does having trouble breeding with buck

[Becca'sBunnyBarn]

I have been raising rabbits for almost 3 years. In that time I have had many successful litters from my rabbits. Now my does just don't seem interested in my bucks. Either they sit in a corner and hunker down of they do make a connection and nothing ever happens. I live in texas so during the summer it goes 100 and over. So I just marked it up to the bucks not being fertile. this is what i do normally.
Letting them hook up 3 times in a row than putting the doe on her back in my lap withe her bum slightly raised for 5-10 min. (this has always work so far untill recently) i always put the doe into the bucks cage to breed.

what i just tried is breeding once in the morning and than i'll breed them again tonight.
i have been browsing this forum for people who have hade a similar problem. I just wanted some advice. Thanks

 

[Citylife]

It might be the bucks but it could be your Doe has gotten heavy also. An overweight rabbit is an unproductive rabbit. I see no reason to put her on her back to help get her pregnant. I have raised 5 breeds of rabbits in the last 7 years and as long as they are in shape and not heavy they do great. The way you tried it this time once in the morning and then in evening could help. they may also need some lighting in their area. Some people just use clear xmas lights. Good luck to you

 

[Becca'sBunnyBarn]

thanks citylife! my rabbits live in a closed shed with ceiling fans and overhead lighting. i've been leaving the lights on after it gets dark and turn them off before i go to bed. thanks for the advice!

 

[mysunwolf]

I'm having similar problems, but for me the reason has been that my does are not wanting to breed with strange bucks. Turns out they like to both see and smell the buck for at least a few days before breeding. And I have one doe who prefers to mate with light-colored bucks, possibly because she is light-colored. I have some does that will only mate with bucks that are larger than them, and other does that prefer a buck that is smaller than them. Rabbits are sometimes a pain I agree that the morning and evening breedings work out well. Goos luck!