Many animal lovers have heard of the Germelin rabbit. As a result of many years of selection, specialists managed to get a surprisingly cute animal with short ears and snow-white hair. It is not surprising that many children, and adults, having seen him, fall in love with that furry creature.
Breed history
Hermelin rabbits were first bred in Poland at the end of the nineteenth century. It is because of this that another name was assigned to them - Polish rabbits.
Breeders set themselves a difficult task - to bring out a healthy, strong rabbit, which would have a weight 2-4 times less than usual. So one of the smallest decorative rabbits was bred, which can become a wonderful pet.
The first representatives of the breed had red eyes, like all albinos. I had to spend more than one decade to get a rabbit with blue eyes. In addition, the length of the ears and the shape of the muzzle were changed. Therefore, it is officially believed that the breed appeared only in 1920 - it was then that its representatives acquired such an appearance that is familiar to experts today.
In our country, decorative hermeline rabbits have become widely known relatively recently - in the late 90s of the last century.
Breed standard
The first thing that catches your eye when looking at these cute creatures is snow-white wool. It was this color that became the goal for breeders who decided to breed a completely new breed. Any shades of gray or spots indicate that the rabbit is not purebred, but has some impurities. That is why the breed has another nickname - ermine.
The eyes, as already mentioned, the representatives of the breed are mostly blue, but to this day there are representatives with red eyes. The paws of the animals are very short, the claws are almost transparent. The shape of the head is a cross between an ordinary rabbit and a feline. Hermeline ears are short, and the muzzle is round, not elongated, like most rabbits. Their little body is small, but densely knocked down, stocky.
Weight can vary significantly - from 750 to 1500 grams. But most rabbits weigh between 900 and 1100 grams. They will be an excellent choice for children, since a preschooler can easily pick up such a baby.
Hermeline ears are closer to one another than ordinary rabbits. Cartilages in them are dense, providing a direct rack.
The tail is very small, fits snugly on the back. The neck is not too pronounced, sometimes it seems that the head rests directly on the shoulders, without a transition.
Seeing a photo of a hermeline rabbit, it’s hard not to fall in love with this breed.
Character
It is very important that rabbits of this breed have a very peaceful, friendly character. These animals are perfect for both a large family and a single person. Do not forget that sometimes a rabbit needs peace and rest. If he hid in a house, pulling it out or making noise near the cage is not worth it.
Hermeline go to their hands with pleasure, love to be stroked or scratched. They attach to people easily and quickly. This is very important to use. If in the first months of his life a rabbit is not paid enough attention, he will shut himself in himself, will not become aggressive, but he will no longer love the owners.
Accustomed to the tray quite easily. Surprisingly, some breeders even manage to teach them a few straightforward teams. They love activity, they can hardly tolerate prolonged confinement in a small, cramped cage.
Remember that these rabbits are pretty wayward. Forcing them to do what they do not want will not be easy. With excessive perseverance, it is quite possible to run into aggression. Stubbornness is as distinctive as white hair and a short muzzle.
Conditions of detention
In order for the dwarf rabbit Germelin to live a long, happy life, invariably delighting the owners, it is necessary to provide him with appropriate conditions.
Firstly, it is a fairly spacious cell. For a rabbit, dimensions of 40x30x40 centimeters are suitable. When he grows up, you need to increase these sizes at least twice. As already mentioned, the hermelins are quite active creatures. They need to move a lot. In a small cage, they get bored, gain weight and live much less.
Do not forget about proper nutrition. We will talk about this below.
Heating appliances or open windows, air conditioning, a balcony are very bad neighbors for rabbits, because they often lead to the development of various diseases.
Unlike ordinary rabbits, which the owners calmly carry over their ears, this treatment is not suitable for hermels. Small ears are easy to damage. If you want to take your pet in your arms, gently hold it from the bottom, and then lift it by the withers.
It is very important to regularly clean the cage. This should be done 2-3 times a week. Otherwise, the risk of infection of the rabbit with infectious diseases is increased.
Also, you can not bathe a rabbit so as not to upset the temperature balance of the body.
Cons of Hermeline
Studying the reviews left about the rabbits hermelins, you can also find certain shortcomings of these animals, which are very important to know in advance.
Firstly, they molt a lot. In this case, the molt may well drag on for a couple of months. If you do not want everything around to be covered with hair, comb it at least twice a week.
Secondly, their heart is rather weak. This is the result of years of inbreeding and a lack of fresh blood. Therefore, rabbits do not tolerate stuffiness and heat.
Thirdly, like all rabbits, germlins secrete a rather odorous urine. Especially males “sin” this. Therefore, sometimes you have to clean almost every day in order to avoid the spread of unpleasant odors throughout the apartment.
Suitable diet
Little rabbits need milk for about 2-2.5 months. They need a lot of calcium to build a strong skeleton. Therefore, a little chalk can be added to milk.
In summer, the best diet for pets is the herbs collected in the park. It can be coltsfoot, plantain, dandelions. The main thing is not to give them buttercups and celandine, as these plants are poisonous.
In the winter season, you can give the rabbits stocked hay and a small amount of vegetables boiled in slightly salted water.
Sometimes you can diversify the menu by adding branches of spruce, willow and aspen. Your pets will not only eat bark, but will also grind constantly growing teeth.
Rabbit breeding
With the breeding of rabbits hermeline, problems usually do not arise. They become sexually mature by about 6-8 months. At this age, you can put the male and the female (who were previously kept separately) in one small cage. If everything goes well, pairing will happen in a matter of hours or even minutes. After this, the male needs to be jailed.
Pregnancy lasts about 4 weeks. Shortly before giving birth, the rabbit begins to pull out the fluff, build a nest for the babies. Litter is not too big. It rarely has more than 6 cubs. The first two weeks, the kids are bald and blind. They feed exclusively on breast milk. Then the children are covered with wool and can well eat and absorb soft leaves and grass, which it is advisable to scald with boiling water to make them softer, and at the same time to disinfect.
Conclusion
Now you know everything about rabbits Germelin to get such a beast. Using the above tips, you will not encounter serious difficulties. Therefore, you will not spoil the pleasure of keeping such cute creatures.