How young can a buck be bred from?

[lstmousery]

Hi all,
I am wondering just how young a buck can be bred from. When is it acceptable to intro a young buck into a breeding program, what are the pro's and con's of starting them young, and what is the youngest buck you have bred from?

I have two 6 month old female Netherland dwarf does I introduced into my house, mainly as pets, but with the intention of breeding from them. I have had them a few days now and am scouting out a good buck to buy. Unfortunately there seem to be NO bucks AT ALL in the region! I have been searching for an appropriate fellow for these two ladies for a month now (I knew I was getting the does for a month now), and was just contacted by a local breeder of Holland Lops. She said she has a baby (6 week old) broken tort hollan lop buck ready to rehome in a week or so. She said this is the ONLY male kit she has had born this season, there must be something in the water. She said that she is asking 40$ CAN for him, and he will come pedigreed and tattooed. (is this a reasonable price for such a bunny)?

I love the lop breed and was hoping to get in contact with a lop breeder, and am extatic that this breeder found me.

My issue is that he is just a baby, and I'm wondering how long I should wait to breed from him, is there a set rule, or is it just a sort of, whenever he can manage the doe scenario?

Any and all advice would be much appreciated, and thank you in advance for the help.

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

Are you wanting to breed him to your Nethies?

Really, he's not going to even be mature until at least 4 months old, and even then, it's not guaranteed that he will be able to produce, because that's still quite young. By then, your Nethies will be 9 or 10 months, and that's pretty old for a first litter out of a Nethie.

What exactly are your intentons of breeding? Just to do so? Or do you want to start raising show/brood stock? I suggest that you hold off on the male holland lop, and decide whether you want to breed purebreds, and then invest in some good quality Hollands. You won't be able to tell how nice this buck is until a couple more weeks, as far as type goes.

Emily

 

[lstmousery]

My intentions for this specific litter is for myself, and my family, as strictly pets. In the future I will get into breeding purebreeds, IF this litter would go well with no complications.

I was hoping to breed him to one of the Netherland does, but I see it might not be possible now... a doe should be bred from at 6-7 months. I might have to keep searching...

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

lstmousery wrote:

My intentions for this specific litter is for myself, and my family, as strictly pets. In the future I will get into breeding purebreeds, IF this litter would go well with no complications.

I was hoping to breed him to one of the Netherland does, but I see it might not be possible now... a doe should be bred from at 6-7 months. I might have to keep searching...

Nethies are usually bred at 5 months, I do believe, since they are smaller. I would maybe ask the breeder with the Holland buck, if she would let you use one of her bucks for stud? You'd probably have to pay her some money, since she wouldn't want to take a mixbred kit as POL...and there is the chance that she might not let her buck breed to your doe because it's mixing breeds...however, it's worth a shot.

Emily

 

[lstmousery]

I think this is what I will have to do, thank you so much for your time and consideration.

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

Good luck, and your welcome.

Emily

 

[RAL Rabbitry]

Be careful breeding a holland to your netherland does. They might have a hard time delivering those bigger heads and shoulders.

 

[lstmousery]

Well,
I went out to the breeders today, and came home with a tattoo'd and pedigreed buck (5 months old), and two females (3 months), all unrelated, and Holland lops.

I am going to hate to wait to breed from the does obviously but I would like to breed the buck to my 6 month old does (one of them anyways.)

The buck at five months should be able to get the job done right?

 

[love4bunnies]

Hi,
I live in Nova Scotia to near Wolfville and have been breeding different breeds of rabbits for years but i wouldn`t take the chance breeding a Holland Lop buck with a dwarf doe as they have much bigger heads and she might not be able to pass the kits.
If you could put pictures on here of your dwarfs it will help alot.
Thanks.

 

[Silver Star Rabbitry]

He might be able to at 5 months, but don't be surprised if he is 6 months before he will breed them.

Emily

Silver Star Rabbitry
Raising and Showing Quality Silver Marten Rabbits in North Louisiana.

http://silverstarsilvermartens.webs.com/
http://silverstarrabbitry.blogspot.com/

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