How to determine the gender of a rabbit :? differences in genitals, physique and behavior

Why do you need to recognize the sex of rodents

Any farmer is aware of the fact that it is necessary to determine the sex of eared animals as early as possible. If this business is at the very beginning, then it is necessary to determine the gender of the rabbits when buying. This is especially important if you plan to breed expensive rabbit breeds. In this case, it is necessary to acquire thoroughbred individuals in a special proportion between males and females.

Knowing the gender of rabbits is also necessary in order to seat males and females separately so that unscheduled mating does not occur. In addition, if several males are kept in one cage, then fights may begin between them, which will lead to spoilage of the skins. This is especially important when breeding downy rabbits. The resulting injuries will lead to poor health of the rodents. Knowing how to tell the gender of your rabbit will help prevent such unwanted moments.

Additional aspects by definition

Adult rabbits, unlike males, have 2 rows of papillae, which are well felt. Visually, they are visible only during molting, so they will also have to be distinguished by touch.

When comparing 2 individuals of the opposite sex, but of the same age, you can see several differences:

females are slightly larger than males;
in rabbits the head is wider and shorter;
rabbits also cannot boast of a wide croup.

These signs are considered secondary, so you cannot personally rely on them, but in case of ambiguity, they will help. Over time, each breeder identifies its own unique methods of definition, which only work in its application.

You shouldn't even try to distinguish gender in the same way as cats and dogs. There is absolutely nothing in common! In rabbits, the entire reproductive system is under the skin (including the testes), while in cats and dogs everything is in sight. But the shape is also different, which can also be misleading.

Usually, animals are divided into 3 types:

Decorative - small in size, kept in apartments and houses, with proper care it grows up to 2 kg.
Skin (dwarf) - medium size, grows up to 5 kg, is kept in special rabbitries.
Meat - the largest of their representatives, grows up to 12 kg, are also kept only in specially equipped rabbitries.

When purchasing, it is advisable to look at the parents and at the place of detention in order to get a clear idea. If the conditions of detention are low, and the parents do not match the dimensions of the declared breed, then it is better not to buy.

At what age can you determine your gender

Immediately after the birth of offspring, you should not begin to determine the sex of newborn rabbits. But this can be done correctly only at a certain age.

There are signs by which you can accurately determine the sex of rabbits. To do this immediately after birth is very difficult, almost impossible. The recommendation of breeders is to find out the sex of the rabbit when it is one month old. Of course, there were differences before, but they cannot be detected with the naked eye. If necessary, you can try to do this two weeks after birth, but the result will not be guaranteed, even if an experienced rabbit breeder takes it on.

There is a rule - the older the animal is, the more accurately you can determine its sex. This is also important when buying animals. It is recommended to purchase them no earlier than the age of 1-2 months, when they have already managed to get the necessary portion of high-calorie mother's milk, which ensures the acquisition of strong immunity. An experienced seller will be able to determine the gender of the future purchase and select the required copy.

The need to determine the sex of the rabbit also exists when there is already a large population. This should be done in order to plant different-sex animals from the same litter in time, when they are at maturity. Otherwise, inbreeding can occur - incest of close relatives, in this case brothers and sisters, which leads to the degeneration of the breed. Inbreeding can lead to the appearance of genetic diseases, the birth of rabbits with defects. It is advisable to start seating residents of one cell from the age of one and a half months.

Examination of the genitals also allows you to determine the presence of malformations and prevent them from being used as producers.

After sex determination in young rabbits, it is enough to leave two males for every ten females to continue the genus.

At what stage in the development of a rabbit do you need to know its gender?

It is not recommended to identify the eared ears immediately after their birth. By external signs, it will not be possible to determine gender. All organs are at an early stage of development and look identical. Even an experienced livestock breeder who has devoted his whole life to his work will be able to determine the sex of an animal no earlier than 14-16 days after birth. The probability of gender determination will be no more than 90%. The older the animal, the more accurate the result. It is also worth noting that determining gender from a photo is a meaningless task. Determination of sex should be carried out visually with a careful examination of the rabbits themselves.

It is recommended to identify animals from the age of one month. It is not recommended to sell babies who are less than 30 days old. They haven't had time to drink their mother's milk yet., which contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals. This can lead to prolonged illness or death. For humane reasons, in some countries it is forbidden to sell "babies". Such a law is spelled out in the legislation. If it is violated, a fine is charged. Not only the seller but also the buyer is responsible. Therefore, if it is impossible to determine the sex of the animal when buying, the animal should be abandoned.

Existing sexual characteristics

Rabbits as representatives of mammals have two types of sexual characteristics:

primary;
secondary.

The primary sexual characteristics are directly related to the genitals of animals. The genitals of females and males have a clear distinction that can be seen on simple visual inspection. Secondary sexual characteristics include the features of the appearance of males and females, as well as the features of their behavior.

When solving the problem of how to determine the sex of a rabbit, an analysis can be made based on primary and secondary characteristics.

The nature of males and females

Gender differences are also evident in the behavior of rabbits.

Males have glands on the chin that secrete special enzymes that allow them to mark territory. Therefore, they rub their muzzles against the feeders and the walls of the cage, consolidating both the smell and their superiority. They also use another way to mark the boundaries - in a jump they release a stream of urine, trying to spray as large an area as possible.

In females, this tendency is manifested much less frequently.They prefer to hide in secluded corners of the cage, dig the bedding, creating a "nest", behave noisily, often pluck out the down on their belly.

During games, sometimes the rabbit can saddle the rabbit and begin to imitate the movements typical for mating. This is normal and should not be a qualitative feature for animal sex identification.

Secondary sexual characteristics

Experienced breeders can almost accurately determine the sex of rodents, simply by looking at them, in particular, at the structure of their body. This will become especially evident if the male and female are next to each other. The differences will become more visible. Males of the same breed will always be larger than their life mates. Even their head will be more massive. Females look more accurate. Their hairline is more delicate when stroking. Rabbits have smoother body shapes and a wider rounded croup.

Male rabbits have a more powerful body than their female counterparts. The limbs are more powerful and stronger, and the head is more massive. In females, the croup has a more rounded shape, which is due to the need to bear offspring. In males, it is narrower, which can be seen if you place them side by side. When a mature female is examined, nipples located in two rows can be found on the abdomen.

There are also differences in behavior. Males have a habit of marking territory to designate their possessions and to show who is the boss here. This is typical for the satisfaction of a small need. The male may randomly spray his urine, not trying to comply with the rules of decency. Moreover, his urine will have a very characteristic smell due to the fact that discharge from the gonads of the animal gets into it. Males also try to leave their inherent smell, starting to rub against the walls of cages and feeders. For females, the presence of such a pungent odor is not characteristic.

Making a conclusion based on the behavior of the animal, you can make a characteristic mistake. The fact is that after seeing how one rabbit jumps onto another, it is logical to assume that this is a male. However, the female can also do this. In such an original way, she kind of seduces the male, demonstrating her readiness for mating. In addition, in this way, the female can demonstrate her leadership qualities in front of other females living in the same cage with her.

The tendency to fight also refers to the behavior of male rabbits. The behavior of females is calmer. Their task is not to lead the team, but to continue the rabbit race. The self-sacrifice of females reaches the point that they themselves tear out the fluff from their abdomen in order to prepare a cozy nest. A feature of the behavior of rabbits is the digging of burrows. Females are trying to improve their living conditions, in which she will have to nurse her future offspring, in all possible ways. Instinct tells them that they must conserve their strength for the upcoming tests, so it is typical for females from time to time to huddle in secluded corners and calmly rest in them.

It is much more accurate to determine the sex of a rabbit by its primary sex characteristics.

Helpful hints and tips

When keeping and breeding rabbits, it is very important to be able to correctly determine their gender. In such matters, as in the cultivation of these animals, you need to act carefully and not rush. It is worth listening to helpful advice and recommendations from experienced livestock breeders.

If you decide on an independent examination of a young animal, then this should be done strictly according to the instructions. Be confident, but don't be too rude. Otherwise, you can harm the rabbit - these animals are quite fragile, especially if they belong to an ornamental breed.
You can determine the sex of an animal by its size, behavior and other characteristics, however, a basic examination of its genitals will not replace all these actions. It is best to consider the sex of the rabbit in a comprehensive manner, resorting to all of the above methods.
It should be borne in mind that rabbits usually do not create monogamous families. It is for this reason that these animals must be bought in such a way that there are at least two males for 10 females.
Few people know that rabbits are characterized by mixing of semen. In this case, in one litter, eared babies are born, descending from different male producers. Moreover, in order to increase the likelihood of fertilization and obtaining strong offspring, experts even advise to alternate mating of these animals, that is, one female with a pair of males. It will be necessary to plant the latter in turn, not forgetting to do an interval of a couple of days.
It should be borne in mind that the rabbits, despite their peaceful attitude, may well afford to fight with other individuals in the cage. This can be due to a struggle for the best spot or portion of fresh food. In most cases, such collisions end normally - the animals do not receive serious injuries or injuries.
Particularly serious about identifying the sex of animals must be taken during the period of their seating. It is not recommended to put same-sex rabbits in one cage - as a result, they will begin to find out which of them is more important.
When examining a rabbit in detail, you should never be guided by the nipples on its body. We must not forget that they occur in both females and males, therefore this feature cannot be attributed to the main factors that make it possible to distinguish the sex of the animal.
It is easier to examine adult rabbits. Their gender is easier and faster to determine. It is enough to examine their genitals. There is no need to stock up on a magnifying glass, as is the case with dwarf individuals. Often, in mature males, the testes grow quite large and clearly visible - it will be very difficult to confuse such eared ones with females.
If you have a male rabbit in front of you, but he does not have two testicles, then, most likely, this will indicate a certain injury or a congenital defect in the structure of the individual.
When buying a rabbit (both decorative and ordinary), it is recommended to examine it yourself to determine its gender. It is not always worth listening to sellers, especially if you are selecting animals for further breeding - in such matters it is better not to make mistakes.
The genitals of animals of different ages can have a different color. For example, in young individuals, they are most often light pink, in adolescent rabbits, the genitals are white, and in adult animals they are darker, close to red. Such features should also be taken into account when choosing these animals.

Have you decided to start breeding rabbits? The first step is to find out how to determine the gender of the rabbit yourself. Being able to reliably identify the sex of furry pets is essential for a successful business, because knowing the exact number of males and females, you can form an ideal rabbit herd for breeding.

How to determine the gender of a rabbit

Visual inspection

With this action, the primary sexual characteristics of the animals are revealed. A close visual inspection of the genitals is a guaranteed way to tell the difference between a rabbit and a bunny.

There are two methods for determining sex, which are used depending on the age at which the examination is performed.

Let us first consider the option when adults are to be examined.

Inspection of matured individuals

The purpose of examining rabbits is to determine their sex. You need to prepare for it yourself and prepare the rabbit to be examined.The farmer himself should not be in an irritated state of mind, which can be transmitted to sensitive animals. Inspection must be carried out in a separate room without the presence of strangers and pets.

Rabbits are shy animals, you need to calm them down so that they are not frightened by the upcoming unusual manipulations that will have to be performed on them.

The usual stroking is a calming maneuver. To do this, the rabbit must be carefully pulled out of the cage, taken in your arms, sit comfortably and place the animal on your lap. You should lightly run your hand along the growth of the wool on the back. Continue stroking the animal until it calms down and the increased heart rate returns to normal. You can continue the inspection on your lap, but it is best to place the rabbit on a flat, horizontal surface, such as a table.

It should be laid on its back, belly up so that the head of the animal is on the farmer's side, and the lower limbs on the opposite side. When laying down the rabbit, hold it by the withers, however, do not squeeze it too much. You can hold it by the neck and ears. Alternatively, you can slightly raise it in the vertical direction, as if planting it on your own tail. Such a reclining position will be quite comfortable for the animal.

To prevent the rabbit from turning over during inspection, its position should be fixed. It is not difficult to do this by holding it with your left hand. The right one should remain free for palpation.

Before determining the sex of the rabbit, preparatory measures should be taken. With your free hand, you need to push the skin of the rabbit in the region of its crotch.

This must be done with two fingers. One should lightly press in the area of growth of the tail next to the anus, and press with the second finger from the opposite side. It is more convenient to do this with your thumb and forefinger. Pressing is necessary so that the genitals of the animal appear in the field of view of the inspector.

Determination of sex in rabbits is as follows. The genitals of females have the form of a loop. Her genitals have the following structure:

The genitals of rabbits resemble a small tongue or, when viewed from the side, a triangle. The uvula color in youth is light pink and then darkens. On visual inspection, you can clearly see the genital slit directed towards the tail. Its narrowing gradually occurs.

The male's penis is shaped like a cylinder, at the end of which there is a round hole for urination. In young rabbits, the penis is white, but with age it becomes pale pink, and its end acquires a slight swelling.

The testicles also belong to the primary sexual characteristics of the male. Outwardly, they resemble small tumors, on the surface of which there is no hair. After the onset of sexual maturity of the male, the testicles go down.

How to determine the gender of a decorative rabbit

Due to their small size, decorative rabbits complicate the process of sex determination. But it is important to resolve the issue in time, since early castration is necessary when keeping a male. If this is not done, the animal will become aggressive and will actively mark the territory.

Be sure to read:

How to bathe a decorative rabbit, can it be washed at home

Procedures for sex determination with dwarf rabbits should be carried out in the same way as with ordinary ones - lay on the stomach and examine the genitals.

In a male pet, already at 3-4 months old, noticeable testes, and in females - only a small round genital slit. So, determining the sex of rabbits even at an early age does not create difficulties, it is only important to treat the examination with caution and care.

Inspection of rabbits

This method is used when the age of the animals is in the range between two weeks from birth and one month.Determining the sex of rabbits at this age is not 100% guaranteed, but it can give some idea of the ratio in the litter.

The genitals of babies are not yet fully formed, therefore, when examining, you have to strain your eyes. As a last resort, you can resort to using a loupe with high magnification. One of the main signs is the distance from the penis to the anus. In the female, it is up to 2 mm, and in the males - 2-5 mm.

If the sex of a small rabbit is examined, then from fear he can pull the testicles inward, which will confuse the breeder. Young males do not have a full-fledged member, but the so-called prepuce. It is from him that a full-fledged penis should grow in the future.

Females at the age of one month have a sex loop of intense bright pink color. After a while, the genitals of the little rabbit begin to darken.

When examining males at the age of two months, one can see that the distance of the penis to the anus has increased. The lack of visibility of the testicles may mean either that the rabbit has pulled them in, or the animal has a developmental abnormality. The behavior of males at the age of two months becomes more aggressive and restless. Females remain calm, but their genitals also increase in size.

Before determining the sex of a rabbit at the age of three months, the same manipulations should be performed as when examining an adult. The penis in young males grows to medium size. External changes are also taking place. The penis becomes slightly swollen and looks like a narrow long tube. The testicles finally sink down.

In small rabbits at the age of three months, a tongue-loop is already formed. It has a bright pink color. The size of the female's genitals increases.

How to distinguish a female from a male in decorative breeds?

Separately, it is worth talking about how to check the sex of not ordinary, but decorative rabbits. The main distinguishing feature of these cute individuals is castration. When the decorative rabbit is 4 months old, it must be neutered. This applies to any species of dwarf animal.

If you neglect this operation, then subsequently the pet will begin to constantly mark the territory in which it will live. Because of this, a pungent and unpleasant smell can settle in the home, from which the head will spin. The rabbit can also become overly aggressive.

You need to know how you can determine the sex of a decorative rabbit by visual inspection. The identification of sexual characteristics in these animals is absolutely no different from the examination of simple animals that are raised on the farm. To do this, you need to know the exact age of the rabbit. In one month, the sex of the animal can be determined by the direct location of the corresponding organs. From 1 to 3 months, sex is determined by prepuce. If the animal is more than 3 months old, then its gender can be identified by the drooping testicles.

It is recommended to check the sex of the decorative rabbit even at the stage of its purchase from the breeder (or at the pet store). The method of examining the animal in this case is absolutely no different from the method described above, associated with simple rabbits. The only difference is that in dwarf individuals the genitals are very small. For this reason, during the inspection, it is often necessary to use a magnifying glass to magnify the image. This device will help to determine the sex of an individual without causing the slightest harm and unnecessary stress.

Please note that decorative rabbits are very delicate and fragile creatures. You should not make sharp and too rough movements while examining them.Otherwise, you can injure the eagle or scare him very much. Such things will not lead to anything good.

You can determine the sex of a dwarf rabbit by using a highly qualified seller. If you cannot see the sexual characteristics of the rabbit, you can accurately measure the distance from the genitals to the anus.

If you have a small male in front of you, then this indicator will be no more than 4 mm. As for the girl rabbits, this distance will be less than half.