Description and characteristics of butterfly rabbits, rules of maintenance
It is difficult to find a more cute and charming animal than a butterfly rabbit. Intricate coloring, good temper and funny, long ears will not leave anyone indifferent. Both adults and children are equally sympathetic to unusual animals. Eared beauties can become a source of meat and beautiful fur, as well as wonderful companions in a city apartment.
History of appearance
The homeland of eared dandies is England. Back in the 19th century, local breeders created a breed of miniature rabbits. The weight of each of them rarely exceeded 2 kg. Each dwarf animal could boast of an original skin color. The arrangement of the spots miraculously resembled the outline of a butterfly. The animal fell in love with people as a funny curiosity.
Over the years, the fashion for tiny pets has passed. Rational specialists thought about developing a new variety of the butterfly breed, suitable for use as a source of fur and meat.
By crossing miniature rabbits with representatives of large breeds (white giant, flanders, Viennese blue), breeders managed to achieve impressive results. The updated breed of rabbits is famous for the beauty of their fur and the ability to quickly gain weight.
Description and characteristics of the rabbit
Despite some differences between individuals, the main characteristics of the breed remain.
Appearance
They say about belonging to the family of butterflies:
- Symmetrical spots that adorn the face and sides of the animal's body.
- A serrated, wide band running along the rabbit's spine.
- Straight, massive legs and strong torso.
- The lower part of the tail is lighter than the main suit.
- In males, the head is medium in size, round in shape. The females are characterized by an oblong skull shape.
- The body of the animal is folded harmoniously, its length reaches 45-50 cm.
- The chest is wide.
- On average, the weight of a rabbit ranges from 4 to 5 kg.
The soft, silky structure of the fur and rare unpretentiousness complete the list of the animal's advantages.
Color
Inexperienced owners mistakenly believe that the spots that adorn the pet's coat are only black. This is not true. Purebred individuals boast brown and even blue coloration. Moreover, the brightness of the marks depends on the size of the animal. The modest dimensions of the pets are compensated for by the catchy, bright colors.
A strip running along the spine and symmetrical lateral spots located on the animal's body form the silhouette of a fluttering butterfly.
Productivity
Butterfly rabbits are famous for the quality of their meat.From one individual, 4-5 kg of a delicate and dietary product are easily obtained. Given the fertility of females (with each offspring, the owners get 7-8 rabbits), the benefit from raising animals is undoubted.
Butterflies are traditionally considered the best suppliers of quality fur. Due to the unusual color and smooth, silky structure of the pile, rabbit fur products are in high demand.
Using
Animals are used as a source of meat and valuable fur. Due to their charming appearance and gentle disposition, rabbits are often given birth as a pet. The butterfly enjoys the sympathy of both adults and children.
Signs of a purebred breed
Over the years, rabbits have been so often crossed uncontrollably with representatives of different breeds that the original appearance has undergone significant changes. Fortunately, responsible breeders are vigilant about maintaining the breed's purity. Several signs serve as proof of belonging to the butterfly family:
- The animal's nose is adorned with a spot with distinct butterfly contours.
- The ears are dark in color.
- The eye area is much darker than the main color of the animal. However, the borders of the pattern should not merge with the spots located on the pet's cheeks and nose.
- The nipples of females are surrounded by a dark halo.
Advantages and disadvantages
Representatives of the butterfly breed enjoy sympathy and popularity among livestock breeders. This is not surprising, because breeding unusual rabbits is cost-effective and profitable. However, before plunging into the maelstrom of entrepreneurship, you need to consider all the positive and negative qualities of the breed.
Butterflies are extremely unpretentious animals. They do not require a large amount of food and easily adapt to any living conditions. Pets calmly transfer the move to a new place, they can be transported without problems even over long distances. Due to the small size, the handsome eared man is often kept in a city apartment. The butterfly easily gets along with people as a family pet. The decorative color and unusual structure of the fur turn the rabbit into an expensive commodity, and if the rules for keeping the butterfly are observed, they can continuously provide the owners with dietary meat.
The disadvantages of the breed include the excessive compactness of individual individuals.
Rabbit varieties
There are several varieties of the breed under the general name.
- Dwarf butterfly. These babies are designed to be kept at home. The adorable appearance, coupled with the docile, kind character allows the pet to become a full member of the family. The weight of the crumbs rarely reaches 2.5 kg. The plump body of the animal looks like a neat cylinder. The effect is achieved due to the equal volume of the animal's shoulders and hips. The plump hind legs and round head make the rabbit look funny. In good conditions, pets live from 5 to 7 years.
- Rhine rabbit. The popular butterfly species has long won the sympathy of farmers. The shades of the animal's coat range from white to gold and black. The calm, complaisant disposition of the pet fell in love with many specialists. In the period of maturity, the Rhine handsome man reaches a mass of at least 3 kg. Females grow much larger than males. Rounded, strong paws and silky, delicate fur leave no one indifferent, and the affectionate look of brown eyes completes the portrait of an eared pet.
- Motley giant. A giant among the spectacular breed. Due to its large size, it can hardly be imagined as a pet. The animal feels good in a large farm. The giant is a natural source of meat and great fur. The weight of the rabbit reaches 7-9 kg, and its body grows up to 60 cm. The wide chest, elongated back give the animal an impressive look.Rabbits boast an elegant coloration. The giant's white fur coat is decorated with patterns of black and blue colors.
- Czech butterfly. An amazingly spectacular animal. The animal is not gigantic in size. Its weight rarely exceeds 4 kg. The main advantage of the rabbit is its golden, shiny coat. The area of the chest and abdomen has no markings, but the lower part of the small tail is painted in an elegant white color. Small ears, elongated head and strong paws give the pet a neat appearance.
- English butterfly. A graceful creature with a fighting character. Cheerful, energetic disposition makes the rabbit an irreplaceable participant in numerous games for children. The pet needs room for physical activity. The weight of an individual can vary from 2 to 4.5 kg. Thick fur, straight ears and oblong head shape distinguish the English rabbit from other species. Among the exquisite animals, you can find individuals with lilac, tortoiseshell, blue or chocolate colors. In good conditions, rabbits live from 9 to 13 years.
Subtleties of maintenance and care
Due to their rare simplicity, butterflies can be kept in the garage, on the balcony or in any shed. Nevertheless, the best results are achieved when the rules of animal care are followed. Farmers keep pets in pens and spacious cages. The size of the apartment for an adult is 1m by 50cm. The cages are cleaned regularly. Otherwise, the animal runs the risk of getting poisoning with ammonia fumes. Pets are periodically released for a walk in a special enclosure.
In winter, the rabbits are moved indoors. During this time, the animal is provided with additional vitamin supplements and minerals. In order for the rabbit to grind its teeth, solid particles of food are placed in the cage. Butterflies grow quickly. After 5 months, the weight of the animal reaches 4 kg.
What to feed your rabbit
Feed the animals in the morning and evening. A drinker with clean water is placed in the cage. The pet's daily diet consists of 20% corn kernels, 10% sunflower seeds, 10% millet, 15% whole wheat and 40% barley. Fresh grass and vegetables are added to the grain feed. In winter, pets are pampered with hay, at the rate of 2 kg of dry grass per animal.
As a treat, rabbits are given shoots of fruit trees. Sprigs of apple, pear or cherry will do the good. To avoid upsetting the digestive tract, it is forbidden to give animals quinoa or celandine.
Reproduction nuances
For reproduction, it is better to cross representatives of the same breed. After reaching 6-7 months, the female is ready to reproduce. During this period, the rabbit fussily prepares the bedding and spreads her own fluff in the corners of the cage. For mating, the female is placed in a cage next to the male. After completing the procedure, the rabbit is immediately transplanted into its own cage. Pregnancy in long-eared animals lasts about a month. During childbirth, the rabbit is provided with plenty of drinking water, otherwise the female will eat the cubs.
At the age of 20 days, the rabbits begin to receive small portions of food. After 45 days, small pets are transferred to adult nutrition.
Frequent illnesses
The scourge of butterfly rabbits is necrotizing hepatitis and myxomatosis. The virus can cause serious damage to livestock. Timely vaccination avoids serious troubles. Rabbits are vaccinated 6 weeks after birth. At the age of 1 year, animals are given a comprehensive vaccination.
How much is a butterfly rabbit
An animal without pedigree and accompanying documents can be purchased for a symbolic amount of 500 to 1000 rubles. When it comes to buying rabbits for breeding, the cost of the pet rises to 4000 rubles.
