How to determine the gender of rabbits
When purchasing eared animals for breeding, many beginners are faced with the problem of recognizing males and females. How to determine the gender of a rabbit without photos and videos? Let's take a look at popular techniques that have been proven over the years.
How to determine the gender of a rabbit
Subtleties of identification
When buying a pet, do not rely on the experience of the breeder or the knowledge of a consultant at the pet store. Often people do not know the physiological characteristics of eared, cannot distinguish young animals, or simply want to get the animal off their hands. It is better to start determining the sex of a rabbit at two months of age or take a veterinarian with you.
Experienced breeders know that it makes no sense to consider children earlier than 30 days from birth. A small animal that is less than three weeks old is not recommended to purchase. He has not yet drunk his mother's milk, so he has not received natural immunity. In some countries, there is a penalty for such a purchase.
The older the individual is, the easier it is to distinguish a boy from a girl. Determining the sex of three-month-old rabbits will allow you to divide the livestock in time. During this period, a hormonal storm begins and adolescents actively express themselves.
Males start fights, which often end in injury and mutilation. If coverings occur, then the offspring is born weak, unviable. The unformed reproductive system of parents and closely related relationships negatively affect babies.
Identification method in adults
How to distinguish a female from a male? There is a proven method used by experienced breeders. Remember that the animals have very strong hind legs. In one motion, the animal will rinse the skin until it bleeds. We recommend wearing protective gloves and an apron before the procedure.
The eared one is seated on the table, I take it by the withers. So that the individual does not escape from the hands, they hold it tightly. Raise the body slightly, trying to sit on the tail. The rabbit is reclining, belly up. This is the safest posture for humans and the most comfortable for the pet.
Holding the scruff with one hand, the other gently pulls the skin in the crotch. Press with thumb and forefinger around the penis. Remember to place the limbs between the anus and genitals.
Now you can arm yourself with a magnifying glass and carefully examine the signs. In females, the genital slit will be in the immediate vicinity of the anus. In males, a small bullet-like process is seen remote from the anus.
Method for identifying adults
There is another proven method that can help determine gender in rabbits. The animal is fixed by the hand by the skin in the area of the hind limbs and slightly raised. The front legs rest on the table, and the "fighting" legs simply hang down. Fingers squeeze a small area that is located between the genitals and the anus.
Animals without obvious sexual characteristics should be put on their knees with their backs down, and the pet's head is directed towards the person. They hold the body with one limb and pull the skin on the belly next to the tail. The movement continues until the fold in the skin leaves and exposes the organs.
Remember that rabbits are very mobile animals. Any attempts to fix in one position can be met with fright and stress. If the owner does not hold tightly enough, then they are able to escape or injure the "researcher".
Primary sexual characteristics in rabbits
In adults, it is easier to identify the male or female. It is enough to look closely at the genitals to see all possible manifestations. After three months of life, increased organ formation begins, which is noticeable by six months.
The external genitals are called primary. Such organs are laid down by genetics.
What are the signs of a girl?
- Elongated slit directed towards the tail.
- Loop at the anus. The curved line is visible even to the naked eye.
- Tapered tongue. Often confused with a penis, it is much smaller and lacks a clear shape.
- Triangle. If you look closely from the side, you will notice an even geometric figure.
- Color. In young females, the color of the genitals is light pink, and in maturity it acquires a bright, rich shade.
How to determine the sex of a rabbit boy?
- White top hat. A small organ with a tiny hole in the middle.
- Swollen end of the penis. The symptom manifests itself only with age.
- Curved outlines. They are shaped like a bullet or a sharpened pencil.
- Testes. Two bald mounds are located at some distance from the genitals. During experiences, stress, the animal "pulls in" the testicles, so it is difficult to grope.
Identification of rabbits up to a month
Ornamental breeds often have to determine the sex at a very young age. Babies have almost the same genitals, so it is difficult to recognize in the usual way. To facilitate the procedure, experienced breeders recommend equipping yourself with a powerful magnifying glass.
Press with your fingers in the same way as in the first two methods. The girls show nothing. Boys have a tiny tubercle with a hole in the center. Between the anus and the genital organ in females there is a short gap (no more than 2 mm), while in males the distance is much greater.
Remember that at this age babies are very dependent on their mother, so you should not separate them. With no experience in rabbit identification, beginners often make mistakes. Do not torment crumbs for up to four weeks, and only then stock up on a magnifying glass and patience.
Identification of rabbits from 2 months
At this age, the babies are no longer under the care of the mother, so it is important to divide the livestock. Independent individuals switched to roughage and begin to grow actively. It is important to correctly identify all manifestations of gender.
Often, breeders try to sell a weak teenager, passing him off as a tiny representative of the meat breed. Remember that a boy may not have a well-formed penis and palpable testes until six weeks old. The girl's pink sex loop indicates that the breeder is hiding the age of the product.
How to determine the sex of two month old rabbits? In each litter, there are animals that do not have pronounced signs, therefore, after separation, the control procedure must be repeated. All actions are carried out according to adult methods.
When examining the genitals in girls, a small tubercle of pale pink color appears. Boys have a prepuce and a small cylinder. The testes are still inside the body, so you won't be able to see or feel. Remember that the distance from the boy's anus is greater than that of the young lady.
What time is it better for the rabbits to start the inspection? After a month, the genitals grow and visually transform. In the male, the penis resembles an elongated tube with a swollen tip. During this period, the testicles are already completely descended.In the female, the genitals change and look more like a loop with a tongue.
For decorative species
How to determine the sex of a miniature rabbit? The fact is that "peasants" of such varieties must have time to castrate up to four months. If you do not meet the deadline, then the cute animal turns into an aggressive monster, marking the territory with an eerie stench.
Rabbit sex determination is carried out in a calm environment. The animal is turned over on its back and the groin area is examined. For a better view, you can pull back the tail and press lightly with your fingers. In a teenage boy at 3-4 months, the testes will already be visible. They do not look like the testicles of ordinary pets, so the owners often think that this is a tumor.
In younger rabbits, it is difficult to notice obvious signs. The animal is turned over with its belly up, pulling its tail down. The girl will have a small slit that starts almost at the anus. The boy has a round hole located at a distance of 3 or 4 millimeters from the anus.
Secondary traits in males
You can determine the sex of rabbits by their appearance. Experienced breeders need only one glance at a mature individual, without examining the perineum. Beginners often overlook such subtleties or apply them to rabbits.
Boys behave more aggressively, especially in non-tame animals. If a person tries to open the cage, then the animal gets nervous, drumming with its hind paws on the flooring. In this he resembles a wild hare. He instantly puts any stranger male in "his place".
Determination of sex in a rabbit can be continued by physical characteristics. An angular head sits on a powerful, muscular body. With the help of special glands, "little men" mark their territory. They rub their cheeks or chin against the edges of objects, leaving scent surprises.
Secondary traits in females
Determining the sex of a rabbit by external manifestations is the task of a specialist. Such methods are used only for adults. In babies, behavior and body structure rarely match the descriptions presented.
Young ladies have a more graceful figure and a plump belly. In many breeds, girls develop a skin fold on their chest that resembles a double chin. In a calm atmosphere, the ladies do not express aggression, but are more noisy and noisy than the males.
Females like to hide in secluded places of the cage, dig holes and equip a nest. By the way, females often pull wool out of their belly. Sometimes they lose their appetite, they become lethargic. If you run your hand over the lower part of the body, then the nipples are pronounced.
During the hunting period, determining the sex of a rabbit by secondary characteristics becomes more difficult. Girls' behavior changes, they become aggressive and nervous. In an irritated state, they can imitate mating with another female or jump on a boy.
Things to Remember
Rabbits cannot be identified immediately after birth. The organs are just forming, so it is difficult to understand and recognize any signs. Professionals determine gender in the second week of life, although the accuracy of predictions does not exceed 90%.
Distinguishing between a tiny boy and a girl in a litter is a thankless task. Some beginners try to fix their "tags" on photos and videos. Animals grow and change quickly, so in a month you won't find them in a bunch of nimble young people.
At the age of 90 days, individuals reach sexual status, and hormonal changes require adolescents to reproduce. If males and females are not placed in different cages in advance, then inbreeding will occur - closely related crossing. As a result, the offspring can be expected to:
- mutations;
- illness;
- low survival rate;
- wildness.
The unformed nervous system of boys makes them express their superiority over girls. Constant fights take place in the cages, which end in serious injuries and death of the fighters."Little men" are in an agitated state, which negatively affects health and psyche.
If you know how to determine the sex of a rabbit, then there will be no problems with breeding. In search of signs, you no longer need to study videos or photos. Our methods will help to distinguish the developmental features of both a month-old baby and a strong adult.