Doe not taking

[Sabine]

My Siamese sable doe, Ember, is being very odd since she weaned off her last litter. I find her somewhat less responsive and she has taken to sitting in a corner of her hutch looking rather grumpy. When she is out in the run she often digs rather large holes in the lawn which she used not do before.
I bred her first about 6 weeks ago (buck mated several times, classic mating act, Ember very willing etc...) About two weeks later I could feel absolutely nothing in her abdomen so I remated her. Again she was very willing and the buck was only too happy to oblige. Two weeks later the same thing - no evidence of any pregnancy. I repeated the whole procedure (Very happy buck:biggrin and Ember seemed quite keen too. This is almost two weeks ago again and it looks as if she hasn't taken again

Is there any point repeating this every two weeks or should I just give her a longer break? The buck by the way is proven and fathered a beautiful litter of Siamese Smoke recently. Any advice?

 

[CiaraPatricia]

After my doe weaned her litter she started digging up the lawn too! I thought at first that it was because her babies were in the run next to her and she was trying to get into them but she still does it. No idea why though, sorry . . .

 

[timbaland]

Are you checking to see if he's actually accurate? Like checking her back and vulva for wetness? You should try again regardless or try a different buck for the sake of experiment.

 

[Sabine]

Oh he is dead on target:biggrin: It was quite obvious after examining Ember after. They also mated numerous times. Ember is apart from her mood in very good shape otherwise. Good weight and fur looks fine.

 

[timbaland]

LOL! What a good boy. I had to assist mine more than a few times. I guess the next thing to do is try another buck. I know you already said he's proven but maybe a different combination will work?

 

[Sabine]

She had a litter by my other buck earlier in the year but the outcome wasn't all this fantastic. I had high hopes for this new pairing. I may have to wait till my baby buck matures. It's just strange as Hugo is such a fabulous stud. Pearl, who wasn't half as keen on the mating as Ember got pregnant straight away. Her litter is 2 weeks now and Ember should have hers at the same time:?

 

[TinysMom]

Some bucks will shoot blanks....I used to find that the more showable the buck...the later it took him to produce. Oh - he'd complete the act..just..no babies.

Then again - I had some that took vows of celibacy....

What has the weather been like there? Could he have gone temporarily sterile from heat?

 

[Sabine]

It has been quite warm for Ireland (24 C)but it can't really be called heat as you would experience in part of the States.I bred him to Ember and Pearl about six weeks ago and Pearl has produced 3 beautiful kits since. I re mated Ember twice since and I am pretty certain she hasn't taken again

 

[RabbitLover94]

Could she have a retained kit? I heard that a retained kit makes them sterile sometimes. Just throwing out some ideas...

 

[timbaland]

Maybe give her a month but keep her side by side the bucks cage. Though she was willing she may not have fully ovulated? I really don't know but I still think trying a different buck to see if it's the combination.

 

[Sabine]

She did have a retained kit that was stillborn about 8 hours after the other three.
We also treated her with penicillin as we suspected syphilis even though we couldn't confirm it. Having said that we also treated the other doe with penicillin just in case and she had no problems conceiving. I am wondering if either the infection or the treatment have done something to her fertility?

 

[timbaland]

I definitely think the infection would effect her fertility. I hope they get better quick...that is really scary!