First time breeding of an older doe

[promiseacres]

So does anyone have any success when breeding older does? I have 2 does that I've tried to breed last spring and now this spring and nothing. The one doe made a lovely nest last breeding but still no kits. They are now suddenly 2 years old and I've been attempting to breed them every couple of weeks. Both are healthy and good weights and have been lifting for the buck. They are both Velveteen lops and since that's a somewhat rarer breed I'd like to keep their lines going. They are from different lines but my own breedings. Velveteen Lops do tend to only want to breed in the Spring I've noticed. Pretty much I've decided to keep trying at this time but ugh what a pain it's been. Probably will pet them out come fall if nothing.
@Bunnylady

 

[AlleysChicks]

I had a NZ doe finally have babies. She's 2. I've tried multiple bucks with her since she was 8 months old. She produced a small litter of 4 but raised them, although she started weaning them at just shy of 4 weeks.

 

[promiseacres]

If anyone wants to know 1 doe had a false pregnancy and the other had 5 kits. Was a good mom too. May rebred this fall... or attempt to.

 

[Niele da Kine]

Good job on the one doe having kits! She will now hopefully be able to have another litter more easily.

I used to wait until the does were several years old to breed them for the first time since they're English angoras and I don't always need that many litters. Their second or third shearing will usually indicate how good of a coat they will have. However, breeding an older doe isn't as successful as breeding younger ones. They seem to have a lot harder time getting pregnant and have smaller litters when they do. If you're able to breed them between six and nine months, at least for their first litter, it seems to make it easier for them to become pregnant and have more kits.

 

[promiseacres]

Well I didn’t give up on my doe, she turns 3 next month and had a litter of 5 tonight! The other doe I sold and she had a 2nd litter no problems for her new owner last fall.This doe was belongs to my youngest dd which is partly why I kept trying. Praying she takes care of them. Dd has already picked out names.

 

[Niele da Kine]

Good job on the new litter! Looks like she built a nice nest and she seems to be doing all the right things. Hopefully she will keep them all. Not sure if warning DD about how delicate newborn babies are would be a good thing. Hopefully they will all make it.

 

[promiseacres]

@Niele da Kine DD knows... but doesn't seem to bother her.
I rebred the doe again, figured I'd better do it while she was willing. And she had another litter for us that we just weaned. Not the greatest mom, but raised 4 in each litter. She'll be retired for now.