How soon to re-breed?

bunnybunbunb · Dec 16, 2008

8 weeks old is not enarly old enough to be filled in enough to actually have a chance at winning. Like Pam said their coats are still in icky baby forum. Baby Mini Rex coats are not nice at all

All curly, not the thick velvetly feel you want. I know some breeders who take younger rabbits to shows to ask for opinions but they know they will not get anywhere. Personally if you want best results 4-5 months is best for showing juniors. They are still young yet have had time to fill in for the most part.

BlueCamasRabbitry · Dec 17, 2008

pamnock wrote:

It's generally recommended that juniors not be shown before 12 weeks of age. At this point, most have shed out their baby coat and also make minimum weight for the breed.

8 weeks is really too young to show, and the babies are more vulnerable to stress at this age.

Pam

Oh we're not showing them! Lol. We're going to take them to the shows to sell them

I said that they have to be 8 weeks for going to shows and being ready for their new homes. I never said I was going to show them, I meant taking them to a show and selling them

Emily

bunnybunbunb · Dec 17, 2008

So you do not sell from your home? At 8 weeks you can not 100% tell type and when people buy from a show they think "It's a show so they must be show quality". I know that is what I thought at first. You should not take pet quality rabbits to a show to sell because they will be bought to breed most likly so any pet quality babies should be sold from your home. Make sure to let anyone interested know everything, don't just say "Ok, $50 and you can have it. *hands rabbit* Thanks for your business." Not saying you would, just pointing it out

I read on your site the other day that you wean at 5 weeks, may I ask why? For Mini Rex that isok but not English Lops. English Lops need a minimum of 8 weeks with their mother, the bigger the breed the longer they need to stay with mom.

BlueCamasRabbitry · Dec 17, 2008

bunnybunbunb wrote:

So you do not sell from your home?No, I do sell from my home, butthere aremore interested buyers at shows At 8 weeks you can not 100% tell type and when people buy from a show they think "It's a show so they must be show quality". Yes, I already know that, thank you.I know that is what I thought at first. You should not take pet quality rabbits to a show to sell because they will be bought to breed most likly so any pet quality babies should be sold from your home. I know Make sure to let anyone interested know everything, don't just say "Ok, $50 and you can have it. *hands rabbit* Thanks for your business." Not saying you would, just pointing it out I know

I read on your site the other day that you wean at 5 weeks, may I ask why? For Mini Rex that isok but not English Lops. English Lops need a minimum of 8 weeks with their mother, the bigger the breed the longer they need to stay with mom. I beginweaning them at 5weeks and their fully weaned 7 weeks. Many breeders do this, I'm not the only one I'll have to askmy EL breeder abouthowlong she keepsher babies with their mothers For English Lops I will probably start weaning them at 7 weeks, and then by 10 weeks they'll be done.

My answers are in bold.

ETA: oops, I meant to say that I'm showing Sage's 2nd litter at fair, so they can't be younger than 10 weeks. I refixed the dates, and with what you said, Bunny, the babies will still be ok ages to be for sale at the shows, and stuff.

I'm going to wean the EL's litter at 7 weeks, and they'll be fully weaned at 10 weeks of age, and at 11 weeks they're going to their first show.

Emily

BlueCamasRabbitry · Dec 17, 2008

I have another question, how long should it be between weaning off a litter and breeding the doe again? If I wean Sage's first litter completely by 7 weeks, she'll have 6 weeks of no babies until I re-breed her. Will she be ok? Like I said before, I'm breeding around shows and fairs here.

We have anywhere from 6-8 shows/fairs (2 are only fairs, others are shows)yearly, but I've only got two does to work with yet...

I guess it all matters how well her first litter goes if we re-breed her and all. We have four litters planned for next year, 2 Mini Rex liters and 2 EL litters (Well, we haven't planned the second EL litter yet.) But we may just have one of each, we're not sure yet.

Emily