The secret of the popularity of Californian rabbits lies in their external presentability, intelligence, as well as in the simple care of these friendly animals. These eared animals occupy a leading position in the world ranking of meat breeds. Some of them are bred to obtain high-quality dietary meat, others are interested in beautiful fur, and still others simply enjoy socializing with comely mammals. We will tell about the outstanding characteristics of the white Californian rabbits, as well as the peculiarities of their breeding, raising and feeding of young stock in the article.
Breed description
Long-eared Californians are perfectly adapted to new growing conditions, they can live in both southern and northern regions on all continents of the globe. 
In addition, they are developing rapidly, producing high-quality meat and wool at the exit, which makes it possible to grow animals for meat-self purposes. Consider the main features and benefits of Californian rabbits in the detailed description of the breed.
Did you know? In Australia, wild rabbits are considered to be avid pests, since the annual damage they cause to the agricultural industry is measured at around $ 600 million. Local authorities have calculated the risks from the eared livelihoods, which in the long term threaten the degradation of fields, soil erosion, the disappearance of many rare species of fauna. Therefore, a ban is imposed on the breeding of these animals: violators will be fined 30 thousand dollars.
Inference history
The origin of the Californian breed is associated with the name of George West - a famous American farmer from the state of California who specialized in the breeding of rabbits. Initially, rabbit breeder innovation in society was considered a hybrid, and only in 1928 was recognized as a separate breed.
AT its foundation laid genes of New Zealand white, Russian ermine, Soviet chinchilla grandparents, popular at that time in Europe. As a result of many years of crossbreeding, a unique breed has turned out that incorporates the best maternal qualities.
The Creator of Californians at the beginning of breeding set a goal to create early-ripe rabbits with high-quality fur. Therefore, the resulting success exceeded all expectations. 
In the first years of its existence, the breed, despite all its advantages, was not popular. Over time, farmers far beyond California have appreciated the productivity and quality of this variety of pretty animals, as well as the simplicity of their maintenance and care.
Did you know? If people gave the rabbits a maximum of freedom in reproduction, then in 90 years the number of these animals would be equal to the number of square meters on planet Earth.
External characteristics
You can distinguish the California rabbit from other breeds by external characteristics. They have a wide cylindrical shape of the body, which at the same time looks compact, thick and short legs, a small light head with red eyes, a thin neck, medium-length ears, thick hair. The color of the animals is also specific: the ears, nose, paws and tail are dark brown, and all other parts are white. Very rarely are individuals of chocolate and smoky-blue tones. Californians are often mistakenly referred to as "butterflies." In fact, the true differences between these breeds are obvious only to professionals. When choosing rabbits, they ask buyers to pay attention to the face of rabbits. The representatives of the "butterflies" eyes are dark, and the spot on the nose resembles the open wings of a moth.
If you look at the young, it's not at all difficult to get confused, because the newborn offspring often have a pure white or lilac-blue color. Spotting on animals appears to the best of their growth when the work of the coloring enzyme, tyrosinan, starts.
Did you know? The eyes of rabbits and hares are arranged in such a way that they, without turning their heads, can see what is happening behind them.
Productivity
Mature Californian breeds reach 4.5-5.2 kg live weight. And these animals grow very actively. From the 45-gram rabbit a two-kilogram animal grows up to two months. For the meat direction, animals are kept up to the age of seven months, when their intensive development ceases, and the weight reaches the maximum level. 
In general, the slaughter of one mammal of this species of rabbits results in 80% of meat and 2.5% of fat. When mating the offspring can be from 7 to 15 rabbits. Rabbits have excellent maternal qualities and good milkiness, which ensures rapid growth for the young. For the year from one womb you can get up to 35 babies. To provide a family of 4-5 people with high-quality meat, 4 females and 1 male are enough.
Farmers unanimously talk about the effectiveness of breeding this breed, because the cost of keeping animals is minimal, and productivity exceeds all expectations.
Important! If we evaluate the productivity of rabbits of the Californian breed by the index of downwardness, then its value is 60-64%, which experts consider as the maximum for the meat direction.
How to choose a rabbit when buying
Experts advise when buying rabbits to stop the choice on individuals from small broods. It is important to fully inspect the animal. It should be mobile and well-fed, with thick, shiny and smooth hair, clean eyes. 
Avoid rabbits with disheveled faded fur and swollen belly. If you plan to purchase several females, you need to choose them from different nests. This is done to avoid incest.
It is also important when buying a peek in the ears. They must be clean, without visible inflammatory processes and any discharge. Healthy rabbit constantly expresses curiosity, is active in a cage, is not afraid of third-party sounds and is very friendly. He has no sneezing and nasal discharge.
Important! Doubts are caused by rabbits, who sit motionless in a cage, refuse to eat, are afraid to go out and do not show interest in everything around them.
The hair around the cloaca is clean and not sticky. Otherwise you are dealing with an animal that has problems with the gastrointestinal tract. It is advisable for the buyer to inquire about the diet of pets, their age, weight and parents.
Maintenance and care
California rabbits easily adapt to new conditions, but to get everything we talked about above in the description of the breed, the owner will first need to take care of spacious cozy cage. Its height should allow animals to climb on their hind legs without obstacles.
Inside, be sure to equip available feeders and drinkers, as well as a small shelter where the animal will sleep.
Fans of fluffy eared birds will be interested in reading about other popular breeds of rabbits: white giant, gray giant, rizen, black-brown, flandr.
Put the cage preferably in a well-ventilated partial shade of the place where there are no drafts and sun. The pallet inside the cage must be covered with sawdust or special cat litter. The main thing is that the material is moisture-permeable and retains the smell.
Caring for eared includes not only feeding and cleaning the cell - also plays an important role hygiene eye, hair, skin, ears, nail clipping. Regular weekly inspection of your pet will allow to detect the problem at the early stages and eliminate it in time. 
On the skin of the animal there should be no damage, red spots, scabs, pimples and wounds. Their presence indicates the improper functioning of the liver, hormonal imbalance, experienced stress. A healthy rabbit's coat is shiny and soft. If you find mats, they need to be cut. If possible, brush rabbits with natural fiber brushes.
Important! One rabbit of the California breed should have 0.3 square meters in a cage.
Eyes pets need to inspect every day. If one eye is watering, it may be due to a blow or a speck of dust. Take a closer look and watch. Both soured eyes are signs of conjunctivitis, so you should contact your veterinarian immediately. Dry discharge is removed from the corners of the eyes with a piece of clean, slightly dampened cloth in warm water.
The ears of the animal must be kept clean. In cases of contamination, it may be necessary to clean the turundum moistened in a weakly concentrated solution of boric acid.
Did you know? Rabbits at home can live up to 12 years, and in the wild, their life lasts only 1-2 years.
What to feed
Healthy and productive animals in the household are possible only with a balanced full-fledged diet. Let us see what the Californian rabbits prefer than to feed them, and whether the food depends on the season. 
Given the intensive pace of development of young stock, livestock must be provided protein rich food. In the daily diet, fish or meat flour, dairy products, as well as protein supplements are mandatory. You should not abandon the classic feed of rabbits: hay or fresh grass, root crops, twigs, feed. Do not forget to ensure that there is always fresh water in the drinkers. In winter, it is desirable to warm it, and in the summer to double the amount.
Important! How many times to feed the Californian rabbits depends on their age. For example, baby rabbits, who were separated from mother's milk a month ago, need 5 feedings, and 2-3 are enough for older individuals per day.
Good owners care not only that the domestic animals be well fed, but also about the balance and nutritional value of the feed. It is important for rabbits to get vitamins and microelements necessary for development with food. And since they are unpretentious in the products, the preparation of the daily menu does not take much time. It is important to alternate sainfoin, burdocks, dandelions, tansy, clover, plantain.
In winter, green grass will replace silage. Also, animals adore carrots, pumpkins, cabbage and zucchini. Do not be from bananas, parsley, kohlrabi. But these are delicacies that need to be limited, otherwise you risk provoking diarrhea and allergic ailments. 
From roughage, young maple, linden, ash and aspen branches are acceptable. In the diet should be corn, legumes, oats, barley and bran.
Important! The correctness of the chosen diet can be judged by the appearance and behavior of the animal, as well as the smell of its feces. Rabbits do not like chocolate, smoked products and other delicacies familiar to people. These products, as well as a sharp change of diet, have a bad effect on the general condition of the animals.
Vaccinations for rabbits
All breeds of rabbits are very sensitive to diseases. According to veterinarians, about 10% of the livestock falls into the number of forced slaughter due to illness, another 20% of the herd is rejected for the same reason.
Experts call the most common and dangerous diseases for these mammals of animals, myxomatosis and viral hemorrhagic disease.
Mortality from the first disease is very high, covers 90% of the population. Most often epidemic myxomatosis begins in spring and autumn. Carriers of pathogens are blood-sucking insects, in particular mosquitoes. Therefore, saving pets is possible only by timely vaccination.
In diseased individuals there is a purulent discharge from the eyes, lacrimation, redness appears around the eyes, breathing becomes difficult, it begins to flow from the nose. Over time, wheezing appears, the animal refuses to eat, lowers ears, moves a little. To save the sick is impossible.
Find out what you need to do if your rabbit has coccidiosis and how to treat with Solicox and Baycox.
Viral hemorrhagic disease of rabbits (VGBK) is distributed by airborne droplets and develops over 3 days, after which in most cases there is a lethal outcome. Mortality from this disease also varies within 90% of the herd.
The main danger of the disease lies in the hidden symptoms. Only in complicated acute cases, there is difficulty breathing, fever, bleeding from the mouth and spasms. Dead animals from these diseases must be burned and the cell and all its equipment must be thoroughly disinfected. In both cases, it is possible to resist the pathogenic microbes only by vaccination. In veterinary pharmacies there are complex tools and separately from each ailment.
Experts advise to conduct vaccinations in the complex. For the first time the procedure is done when the rabbits are one and a half months old - before weaning from the mother's milk. The second - through the trimester (when the animals 4.5 months). In the future, prophylactic vaccinations must be repeated every six months.
Important! Immunization is done intramuscularly only to healthy individuals. And with a single syringe you can prick all youngsters from a single cage, but adult animals need to be vaccinated individually.
Rearing
Five-month Californians can already continue their offspring, entering into the first mating. Breeding individuals can live up to 10 years. It is important that they are healthy and productive. When choosing a female and male, be sure to pay attention to their physique, weight and physical activity. Not suitable for the continuation of the herd is too small or too large specimens. Mating lasts no more than 30 seconds. 
The appearance of young stock is the most crucial period for a rabbit breeder. It is necessary to wean rabbits from the mother when a decrease in her milkiness occurs. In 70% of cases, the lactation period of Californians is decreasing after 45 days from lambing.
New feeds to young livestock are introduced gradually, adding to the usual diet. At first, young animals are planted in cages of 6-7 individuals, and over time, they divide males and females. And in one cage there can be no more than 2 adult pets.
Did you know? A two-kilogram rabbit can drink as much water as a ten-kilogram dog.
Green fodder young immediately can not be given. It is administered gradually only at 3 weeks of age. Before each feeding, baby rabbits must be watered. In summer, herbs are ideal for them, and in winter - hay of cereals, carrots and oats.
Now you know all about the breed of Californian rabbits: how to feed them, raise them and save them from dangerous diseases. We hope our article will help you in organizing a successful rabbit breeding.
