NZ Young male shedding....

[PattySh]

I have a young buck will be a yr old in Dec. He sired two litters then I tried breeding him to 3 other females with no luck. He has babies that are about a month old and some a bit older. Seemed to try to mount the females but nothing. Now he is voraciously shedding. I mean his cage within the last two days is full of hair and it is in clumps all over him. Not sure what to make of it. Any suggestions?? I also have one female from the same breeder similar age that will not breed at all either. The other female from that breeder same litter I was told bred to Mr Shedder and her babies are 2 months old. I am having much more trouble breeding the NZs that the Californian and LopX's we started with, what's up?

 

[dbunni]

I'm not sure what you are asking. First I have NZs that drop all their coat at once and others that drop slowly. Just depends on the bunny. My one bucks house looked like an Angora lived in it! With the weather going up and down around here the coats cannot decide what to do. Don't worry. All is normal.

 

[PattySh]

Oh my, I have had rabbits for years and never saw one "drop it's coat". Was unaware that males did that. OK some relieved. Wasn't sure what was going on, no earmites, no body mites. Just a cage full of hair and almost overnite, LOTS of hair lol. Do you need to supplement with anything when they do that? Weird timing as the weather is chilling here in Vermont to become a naked bunny. I did change their food to a pellet with added Yucca(spelling? formulated for our area, bag in the barn), wonder if that is the reason?

 

[PattySh]

dbunni, while I have your attention.....can you occasionally get a NZfemale that does not cycle? This girl never seems in heat tho I try her often with a male. Never had a problem with my Californian and Calif/LopX girls.

 

[dbunni]

Sorry about the delay... picked up a bug and feeling yucky!

How old is the doe? Have you checked her for color change on a regular basis? Remember that rabbits will ovulate once bred ... reactionary breeders. So even if she does not present color you can force her to breed. You might try "tickling the ivories" as a friend of mine puts it. Stimulate her by rubbing around the genitles (sp ... sorry). Also table breed. This way you can help the buck a little.

Most of my NZ does are sluts! But did have an EA doe that never cycled/produced. A BIS doe! Bug! Sometimes it is just not in the cards.

Hope this helps ... if you want to talk, send me an e-mail.

 

[PattySh]

She is just under a yr old. I told my husband to put the doe on the "to butcher" list because I have never seen her breed. I did however a month ago after watching for over an hour leave her with a male for a couple more hours while I did chores.I assumed they did nothing because I check several times and saw nothing and they were both quiet in the cage when I took her out. Well he didn't get to the bunny (had done 19 and took a break without finishing the last 1/3!) That was 2 days ago. She had 8 babies yesterday. 5 survived, got her in a box in time, something made me look in her cage. Maybe now she will cycle normally and accept the male. I met a man at a bird swap this past weekend and he told me I should have started to expose her to a male at 5 mos and not wait until 6 as she may have gotten a bit fat. She was one of my first NZs and the breeder told me to wait til they were 6-7 mos. Never had any problems with the Californians. (Hope you feel better dbunni)

 

[dbunni]

We do not expose the NZ, or any breed, to bucks before 9 months. They need time to gain maturity. It is probably just that doe...timing, whatever. Maybe she just wanted to surprise you! As for fat, if the NZ is properly cared for, she will not be fat when mature. Ours are free fed until about 4 months, then they are regulated. This creates a beautful show animal that is in prime condition by 6 monts.

Good luck with the new kiddos ... C.