the herd. If this is not done, the behavior of the female may even lead to the death of the offspring due to the violence of their own mother.

Younger females are more prone to such problems. If one of them throws the rabbits right after the baptism, you should remember how old she is months or years. The fact is that in rabbits, puberty begins at 6 months, and by 8 they are able to bear babies.In such females, the maternal instinct is weak and unstable. In addition, coinciding with the hunting period, the young female not only leaves her cubs, but scatters and beats them.

If the reason is in the food of animals

Sometimes the rabbits get rid from their rabbits, pushing them out of the nest and because of errors in nutrition. Any human error leads to discontent and hunger. As a result, rabbits are stressed. It is he who leads to aggression and lack of attention in females to their own offspring. Most often, the female throws rabbits out is affected by such nutrition problems:

  • lack of succulent feeds;
  • lack of vitamins and minerals;
  • lack of clean water.

If the farmer notices the rabbit’s strange behavior a few days before labor, you should expect problems, therefore, you should immediately take action: provide a full balanced serving of food.

A disgruntled female is constantly excited and engages in her own nest. In one day, it can destroy and rebuild it several times, and when everything happens naturally, it fits very quickly. This is what should be paid attention to novice breeders.

The effect of mastitis on the behavior of the animal

The female rabbits also scatter due to the reaction to acute symptoms of mastitis, which may appear due to:

  • hypothermia;
  • action of infectious diseases;
  • malfunctions of the endocrine system.

It is not difficult to identify this disease. An animal can refuse to eat, be aggressive even towards a person, and prevent nipples from being felt. If such signs are observed, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian.

A veterinarian can determine the rabbit's disease

The rabbit’s veterinarian can determine the disease

You can help the rabbit yourself. Experienced breeders advise you to force the animal to lay the animal on its side and make it a massage of the mammary glands. After a couple of minutes, the baby is applied to the nipple. Provided that such procedures are carried out regularly, the cub will receive the necessary milk, and the female will not show aggression towards him. But you should know that the occurrence of mastitis requires veterinary care. It is difficult to cure the animal on its own, and massage of the mammary glands only temporarily relieves acute symptoms.

The harmful effects of external factors

Every rabbit breeder knows that these animals are very shy. In addition, any external exposure to humans, inappropriate living conditions or feeding can harm the nervous system of pets.And even if the female scatters her newly born babies, this can also indicate stress. It can be caused by:

  • location near the farm of roads and railways;
  • dogs barking;
  • children playing with animals;
  • the appearance of new individuals in the cage;
  • penetration of rats and other rodents into the cage.

Any noise, new “guests” and even children who love play with the eared, so you should take care of the maximum calm of the animals, ensuring them peace, quiet and safety from the threat of predators.

We must not forget that even the human smell can be intuitively t cause the animal a sense of impending danger. That is why experienced breeders advise cleaning their cages and picking up rabbits in their hands only with odorless rubber gloves.

What to do for a breeder

There are a few simple rules that a breeder needs to follow when born rabbits are scattered throughout the cage by their mother. Their main task is to return the kids to the nest. To do this:

  • put on gloves;
  • put the female in another cage;
  • collect the rabbit’s fluff and wrap the babies in it;
  • put all the rabbits in the nest;
  • cover them with fluff.

After the rabbits are in the nest, make sure that all the babies are healthy and alive.Their aggressive mother is best allowed into the nest in less than half an hour. After she returns to the offspring, you must make sure that the rabbits are sucked to the nipples. If they do not, massage should be done and the cubs should be placed manually.

There are also cases of complete lack of maternal instinct in animals. Such animals must be discarded. It is advisable to carry out this procedure only if the rabbit has no interest in her offspring for 2 or more rounds.

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Anna Evans

Author ✓ Farmer

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