Rabbits not getting pregnant!

[montverdechick]

We have two does and a buck (NZW). We bought them several months ago from a proven breeder. We have put the buck with each doe twice now. Both times we observed him "finishing the deed", so we thought we would be successful. No luck. Is there something we are doing wrong? Anything we can do to make this work?

Thanks for your help and advice.

 

[RabbitMage]

Where are they housed and do you have them under lights?

 

[tortoise]

I'm getting nothing here. I'll wait for spring? I was trying to get a steady meat supply. Guess not...

 

[montverdechick]

They are in hutches outside. They do not have lights, just normal sunlight. Located under a large oak tree for shade. Females in outside pens and male in the middle one. Again, they have "done the deed", but nothing has taken. Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[rockdoveranch]

I am having the same problem with my French Lops.

One doe tries to kill the buck.

The other will not flag him, but loves being with him.

 

[RabbitMage]

Rabbits breed better in the longer days in the warmer months-they don't need the warm days but they DO need the lights. We have lights on ours from 7 AM to 10 PM, and we have several litters right now.

 

[txcarl1258]

I had the same problem with one of my does. She didn't take with the first breeding. It turns out the buck needed to "clean himself out" of the old dead semen. I rebred the does and both had litters. Maybe try breeding the does again in a week or so when he has a fresh supply of semen. Then again I live in South TX and it rarely gets cold here so I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

 

[tortoise]

I don't have artificial lights, but I do have a BIG window on the south side of the shed.

 

[PattySh]

I have a hard time with my NZ Male breeding my NZ females, but if I use my Californian male it's a go. Any chance your male is too fat, I think mine might be??

 

[RabbitMage]

I don't have artificial lights, but I do have a BIG window on the south side of the shed.

Are they getting 14-16 hours of light a day from that big window this time of year?