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You've undoubtedly heard the phrase, "They breed like rabbits!" and it's a phrase that reflects the prolific ability for rabbits to reproduce oft, and easily.

If you are planning on starting a small rabbitry, breeding rabbits will be at the forefront of your operation. So, knowing how to produce a salubrious litter from a salubrious doe, is essential to your operation.

Choosing a Brood Depending on Your Purpose

The breeds you choose to keep, and breed, volition depend on what you would like to employ your rabbits for. Hither'due south a listing of some of the best breeds for each of the following uses:

Meat: Californian, New Zealand, Silver Foxes
Fiber: Angora
Pet: Flemish Giants, Rexes, Smooth, Dutch

Each of these breeds will reproduce well, but the meat breeds are the big litter breeds desired past near rabbitries. They produce the most quantity of kits and the most meat per adult rabbit.

When to Breed Rabbits

Rabbits should not exist bred until they are at to the lowest degree six months of age due to complications that may arise.

Different many other mammals, rabbits can exist bred year-round. Their reproductive cycle is extremely unique! They do not ovulate unless they have been bred…in fact, the deed of convenance induces ovulation.

With that being said, there are times when does are more than receptive to beingness bred.

Selecting Your Breeding Pairs

It's of import to select pairs that are the same size. Breeding a large buck to a minor doe may effect in a difficult pregnancy. Kits may be too large for the doe to carry.

A good dominion of pollex is to mate rabbits of the aforementioned breed to each other rather than cross-breeding big and modest breeds.

And never breed kits from the aforementioned kindling with each other. However, a doe can be bred back to the buck who produced her, and the same goes for bucks and the does. This is called in-line convenance.

Virtually in-line breeding is done to amplify the desirable traits of the ii rabbits chosen to breed. E'er keep in mind, however, that inbreeding can also magnify undesirable traits, so choose carefully.

How to Fix The Buck's Hutch for Breeding

When it is time to breed your rabbits information technology is best to do so on solid ground. Cages with wire bottoms can catch rabbit toenails or even feet, and crusade serious injury if the rabbits are rambunctious.

If you only have wire-bottomed cages, identify a temporary wooden floor in the lesser of the buck'due south cage for breeding and remove information technology after. Likewise, remove whatever feeders or waterers that the rabbits could go tangled upwards in, and to give them more room.

Lastly, always take the doe to the buck'southward cage because does are extremely territorial and may human activity out aggressively toward your cadet.

The Rabbit Convenance Procedure

Now that you know how to select and prep your rabbits for breeding, it'southward time to go down to the birds and the bees of the procedure!

ane. Sexing Rabbits

Sexing rabbits is not an easy task, but information technology can exist learned with some exercise. Information technology'due south challenging to differentiate males from females and to make matters worse, information technology'southward even harder to hold your rabbits while sexing them. This makes the process even more slow.

Immature rabbits are more difficult to sex than mature rabbits. While you can attempt to sex them at a immature age, it's best to wait until they are full-grown. At least until you know what you are doing.

Hither'due south how to do it:

Hold your rabbit gently by the scruff of its neck and elevator it upwardly, supporting its weight with your other paw or arm.
Lay the rabbit upside down while supporting its back (cradle your rabbit in your arms).
Your rabbit will relax if held securely.
Using your middle finger and forefinger apply pressure to the vent to force the genitals to protrude just slightly.
Find the protuberance: Does take a narrow slit, lined with pink, while bucks accept a tube.

ii. Mating Your Rabbits

Once y'all have placed the doe in the buck'southward cage, the breeding process will begin. The 2 rabbits may chase each other, smell each other, and the buck may stomp his feet. There will be grunting, squealing, and other lovely rabbit sounds that you never idea existed.

The buck volition mount the doe and bite her on the dorsum of the neck for stability, and to keep the doe in place. Don't worry, he isn't pain her.

If the doe is receptive, she will lay on her stomach and present her backend to the buck. On the other hand, she may sit upwardly and hibernate her bottom from the male if she does not desire to exist bred.

If the doe acts aggressively toward the buck, or vice versa, advisedly remove the doe as shortly as possible. Never forcefulness rabbits to stay in a cage together, or go out them unattended. If you do, you may have a fatality on your hands.

Yous can tell if your buck has bred your doe if he falls off of her…yes, information technology's really pretty dramatic. He will oftentimes bleat or grunt and only roll to the side of her. He's ok, so don't worry!

For good measure, we often let our buck brood our does at to the lowest degree 3 times in a breeding session. Nevertheless, usually, he is pretty pooped after the 2nd time. Good bucks volition become the job done fast.

Once they've successfully bred, remove the doe from the cage and return her to her own. And so, supplant the feed and h2o dishes for the buck. He will be thirsty!

Make a note in your homesteading journal of the date bred, and employ our gestation computer to know when you tin look the kits.

3. Is The Doe Pregnant?

In that location are signs to watch for that volition indicate your doe is pregnant, but without an ultrasound, none of them are reliable.

Hither are a few indications your doe may exist meaning:

Yous tin can feel babies when you gently palpate her abdomen
She has gained weight (weigh her earlier she is bred and ii weeks later)
She starts nesting about a week before kindling

If you want to be certain, and safe, take your doe to your veterinarian for a solid answer.

4. Doe'due south Nesting Textile Box

Does are ambrosial when they offset nesting, they hop about, building their nest just and then. Nevertheless, if does don't accept the proper "equipment" they may not be able to care for their kits appropriately. It'southward upward to you to ensure that they have a warm, draft-free, nesting box available at to the lowest degree a week before they kindle.

The nesting box shouldn't smell like other animals or rabbits. If you've used a nesting box for any other purpose be sure to clean information technology long earlier offering it to your doe. Ensure that the doe has aplenty fourth dimension to get used to the nesting box in her cage.

Harbinger or this soft nesting textile should exist provided for the doe to create her own nest. She will do this on her ain then don't worry almost making the nest for her.

A few days before she gives birth, the doe volition beginning gathering the all-time pieces of straw for her nest. Then, she will go to work building a rubber-haven for her babies.

v. Gestation Period and Kindling

From the time a doe is bred to kindling almost 30 days volition pass…give or accept a little. During the gestation menstruum, the doe should not be handled often, and her nesting box should exist left untouched.

Your doe will need a piffling more food than usual, only don't overdo information technology. Overfeeding pregnant does can cause miscarriages and frequently the nascency of ane or 2 fatty babies. So, gradually increase her food intake, provide plenty of roughage and h2o.

Almost a week before your doe gives nascency, she will brainstorm to pull fur from her body to add insulation to her nest. This is a neat manner to tell she is pregnant considering some does start pulling 2 weeks before they kindle.

With that being said, don't be discouraged if your doe is non nesting. Some does get to piece of work soon earlier they kindle.

As a side note, pulling fur can also be a false alarm. Some does have false pregnancies and build beautiful nests without giving nativity. These misleading behaviors may be due to a miscarriage or the mimicking of other significant does nearby.

How to Intendance for The Doe During and Afterwards Pregnancy

When your doe goes into labor, you probably will not be nearby. It'southward astonishing how often they kindle in the evenings, or when no one is around to be nosey. It is best to go out your doe alone anyway, as this is a very of import time for her. If she becomes stressed, she may miscarry or consume her babies.

I know, it'southward a horrible idea, and even worse to witness, but remember, your rabbit is an animal and doesn't always realize what or why she is doing something.

Try your best to let nature take its course.

After the kits get in, make sure the doe has plenty of water and monitor from distant. She will clean herself up, and begin nursing her kits on her own if all is well.

Don't worry if she's not in the nesting box with her kits all the time. She volition requite herself breaks, and demand to catch her breath later on giving birth.

Taking Care of the Kits

Mom will do all the heavy lifting, and so in the spirit of letting nature take its class, permit the doe to care for her kits on her ain. She will feed them when needed, encompass them upward with warm fur, and wean them when the time is right.

The only things you lot need to worry about are keeping the cage clean, and the feeders full.

Babies are born without fur, but you can ordinarily see what colors they will be by observing the color of their skin.

Kits get-go opening their eyes inside most 10 days of their birth. It is normal to meet them hopping out of their nest after about ii weeks.

Unfortunate Complications

As with all things, there will be times when kindlings become south. It isn't easy to see or handle when your doe doesn't produce a litter as expected or behave equally expected.

Does who have never been bred earlier should be given a pass if they fail at being a mom the get-go time effectually. Perhaps they were too immature or just weren't prepare. We don't know why it happens but sometimes young does don't intendance for their babies, or worse, they consume them.

Bank check out this list of common complications, and how you can handle each i:

1. Eating Babies

It's a horrific sight, and I want you to exist prepared for it considering if you plan on breeding rabbits longterm, you volition witness at to the lowest degree one of your does consume her young. Cannibalism occurs for many reasons, just more often than naught, it's a lack of experience or lack of motherhood characteristics.

Don't worry virtually the doe, though, she will be ok if she has eaten her immature. Nevertheless, if live kits remain, consider giving them to a nursing doe.

Using a foster doe can exist risky, so be certain to weigh your options. For instance, the doe may kill the babies, including her own. Strange smells or ill kits are non going to be welcome in all does' nests.

two. Babies Born Outside of Nesting Box

First-time mothers are unremarkably the culprits when kits are strewn around the cage rather than their warm nest. It's possible the doe merely didn't know where to put them, or what to do with them.

We've had does with beautiful nests give birth on the cold caged floor. So, who knows what screw got loose on that ane!

If the babies are still live, yous may pick them up and identify them dorsum in the nesting box. If they are common cold, yous should try to warm them upwardly in your hands or with a rut lamp.

Sometimes the babies may barely exist alive due to the cold, only warmth breathes life dorsum into them quickly. As soon as they are warm, return them to the nest. If you are lucky, mom may figure things out from in that location.

iii. Besides Many Babies

Sometimes a doe may have a litter that is just as well much for her to handle. Often the runts stop upwardly on the bottom of the pile, never able to reach the teet of their mother. They ordinarily end up starving to death.

If your doe has had a very big litter, consider a foster doe that is also nursing. Frequently, a doe with fewer kits will be accepting of more babes. Always consider the risks before deciding to offering a kit to a foster mom (see to a higher place).

four. Miscarriage and Infections

Like near mammals, there are always risks for complications before, during, and after giving birth. Watch for lethargy, loss of ambition, and h2o intake to monitor signs of potential illness.

If you suspect that your doe is ill, consider taking her to the vet for evaluation, and make sure to proceed her far from salubrious rabbits.

Miscarriages happen for countless reasons including poor nutrition, weather, affliction, stress, and more. Remove fetuses from the doe's cage equally soon as possible to preclude bacteria and the spread of infection.

The Joys Of Breeding Rabbits

Feeding an orphaned miniature rabbit – Editor

Convenance rabbits is a rewarding experience, but it'due south not without its heartaches here and in that location. If you are prepared for some of the more mutual complications, y'all can keep a level head while you treat your rabbits and their new kits.

If you lot every bit a homesteader are considering keeping and convenance rabbits, they can produce a steady boosted income. We discuss this in detail with our post on Raising Rabbits for Profit. Be sure to beginning construct aseptic and safety rabbit hutches, and exist well informed on rabbit intendance, before ordering your offset hirsuite rabbits, and experiencing the joys of keeping rabbits.

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