How many years do domestic rabbits live?
Domestic rabbits photo
The domestic rabbit lives from 7 to 15 years. The lifespan of a rabbit at home depends not only on its species and breed, but also on a number of other factors. The higher the quality of life, the longer the rabbit will live - this is a proven fact. Below are the factors that directly affect the lifespan of lop-eared pets.
- Nutrition. If a rabbit is malnourished or eats bad, low-quality food regularly, then this does not bode well for its body. If he is not poisoned, then in any case problems with the gastrointestinal tract may appear and, as a result, his life span will be shortened.
- Living conditions should always be good. Cleanliness, space, convenience, comfort, silence - these are what any rabbit should have at their disposal.
Important!
If your rabbit begins to behave strangely or looks sick, you should immediately go to the veterinarian. In rabbits, diseases develop quickly, so you can’t procrastinate!
- Physical activity is important for rabbits. Even breeds bred for meat must be able to move freely. This is reflected in their appearance and lifespan.
- Castration makes animals calmer and this, oddly enough, increases the pet’s lifespan.
- Heredity in the case of rabbits, like any other living creature, can become key in terms of life span. The fact is that a furry can inherit a serious illness or minor illness from its parents, physical abnormalities that will reduce the quality of life. This is why buying a rabbit without knowing its parents is a bad idea.
Signs of old age
While vaccination helps an eared dog avoid illness, a universal antidote for old age has not yet been invented. Unfortunately, just like people, rabbits age. The following signs signal the onset of old age:
- decreased playfulness and physical activity;
- blurred eyes;
- hair thinning not associated with shedding;
- decreased appetite;
- saggy belly.
It is worth remembering that these signs can be symptoms of a disease, and not just old age. If you do not have much experience in rabbit breeding, it is better to consult a veterinarian on this issue. He will indicate exactly what is causing the animal’s unusual condition – old age or disease.
How long do rabbits live on average?
Also check out these articles
- How to store winter garlic
- Recipes for adjika from plums
- Beekeeping for Beginners
- Description of the Moscow black breed of chickens
The more difficult the life of an animal, the more dangerous it is, the less the animal will live. At the same time, a long-eared animal that is cared for, receives healthy, nutritious food and lives in clean conditions, can live more than 10 years and be in excellent health.
Interesting!
Rabbits are able to remember their name and, moreover, they can learn to go to the toilet in a tray, like cats.
The average life expectancy of a rabbit is 7-9 years. But this is a very rough indicator, because there are many different species that can live longer or shorter. So the main factor influencing the life expectancy of rabbits is their species.
How long do rabbits live for breeding?
Domestic rabbits are usually raised for meat, wool, fluff or offspring. They are large, most often, and can live without problems in rabbit hutches, or rabbit pits that are built for them. But how long do rabbits of this species live? Their average lifespan is 6-7 years. True, only a small proportion of the herd survives to this age, because most animals are slaughtered at an early age. As for breeding males and females who give birth, there are several nuances.
The average lifespan of a rabbit is 7-9 years
- Females that regularly give birth can live 4-7 years, no more.
- The lifespan of a male that is properly fed is 7-8 years.
- Low quality of life shortens life by 2-3 years.
- Bad food can lead to the death of an animal in a matter of months.
- Breed plays a big role. For example, fold-eared animals live 7-8 years, and those with erect ears live 5-6 years.
The influence of breed on life expectancy
Much depends on the breed of the animal. How long do dwarf rabbits live? They are among the strongest breeds, capable of living up to 7 years. Folds are long-lived, so breeding this breed is most profitable. In addition, Fold rabbits are the most resistant to infections and colds.
The most popular and common breeds are mini, fold, large and decorative, they live long with:
- good heredity;
- innate strong immunity;
- proper regular feeding;
- vaccinations;
- proper jigging and care of young animals.
Albinos - animals with a small amount of the substance that colors their fur - die early. Their weak body is susceptible to constant diseases.
How long do decorative rabbits live?
We recommend reading our other articles
- The best varieties of onions
- Zucchini variety Aral F1
- Strawberry variety Malvina
- Growing Brussels sprouts
Photo of a decorative rabbit
Before buying a decorative rabbit, breeders, one way or another, wonder how long rabbits of this species live. In this case, what breed we are talking about and heredity play a role. You should only buy a decorative rabbit from those breeders who can show documents about the health of the babies’ mother. This will make sure that she has not passed on serious diseases to her offspring.
Interesting!
There are 3 known cases of long-lived rabbits in the world. Rabbit Doo from New Jersey lived to be 17 years old. Flopsy, the long-eared animal from Australia, lived for 18 years. And the fluffy one from Scotland lived for 24 years, and this record is still considered invincible.
The average life expectancy of a decorative rabbit is 8 years. Fold-eared animals live 7-8 years, and those with straight ears live 1-2 years less. There are also long-lived rabbits that have lived up to 15 years. Of course, the better the living conditions and the healthier the food, the longer the rabbit will live.
Lifespan of a lop-eared rabbit
Fold-eared breeds are very popular. A rabbit with drooping ears can live 7-8 years, and if it is sterilized in time, then 8-12 years! These are gentle animals, very smart and beautiful. They are suitable for children and love communication.
Photo of lop-eared sheep rabbit
If we talk about the most famous representative of the fold-eared breeds - the dwarf fold-eared ram, then he can live 5-7 years, and with a high quality of life - 9-12 years!
Lifespan of dwarf rabbits
Dwarf breeds include those species that weigh 1-1.3 kg. Dwarf rabbit breeds live on average 5-7 years. By nature, they are very playful, sociable and do not like to just sit in cages all day - they need regular activity.
Types of dwarf rabbits
In order for a dwarf rabbit to live as long as possible, certain rules must be followed.
- The animal should be physically active for at least an hour a day. This could be running in a wheel or around the apartment, playing with a person or something similar.
- Living conditions must be correct and food must be of high quality.
Interesting!
Rabbits are cute creatures that can live a very long time if given the right conditions.
- Vaccinations and timely treatment will help avoid the chance of contracting diseases or their aggravation.
- There should be calm all the time. Any stress for such animals can be dangerous.
Conditions of detention
For a rabbit to have a good life, you need to equip its cage, in which the animal should not be cramped. It is undesirable to keep two males in the same territory, but females usually get along together.
The room where the cage is located must be ventilated, because animals do not like stuffiness. But drafts should be avoided in the same way as high humidity. The cage should not be placed near heating devices. The optimal temperature for animals should be 20 degrees.
You can use dry hay or sawdust as bedding; replace it every 2-3 days, or better yet, more often.
Read also: Veterinary drug "Sinestrol": indications and contraindications, instructions
You can only wash your rabbit if absolutely necessary! Domestic rabbits are vaccinated and inoculated. It is important to follow a feeding schedule and a nutritious diet.
Keeping rabbits is not an easy task. The owner will need responsibility and skill. If he is ready to make an effort and raise healthy individuals, then he will receive dietary meat, high-quality skins, or a small, good-natured pet for his family.
How long do wild rabbits live?
Life in the wild can hardly be called easy, especially when it comes to small rabbits. These animals fight visible and invisible threats from birth, ranging from the vagaries of nature to the predators that hunt them, and therefore do not live long.
Photo of a white wild rabbit
The maximum recorded lifespan of a wild rabbit is 3 years, but most long-eared rabbits live only up to 1-2 years. Death can occur from disease, a predator, sometimes they drown in their burrows during heavy rain or die from lack of food when there is heavy snow cover. Hunting of wild rabbits is allowed, so many of them are exterminated by hunters.
But the most interesting thing is that if a wild rabbit is placed in an apartment, it will live no more than 4 years, because these animals are not accustomed to “greenhouse” conditions.
Factors affecting rabbit longevity
The lifespan of a wild rabbit, or rather its reduction, is influenced by unfavorable living conditions, mass diseases that often occur among the wild population of these animals, and, of course, various predators who happily hunt them. Therefore, in nature, these animals never live to their maximum age and do not even come close to it.
Domestic rabbits are protected from attacks by predators; owners try to treat diseases, prevent them, and create good living conditions for their pets to the best of their ability. But, all the same, rabbits often get sick and die, since this type of animal does not have very strong immunity and health. The life expectancy of the remaining individuals completely depends on the owner, so they live as long as the rabbit breeder deems necessary.
Decorative rabbits are the luckiest in this regard. They are not raised for their tasty meat or fluffy skins, but are kept solely for companionship. Such animals, if they are healthy, surrounded by care and attention, live a long time.
The lifespan of domestic rabbits is influenced by: breed, heredity, health status of rabbit ancestors, physical activity, which should be sufficient. A rabbit raised for meat does not need to exercise a lot; quite the contrary, so that it does not waste the energy of food, it is kept in small cages. The decorative one needs to move, it should be let out of the cage for a walk as often as possible.
The cleanliness of the cages of domestic rabbits is also important. If they are dirty, droppings and used bedding accumulate in them, which increases the likelihood of developing infectious diseases; the air is saturated with ammonia, which rabbits cannot tolerate and become poisoned. Inadequate, incorrectly formulated nutrition, malnutrition or, conversely, overeating also shortens the life of the animal. But there are factors that increase its duration. Castrated individuals, both males and females, live longer than usual.
