How long do rabbits of different species live - features and interesting facts

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Decorative rabbits are very popular pets. These animals look cute, eat mostly only grass and root crops, you don’t need to walk with them. And of course, many owners of such fluffy pets are also interested in how long rabbits live. The answer to this question depends on many factors.

Origin of the rabbit

These fluffy animals were tamed by man more than 2 thousand years ago. According to scientists, the domestic rabbit originated from a wild rabbit that once lived in France and Spain. In these states, such animals live in nature to this day. Unfortunately, it is practically impossible to meet rabbits in the forests and fields on the territory of the post-Soviet space. These animals are found only in some regions of Ukraine and on the islands of the Caspian Sea.

Initially, rabbits were kept, of course, only as household animals. To date, farmers are breeding just a huge number of breeds of such animals, both fur-bearing and meat or skin productivity.

Later rabbits were kept at home andjust as pets. There are also many breeds of decorative eared animals. At home, lop-eared varieties, ordinary, dwarf ones can be bred.

What determines life expectancy

Rabbits - animals, unfortunately, are rather frail and sickly. In terms of life expectancy, dogs and cats, for example, are far behind.

Rabbits are known to breed very quickly. This applies to both decorative and economic or wild varieties. But a rabbit, unfortunately, can die very easily - from illness, improper feeding, or even just from fear.

The life expectancy of different types of eared animals - wild, household, decorative - is not the same. In domestic rabbits, this figure also directly depends on the conditions of detention:

• cleanliness in cells;
• diet;
• opportunities to move actively;
• Acceptance or rejection by owners of preventive measures against diseases.

Life expectancy in a forest or field

First, let's find out how many years wild rabbits live in nature. Such animals, unfortunately, usually die much earlier than their domestic relatives. In the wild, rabbits face hundreds of dangers. But even the rabbit that managed to avoid, for example, the teeth of a predator, is unlikely to be able to live longer than 2-3 years in a forest or field.

The rapid decline in the population, as already mentioned, in these animals in nature is compensated by a very highfertility. For a year, one female can become pregnant and give birth to cubs up to 3 times. At the same time, up to 16 rabbits are conceived in one litter.

Interesting fact about wild rabbits

So, how many rabbits live in nature, we found out. Wild animals usually die at the age of 2-2.5 years. Most often, rabbits die after the same time, and being caught, when kept at home.

However, if a wild rabbit is provided with very high-quality care - develop a special correct diet for him and provide him with the opportunity to move freely by building a spacious aviary for him, the animal will be able to live a little longer - up to 3-5 years.

Moreover, it was the wild rabbit that once became the record holder in terms of life expectancy. The name of this animal is Flopsy. He was caught in 1964, and left this world only in 1982, having thus lived 18 years and 10 months. The record set by Flopsy has not yet been broken by any wild, farm or decorative eared animal.

How long household rabbits live

The life expectancy of animals raised for meat and fur is much longer than that of their wild counterparts. And this peculiarity of them is connected, of course, primarily with the artificial selection carried out over the centuries. Peasants have long chosen on farms as producers, of course, only the strongest and he althiest individuals.

Household rabbits live longer than all other varieties. Their average life expectancy is 6-8 years. Butwith good care, such rabbits may not leave this world for 12 years.

The answer to the question of how many years farm rabbits live at home is thus a relatively long time. However, such animals end their days, unfortunately, usually quite quickly. Farmers usually do not keep rabbits on the farm for more than 5 months. After this period, the animals begin to slowly gain weight, consuming a large amount of feed. Therefore, they are simply slaughtered for meat.

The only exceptions in this regard are specially selected manufacturers. Also, long-eared animals bred for fluff live on farms for quite some time.

How long decorative rabbits live

Animals of this variety are somewhat less he althy than household animals. Decorative rabbits live, of course, also much longer than wild ones. But they are a little inferior to economic varieties in this regard.

The average life expectancy of ornamental rabbits is 5-7 years. Although, of course, in this case, everything also strongly depends on the characteristics of the body of a particular animal and the quality of care for it. In some cases, like household rabbits, decorative rabbits can live at home for up to 12 years or more.

Interesting fact about decorative animals

Thus, how long domestic rabbits live is understandable. Such a pet will be able to please the owners with its presence for 5-7 years. Veterinarians believe that the life expectancy of decorative rabbits is frombreed is independent. However, many owners of such animals are convinced that this is still not entirely true.

For example, it has been observed that lop-eared rabbits live somewhat longer than their counterparts with erect ears. Perhaps the he alth of such animals is still better. The answer to the question of how long domestic lop-eared rabbits live is a period of 6-8 years.

Many animal lovers keep at home a special variety of such animals - dwarf rabbits. Such pets differ from ordinary eared fluffies only in very small sizes. The answer to the question of how long dwarf rabbits live also depends on the specific species of the animal. For lop-eared babies, this period is usually 6-8 years, for ordinary ones - 5-7 years.

How to prolong the life of your pet: proper nutrition

In order for decorative or household rabbits to always be he althy and active, they, of course, should first of all be properly fed. The diet of these animals must include:

• cereals;
• roughage;
• toasted white bread;
• root crops and vegetables.

Barley groats and oatmeal are best for rabbits. For small animals, such feed is usually given only in crushed form. For large rabbits, whole grains are also suitable.

In addition to concentrates, these animals should also be given hay or grass every day. These foods are rich in vitamins and fiber. Grass for rabbits in summerusually given not fresh, but slightly dried. This is especially true for young people. From a large amount of fresh grass in rabbits, indigestion can occur. And this, in turn, often leads even to death.

The answer to the question of how many years rabbits live when kept at home also depends on how correctly the owner chooses juicy food for these animals. Of the root crops, carrots are, of course, first of all, very useful for these animals. It can be given to rabbits in unlimited quantities. Potatoes are also very useful for these animals. But tubers must be boiled before offering them to a pet.

Beets are usually given only to adult animals. For rabbits, this root crop, the juice of which is a laxative, is contraindicated. Cabbage can be given to both small and large rabbits. But this vegetable is also recommended for animals to be offered only in limited quantities.

Of course, all food intended for rabbits must be absolutely fresh. Rotten vegetables, moldy bread, etc. should not be offered to these animals.

What is important to know

The answer to the question of how long decorative rabbits live at home often depends on the attentiveness of their owners themselves. One of the most common causes of premature death of these animals is feeding unsuitable grass. Owners of such animals should be aware of this. Rabbit stomachs absolutely cannot tolerate certain types of herbs. Concernsfor example:

• nightshade;
• celandine;
• milkweed;
• St. John's wort;
• marsh marigold.

Cages for rabbits

Of course, the key to a long life of domestic and household animals is not only proper nutrition. The answer to the question of how long decorative or farm rabbits live depends, among other things, on how good conditions they will be provided with. For example, cages for these animals should be spacious enough.

In any case, the animal should not be cramped in its movements in its “home”. The dimensions of the cage are chosen primarily taking into account the size of the animal itself. Its height should be, for example, such that the animal can freely stand in it in a “column”. The width and length of the cage is chosen so that the rabbit can lie in it, sit and move around without hesitation.

Infection prevention

The question of how many decorative rabbits or farm rabbits live at home is actually asked by many owners of such animals. Sometimes eared pets die, unfortunately, absolutely suddenly - for no apparent reason. This can happen with some infectious diseases. Rabbits should be protected from infections as carefully as possible.

Cleaning the cages of such animals is a must every day. At the same time, once every two weeks they should also be treated with some kind of antiseptic, for example, "Whiteness". Unfortunately, rabbits are not very resistant to various kinds of infections.

For the same reason, the owners of such animals should take a closer look at the choice of concentrates for them. Otherwise, the answer to the question of how long dwarf rabbits live, ordinary decorative or household ones, will not please you. It will be much shorter than usual. All sorts of contagious diseases to these animals, unfortunately, are often transmitted precisely through grain. Owners of decorative rabbits should purchase only high-quality washed cereals in a package for them. The farmer should buy concentrates from reputable suppliers.

The answer to the question of how many years domestic rabbits live depends, among other things, on how timely these animals will be vaccinated. A decorative pet will have to be carried to the veterinary clinic from time to time. Farmers usually vaccinate rabbits themselves.