I am going to edit the title also...
Doe and Buck won't mate
- Thread starter tripp
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Pipp
Well-Known Member
You've had her for over two years, how old is she? Has she had previous litters? You don't want to breed a two-and-a-half year-old-plus doe for the first time, it will be way too hard on the poor girl. She may be too old regardless.
Not sure if the hair loss enters into it, but there was obviously stress and/or hair chewing/pulling going on here as well.
Let's see what the breeders say.
sas :bunnydance:
Not sure if the hair loss enters into it, but there was obviously stress and/or hair chewing/pulling going on here as well.
Let's see what the breeders say.
sas :bunnydance:
OakRidgeRabbits
Well-Known Member
One question- were the buck and doe living together? And then you took the buck away, and her fur grew back?
Quite simply, the buck was probably chewing the doe's fur. And that's exactly what it looks like from the original photos too. Rabbits don't always do this to each other, but they will occasionally over-groom just out of boredom or because of a nutritional deficiency.
First of all, mature bucks and does (by the age of 12 weeks) MUST be separated from each other. The major reason is because both become very hormonal and aggressive toward each other. But even more importantly, if you're keeping a mature buck and doe together in the same hutch, it is very clear to me that you don't have the knowledge to be breeding them. I don't mean that to come off in a negative way, but the fact of the matter is that if they were to have babies and anything went wrong, you could end up loosing any one of the rabbits at a moment's notice. You have to act fast and accurately to save a doe and her kits, in case of emergency. So PLEASE separate them and do not attempt any further to breed them.
Secondly, what is the diet of these rabbits like? And what size is their cage? Maybe we can help determine whether this was just boredom or whether we could help you solve a nutritional issue.
Hope this helps!
Quite simply, the buck was probably chewing the doe's fur. And that's exactly what it looks like from the original photos too. Rabbits don't always do this to each other, but they will occasionally over-groom just out of boredom or because of a nutritional deficiency.
First of all, mature bucks and does (by the age of 12 weeks) MUST be separated from each other. The major reason is because both become very hormonal and aggressive toward each other. But even more importantly, if you're keeping a mature buck and doe together in the same hutch, it is very clear to me that you don't have the knowledge to be breeding them. I don't mean that to come off in a negative way, but the fact of the matter is that if they were to have babies and anything went wrong, you could end up loosing any one of the rabbits at a moment's notice. You have to act fast and accurately to save a doe and her kits, in case of emergency. So PLEASE separate them and do not attempt any further to breed them.
Secondly, what is the diet of these rabbits like? And what size is their cage? Maybe we can help determine whether this was just boredom or whether we could help you solve a nutritional issue.
Hope this helps!
Well the doe has had 2 litters before and the size of both cages I have them in is 4x4 nice and big both with hutch boxes and they get all the rabbit pellets they can eat they are very social as I have said they are my kids pets and they love to feed and pet them. I also may have not had the knowledge to breed them that is why I sought out this forum and I was keeping them togeather and the only problem I have had was the over grooming. I just didn't know better at the time but as far as I can tell they get along great and I learned to palpate a long time ago so I checked her weekly and I will be breeding rabbits if I can not breed the 2 of them I will invest in a breeding pair.
TinysMom
Well-Known Member
I would encourage you to consider investing in a breeding TRIO - that way if you have any issues with the does' milk not coming in...you have a "foster mama" to help out.
Starlight Rabbitry
Well-Known Member
tripp wrote:
I would not breed this rabbit. Only because she is your kids pet. Something could happen to her and your children are going to be losing their pet. Best to buy a breeding pair that your children won't be risking the loss of their pet.
Back to the problem of them not mating... Are you sure that the new one is a male?
Sharon
I would not breed this rabbit. Only because she is your kids pet. Something could happen to her and your children are going to be losing their pet. Best to buy a breeding pair that your children won't be risking the loss of their pet.
Back to the problem of them not mating... Are you sure that the new one is a male?
Sharon
yes he is a male. I have checked him a few times and that is probably what I will do get me a trio. I didnt know that breeding could be dangerous to a rabbits health. I am grateful for all the advice and knowledge you guys have given. To answer your question yes he is a buck but I have had him in with her since he was about 3 months old and just recently seperated them
OakRidgeRabbits
Well-Known Member
tripp wrote:
This is a major reason for experienced breeders telling people breeding just for pets or just to "experience birth" not to do it. Because even though breeding and pregnancy, in and of itself, is not dangerous...there is just a lot more that goes on behind the scenes in a reputable rabbitry than sticking two rabbits in a cage.
So none of us mean to discourage you from breeding at all! But if you wish to breed, it would be a huge help to you to do some research further into breeding, ask specific questions here, etc. I wish I would have seen this thread earlier, because my first thought after reading your original post was a fur-chewer, which was my instinct response from being a breeder and learning these symptoms like I just mentioned. No one expects you to know everything, it's just good to be aware of the basics. The risks of keeping a mature buck and doe together being one of them.
It's not necessarily that breeding or pregnancy is dangerous. But, just like people, things can go wrong. And unfortunately, rabbits hide these problems from us because they are prey animals and it is instinct to hide illness or weakness. Before breeding, it is a very good idea to put research and time into learning about the symptoms and troubles that can arise. With experience, many of us are able to eventually see these problems now and again over time and learn how to deal with it. But since a new breeder has not learned about them yet, a lot of research is the very least one can do before breeding.
This is a major reason for experienced breeders telling people breeding just for pets or just to "experience birth" not to do it. Because even though breeding and pregnancy, in and of itself, is not dangerous...there is just a lot more that goes on behind the scenes in a reputable rabbitry than sticking two rabbits in a cage.
So none of us mean to discourage you from breeding at all!
But if you wish to breed, it would be a huge help to you to do some research further into breeding, ask specific questions here, etc. I wish I would have seen this thread earlier, because my first thought after reading your original post was a fur-chewer, which was my instinct response from being a breeder and learning these symptoms like I just mentioned. No one expects you to know everything, it's just good to be aware of the basics. The risks of keeping a mature buck and doe together being one of them.I agree, so I have permantaly seperated my rabbits and have been doing some research. I also do not plan on breeding the albino rabbit as it is my daughters pet. So I am going to invest in a trio of meat rabbits and start with them my goals are to move to flemish giants one day. I just do not want to invest alot of money in a breeding pair and loose them to my lack of knowledge. So I am grateful to you guys for all your remarks. Thanks and anything else you want to throw in there for me to be on the lookout for feel free like I said I am new to raising rabbits have had them for over a year now but never bred or raised babies nor have I had any problems with bugs or sickness other than the fur chewing!
Thanks Tripp
Thanks Tripp
bunnylove817
Well-Known Member
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=53539&forum_id=8
That shows some of the things that can go wrong :]
That shows some of the things that can go wrong :]
