HI
As Rabbits are very sensitive animals it is very important to take care about several facts while preparing Shed and cages.
In general, the type of housing is dependent upon the climate, location and size of the rabbitry. The optimum temperature in a rabbit shed is around 10 – 25° C. (SCARM 1998). Effective ventilation is required to control extremes of temperature and also to remove ammonia. Housing is a critical issue for rabbit health.
Poor ventilation will result in irritation to the respiratory tract and susceptibility to infection from bacteria. Heat stress will cause major rabbit mortalities and reproductive failure. It is easy and cheap to prepare Shed using raw materials found around us as per our requirement.To set up a single unit rabbitry 35 feet X 12 feet shed is required. Roof can be made using Tile, palm leaf, coconut tree leaf or plastic sheet. Ensure that sunlight and rain should not enter in to the shed directly and ventilation should be proper. Prepare pillars of 1 feet height inside the shed to place the cages. The ground can be either concrete or mud.
Keep the shed always neat and tidy, temperature and ventilation should be maintained properly. Cover the entire shed using strong net to protect from other animals like birds, insects and reptiles.
Diet- Rabbits are herbivorous animals. They take all the grasses and tree leaves which are found in our surroundings (ie tropical zones of kerala). Avoid feeding poisonous grasses, leaves and sprayed with any pesticides or herbicides.
Since Rabbits need fiber content food which is helpful for their digestive system Hay can be given to Rabbits. They may show some hesitation to take at the initial stage, later they become accustomed to it.
Clean the shed and hutch before 8'O clock and keep sufficient water in the cages. Drinking more water will help to reduce the urine smell. Keep glucose water in mother rabbit’s hutch.
Balanced Diet
Wheat 33gm
Mustard Cake 25gm
Coconut Cake 10gm
Ground nut cake 10gm
Ground nut 10gm
Rice husk (Thavid) 2.5gm
Minerals 1.5gm
Salt 0.5gm
Mix the above said with water and feed 100 to 150gm per day per Rabbit.
Regards
Ashwini
