Breeding rabbits is a labor-intensive process that requires a lot of knowledge and skills. Among them, it is worth highlighting the determination of the sex of the animal. This is because this procedure is not an easy task even for experienced rabbit breeders. And, without being able to distinguish between the sexes of animals, their rearing becomes impossible.
Optimal age of a rabbit for sex determination
The best time to determine the sex of rabbits is when they reach four weeks after birth. Attempts to identify distinctive features in the early stages turn out to be incorrect in 80% of cases. Until one month of age, the genitals of males and females look the same. At three months they are ready to mate, but crossing closely related representatives will not produce healthy offspring. Therefore, the optimal period for establishing the sex and further delimitation of animals is exactly 30 days after birth.
Why is it important to determine gender?
The sex of a rabbit is a specific criterion that must be determined at all stages of breeding.
- This is especially important when it comes to expensive breeds that are purchased for breeding. Rabbit breeders recommend taking rabbits and female rabbits from different nurseries in order to ultimately get high-quality offspring without closely related relationships. You should not completely believe the sellers' stories. After all, they can also be wrong. Therefore, you need to be able to independently distinguish between gender characteristics.
- The sex of the rabbit also matters when raising it. As they grow older, same-sex individuals in the same cage begin to fight for territory. Therefore, it is worth separating them in time. And, as you know, males and females need to be kept separately to prevent uncontrolled inbreeding (inbreeding).
- Gender determination is also reflected in nutrition. Depending on the physiological state (pregnancy, mating, lactation), they are fed differently.
Sexual characteristics
Allows you to identify differences between males and females.
Primary
These include the external genitalia, by studying the structure of which you can find out the sex of the animal with one hundred percent probability. They are already formed in utero at the genetic level and are caused by the growth of hormones.
Secondary
They are formed during the process of growth and puberty of individuals. They are classified by appearance:
- fur cover;
- shape and structure of the head;
- mammary glands;
- condition of the musculoskeletal system;
- body proportions.
They help visually understand gender, but are auxiliary, not fundamental. Males, unlike females, are larger, including their skulls. Females have a more fragile skeleton, graceful body lines, the gluteal region is larger than that of males, and there are 2 rows of nipples on the stomach. Observing rodents, you can see characteristic features in their behavior: Boys tend to mark their territory with urine and behave more actively and aggressively. Girls prefer privacy and do not get into fights.
Methods for determining gender
The procedure for identifying gender characteristics in adult rabbits and babies is different.
Video Determining the sex of Rabbits
In adult rabbits
To correctly determine what gender an animal is, you need to be able to examine it correctly without harming the little ear and without injuring yourself.
The inspection should be carried out carefully so that the rabbit does not worry. When very frightened, the animal will retract its genitals, and it will be impossible to examine them normally.
The rabbit is placed on a hard surface. You need to lightly hold the animal’s withers with your left hand, and at this time place the animal on its tail so that the limbs are at the top. The rabbit feels comfortable in this position, and it is completely safe for the rabbit breeder.
Without relaxing the hand on the withers, with the right hand they carefully spread the skin between the hind limbs of the animal, placing the index finger slightly above the anal passage, but without touching it. The thumb is placed below the anus. The fingers should be placed one opposite the other. At the same time, pressing your fingers on the sides of the genitals, you can examine the structure of the genital organ.
After the first examination for gender, after a certain period of time - 20-30 days - it is worth re-checking the animals. A repeated procedure confirms or challenges the correctness of the primary result. To do this, the breeder is recommended to re-examine the genitalia of each animal.
In adult rabbits, the bent, elongated pink penis is clearly visible. The eggs near the penis look like small oblong balls without a wool covering.
In females, a loop is clearly distinguishable - a conical tongue of light pink color in young individuals, and dark red in adults. From the side it looks like a triangle. Closer to the tail, a stretched gap stands out.
Baby rabbits
Each period of eared growth is characterized by its own characteristics of the formation of the genital organs. In an adult rabbit, they are all formed, and upon examination you can accurately determine the gender. It is very difficult to find out whether it is a boy or a girl until the ears grow up. When examined, only poorly developed rudiments of future genitalia can be seen in babies. In order not to be mistaken in the determination, the breeder must know the features of their development at different stages.
| 0-30 days | There are very few features in this period. In girls, you can see a small hole that stretches towards the anus, and in boys, a small bulge is noticeable. But these signs are very conventional, and to distinguish them requires great skill. During this period, attention should be paid to the length from the genitals to the anus. In females it becomes 0 - 2 mm, and in males - 2 - 5 mm. |
| At 1 month | Male rabbits are characterized by the presence of a small prepuce (foreskin), from which the adult penis is formed. In girls, a specific triangular organ of a pinkish hue is formed. |
| At 2 months | In boys, it is still quite difficult to view the testicles. But the females already have a small tubercle. Changes begin to manifest themselves in behavior: males become more aggressive, and females become quieter. |
| At 3 months | Normally, in males, the testicles descend completely, and the penis extends into a tube. Female rabbits acquire a fully formed tongue (loop). |
Video How to determine the sex of a rabbit//Female or male?
Inspection technique
In order to accurately find out the sex of a baby rabbit, you should do the following:
- prepare a flat, hard surface with good lighting;
- calmly lift the rabbit by the scruff or ears with one hand, and with the other, supporting the body from the back, place it at the inspection site, lightly pressing the tail to the surface and lifting the hind legs up;
- With the thumb and index finger of your free hand, stretch the skin in the perineal area and press lightly on both sides of the genitals;
- if a pink bump or bulge appears with a hole in the middle, it’s a boy, if a small loop-shaped fold appears, it’s a girl.
The most important rule during inspection is not to disturb the animal. Whenever frightened, rabbits retract their genitals, which prevents an examination.
Consolidation of the result.
It is now very important to practice on your own and try to “discern” the sex of six to seven rabbits on your farm. Select the oldest individuals with a known gender and look carefully at what is there and how. Next, move on to increasingly younger rabbits. Finally, try to determine the gender of your smallest pets. If everything worked out, you can consider yourself an expert in this matter. Congratulations to you!
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Character of males and females
Gender differences are also evident in the behavior of rabbits.
Males have glands on their chin that secrete special enzymes that allow them to mark their territory. Therefore, they rub their faces against the feeders and cage walls, reinforcing both the smell and their superiority. They also use another way to mark boundaries - they release a stream of urine while jumping, trying to spray as large an area as possible.
In females, this desire is much less common. They prefer to hide in secluded corners of the cage, dig the litter, creating a “nest”, behave noisily, and often pluck the fluff on their belly.
During games, sometimes the female rabbit can mount the rabbit and begin to imitate the movements characteristic of mating. This is normal and should not be a qualitative sign for identifying the sex of animals.
General remarks.
What real rabbit breeder has not encountered in his practice the establishment of the gender of his pets? This procedure, although not complicated, is very responsible. Of course, you can always use the services of a veterinarian or a more experienced professional for these purposes. However, this is not always possible, or is associated with additional hassle and time costs. I think that you, dear colleague, will show a desire to learn how to determine the sex of rabbits yourself, and with great reliability, approaching 100%. This is what this publication of mine is dedicated to.
As they say, it is better to see once than to hear a hundred times. Therefore, I bring to your attention, as an addition to the theoretical part, the most understandable and high-quality videos, from my point of view, recorded in three different countries: the USA, Finland and on the Rabbit Coast (that is, in Spain). I did not translate them. Everything the characters say is either intuitive or written later in the article. After looking at them, you will be convinced that there is nothing complicated in determining the sex of rabbits, and that the same approaches and methods are used all over the world. So, let's go.
Why do decorative rabbits need to be neutered?
Uncastrated decorative rabbits grow up and become incredibly aggressive. They can begin to rush not only at their fellows, but also try to harm the owner.
The urine of sexually mature decorative rabbits acquires a specific nasty smell. Just like ordinary rabbits, they begin to mark their territory. If your long-eared pet lives in an apartment and, as sometimes happens, is not limited in movement, then soon absolutely everything in your house will smell of its pungent urine.
Due to the above reasons, you should start determining the sex of decorative rabbits immediately after, or even during the purchase. The method for determining sex in decorative and dwarf rabbits is no different from the methods presented for ordinary animals.
As a rule, the size of decorative rabbits is even smaller than ordinary ones. Be sure to take a magnifying glass with you when you are planning to buy your eared friend so that you can inspect it on the spot.
How to determine the male or female gender of a baby rabbit when purchasing
When purchasing an adult animal, it is easy to determine its gender; just look at the rabbit’s reproductive organs. Also, rabbits and female rabbits have different behavior and appearance.
The little rabbits look almost the same, they are all nimble, and, as a rule, they look at the genitals to determine their sex. Beginning rabbit breeders may reasonably ask at what age the sex of a baby rabbit can be determined. It is best to find out the gender at 1 month and a little later; there are no visible differences in the genitals of baby rabbits. Usually, baby rabbits are separated from their mother at 2 months.
Until the rodents are one month old, only an experienced specialist can find out their gender. During this period, knowledge of which individuals are female and which are male is necessary to sort animals into enclosures and cages to ensure their safety and proper care. If the individuals are not planted in a timely manner, the rabbits will compete and may damage their brother.
How to distinguish a female from a male in decorative breeds
We should also talk about how to check the gender of not ordinary, but decorative rabbits. The main distinguishing feature of these cute individuals is castration. When a decorative rabbit turns 4 months old, it must be neutered. This applies to any variety of dwarf animal.
If you neglect this operation, then the pet will subsequently begin to constantly mark the territory in which it will live. Because of this, a sharp and unpleasant odor may settle in your home, which will make you feel dizzy. The rabbit may also become overly aggressive.
You need to know how to determine the sex of a decorative rabbit by visual inspection. Identification of sexual characteristics in these animals is absolutely no different from examining 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 relevant organs. From 1 to 3 months, sex is determined by the prepuce. If the animal is more than 3 months old, then its gender can be identified by its descended testicles.
It is recommended to check the gender of a decorative rabbit at the stage of purchasing it from a breeder (or at a 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 dwarf individuals have very small genitals. For this reason, during an examination it is often necessary to use a magnifying magnifying glass. This device will help determine the gender of an individual without causing it the slightest harm or unnecessary stress.
Please note that decorative rabbits are very delicate and fragile creatures. You should not make sudden or too rough movements when inspecting them. Otherwise, you may injure the eared cat or greatly frighten it. Such things will not lead to anything good.
You can determine the sex of a dwarf rabbit by engaging a highly qualified seller. If you cannot see the rabbit's sexual characteristics, you can carefully measure the distance from the genitals to the anus.
Examination of an individual to determine sex
Inspection algorithm
- Place it on something solid.
- Grab the withers with one hand, most often with the right (whichever is more convenient).
- Quickly turn over so that the animal sits on its tail, belly on top. The head and hind legs are also directed upward. It’s comfortable for the rabbit to be like this, but it’s safer for the person.
- Use the fingers of your other hand to spread the fur between the hind legs.
- Find the anus and anus.
- Place your index finger in the middle, your thumb below.
- Press.
Attention! No need to press like a button. A little pressure is enough.
There is another way:
- Grasp the pet with your hand in the area between the hind legs.
- Then lift it up.
- The front paws should rest on any surface, the hind paws should hang down.
- Perform the above manipulations with finger placement and pressure.
How to properly hold a rabbit during examination
- The animal may get scared, twitch, and try to run away. Also, a frightened male pulls his testicles inward. Therefore, before the examination, he is fed and petted, and a few kind words can be said.
- The hind limbs of rabbits are very strong, because in nature, they serve to run, attack and sort things out in the battle for the female. The animal will start kicking, biting, kicking. It is recommended to take gloves and an apron to avoid injury during the inspection, and also to call an assistant to hold the herbivore.
Determining gender by indirect signs
If you have difficulty determining the sex of a rabbit based on its genitals, you should pay attention to the behavior of the animals. How do females behave:
- they are calm most of the time;
- during sexual hunting they show aggression;
- They tend to engage in digging holes and arranging a nest.
Now let's look at how boy rabbits behave:
- they are more active and inquisitive;
- males fight with each other for the right to own territory;
- They mark their possessions by scattering droppings and rubbing their snouts on the equipment to leave their scent.
Based only on indirect signs, it is difficult to determine the gender of animals. At an early age, their behavior is identical, all rabbits are equally mobile, and the instincts inherent in adults do not yet appear in them.
You can accurately determine the gender of a rabbit starting from 2.5-3 months. Until this point, identification is difficult even for people with experience. To avoid mistakes when buying a pet, enlist the support of the breeder. If this is not possible, examine the animal's genitals with a magnifying glass. The presence of a tiny tubercle with an opening at a distance of 4-5 mm from the anus indicates that it is a boy. If there is no prepuce rudiment, then it is a female individual.
At what age can gender be determined?
Immediately after the birth of offspring, you should not begin to determine the gender of newborn rabbits. But this can only be done competently at a certain age.
There are signs by which you can accurately determine the sex of rabbits. It is very difficult, almost impossible, to do this immediately after birth. The recommendation of livestock breeders is to find out the sex of a rabbit when it is one month old. Of course, there were differences before, but they could not 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 undertakes this.
There is a rule - the older the animal, the more accurately its gender can be determined. This is also important when purchasing animals. It is recommended to purchase them no earlier than 1-2 months of age, when they have already received the required 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 a future purchase and select the required copy.
The need to determine the sex of a rabbit also exists when there is already a large population. This should be done in order to timely separate animals of different sexes from the same litter when they reach sexual maturity. Otherwise, inbreeding may occur - inbreeding of close relatives, in this case brothers and sisters, which leads to degeneration of the breed. Inbreeding can lead to the appearance of genetic diseases and the birth of rabbits with defects. It is advisable to start seating residents of the same cage at the age of one and a half months.
Examination of the genital organs also makes it possible to determine the presence of malformations and prevent their use as producers.
After determining the sex of young rabbits for procreation, it is enough to leave two males for every ten females.
