Rabbit Life in a Colony: My Journey of Observation and Understanding

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You guys know me, I don't make my life too boring. I still have the energy and curiosity of a teenage boy who loves to study and play with my rabbit. But when I play, I also do self-research and try to understand their behaviour, so it's no exaggeration to say that they play a major role in helping me finish my dissertation thesis in the two years if Gods permit. I see them as my daily learning opportunity, which is why you often read about them in my posts once or twice like every week.

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I am currently observing my rabbits in a colony setup, which simulates their life in the wild. Unlike a single compartment where they live in isolation, this setup allows me to observe their expressions and behaviours in a more natural environment. I have been watching as they run and thrive in their new surroundings, also serves as my recreation after the tiring day set.

Rabbits are known to be prey for many predators in the wild, including us the humans for hunting food purposes. They were domesticated and transported by conquerors to the Philippines, where they were used as a food source and as pets. The Philippines has no native rabbit species, so all the rabbits seen here in my country today were imported. Thus, the domesticated rabbits in the Philippines are not native to the country.

I am trying to understand their behaviour as they adapt to a new environment that is different from their natural habitat. In the colony, I have chosen rabbits that have no known issues. They are highly territorial and nocturnal. I want to observe if they will continue to exhibit such behaviours, if there is anything I can do to influence their behaviour, and if domestication will completely change their behaviour. By studying their behaviour, I hope to gain a better understanding of their lives in this new environment, soon to present those to people who will be care for my study.

In the colony that I setup, the rabbits will compete for space, water, food, and safety. They will need to develop their wild instincts to survive potential dangers. I want to observe if they will eat more, anticipating a food shortage, and if there will be changes in their weight due to competition with other rabbits. I am also interested in observing changes in their body characteristics, such as how they move and jump, and if their leg posture changes compared to when they lived in single compartments. I have many parameters to observe and I am excited to see the results, good or bad I am ready for the result.

I am also interested in observing any changes in their social behaviour as they interact with one another. Will they meet and imprint on each other's scent? Will aggressive rabbits become more friendly over time as they become familiar with each other's scent? Will docile rabbits turn aggressive? I am eager to see what changes, if any, occur in their social behaviour. As one of the subject that I have right now is understanding the phycology maybe I can connect this one.

I converted an old swine pen into the colony, adding covers to the sides to ensure the rabbits stay inside and to protect them from potential predators such as dogs and cats, especially for the smaller baby rabbits. I am interested in observing if the rabbits will develop their leg strength for jumping and if their safety will be maintained in this new environment.

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This morning, when I approached the colony, the rabbits gathered in a group. I did not expect them to bond so quickly, especially since there are many queens and only one male to avoid inbreeding. If this colony is successful, I plan to select another batch to observe, replicating my research. The data collected on weight gain, physical and mental changes will be monitored in the next colony

As I mentioned before, I am like a little boy who loves to play. I am lucky that my parents are supportive and when they saw what I was doing, they were willing to help. I explained to them my research aims and that I am collecting data to support my claims. Once I have the information I need, I might expand my collection to include other breeds. For now, I am content experimenting and observing their behaviour and little changes on their parameters. As time goes on, new stories will be made.

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Hi, eunoia101 is a Farmer, Registered Agriculturist, Agronomist, Farm Technician, Mushroom Cultivator, Entrepreneur, and soon Researcher. Suppose your problems or queries are in any of the fields, don't feel hesitant to comment. We will try to resolve that. Upvote and reblog are highly appreciated.

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4 comments
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When you rear animals you can never be bored because they keep increasing your motive for farming as a farmer. For me, I go there for relaxation and some light work too. Thanks for sharing.

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This is very much the best feeling of farmers (agriculture mindset) where we found peace and lightness while watching them grew, I loved it too.

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