Separating breeding does

[MommaBugg]

I am getting some young flemish giants tomorrow, 3 does from the same litter, and one buck from a different litter.. How long can the does be housed together before the does start getting territorial? I know once I start breeding them they need to be separated but while theyre still little, and until the snow thaws and we get them in their perm. housing, they will need to be together .. Just wondering how long I have until I need to separate them.

 

[Bunnylady]

There are no hard-and-fast rules about separating does. It really depends on the temperament of the individual rabbits. Some really dominant individuals need their own space shortly after weaning, others may be fine together for years! There is one caveat to keeping them together indefinitely. Dominant does will mount more subordinate individuals, something that can lead to false pregnancies, even if not actual injuries and hair loss. A doe that is experiencing a false pregnancy will not breed, so you may need to separate the does for at least a month prior to actually attempting to breed them.

 

[MommaBugg]

There are no hard-and-fast rules about separating does. It really depends on the temperament of the individual rabbits. Some really dominant individuals need their own space shortly after weaning, others may be fine together for years! There is one caveat to keeping them together indefinitely. Dominant does will mount more subordinate individuals, something that can lead to false pregnancies, even if not actual injuries and hair loss. A doe that is experiencing a false pregnancy will not breed, so you may need to separate the does for at least a month prior to actually attempting to breed them.

Awesome thanks!

 

[secuono]

I just keep them all together until 12wks, then boys w/boys, girls w/girls. As soon as I start breeding them or see any aggression, which ever comes first, then I'd separate. Otherwise, it'd be fine to just leave them all together.