Keeping rabbits in burrows is suitable for those whose land does not have ground water close to the surface. Not suitable for this method of breeding and rocky soil. Keeping rabbits in burrows can be carried out both in large areas and in home gardens or cottages.
This method of growing is only suitable for those who sell rabbits for meat, since keeping rabbits in the ground is not suitable for fur and downy breeds. Ordinary medium sized rabbits live and breed best under normal conditions. The maintenance of rabbits in such conditions provides for the presence of a large number of animals, since the content of 5-10 individuals in this way is absolutely unprofitable.
The method of growing in holes is based on the animal instincts of rabbits, which, despite being bred in cellular conditions, can dig deep, branched holes where they live and breed.
On the site, the highest place is selected. It is necessary to dig a hole 2x2m in size. It should be 1-1.5 m deep. The animals will be able to get out of the shallow pit. The walls of the recess are almost completely walled up, leaving an unassigned place in the lower part of the wall, in which with the help of a shovel we tear out the beginning of the future hole (the entrance should be quite wide). The hole is placed 10 cm above the floor so that the collected manure and excavated land are below the entrance to the hole. Since rabbits urinate usually before entering a hole, an entrance to a hole raised above the floor level will provide dryness in it. In order to close the hole if necessary (in case of catching rabbits for slaughter or during harvesting), a shutter is made on it.
A roof is being built over the pit. It should be shed for water to flow through it, and not into a pit. Water should drain in the direction opposite to holes. If desired, you can make a lid on the pit, which, if necessary, is locked (from thieves).
A 20 cm layer of sand should be poured onto the floor. A flat metal net is placed on it, through which rabbits cannot dig holes, but urine will pass into the ground.
Wide wall feeders and drinking bowls for rabbits are built along the walls . They should not be placed too high from the floor and close to the hole.
The content of rabbits in the pit provides for the presence of a layer of fresh straw in it, which is changed every 3-4 days. During cleaning, the rabbits are driven into a cage, and the dirty litter with manure is removed with a shovel.
Several rabbits and rabbits are launched into the prepared hole. Very quickly, the rabbits begin to continue burrowing deeper, so at this time you need to periodically clean the dug up soil. In the near future, rabbits, the contents of which are quite profitable, will expand the normal course and begin to breed.
This method of breeding rabbits has unconditional advantages:
- low cost of maintenance (in such a pit at the same time can contain up to 200 rabbits of all ages);
- such a pit serves a very long time and it does not need to be heated in winter (it is warm enough in holes);
- rabbits give birth to more healthy offspring in natural conditions;
- animals are less sick;
- saved land area;
- feeding is facilitated (everyone eats in one place);
- feed consumption is reduced (what falls out of the feeder is eaten by small animals);
- rabbits breed very quickly,
- mixed manure with dug soil is an excellent fertilizer;
- The floor and water in the drinking bowls do not freeze in winter.
But keeping and breeding rabbits in the pits has its drawbacks:
- closely related crossing (inbreeding) leads to some diseases, malformations and a decrease in the size of animals;
- it is impossible to accurately calculate the number of rabbits;
- the animals become almost wild;
- it is difficult to conduct tribal work;
- a little inconvenient to clean the pit.
To solve the problem of inbreeding, males should be changed regularly (once a year). It is necessary to choose a large male so that he can resist the "local aborigines".