1st time

[miss_thenorth]

If you want to go back and forth, do it in a different thread or pm. I was simply asking a question because I'm completely NEW at raising rabbits. I would like to be able to continue using this forum to learn as much as I can.

I am interested in hearing many different opinions, that is what makes public forums so informative, many different people, with many different experience levels.

I may not use the correct terms, excuse me for that, I'm completely new to raising rabbits.

Blueskys, I first got my rabbits at this time last year, and bred them right away. my winters get down below freezing. I bred mine right away, and I would recommend doing it. Rabbits can take cold weather, as long as you provide a nesting box that keeps the kits our of drafts etc, the mom will pull enough fur to keep the babes warm. don't worry, everything will be fine. I breed my rabbits all year long.

 

[Blue Skys]

I'm going to breed them tomorrow. . When the kits come in December I'll post some pictures!
Thanks for your reply's, and encouragement!

 

[miss_thenorth]

Good luck!! I just had a doe kindle this morning, I havn't gotten in there to see how many she had yet.

 

[waynesgarden]

Goatzilla gave you good advice.

My own rabbits are breeding right now in the hills of Western Maine where it has been known to get on the cool side during winter.

If indeed spring breedings are more productive than fall breedings, then fall breedings are far more productive than not breeding.

You made the right choice, given the age of your possibly first-timer rabbits.

Wayne

 

[miss_thenorth]

My bunn had 8 babies this morning, (I just checked) This is a typical size litter for me. The smallest I've had was 7, and the largest was 10. I have three does and these numbers are consistent year round. Again, good luck with your doe!

 

[Blue Skys]

So... I think that breeding was successful with the NZ doe, but the Cali doe did not want anything to do with it. I tryed Friday Saturday and Sunday, putting her with him for about 15 minutes twice a day, and she wasn't interested. So... I don't know if she might already be pregnant, or what. How long should I wait to try again?

 

[JoieDeViveRabbitry]

Are you sure she is a doe and that she isn't already bred?

When you say "not interested" what do you mean, describe her behavior for me.
Is she lunging at him, grunting, whining or crying while he is trying to mount her? (She may be bred)
Is he ignoring her completely? (Check sex and make sure she is a doe!)
If she is indeed a doe, check her vulva and tell me what color it is. If it is pale and small she will not want to breed. Wait until she is bright pink/purple/red and more swollen.

 

[Blue Skys]

Are you sure she is a doe and that she isn't already bred?

When you say "not interested" what do you mean, describe her behavior for me.
Is she lunging at him, grunting, whining or crying while he is trying to mount her? (She may be bred)
Is he ignoring her completely? (Check sex and make sure she is a doe!)
If she is indeed a doe, check her vulva and tell me what color it is. If it is pale and small she will not want to breed. Wait until she is bright pink/purple/red and more swollen.

Well, She is not being aggressive, she is just laying there, she won't lift up for him and gets in the corner, where he can't really get to her. He is very interested. Her vulva is pale, how often would I check to see if it changes?

 

[JoieDeViveRabbitry]

Seriously you can check daily or every other day.
If she is not aggressive you can certainly try holding her butt up for him to do the deed. Pick up the doe and hold her so her head is facing your stomach and she is looking right at you. Place doe in bucks cage, in this position. Use two hands if she is a big doe, slid your left hand palm up under her belly and sit her pelvis area in between your thumb and forefinger. Use your right hand to scruff her gently over her ears.
She should be in the cage with her head hanging out the opening at your chest.
Bucky boy should come over and do his thing. You want to make sure your left forearm is not right in front of the does mouth and you may have to release your right hand over the ears to prevent a nip from the buck.

Some breeders talk about using "tail strings". You supposedly tie a showlace or something to that effect around the does tail.
Put doe in cage, when buck mount pull the string lifting her butt up.
I have never used this method so I cannot tell you if it works. To me it sounds iffy, like injury could happen to the rabbits, tangling, hurting the tail, etc.

 

[Blue Skys]

Just wanted to let y'all know that the nz doe kindled this morning. I had kind of started to think that she wasn't pregnant, but, this morning she had put a little bit of hay and fur in the nest box, so I gave her more hay, and like a mad woman, she started making her nest, I went back a little later to check on her and heard the babies. I will go and see how many once I'm sure she's done. i don't know if this is her first litter or not, but crossing my fingers that she's a good mama, and that the little ones live.

Thanks for y'alls help!

I guess nature will take it's course no matter how I feel about it, or how much I over think it.

edit because I can't type today.