Rabbit breed Butterfly: characteristics and description, how to breed and care for the breed

Among the large number of breeds of rabbits that are bred all over the world, the rabbit Butterfly is especially popular and love. The thing is its unusual color: black spots are symmetrically scattered across the snow-white skin, and a large butterfly can be seen on the nose. This breed also has other valuable qualities. We will tell all the details about this eared one.

History of occurrence

At the end of the 19th century in England, as a result of the painstaking work of breeders, decorative rabbits were born, who were given the affectionate name - Butterfly. The animals were very small, weighing a little more than 2 kilograms. Then work began on increasing the mass and adapting the rock to a more severe climate. At the exit, the breeders received individuals weighing up to 5 kilograms, in addition, the taste qualities of meat were also improved. Very soon, this breed gained recognition and spread throughout the world.

Description of appearance

Over the past time, a sufficiently large number of varieties of the breed of rabbits of the Butterflies were bred in different countries. Here are the most famous and popular of them:

  1. Dwarf butterfly. Such an eared animal is light in weight (up to 3 kg) and good-natured. Therefore, such specimens of the breed are most often recommended as a pet.

  2. The giant is motley. This variety has the largest weight among the representatives of the breed (up to 10 kg) and can be successfully used for breeding, as a source of a large amount of meat and fur.

  3. Czech butterfly. Such rabbits have an average weight (up to 4 kg), their belly and chest are always white, without spots. Recommended for breeding on farms.

  4. Rhine rabbit. Its distinguishing feature is the presence of spots not only black, but also red, as well as good nature. The size of the eared is average, so it can be bred on the farm and kept as a pet.

  5. English butterfly. Such a rabbit will please you with a cheerful disposition and mind, its weight is average (2–4 kg). Due to these characteristics, they are very fond of getting them as pets, but for maintenance they will need a lot of space, since the animals love to play and have fun. Also, this variety has a wide variety of colors: black, blue, chocolate, tortie, gray, purple.

As you can see, varieties have their own distinctive features, but for the whole breed there are general characteristics of appearance, which are presented in the table below.

Appearance

ColorWhite background with spots of black, gray, red, blue, which are located in certain places on the sides and resemble a butterfly in shape
TorsoLong, well developed muscles
HeadThe average size
EyesHazel around dark stroke
EarsDark color, medium length, erect, fleshy, close, tips rounded
MustacheRegular, white or black color
NeckShort
PawsMedium length, straight and strong
TailSmall, white color below
ClawsBright

Character

In all rabbits that belong to the representatives of the breed Butterfly, the character is calm, friendly and flexible. Probably because of this, these cute animals are very loved by children and adults as pets, and by farmers as a breeding object.

Did you know? The smallest representative among rabbits is the breed Little Idaho. The weight of an adult animal does not even reach 500 grams, and the length is only from 22 to 35 cm.

Productive qualities

Butterfly rabbits have excellent productivity. The first is meat. The animals walk a decent weight, the average figure is 4.5 kg. The meat itself has an excellent taste and has a juiciness and unique aroma.

Secondly, the breed boasts excellent quality skins. An unusual pattern allows manufacturers of fur products to produce interesting and unique pieces of clothing.

Also, females of this breed are very fertile. In one round they bring up to 8 babies. They grow up well, since the rabbit has a perfectly developed maternal instinct and there is always enough milk.

Pros and cons of the breed

Now we will get acquainted with all the advantages and disadvantages of the Butterfly rabbit.

  • The pros include:
  • unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention and care;
  • large expenses for the purchase of feed are not required;
  • excellent taste of meat;
  • beautiful and unusual color of fur;
  • it is possible to keep in the house as a decorative look.

  • But the minuses include:
  • Butterfly rabbits have an overly massive under-chest part;
  • if this rabbit is crossed with other breeds, then the characteristic pattern changes, which causes the quality of the skins to suffer;
  • with poor feeding and lack of water, females eat their offspring.

Demand for the breed

Rabbits Butterflies are a popular breed for breeding. It should be noted that such animals are very good for keeping on private farms, taking into account all their advantages. But on large farms they prefer larger representatives of eared animals.

Quite often, these spotted pussies can be found as pets, especially where there are small children. So, as you see, this breed takes its rightful place among a large number of others.

How to choose a butterfly

In order to make the right choice of a new pet, you must follow the rules and know the signs of purebred breed.

Basic Rules

  1. There should be no deformation of the spine and limbs.
  2. Check that the weight is age-appropriate.
  3. The baby should be mobile, his muscles in good shape, the back is dense, which indicates excellent health, if this is not the case, then the rabbit must be ill with something.
  4. Check the ears for parasites.
  5. Examine the muzzle and nose for a runny nose.
  6. Look at the front teeth, which should not be enlarged.
After this, you can proceed to check those external signs that indicate the purity of the rock.

Important! There should not be a draft in the room. Ears are very susceptible to him and will begin to hurt.

Signs of Purebredness

  1. The head is of medium size (in females it is oblong, in males it is more rounded and slightly larger).
  2. The paws should be straight and large.
  3. The eyes are dark in color.
  4. Characteristic nose (in the form of a butterfly).
  5. Ears are painted in dark color.
  6. The claws are almost colorless.
  7. The tail is light at the base.
  8. Around the eyes a continuous dark stroke.
  9. Along the spine there is a strip of dark color up to 3 cm wide.
  10. The spots should be symmetrically located on the face of the animal and on its sides.
  11. Dark hairs in females around the nipples.

Maintenance and care

A caring owner should know the rules for the maintenance and care of new pets, prepare a place for them in advance, purchase food and find out all the other nuances.

Important! Do not forget to give the rabbit water to drink immediately after delivery, because she has lost a large amount of fluid and the balance needs to be restored.

Room requirements

Due to the unpretentiousness of the breed to the conditions of our rabbits can be settled in a cage, aviary or open paddock. Fresh air has a very beneficial effect on the condition of the animal’s hair.

Cages are best made from wood, their size is as follows: height - 50 cm, width - 70 cm, depth - 50 cm. In addition, if the cells are outdoors, be sure to cover the roof with straw, which will help animals not to overheat in the sun. And in the cold period, straw is laid inside, and if the frosts are very strong, it is best to cover the cells with insulating material.

As for the required level of lighting and humidity, experienced rabbit breeders recommend a light period of at least 8–10 hours, but no more than 16, and humidity at the level of 60–75%.

You can also recommend this content: in the summer - in the fresh air, and in the winter or before childbirth - indoors. The optimum temperature for Butterfly rabbits is considered to be the limit of 10-18 degrees. Therefore, if frost is expected to fall to −30 degrees in winter, the room must be heated.

Learn how to build and equip your own rabbit house at home.

Feeding

Feeding is a very important aspect on which the health of the pet directly depends. Therefore, follow the tips and tricks on this issue:

  • feed at least twice a day;
  • make sure that there is fresh and clean water in the drinker;
  • give solid food so that there are no problems with the teeth;
  • supplement food with necessary vitamin and mineral supplements, including fish oil, yeast, chalk, salt, bone meal;
  • if you introduce new products, do it gradually;
  • monitor the quality of products, otherwise there may be digestive problems;
  • no need to feed the animal more than normal, excess weight will lead to problems in reproduction.

As for the products that the rabbit should receive, they are as follows:

  • fresh greens of nettle, plantain, clover;
  • raw vegetables, rabbits are very fond of carrots, cabbage, beets;
  • potatoes, but only boiled;
  • vegetable tops;
  • fresh fruit, but in limited quantities, as a treat;
  • twigs from fruit trees;
  • any sprouted grain;
  • any type of feed, but not bird feed;
  • high-quality hay.

Important! Never feed rabbits unfamiliar grass - it can be poisonous. Dry hay should be without celandine grass, lily of the valley, dope, belladonna, which will cause poisoning of animals.

Care and cleaning

Be sure to keep the animals clean. To do this, clean the litter cage every week, while changing the rugs and litter. It is also recommended that once every six months a complete disinfection of all cells and the premises where they are contained be carried out. To do this, use a special antiseptic solution, which can be bought in veterinary stores or just slaked lime.

It is strongly recommended that vaccination be carried out, this will in most cases avoid various diseases. The first vaccine is given 6 weeks from the moment of birth, and babies need to be treated for helminths 10 days before.

The next vaccination is done at least two weeks later. And when the rabbits turn one year old, a complex vaccination is carried out, followed by their two-week isolation from the rest of the individuals. At the age of 1 year, a complex vaccine is administered to rabbits. The vaccinated individuals are isolated for about two weeks from the rest.

Did you know? The largest official deed registered in the Guinness Book of Records is the birth of 24 babies.

Rabbit Breeding Butterfly

Now we will deal with all the features of reproduction of rabbits of this breed.

Selection Principles for Reproduction

If you want a clean breed and healthy offspring, you will have to try and choose the best. To do this, follow these principles:

  • only males of this breed are suitable for crossing, because you need a specific color of the Butterfly, and not messy spots;
  • for the first pregnancy, females should be best at the age of 4–5 months, but the male should be older;
  • the coat of individuals must be in good condition;
  • the animal must be active, show curiosity, which indicates its excellent health;
  • problems such as cloudy eyes, a hot nose, thinness, scratching of the anus should alert, such individuals should not be allowed to mating.

When mating individuals are selected, give the rabbits a little time and the job will be done. Now place the rabbit in a separate cage that has been previously cleaned and sanitized. Also provide her with good food and drink.

Okrol and rabbit care

Pregnancy lasts 31–32 days, after which little rabbits are born. There are from 8 or more individuals. The behavior of a pregnant female can be understood when the birth occurs: she rips out the fluff from her abdomen and prepares a warm place for posterity. Toddlers are usually born at night, and the whole process takes from 15 minutes to 1 hour.

Little rabbits are bald and blind, but if the mother has enough milk, they quickly gain weight and grow stronger. It should be noted that at first babies only eat milk, other food is simply not able to digest. Therefore, the main care during this period is to carefully monitor whether the crumbs of mother's milk are enough. If not, you need complementary foods, usually cow or goat milk.

Read also about the lifespan of decorative rabbits.

Very often, people who breed purebred rabbits ask a question about how often you can mate a female. The best way is to mate about one month after the birth of the previous offspring. During this period, the female’s body comes to its senses, and young rabbits can be transferred to another food. So, if the owner cherishes his rabbits, it is better to make mating in such a time.

Feeding the young

While the babies eat only milk from their mother, you need to provide good nutrition to the rabbit. Keep in mind that rabbits receive food from their mother once or twice a day, and this is completely normal.

After 20 days from birth, the first lure is done. It should contain quality fresh hay. Next, combine complementary foods and milk feeding, gradually introducing new types of products (finely grated carrots, mixed feeds in the form of mash, ready-made grass granules).

This continues until the rabbits are 45 days from the date of birth. After this moment, you can completely transfer the grown up babies to an adult diet and transplant them into separate cells.

Further the menu of young growth should include such products as:

  • slightly dried grass;
  • vegetables;
  • boiled potatoes;
  • compound feed, but only wet;
  • oats.
Do not forget to add bone or fish meal to the feed, which will saturate the growing body with vitamins and minerals. The number of feedings - 2 times a day.

We recommend that you find out what you can’t feed rabbits at home.

Vaccination

According to experienced veterinarians, rabbits must be vaccinated. If this is not done, then the whole eared economy may perish.

So, the following vaccinations are needed:

  1. Vaccination for rabbit viral hemorrhagic disease. Usually it is done at the age of 1.5 months, but if there is an epidemic, then rabbits can be vaccinated even a month old. Revaccination after 6 months.
  2. Myxomatosis vaccination. This vaccination is seasonal in nature, as it is transmitted by mosquitoes through a bite and is given before the onset of the warm season (April). Immunity is present for 6 months. In winter, to make such a vaccination does not make much sense, as mosquitoes can not stand the cold.

The breed of rabbits Butterfly is very popular. Rabbit farmers in many countries are happy to keep and breed these animals. Having learned a lot about them, you can be quite prepared to replenish your farm or start this cute creature as a pet.

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