If you decide to purchase a rabbit for breeding or as a pet, first of all, you need to choose it correctly. And not only for health reasons, but also for age, because his further activity will depend on it. The article will tell you how to learn how to determine the age of fluffy.
How many years do rabbits live
Zoologists, examining the life span of rabbits, came to the conclusion that it directly depends on the breed, conditions and food ration. Also in the course of these studies it was found that good care can prolong the life of an eared pet to almost 15 years. Next, we consider what determines the life of rabbits of various breeds.
Important! To always control the life and health of the rabbit family, you can attach tags to the cells and indicate the time of birth or acquisition of the animals, as well as other data that may later be requested.
Decorative Fold
Lop-eared rabbits are not as fearful animals as their cousins with erect ears, so stress or fright cannot cause their premature death. If you properly care for decorative lop-eared rabbits, their lifespan can reach 8-12 years. 
Dwarf breed
According to the observation of breeders, the smaller the animal, the less it will live, if we are talking about their natural habitat. Their average life expectancy is 7-8 years, but at home, babies can safely live up to 12 years, and in some cases it has been observed that even longer. 
Rabbits broilers
Many farmers breed broiler rabbits for their tasty and juicy meat. They provide them with complete care and nutrition, but, unfortunately, the fate of animals is unenviable: their lifespan does not exceed 70-75 days. Further maintenance of animals meat breed simply unprofitable. 
How to determine age
Experienced rabbit breeders have developed a number of measures with the help of which it is possible to determine the age of an individual at the moment.
By claws
In rabbits, like all living creatures, claws grow throughout life. When kept in cages, they begin to curl, so the breeders try to trim them, although this is quite noticeable. When patching, the claws of the animals grind themselves. When buying animals, you need to carefully examine this issue and remember that the young individual claws are soft and do not bend.
Important! Rabbits are deeply stressed if raising them by the ears - they associate with the danger of becoming a predator's prey. Communicating with the pet, better go down to him to be with him on a par, but do not hang over the animals.
In the teeth
Another important criterion for determining age is the teeth jaw. In rabbit always white and even teeth. By the age of one year, their teeth become dirty-yellow, with gray spots, and subsequently covered with a yellow-gray patina. 
Palpation of ribs
Rib palpation is a good method for checking rabbit age. In the newborn and up to 6 months, the ribs are in the form of soft cartilage. Even if the baby is large, but with soft ribs, then its age is approximately from 1 to 5 months.
Eyelids
Another effective method - inspection of the upper eyelids. Up to half a year, the eyelids of children are small, spotless and even. In an adult animal, they will be swollen, sagging, with a rough surface and a grayish color.
Moult
The most accurate way to determine age is to study the condition of the rabbit's coat:
- rabbits are born without a fur coat, and only by 5 days are they covered with short fluff;
- By the 4th week, babies are already completely covered with hairs: down, guides and guard hairs are compared in length;
- in a monthly specimen, the wool fades and thins, and the skin becomes bluish;
- from two months the hairs of the secondary cover begin to grow and will grow until the end of the molt;
- the skin becomes completely light only by the fourth or fifth month;
- the second molt occurs in two weeks, and the wool undergoes similar changes;
- In the summer, the adult begins to shed intensely, the fur becomes dull and thinned, and the skin is thick and loose;
- change of coat takes up to 2.5 months;
- The end of this process can be determined by inflating the hair: in different places the wool should go in the same circles.
Did you know? Ears in rabbits can be turned in any direction and serve as a kind of "radar", and also help them in the thermoregulation of the body.
Sex organs
When buying a male, it is necessary to inspect his genitals: if his testicles are hidden in the groin inside the abdomen, then the animal is less than 4 months old.
Factors affecting the lifespan
The longevity of rabbits of any breed depends on several factors. Consider them in more detail. 
Heredity
Good heredity is the key to the health of pets: if the parents did not have genetic defects, then their offspring will be able to live longer.
We advise you to read about how to water the rabbits with water, what to not feed the rabbits with, what grass to feed the rabbits, what to eat and what to feed the rabbits in the winter.
Maintaining immunity
Good prevention of early death of rabbits are measures to strengthen their immunity from viral diseases. Veterinarians distinguish three dangerous diseases from which animals should be vaccinated:
- VGBK (viral hemorrhagic disease of rabbits);
- pasteurellosis;
- myxomatosis.
Proper maintenance and care
Proper animal care will help increase their lifespan. Among the rules we highlight the following:
- The content in clean conditions of cells, feeders, drinkers.
- Regular change of litter in the cells to fresh.
- Improving the quality of food: in the food of animals must be present vitamins and minerals, which they receive from hay, vegetables and fruits, seeds of cereals, as well as from a special balanced feed for rabbits.
- Do not forget to maintain the water balance of animals.
- Keep animals away from drafts and overheating.
- Provide animals with an active lifestyle, regularly releasing them for a walk in the walking yard several times a day.
Did you know? If the rabbit is frightened, he may experience not only fear, but also aggression, manifested by growling or grunting sounds and a loud banging of teeth.
Castration
According to veterinary experts, deprivation of childbearing function has a positive effect on the life span of a rabbit. This is especially true of females, whose body wears out faster from frequent deliveries and feeding babies. 
Good relations
Like all living things, rabbits are in need of careful and loving treatment, especially decorative ones. You can not frighten the animal, let it squeeze the children or allow falling from a height. If the crumb is injured or has lost activity and appetite, you should immediately contact a veterinarian who can provide him with qualified assistance.
We advise you to get acquainted with different breeds of rabbits: white giant, gray giant, Californian, Angora, black-brown, butterfly, Rex, Flandre, Soviet chinchilla.
Signs of an old rabbit
The approach of the aging phase of a pet is accompanied by the following features:
- decrease playfulness;
- less motor activity;
- coat thinning regardless of molting;
- dull eyes;
- abdominal drooping (especially in female);
- reluctant eating feed.
Summarizing the above, we note that it is necessary to determine when you are buying, how old your future pet is. This will allow you to initially acquire young and healthy individuals and properly manage your farm in the future.Reviews
