Breeding

Breeding rabbits is very exciting and proper planning will provide greater chances of success, and less chance of a disappointment. Share your experiences with other members and get their views.

Breeding

Postby lucy2310 » Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:34 am

Hi,
I have 2 does. And they are nearly 6 months old.
I havent bred before and i want to try with one of them and see how i go.
They have never been seperated though so im wondering what i do. could i put another cage in their bigger cage/run and have one shut up in their thats not pregnant maybe? so they still can see eachother?..
Also anyone got any tips on breeding and pregnancy.. im pretty new to this.
Thanks
lucy2310
 
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 6:45 am

Re: Breeding

Postby minilopmaniac » Tue Apr 27, 2010 10:24 pm

The best thing to do is probably to keep them away from each other so the doe who is being bred will not feel stressed or territorial, in which case she may try to attack during the nursing stage or she may even eat her young, in a rare case. If seperating the does makes the pregnant doe more stressed though, you may want to keep them near each other, but with at least some distance. Also, just a tip, (you do know all the breeding procedures, right?) as amazing as it would be to watch the young rabbits coming into the world, do not disturb the doe during kindling (birth), or she may become cannabalistic or have trouble with delivery due to stress.
If you have no good knowledge of breeding procedures and basics, here they are:
Step 1:Take the doe to the buck's cage. Leave the two together for fifteen minutes, but keep a close eye on them, should they fight, in which case you should put on some portective gloves, etc. and take the doe away. Do not contiue breeding if this happens, which is unusual though. If the doe is receptive, breeding should occur within five minutes, or after the buck flops on his side. IMPORTANT! NEVER take the buck to the doe's cage, in which case I can almost guarantee that she will become territorial and attack.
Step 2: After the first breeding session, wait five to eight hours (for which reason it is best to breed early in the day), then take the doe back to the buck's cage, of course, assuming that the doe was receptive. This step is to ensure maximum litter size.
Step 3: Place the nest box in the sheltered area of the doe's cage a few days prior to kindling. The doe should kindle around 30 days after breeding, and kindling can occur at any time of day. She will start pulling the fur from her stomach around this time, but don't worry if it happens from then to the day she kindles. After and while the kits are being born, the doe should have plenty of clean, fresh water and food. Never let her go without water, which is what helps her body make the milk that she nurses her kittens, also refered to as kits, with.
*NOTE*: Never let the buck come near the kits, he will kill them. The kits will be sexually mature at two months of age, and they can leave their mom at six weeks of age.
I hope this helps! Happy breeding and I hope it all goes well! :D
minilopmaniac
 
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Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:47 pm


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