Optimum Age for Breeding

[Elf Mommy]

I was just curious. For does, what is the best age for them to have kits? What age is too young? What age is too low? Does it differ by breed? Also, are there any guidelines for bucks? Would there be a stopping age? Do you notice any difference in kits born from a young buck as opposed to an older one?

I am not planning on breeding, just got to wondering about it with Gracie's babies on the way into the world!

 

[TinysMom]

Great questions. Here are a few answers..

Each breed has its own "best age" for breeding - for the first breeding at least. I know for lionheads it is like 6-9 months and the top age you ideally want to breed at is one year - and it is much more preferable that you breed before that. The larger the breed - the older they should be for the first breeding.

I personally don't like to breed my does after they're 2 1/2 to 3 years old. Then again - I only breed them 2-3 times per year at most and I like to let them retire young and still have a good life. I've heard of other breeders breeding their does till they're much older (like 5 or 6 maybe?). The key thing (to me) is to get the doe back to good condition before rebreeding her.

It is my understanding that younger bucks will do better than an old buck....but I can't give you ages.

Hope this helps - I'm sure folks will pop in with the best ages for the breeds that they work with.

If you're following Gracie's birth thread - then you know that I did not deliberately breed her. For months she's been beside her brother in NIC pens and she'd never ever tried to get to him or him to her. One morning though - I came in and she'd busted through the NIC thing and bitten through the zipties which were "backups"...and they bred. She is probably about 15-18 months old - and has a bum leg - which is why I was so upset and worried about her.

As a breeder, I would not KNOWINGLY choose to breed a doe that is over a year old if it was her first litter. I just think it is too hard on the doe....and the babies.

 

[polly]

As a netherland breeder you tend to breed from 6 months mind you i did that and had terrible luck so I now leave them till 7 or 8 months and have not lost a first litter since i did that. I also would not mate my rabbits after 1 year old for their first litter.

My oldest brrod doe at the moment is 3 years old and she is still producing good size litters.

I have heard that rabbits start off with small litters and they get bigger and they start to get smaller litters when they are getting to old and thats when to stop breeding them.

I tend to go by my doe and if she is not taking a litter then she changes to being a pet only.

As for bucks same thing really my oldest buck is 3 and ready to go at any time have had no problems with any of his litters either!!

When you breed you are always looking for a better rabbit coming through so if you breed and get a buck in the litter that is nicer than the father you would promote the baby to Stud buck andusually pass the father on to another breeder or to a pet home your choice really! SO I suppose a lot of teh tiem you never really use older stock!

 

[BlueGiants]

Peg and Polly are right. It's really dependant on the breed you have. Some of our Mini Rex girls are ready to go at 4 months. I prefer to wait until they are almost 6 months. The Flemish Giant does should be at adult weight (14 lbs.) and 8-9 months old before they are bred. If you have a doe that doesn't make Senior weight, you shouldn't be breeding her. (Remember the goal of improving the breed... using undersized rabbits defeats the purpose.)

A buck can breed as soon as his terticles descend (are showing). I've seen Flemish buck produce a hearty litter at 3 1/2 months. (NOT recommended). I've had 5 year old bucks sire litters with no problem.

I stop breeding a doe when she doesn't wnat to, the litters get too small, or they stop surviving. Kindling one doesn't do anyone any good. I've had lovely litters out of Mini Rex does that were 4 1/2 years old. I've had some does quit at 2 1/2 years old. Most of my Flemish are not bred after 3. But it depends on the doe.

 

[Elf Mommy]

Wow! Those are some great answers! Peg, I did realize that Gracie was not on purpose. I really was just curious.

Hearing the answers makes me think the mistake that happened with my mini rex wasn't such a horrible thing. She was 7 months old when she got pregnant and I was devastated, thinking she was just a baby and shouldn't have gotten pregnant.

Not that it was a good thing, because I knew nothing about it and shouldn't have let it happen, but I'm glad that she wasn't too young, at least!

 

[chinbunny1]

As a breeder I don't breed any earlier then 8 months of age. That's uaully when they aren't making the cut as a show rabbit, and I feel they would be better off for brood instead. The latest I start breeding mine at is one year. I let my does have no more then 4 live litters per year. I breed back right away if they lose a litter. Otherwise they get a break in between weaning and rebreeding.

 

[RAL Rabbitry]

My mini rex does are bred at 6 months if they are not being shown. No later than a year old if they are show does. I have 4 year old does that are still being bred. They have nice sized litters and take good care of their babies. As long as they don't have any problems and hold their condition I will keep breeding them because they seem to be the happiest with a litter.

Bucks usually start their breeding career at about 6 months old or when they can handle it emotionally. I had one buck that wouldn't go near a doe at 6 months old but now at a year old he is a little pistol. As long as a buck can sire a litter he is used for breeding or sold as a breeding buck. When he stops siring litters he is retired here or is given away to a pet home.

Roger