bunnytamer
Well-Known Member
How soon after a litter is born can I breed the doe again?
How Soon?
- Thread starter bunnytamer
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TinysMom
Well-Known Member
I like to wait until the doe weans the litter around 6-8 weeks of age...
bunnybunbunb
Well-Known Member
They need breaks, breeding them as soon as the babies are weaned gives them no break :/ I normally had 2-3 litters a year from each doe.
jamesedwardwaller
Well-Known Member
they are ready,or at the ready,all ready,even,..give them a break,..after weening,..or do you mean the dasterdly deed has been done ,huh,well,.could be more on the way, may need some radiographs in 10 days to be sure,..sincerely james waller
TinysMom
Well-Known Member
bunnybunbunb wrote:
However - I have heard other breeders state that they could be bred after the babies were weaned and so that is what I put down because I was often told that I wasn't breeding my rabbits "often enough"....
I was always happy with two litters per year - or three at most.
That is very true - I always gave my does at least a month after weaning to breed them again.
However - I have heard other breeders state that they could be bred after the babies were weaned and so that is what I put down because I was often told that I wasn't breeding my rabbits "often enough"....
I was always happy with two litters per year - or three at most.
pamnock
Well-Known Member
TinysMom wrote:
:yeahthat:
Breeding when the litter is weaned at 6-8 weeks is the optimal time for rebreeding without being too stressful on the doe. By this time, the kits are eating well on their own and getting very little milk from the doe. Remember, in the wild, they wean the kits by 31 daysbecause they are already givingbirth to another litter!
Pam
:yeahthat:
Breeding when the litter is weaned at 6-8 weeks is the optimal time for rebreeding without being too stressful on the doe. By this time, the kits are eating well on their own and getting very little milk from the doe. Remember, in the wild, they wean the kits by 31 daysbecause they are already givingbirth to another litter!
Pam
irishbunny
Well-Known Member
There is no need to constantly breed though if you don't need to, it's nice to give them a break, constant breeding wears them out.
pamnock
Well-Known Member
irishbunny wrote:
Rabbits are physioloically designed to breed a maximum number of times in their short life-time because they are a prey animal. The wild European Rabbit (ancestors of our domestic rabbit) rebreed as soon as they give birth.
Leaving a doe sit idle can cause furture problems due to fat build-up around the reproductive organs. If they are going to be left "dry" for periods of time, it's generally better not to breed them at all.
Breeders have found that breeding at weaning allows for 4 litters per yer without stressing the doe due to overbreeding.
Pam
Rabbits are physioloically designed to breed a maximum number of times in their short life-time because they are a prey animal. The wild European Rabbit (ancestors of our domestic rabbit) rebreed as soon as they give birth.
Leaving a doe sit idle can cause furture problems due to fat build-up around the reproductive organs. If they are going to be left "dry" for periods of time, it's generally better not to breed them at all.
Breeders have found that breeding at weaning allows for 4 litters per yer without stressing the doe due to overbreeding.
Pam
irishbunny
Well-Known Member
Hmmm, well I guess it's up to personal preference, personally I wouldn't constantly breed because I have seen a doe getting worn out and dying young because of it but maybe it works for other people.
pamnock
Well-Known Member
Here's an easier way to illustrate my point . . .
In the wild, a doe breeds again immediately after giving birth. In captivity, we wait a full 40 days after the birth of the litter before rebreeding.
This has been found to be the optimal breeding schedule (4 litters per year) for the health and well being of the doe and is not a breeding schedule that causes a doe to become "worn out" unless she is in poor health to begin with.
Pam
In the wild, a doe breeds again immediately after giving birth. In captivity, we wait a full 40 days after the birth of the litter before rebreeding.
This has been found to be the optimal breeding schedule (4 litters per year) for the health and well being of the doe and is not a breeding schedule that causes a doe to become "worn out" unless she is in poor health to begin with.
Pam
jcottonl02
Well-Known Member
Yes I agree- rabbits are induced ovulators, and so it is in their nature to have the ability to breed immediately after birth of the young.
I don't really know much about this, but I would say once the kits are independent ie. are able to live by themselves before breeding the doe again.
I don't really know much about this, but I would say once the kits are independent ie. are able to live by themselves before breeding the doe again.
irishbunny
Well-Known Member
Ya I guess I just have my own little opinion lol, plus I don't see the point of constantly churning out babies but I don't live in a country where we have rabbit shows or standards or anything like that so I wouldn't know anything about that side of it.
jcottonl02
Well-Known Member
Rabbit showing doesn't seem to be common or popular here at all in the UK, so I'm a bit ignorant of it all too.
The only thing I know about it really is that rabbits get tattoos forced on their ears to mark them....and because I am ignorant of the aspect of showing, I try not to let myself explode with animal rights lol, but it is so hard not to.
The only thing I know about it really is that rabbits get tattoos forced on their ears to mark them....and because I am ignorant of the aspect of showing, I try not to let myself explode with animal rights lol, but it is so hard not to.
pamnock
Well-Known Member
irishbunny wrote:
This is the "rabbitry" section that is set aside for "breeder" and showinformation.
Pam
This is the "rabbitry" section that is set aside for "breeder" and showinformation.
Pam
jcottonl02 wrote:
We don't have tattoos over here, we use rings around a back leg. (left?)
There are a lot of shows in the UK (as in, England, Scotland, Wales- that might be GB though, I get confused which is which). There are also a lot of people who go to them, enjoy them, etc. In fact, there are breeders here who show in the UK, and do so very successfully.
We don't have tattoos over here, we use rings around a back leg. (left?)
jcottonl02
Well-Known Member
Ah well you learn something new every day!
I've never even heard of one over here- never seen them or heard of any taking place. Maybe one day I'll seek one out
Now that has made my day to know that they don't tattoo buns over here.
I've never even heard of one over here- never seen them or heard of any taking place. Maybe one day I'll seek one out
Now that has made my day to know that they don't tattoo buns over here.
http://www.thebrc.org/shows.htm
Here you go.
That's the British Rabbit Council Site and should tell you a lot more about this sort of stuff. It also shows how many rabbit shows there are (which is a lot).
Here you go.
That's the British Rabbit Council Site and should tell you a lot more about this sort of stuff. It also shows how many rabbit shows there are (which is a lot).
jcottonl02
Well-Known Member
Wow thanks I will have a read now
irishbunny
Well-Known Member
pamnock wrote:
I know quite alot about the basics of the breeding side just not the show part, because we don't have shows! Plus breeding is different in my country and in many other countries and this is an international forumirishbunny wrote:
This is the "rabbitry" section that is set aside for "breeder" and showinformation.
Pam
jcottonl02
Well-Known Member
I've never heard of most of these places lol, apart from Bristol. So there are no rabbit showings near Reading or London?
