Doe Not Accepting?

[HomesteaderWife]

Hey there Backyard Herds- I am new to rabbits, so I am having a bit of difficulty with our breeding pair at the moment. When we originally got our female from an auction, they said she had been bred. Obviously, that did not happen, because we timed her supposed pregnancy and NO BABIES.

So I have tried twice now in the early mornings while it is cool to take her to the bucks cage and breed her. He shows all the interest in the world, but she does this sort of grunt/growling thing at him and runs around. She keeps her hind end down and won't lift her tail, so we have yet to get a successful breeding yet.

Do you have any advice on how to get the female to accept the breeding?

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[samssimonsays]

I will place my hand over their head to help hold them still and then try to lift their butts for them if need be. If you do a table breeding it is easier to just relax the doe and roll her out, so to speak, and then place the buck down and let him get her. Sometimes just fishing for the tail and making sure it is up and out of the way helps too.

 

[samssimonsays]

I had this same issue with 12 does over the course of 2 years... Either they did what you are describing or they just didn't take. I started watching their vulvas for a reddish coloring and that indicates they are really ready... I started feeding them a vitamin D supplement that has since made breeding effortless on all sides. Does are more receptive to the bucks, bucks don't have to work as hard, I RARELY have to hold anyone or step in and they are taking on a first breeding instead of a week 5 of breeding or not at all.

 

[mysunwolf]

@Samantha drawz has some awesome rabbit advice! The one thing I always suggest is to place the buck's and doe's cages right next to each other for at least a week so that they can get to know each other before trying to breed them. I have had bad luck breeding in a "neutral" scent zone where no rabbits have been, but it's worth a try.

 

[animalmom]

@Samantha drawz, can you give us more details on your Vitamin D use? Dosage, the product you are using, are you doing this year round or just before breeding season?

I would like to give my rabbits a little extra boost before their breeding season and am stymied as to how to do that. Sounds like you may have a solution. Please share, and as always, thank you to the max.

 

[samssimonsays]

@animalmom this is the one I use. I have used it for 3 years now? with the harsh winters here I found that their breeding abilities were harshly affected and because I am sooo attached to my "small" herd I really couldn't think about selling ALL of my does and starting over like everyone suggested. As a last ditch effort I tried this. I had it for a squirrel I owned at the time because her hair would fall out without the vit D so I had it on hand and I seriously do so little but it is just enough to jump start them and give them the nutrients they miss from the harsh winters. I Tried the past 2 years to get babies without it and out of 40 breedings, NO babies. That was religiously breeding EVERY wednesday as advised by a top breeder in the nation. I do two of the tiny scoops that come with the powder per 50# bag of feed mixed in. Within 3 days of feeding it I bred them and 31 days later, BABIES! This has happened for me three years in a row and each time within days they all or most take.

I have started doing a lot of natural supplements and have had amazing luck with growth, health and all over conditions of my rabbits who are sooooo sensitive digestively and physically.

 

[samssimonsays]

I just finished the first jar up after using it for 3 seasons on over 100 rabbits total. I like to leave it in the feed for the jr's I separate from mom to help give them an extra boost. I have never lost a rabbit on it so that's pretty good right? Since I started using it 10 other breeders I know of have since tried it with success.

 

[samssimonsays]

I have since started mine on supplements from firmeadows called betterdaze, mmune, and gisoother. the mmune I use for immune systems just to help boost them up for show season because ya never know. Betterdaze I use for the babies and pregnant and nursing females. while the gisoother is for the young ones to help prevent bloat/enteritis while weaning. I mix the three into a 16oz bottle, 1tsp of gisoother, 1/2tsp mmune and 3/4 tsp of betterdaze. it calls for a pinch per 20#s of animal... I do three quick squirts into their water and TADA! done. This has worked since stopping my vit D for litters this time around as well but it is summer and they get sunlight and grass as well. They have a wormer I will also use on all babies starting at 10 weeks for 2 days each week until week 12 when they usually leave. I am going to attempt just the natural supplements this coming spring and see if it helps as well.

 

[animalmom]

@Samantha drawz, perfect! Thank you for sharing the info, I really appreciate it. Trying to get does to lift for the bucks can get frustrating for both the does and me. I'm all for giving more nutrients, and it is even better if someone can recommend what works for them. Otherwise it is trying to hit a bullseye in the dark.

I will try your suggestions. I raise for meat and if the does don't breed I won't have meat for the freezer. Love my buns to the max but it gets difficult to explain to the accountant why I keep rabbits that don't produce. I know they can, they want to, and they will... just sometimes they need a wee bit extra to do the job. It isn't a question of bummer stock, or aged stock. It is simply a question of nutrition, and getting the info on what works, seeing it is pretty much all off-label, is the challenge.

 

[samssimonsays]

I totally understand your frustration! LOL!!! I hope something helps with your buns! I use the firmeadows supplements on the dogs, myself and goats as well