BUnny help!!

[BoxBunny]

Ok i have been breeding and raising rabbits for about 6 years now, and well i have 4 bucks, now 2 of the bucks are over 7 and they are too old to breed. But just last year i bougt a buck form TSC on easter to add some new lines to my stock. Well before that i had a cross buck as well. Once the summer started and i was ready for littlers, my does came in seeion and everything, but my litters had been so little. This year out of 2 littlers i had only 2 baby bunnies! And the one doe has litters of 8 or more. I started to wander why this was happening. My mom said it might be the buck. Well just today i went to look at my bucks more. And i foudn something shocking. Thier balls are gone! They were there a month ago! They have not been in any fighrts i dont let my bucks in the same pens when they graze at all. What could cause this? How do i fix it? Has this happened to any of you? Please i really need help.

 

[gmas rabbit]

wow - just found some incredibly interesting info. I typed in intact rabbit loses testicles and under: www.pet-informed-veterinary-advice-online.com/sexing-rabbits.html ( page comes up click on Sexing rabbits - How to tell the boys from the girls) I found this - "Male rabbits are sometimes able to deliberately retract their testicles into the abdominal cavities where they can not be palpated. This is particularly common when the animal is stressed ( distressed anxious rabbits may elevate their tesicles out of harm's way.) Who knew that way possible??

 

[BoxBunny]

But my rabbits arnt streested at all, unless it has to do with heat strees becuase other then that there is nothing to strees them out at all.

 

[plasticbunny]

Bunny balls disappear just like people balls :biggrin:.

Even the act of picking the bunny up and flipping him over can cause him to retract. As long as there's no sign of injury, don't be concerned.

 

[BoxBunny]

i breed and sell the baby bunnies to pay for them and my horses so if there are no litters that means no money, thats why i am worried. I cant just waist my money on buying feed for them if they are not going to help pay it back. So will they come back or no? Thats the main worry cuz i love the little bunny and i dont want to sell him.

 

[plasticbunny]

Like I said, they're just hiding. That doesn't mean they're gone, and it doesn't mean he's infertile.

 

[BoxBunny]

Ok, so i just wait for them to show up again? Becuase when i do put him with a doe, i get like one baby out of the whole litter or something.

 

[plasticbunny]

As far as I know, and breeders please correct me if I'm wrong, is that the number of kits depends on the number of eggs a doe releases, not the sperm count of the buck. Just because a doe has produced a large litter in the past does not mean she will continue to do so every time.

If your rabbit is a smaller breed, it is normal for her to have a smaller litter.

As well, is it possible that she retained and re-absorbed kits her last litter?

 

[BoxBunny]

Thank you for your help and i don't know if she is or not but i think she might be doing so.

 

[gmas rabbit]

I agree the number of eggs that are released establish the number of babies, same as humans. His testicles are still there and working just hiding.