Colony Raising Rabbits

Colony Raising Rabbits Throughout history, people have been raising rabbits for many different purposes. A few of the most prominent uses are as pets, show animals, and for meat production. As the number of people who raise rabbits has grown, so has the number of ways that people raise them. While many raise rabbits in individual cages, others prefer colony raising, which allows the rabbits to roam an entire area. Some people prefer to raise rabbits in individual cages while others choose colony raising. To begin with, colony raising allows an increased number of offspring to be produced. When all of the rabbits are running together, the does will naturally produce a larger number of litters because they are always accompanied by the herd buck or bucks. Rabbits have a gestation period of 28 to 31 days, and kits need to nurse from their mother for a minimum of four weeks (Simpson). This timing is ideal for meat breeders because their does can consecutively produce litters. Furthermore, they will then have many kits all at different ages if there is more than one doe. This allows for the breeder to make a maximum profit because of all

Most colonies, especially those that are outdoors, are not as safe as in individual cages (Simpson). These outdoor colonies can make the rabbits extremely vulnerable to predators. Naturally, rabbits dig burrows and tunnels in the ground, which may provide an escape route (Thompson). Since most colonies have wire on the outside, it can also make the rabbits easy for predators to spot. Another reason that they can be unsafe is because baby rabbits are left vulnerable. If a baby rabbit makes it out of the nest without its mother knowing, it may not be able to find its way back. This can lead to kits freezing to death. Baby rabbits have no way to protect themselves from predators. Without proper protection, colonies can leave rabbits at risk of being eaten by predators