For those of us looking to breed

[Maukin]

I wanted to post a thread like this a couple of days ago, but I was having problems logging on.

Just a few things. First, a question. Arwyn already has very prominant nipples, Cathy, when she saw her, asked if I were sure about her age (she'll be four monthes on the 26th), now I saw when I picked her up a couple of day ago that her vulva is VERY swollen and a dark pink. (Here is one of the subjects I never thought I'd write about on a public forum, rabbit genatalia...) Now I worked at a vet's office for many years and I have seen MANY pyometra surgeries and the thought terrifies me. Is there anything I can do? Keep it clean? (oh Arwyn will be THRILLED, she'll never speak to me again.)

Another thing, would those that have a good ammount of experience mind telling a bit on their opinions of "do's", don'ts", what to have on hand, emergency kits, and so forth? I'm looking for stories, heartbreakers, miracles, unorthodox things that worked and the horror of what can go wrong. You can read a good deal in books and informational websites, but we have such a gathering of wisdom and experience of those both young and old, that it would be so cool to be able to have it all down in one spot.

Just my sugestion....

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone.

Hol

 

[RAL Rabbitry]

It sounds like Arwyn is in a very receptive state for breeding. It should go down

in a few days.

The first thing I would say about becoming a breeder is why are you doing it?

Roger

 

[Maukin]

She may be ready, but I am not.

1.) First and formost, I have no buck. I want to find a buck that compliments my doe and make up for her faults such as light coat and thinner shoulders. I'm on a waiting list for such a boy, but he won't be weanable until May. My plan was to breed Arwyn in August. By all that I have heard and read, she is too young to breed now.

2.) My farm is not ready. My hutches are not all the way constructed. (Arwyn lives in the house right now like the queen she is). I plan on keeping her and the kits ina safe, quiet place until the family is ready for the lunacy of my household.

I want to breed because I love the Flemish giant rabbit. I have been reserching good stock, and what makes good stock. I've been making a pest of myself to local breeders and showers alike. I've been reading my little rumpster off but what I'm looking for is beyond the books. I'm looking for the field stories.

 

[GoinBackToCali]

Arwyn Undomiel sounds like she is good to go...as in ready to breed.

My mind just went blank... sorry.. I was distracted by the Backyardigans.

Breeding is a huge responsibility, well it can be, if things don't go right. I have a doe that died, the doe I fostered her kits off to is fighting mastitsis, and I have had to put her on antibiotics and feed 10 babies by hand 3 times a day.

But on a plus side.. this is the first time in several years of litters things have gone seriously wrong..

 

[TinysMom]

This is a great thread and I want to thank you for starting it.

One of the first things I have in my emergency kit now is lactated ringers (IV fluids) so that I can give sub-q fluids at any time if needed. I don't recommend this to just everyone or for everything...but it is nice to know how to do this (I live 70+ miles from a rabbit vet). I never make the decision to use this lightly....but it gives me peace of mind that my does will not become too dehydrated and weak.

I also keep on hand pedialyte and since I can't get raspberry leaves - I keep raspberry tea on hand since it is supposed to help w/ labor and delivery (I think). I haven't used it much.

I keep pedialyte and critical care on hand too - not that I need it so much with my mamas as I do other things -but still yet...its good to have on hand. Just ran out of baby food - I'm off to get that today too.

I can't think of other things right off....I'm going back and forth between my desk and the living room and keeping an eye on a doe that is due today.....I'll try to write more later.

I think the biggest thing is having a couple of trusted mentors who will help you. I found that listening to my mentors was a BIG BIG thing - and I was able to learn a lot from them because I learned to shut up and listen. (Shutting up was hard 'cause I kept wanting to interrupt them with more questions).

Oh - everytime before you breed - make sure you have an emergency fund set aside in case you need to visit the vet. I had money set aside for the litters due today...but Tiny's emergency visit to the vet wiped me out and I wasn't able to rebuild it. Needless to say, I'm on pins and needles about my two does due today - they're first time mamas....

Peg

 

[Maukin]

I'm familiar with things going wrong. But not in rabbits. I was the head of a farrowing (Pig sows and their piglets frombirth to weaning) barn with160 head at one time, two rooms of twenty sows apiece all farrowing sometimes at once. I've have to reach into the birth canaland grab, switch babies aroundthat were not doing well, hand feed, bowl feed, treat moms for mastitis and other birthing difficulties, extract retained piglets, even a couple of c-sections. I've had to tie chains around the hooves of dairy calves that were not spotted coming out early from cows and could not be born without help. Now they were dead and needed to be extracted anyway we could get them before the cow went down with septicimia. Which sometimes happened anyway... I've also delivered horses, narrowing missing getting kicked by cranky mares with a bag so swollen, your own ****s would ache. I had to bury one of those foals that had been crushed by the mare rolling with colic.

So I'm familiar with the ins and outs and possible outcomes of breeding. I've just never done it with rabbits. And as I said, books don't tell you these stories. Sure, their good at telling you "you need a nesting box, make sure they are nursing, don't bother the doe" and all the other things that good old common sense can sometimes answer. But not "the doe might scream in pain" "definition of pencil kits" and things like that. Know what I mean?

 

[RAL Rabbitry]

I wholeheartedly agree with Peg about finding a good mentor.

I also breed three does at once in case I have to foster babies.

If you can't do that you may want to arrange with a fellow breeder

to breed at the same time just in case you have a doe that won't

or can't feed her kits.

I get a great deal of pleasure looking into a nestbox full of kits and even more

pleasure when they take their first win on the show table. You will too!

Roger

 

[BlueGiants]

You have a very good start Holly! Arwyn is lovely. I am surprised to hear she is so ready , so early. (Questioning her age?) But I would wait. She isn't heavy enough yet. Most Flemish breeders will tell you not to breed a doe before 8 month or 14 lbs. (whichever comes first). Usually it's the 8 months.

She could have been induced a little early since she spent the day at the Convention last week. She isn't used to being around all the hormones and smells. (The princess that she is!) Sometimes that will set a doe off. (You should see how many breeders brought home their does and bred them that night, cause the girls were so receptive! Bet there will be "bunny boom" around the beginning of March!)

I also breed 3-4 does to kindle together. Helps incase you need to foster. (And not all will "take".)

I keep the following things in the house/barn all the time:
Critical Care
Agood Rabbit Probiotic ("Pro-Bac" or "Benebac")
A can (or three) of pumpkin (or my cooked pumpkin in the freezer)
Neosporin/Bacatracin
Blood-Stop/Styptic Powder
Nutrical
Listerine Mouthwash (plain yellow type, cut 50% with water)
Bag Balm
Feeding Syringes
Kitten Bottle with nipples
Albon (to treat for Coccidiosis) (Because I show, it's a real issue)
Mineral oil (for ears and cleaning lil boy 'nads)
Cotton Swabs
A small LED Flashlight (never enough light for me to see in ears or check for veins in black nails!!!)
Good sharp nail clippers (not the Dog kind... Cat claw clippers work better... get the big ones for Flemish! )
Preparation H (for sore hocks)
Vanilla Extract (put in water to help prevent mosquitos, and ifI have a doe reluctant to foster, I put a drop on her nose and a smudge on each kit's head. Works every time!)

IfI think of more, I'll add to it. onder:

 

[Maukin]

This is what I'ma talkin' 'bout!! Field stories!!

My poor innocent baby girl, corrupted by all those hormones! Every time I scratch her back now, she turns her tail sideways! Huzzie! She's been cranky too. She refused to acknowledge my very existance all day after I had to pick her up and put her back in her cage when she did not want to go. I got the "bunny butt". And let me tell you, that's a BIG butt.

But this is what I mean. What should we keep around? What would alert us to a retained kit? How long does it take for a doe to kindle? When should the vet be called?

We have such an array of experience here!

Input! Input!

 

[BlueGiants]

My Flemish generally kindle on the 31st day after breeding. I've never had them deliver live babies before day 30, but have had them kindle as late as 35 days. Actual kindling time is usually 15-20 minutes. (But I had a doe deliver babies3 days apart.)

Usually the first sign of a stiuck kit is the doe straining. You'll notice her being restless and may see a lot of blood. (Most deliveries arefairly clean.) You may see her panting rapidly and she may make noise, soft grunts and squeals. I don't wait past that point to take her to a vet.

Make sure you have nestboxes sized properly for the breed. Too small and they will scatter the babies on the wire. Make sure the nest box is strong enough to support the weight of the doe. (Some of the galvanized metal boxes bend under the weight of a Flemish doe, especially if she sits on top!)

If the babies are found outside the nest, and they appear dead and stiff, never get rid of a cold baby. I've had quite a number of them revive after being warmed up! Put them in your bra (if you're wearing one!).Keep them warm for at least 30 minutes. Stimulate them by gently stoking their sides. (If they don't revive after 30 minutes, they are really gone.)

 

[Maukin]

About what would be the measurements of a Flem's nesting box? I had to laugh at the nesting boxes at the show. they would not be big enough for just my doe, let a lone babies.

I know what you mean about warming up the babies. I did that once with a piglet that was accidently born in the breeding barn. Our manager threw it aside because it was "dead". I picked it up, put it in my shirt and went about mywork with it there in my bra, rubbing it every so often. In about 15 minutes, the "dead" piglet was wriggling it's way out like a little alien!!! Surprised the bejeesus out of my mananger!!!