Why does the buck need to be (x) age?

[CochinBrahmaLover=)]

So I own 2 Rex crosses & 2 Cali crosses. The 2 Cali's are 11 -12 weeks, the Rexes 2 years.
Now, why does our buck, whose 12 weeks,need to be 6-7 months old to breed my Rexes? I don't think his 'family jewels' have dropped yet, so obviously he's physically incapable to breed right now, but why does he need to be 6-7 months? If he's fertile, and willing, can't you give him a chance? Kinda like goat bucks? Lol.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

You can always give him a try. The issue with a young male is that the animal must have enough hormonal influence to create viable, mature sperm to impregnate the female. That hormonal influence isn't there in a very young animal.... as they mature it happens in rabbits, in horses, in dogs, in people... ugh, lol! Sometimes a younger male can successfully breed and impregnate but there will be a tendency to have smaller litters as he just can't produce enough viable sperm to fertilize all the eggs a female can produce.

Have his testicles descended? That is a fairly good indicator of his ability to successfully breed...not always... but it's the first good sign.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover=)]

Well how do you tell?
I'm fine with a small litter. I'd rather have a first small litter than a large first litter. Perhaps the mother would be a better mother if its a smaller litter? She's a first timer, as a, I.
Sorry, I just expected the rabbits to be able to breed sooner. They (every article ive read) made it sound like they have to be.
Ill just give him a few tries, I only need one litter to hold me over till he's old enough to be a good breeder xD

 

[autumnprairie]

hey you I have missed you. You can try at 4 months but you may not get anything the first time and make sure you put her in his cage females are territorial and make sure she doesn't hurt him

 

[frustratedearthmother]

You can turn him over and look, lol. They don't quite dangle like a dogs or a goats or a bulls... they're held close to the body, but you'll see them under the anal opening....uhhhhh... if he's upside down they might be above the anal opening.... oh geeze, this is getting complicated!!

And remember, he might not be able to father any babies at this age... But, there's only one way to kow for sure... give him a girlfriend and see what happens. He might get it right or he might run around trying to figure out why some dang female has invaded his space!

Good luck!

 

[Bunnylady]

Dropped testicles do not a fertile animal make, though testicles that never drop usually can't produce viable sperm. Rabbits also have a really cute trick; bucks can pull their testicles back into their bodies when under stress. Young bucks can be really frustrating in that way - a junior has to have both showing, or neither showing; one there and one hiding is a DQ at a show (seniors have to have both there, of course). I can't tell you how many times I've seen a rabbit handler wandering around near the registrar's table jiggling a buck up and down, trying to get both of 'em down so they can get the rascal registered!

The buck must be physically and mentally mature enough to breed. Some are rarin' to go long before they are fertile, some aren't. I have heard of bucks that got a rough time from a doe the first time a breeding was attempted, who never looked at a doe afterward - so it can pay not to rush them.

 

[secuono]

Just put the rabbit on wire and look from the bottom...
Testicles are on EITHER SIDE of the penis/anus, not on top or bottom.
Show rabbits should be used to being handled and weird/new situations, then they'll stay dropped.

Young bucks may not be fertile, may not know what to do or not even care. There is no reason to wait with a buck other than you might be wasting your time until he's older.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover=)]

Well a re-counting has led me to see that he's only 11 weeks. So it'll probably be a lot longer, but I'm looking into getting an older buck.

To be quite honest, I may be getting the sexes switched and my 'girl' might be the boy and the boy be a girl. Maybe that's why he's so confused, LOL. But yeah, he was pretty scared.
Can I leave him in with the doe(s) overnight or should I watche to see if he breeds? He's pretty nervous around me.
And if I leave him with 2 does, do you think he'll get attacked? I have a bonded pair that I'm looking to get into bred, but a bit concerned that they'll pick on him


Thanks ^^

 

[Bunnylady]

I know of a buck that had a certain critical part of his anatomy removed by a doe (critical for him to be a useful buck, anyway), and I personally owned a young buck that lost a testicle to a particularly well-directed bite by his brother. I would not leave the buck with the does.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover=)]

Ok. Good idea. Good idea.
poor buck.