Rabbits golden rizen: features of breeding at home

Rabbits of the Risen breed have a beautiful appearance and large size, but at the same time they are endowed with a friendly and docile nature. A positive feature of animals is their high fertility, for this reason, many of them are bred for sale. They can live peacefully in sheds, pits, aviaries, spacious cages. But still, it is worthwhile to first consider the main qualities and characteristics of these animals, as well as their rules for keeping.

The history of the breed

The first mentions of Riesen rabbits date back to the sixteenth century. These references are associated with Flanders, in which unusually tall rabbits with a characteristic gray color and a thick fur coat were mentioned. At that time, the average weight of individuals already seemed significant, and reached six kilograms. In their homeland, these rabbits were called the Belgian giants.

Despite the fact that the Riesens gained fame in Germany, Belgium is considered their homeland.

Three centuries later, representatives of the breed came to Germany, where they also received special attention - breeders separately dealt with giants, focusing on their dimensions and weight. The breed was officially registered in the 37th year of the last century. Since then, there has been a gradual change in the established breed standards. In particular, the weight of animals is gradually increasing, and now the norm is the achievement of a mark of 10 kilograms by mature rabbits.

Flanders and Risens are very similar in coat color and body structure

By the way! There is still no single view on the status of the Riesen breed. Someone argues that giant rabbits can be considered a sovereign species, someone refers them to the subspecies of the great flanders. Despite superficial differences, these breeds have much in common and the question of belonging is rather formal.

Origin

Today, there is no consensus among rabbit breeders and breeders: some believe that Riesen is an independent breed, others claim that they are one of the subspecies of Flandre rabbits. Those appeared in Germany at the beginning of the 19th century and were very popular with local farmers. Having engaged in breeding flanders and crossing them with other varieties, in particular Belgian giants, in order to improve meat qualities, livestock breeders have achieved great success and bred rabbits of giant sizes, called Deutsche-Riesenwhich means German giant. Risen was officially registered as an independent breed in 1937.

German breeders from a large 6-kg flanders created a real giant weighing up to 10 kg

In any case, formally they are different, but very similar in many parameters, including external characteristics, breeds.

Breed standard

Rabbits of the Riesen breed are real champions - in the weight category they can hardly be compared with all other breeds. Giant rabbits reach impressive sizes thanks to their elongated body and well-developed muscles. Building on these two strengths, Risens are raised primarily for rabbit meat.

The main distinguishing criterion of the Rizens is their impressive size and long ears.

Table 1. Rabbits of the Riesen breed: exterior

Due to the awkwardness of the breed, it is not advisable to keep them in tight spaces.

The proportion and physical shape of the bodies of giant rabbits did not save them from the awkwardness noticed by many breeders. Therefore, when purchasing Risen, it is advised to stay on larger cages in order to avoid the confusion arising from the clumsiness of the animals. Pregnant females need the most space - their cages should be twice the size of normal rabbits.

How to choose good individuals

You should be guided by the points below so as not to make a mistake when buying or selecting good individuals.

Signs of pure blood

Signs of purebredness include:

• wiry and massive muzzle;
• clean and strong feet, without any sores or ulcers;
• erect ears. It is important that their length is not less than 13 centimeters;
• smooth, silky coat. There should not be any baldness;
• the rabbit must be large and well-fed. The entire adult must not be below 8 kilograms;
• the rabbit must have a correct bite, without caries;
• good appetite. If the rabbit eats little or poorly, this may be a sign of illness.

There are several signs of rejection

Rejection signs

The signs of culling include:

• short ears. Often omitted;
• bald patches, sparse wool;
• the female has a narrow pelvis or hips;
• little weight. 8 kilograms is considered the norm;
• weak, frail paws;
• flattened, small face;
• rotten, irregular and crooked teeth.

Productivity

Before the appearance of representatives of the breed, whose color was different from the natural dark gray, Risen rabbits were very reluctant to use for the manufacture of fur products. The main emphasis was placed on the production of meat. However, after the appearance of alternative colors, the interest of breeders in the furs of these animals increased markedly. In addition, skins of larger individuals are traditionally valued more highly than skins of miniature rabbits.

With proper feeding of Rizens, you can get excellent quality dietary meat from them.

Advantages and disadvantages of the breed

The future owner needs to take into account the difficulties in breeding and keeping Germanic giants. There are not so many of them:

• a lot of space is required, large cells are needed;
• readiness for breeding is late, at 10 months;
• rabbits grow slowly, therefore feed costs increase.

The breed has enough merits. The main thing is, of course, the large size of the representatives. Also, the German giants have other advantages:

• tasty meat and valuable fur;
• good immune system, resistance to some respiratory diseases;
• adaptability to Russian climatic conditions;
• kind disposition and high intelligence.

Risen rabbits can take their rightful place, both in a large breeding farm, and in a private backyard. The main thing is to weigh the pros and cons and be prepared for the manifestations of the breed's characteristics.

Character

Contrary to the general disinterest of breeders in the peculiarities of the disposition of animals preparing for slaughter, many owners considered Risen to be excellent companions. Thanks to their developed intelligence, these animals are able to interact with humans and find a common language with him. Largely for this reason, some people have giant rabbits in the absence of a meat-selling mindset.They are driven by a simple desire to find a responsive pet.

Some Risen live in people's homes as full-fledged pets, delighting the owners.

Reviews of the owners of German giants

Karina Veseltseva, p. Nizhnekamenskoe

We tried to keep the German rizenov brought from Poland. Before that, I bred our domestic gray and white giants, so there is something to compare with. Ours are more resilient, although less in weight and less quality skins. In German rizen, I was seduced by just blue, black and golden colors, which Russian giants do not have. I tried to cross the rizen with our breeds, the result was not pleasing. The first generation turned out to be all "simple", and in the second, when the splitting was going on, it was often not possible to understand which rabbits are resistant to the cold and which are not. A lot of rabbits died because of this. Since I don't have the opportunity to build a warm rabbitry, I again switched to the good old Soviet giants.

Tamara Krasilnikova, Moscow

“Mom, well, buy a rabbit! Well, buy it! " I bought it. The shop assistant swore that the rabbit was decorative. And he didn't even lie. Later I read on the Internet that they call decorative rabbits not miniature rabbits, but any that are kept as pets, and not for meat and skins. In general, this beast has grown to 10 kg. Moreover, he was castrated. I talked to the forums and found out that I seem to have a German rizen. Everything would be fine, he is really very calm and flexible, but when he gets scared, he hits the floor with his hind paw. Downstairs neighbors are complaining. I tell them that rabbits don't live long. And I am silent about the 12 years of life of these animals, read on the same Internet.

Feeding

The diet of giant rabbits is no different from the diet of all other rabbits. It includes all the same dry, juicy and roughage, concentrates, food waste, etc. The only difficulty lies in the correct calculation of portions, since most tables indicate the dose of the product absorbed by a five-kilogram rabbit. One of these tables is shown below.

Rabbit diet

The Dangers of Obesity

Rabbits of the Riesen breed are prone to rapid weight gain, which should be taken into account when feeding. An unhealthy increase in body weight can lead to several consequences:

1. Well-fed males lose the ability to fertilize females.
2. Overweight females bring fewer babies and run the risk of not coping with the stress on the body during childbirth.

Obesity not only negatively affects the reproduction of rabbits, but also harms their health.

Correct formulation of the diet

When creating a nutritional plan, a breeder must consider three conditions:

1. The sex of the animal.
2. His age.
3. The physiological state in which the animal is at the moment.

Feeding of females will inevitably differ from that of males due to possible pregnancies and lactations in rabbits, during which the diet should consist of the most nutritious and healthy foods. The diets of females and males at rest and in preparation for mating are also different.

The diet of rabbits is based on their physical condition and is developed individually

Feeding types

In general terms, rabbit feeding is divided into two types:

1. Dry - this type of feeding assumes an emphasis on ready-made combined feeds, which are selected in accordance with the conditions described above. Often, such feeds already include vitamin supplements that are necessary for a rabbit at one time or another in its life. By the way, dry factory feed is the best option for Rizenov, however, it is extremely difficult to find it on the territory of Russia;

   

   Russian brands are practically not engaged in the production of dry feed for rabbits Rizenov

2. Mixed - This type of feeding is more suitable for experienced breeders who understand the needs of their animals. Mixed feeding involves the combination of thick and liquid mixtures obtained from coarse, green, animal feed and food waste.

By the way! Despite the usefulness of juicy foods, they are the ones that most often cause digestion difficulties in rabbits, causing indigestion or bloating. Hay and grains are more gastrointestinal options and form the basis of the diet.

Not all juicy foods are intended for digestion by the stomachs of rabbits.

Feeding in different seasons

In addition to the age and condition of the rabbits, the diet inevitably changes depending on the season. So, in the warm months, breeders focus on green food, which gives rabbits the necessary supply of vitamins and other nutrients, which should be enough until next summer. The summer diet of rabbits includes:

1. Herbs: rabbits eagerly eat dandelions, willow-herb, clover, wormwood, etc.
2. Branches: These can be branches of both shrubs and trees. Suitable options include apple, elm, alder, currant and raspberry bushes.

   

   Rabbits are allowed to give not only branches of apple trees, but also the apples themselves in a limited amount

3. Garden tops: Cabbage and beet leaves are suitable as tops. However, adding foliage to rabbit food should be kept in mind that excessive amounts of it causes bloating.
4. Grain and cereal-based foods: rich in proteins, they effectively build muscle mass in animals and improve the taste of meat obtained from them.

In cold times, preference should be given to high-calorie foods and mixtures served warm. Mixes with boiled vegetables and cereals are perfect. Water is also supplied as warm as possible (but not hot) and changes daily.

A comprehensive initial idea of ​​the feeding rates of rabbits, depending on the season, is given in the table below.

Diet of rabbits depending on the season

Vitamin Supplements

It can be very difficult to take all the vitamins into account when compiling a diet for rabbits on your own. Fortunately, Risens have stable immunity and do not need additional "injections" of nutrients. Normally, the bacteria in the intestines of these rabbits produce the required amount of vitamins. Failure occurs only with dysbiosis, the prevention of which is entirely in the hands of the breeder.

Vitamin supplements should only be used after consulting a veterinarian

Food for German giants

For the rapid and proper development of this breed, a balanced diet is very important. Many rabbit breeders, based on their own experience, recommend purchasing the breed to those who can independently provide rizen with all types of feed: cereals, vegetables and grass.

In the summertime, you need to give preference to grass food. Before giving the grass to the rabbits, it must be dried and allowed to wither a little. If the grass is fresh, rabbits may develop stool problems and bloating. In addition, food is supplemented with bark and tree twigs. Be sure to give vegetables and fruits. In winter, grain feed is preferable: corn, grain, rye, legumes. Be sure to give hay. You can continue to feed the vegetables.

For good development, vitamins must be added to the feed. You can combine food with compound feed and bone meal. The animals are fed twice a day. If rabbits do not move much, it is better not to overuse food. Risens are prone to obesity.

Breeding

Breeding giant rabbits has a number of its own characteristics. The main difficulty that can alienate many breeders is the late maturation of the rabbits.If their miniature relatives are ready for mating already by three to four months, then the Rizens take about ten months to complete sexual and physiological development.

Rabbits of the Riesen breed mature much later than rabbits of other breeds, however, they are distinguished by their fertility

In connection with this important detail, they have recently preferred to abandon the industrial breeding of Rizenov, paying attention to more early maturing individuals. However, breeders are actively working to reduce the maturation period of giant rabbits and are making significant progress.

For mating, the best males and females are selected from different nests. It is advisable to decide on the applicants in advance and transfer them to more nutritious food in order to prepare them as best as possible for the upcoming mating. Also, before mating, it is imperative to vaccinate partners, which we will discuss in more detail in the corresponding section.

Before mating, the breeder must take care of the excellent physical condition of the prospective parents.

Despite the fact that females are able to give birth to offspring by eight months, experts recommend waiting another 60 days to exclude possible complications that accompany pregnancy.

Video - Rizen puberty and mating

Preparing the space

In order to bring the rabbit and the rabbit together, it is necessary to leave them alone in one cage, having previously removed all food from it. Otherwise, animals can be distracted from the expected actions of them and move on to eating food. Instincts will take care of the rest. As a rule, rabbits quickly begin to implement their "duties" and in half an hour the mating is completed.

In order for the rabbits to start mating, you need to remove all distracting objects from the cage.

The owner of the animal himself can diagnose the onset of pregnancy by palpation. The fruits will be felt in the belly of the rabbit already at the end of the second week.

Rabbit care

At the beginning of pregnancy, it is advisable to move the rabbit to a separate large cage (one and a half times larger than an ordinary one). The animal must have time to get used to the cage and accept it in order to proceed with the arrangement.

Fertilized females should be moved to larger cages, equipped with a queen cell

Closer to childbirth, the rabbit will create a nest for newborns. It is quite simple to determine the beginning of nesting - the animal will begin to fold everything that is under its paws into one large pile. One of the materials for insulating the nest is the mother's fur, which she selflessly pulls out of her chest.

Of course, during pregnancy, the rabbit should receive more food, but it is not recommended to overdo it. As soon as you see that the animal ignores the leftover leftovers, reduce the portions.

Rabbit cage prices

Rabbit cage

Uterus

When it comes to nesting, it's time to take care of the mother liquor, to which the rabbit again has to get used to. Note that the holes in it should be large enough to allow the female an unobstructed passage, and narrow enough to prevent curious babies from falling out. Bumpers of at least four centimeters will help protect the cubs.

Uterus from the inside

After the birth of the young, the dressing of the cage with the mother liquor should be done several times more often. Newborns are especially sensitive to dirt, dust and ammonia fumes.

Feeding young animals

The first weeks after the birth of the cubs, as a rule, there is no need to worry about their feeding. If the female was not sickly and fed properly during pregnancy, she will provide the newborns with the necessary nutrition.Moreover, female rabbits of this breed show special care and do not seek to abandon their young rabbits early, sometimes even keeping them close to themselves longer than they should.

On rare occasions, bunnies may have difficulty lactating, leading to malnutrition.

Despite the fact that for the period of feeding the rabbits are provided to the mother, it will not be superfluous to monitor their condition. The following tips can help with this:

1. To keep the rabbits safe from starvation, do not distract the rabbit and do not give her unnecessary reasons to worry. During lactation, contact of the animal with people should be minimal.
2. A well-fed bunny can be recognized by the shape of its belly. On palpation, it should be elastic and taut. Wrinkles are undesirable.
3. If there are clear signs of exhaustion, you should take the preparation of the formula into your own hands.

Soldering rabbits with artificial mixtures will help them make up for the lack of breast milk

If you do not want the rabbit to suddenly abandon her cubs, do not try to actively interact with them until the end of feeding. Bodily contact can cause unwanted human odor from young animals. The bunny will accept this "scent" as alien and will stop perceiving her bunnies.

Artificial feeding

To prepare the mixture you will need:

• skimmed milk powder (about 50%);
• whey protein (about 30%);
• sunflower and coconut oil (in proportions of three to one);
• multivitamin blends and mineral supplements.

Rabbits receive the mixture using special syringes that gently inject the composition

All ingredients are mixed and heated to 38 degrees before serving. The most acceptable way of feeding rabbits is feeding through a syringe or pipette. The mixture is given to the cubs twice a day.

Transfer to "adult" food

After two months, lactation in females comes to an end and milk supplies sharply decrease. At this point, the rabbits should be ready to switch to hard food. Since the translation should be carried out gradually, it is advisable to acquaint them with liquid mash before separation from the mother. It is best to make this transition in the spring or summer and plan your pregnancy in accordance with this task.

The transition to adult food should be carried out during warmer seasons.

First of all, the most viable individuals are taken from the rabbit, the transfer of which to ordinary food will not cause severe shocks to the body. Over time, their weaker brothers and sisters join the strong cubs.

The most significant weight gains occur precisely in the first year of life, therefore it is especially important to take care of the nutritional value of feed for young animals.

Prices for compound feed for rabbits

Compound feed for rabbits

The content of rabbits of the Riesen breed

Cage requirements

The main requirement for rabbits of this breed is a spacious and preferably insulated cage, since this breed does not like the Russian climate.

Cell decoration

The cage should be one and a half times larger than the cage for regular rabbits. It should also be at least 35 centimeters above the ground. Materials must be natural, without the use of synthetics. Otherwise, it will badly affect the health of the eared. The cage is best made from a mesh, with not too large and not too small eggs. In winter, there should be straw on top of the net.

For an already pregnant female, you will need a separate house. The cage must be large. It should always have clean bedding, fresh food and water. It is important that there is always water. Otherwise, you can make the mother rabbit angry and she can harm the cubs.

Registration of a mother liquor for a rabbit

You should separately take care of creating a queen cell. The uterus is an appendage of the cell. In no case should he be a part of her, otherwise the rabbit will turn her into a toilet. The sun's rays should not penetrate into the mother liquor, so that the rabbits develop well.

Pay attention to the Rizen's diet

Climatic conditions and temperature conditions for breeding

You also need to take care of the temperature. It should not be less than 5 degrees in winter. And in summer it shouldn't be more than 40 degrees.

ATTENTION! The permissible humidity limit is only 60-75%. If you neglect this, then the animals can get sick and die soon.

Risen's purchase

Since the representatives of the breed are quite exotic for Russian conditions and are not so common, it is not advised to take the young from the hands. It is advisable to find a breeding farm, the owner of which will be able to acquaint you with the pedigree of the rabbit and show its parents.

When purchasing a Risen rabbit from a breeder, you can consult with him on emerging issues

From the breeder, in addition to the pedigree, you can find out information about the intricacies of keeping pets, which can hardly be read on the net or in books. It is the practical experience that is the most invaluable, and it is passed from hand to hand with a personal acquaintance. Moreover, usually amateurs of their business remain in touch with each other after the conclusion of the transaction. If you have questions about rabbit behavior, you can report them to the breeder and discuss your concerns.

Suitable age

It is advisable to purchase a rabbit that has already been vaccinated and is able to cope with moving to your new home. The ideal age to acquire an animal is four to five months. Younger individuals, as a rule, are not yet ready to meet a new owner, and a change in environment can be a real shock for them.

The optimal age for purchasing a Risen rabbit is five months

Care and maintenance

Risen is considered a demanding breed, but if desired, even a novice farmer can cope with caring for such a pet. Risen are very kind and loyal animals. It is not surprising that this type of rabbit often becomes a pet and lives in an apartment or house. People who keep such pets note that this breed is very intelligent and sociable.

Rabbit care

Animals do not get along well with children, so families with children should not buy such large pets.

Keeping rabbits is a very difficult task, and not everyone will like it.

Representatives of the breed of German Giants, despite their impressive size, are active, so they need a very large cage. For one individual, her size should be at least 110 cm by 70 cm. When the female has babies, she will need a bigger cage, about 170 cm by 110 cm, so that all the rabbits with their mother can play a lot. They love to jump, therefore they need so much space.

Arrangement of the cell

You can keep Rizenov in any conditions. They can be placed both outdoors and in the aviary: the animals will continue to feel good. So that Riesen rabbits do not have any diseases and corns, they must be kept in a properly built cage. So their home is desirable to be made of a mesh covered with plastic, the bottom and top should be made of wood or rubber. In such conditions, the rabbit will feel as comfortable as possible and he will not have corns.

German Giants tolerate any weather conditions well, be it frost or heat. They also have a well-developed immunity, they are very rarely exposed to diseases.

Constant ventilation must be installed in the cages. From dust and strong dirt, the pet can get sick and even die. The bedding in the cage should be done in 2 layers: hay and sawdust. Fresh hay should be added every day as this will improve the maintenance and cleanliness of the pet's cage.You need to clean at least 3-4 times a week, clean the feeder 8-10 times a week, change the water in the drinkers every day. It is important to remember that every time the cage is cleaned, it must be disinfected. By following these simple rules, the content of the Rizens is simplified.