What age for frist breeding?

[Blaze_Amita]

This is just an odd question for all you other breeders out there. When do you bred your does for the first time? I always had been told to breed the does on their first heat cycle which was typically around 6 months. I've had two dutch does that came into heat early one at 4 months and one at 5 months.

I was hesitant to think about breeding them this young, but I had a holland I made the same mistake with waiting and so far she eitherkills her kits, or reabsorbs them about a week before she's due to kindle. I can feel them so I know she gets bred. And also I bred my mini rex doe at 6 months(first heat cycle) and I've never had a problem with her not carrying kits, she's even fostered some for me before

So how would you feel about waiting or breeding a doe that young?

 

[TinysMom]

I wouldn't breed that young. I bred Gingerspice when she was 5 1/2 months old....and she did ok...sorta. She had the kits but before she was done weaning them - her immunity system was compromised and she never was the same again.

 

[Karlie]

Dwarf Rabbits -5months min
Small - 5months min
Med. - 6months min (or when at mature wieght)
large - 8months min (or when at mature wieght)
Giant - 10monts min

That is what I go by when deciding when to breed.

 

[Blaze_Amita]

thanks guys! I'm happy I waited, I wouldn't want to bred Jules out, she was at full weight at 4.5 months but I waited until 5 months and she came into heat again- that time i bred her, and she had 8 kits and lost one(the worst marked one) due to lack of milk, and i tried to suppliment it but it had no reaction to the syringe or the bottle. So I bred both does at 5 months(well 5.5 months on mimzy, 5 months on Jules)
Mimzy had 6 and squashed one- five does alive.

I was just hoping that I didn't make a mistake waiting.

 

[Karlie]

I think the longest you should wait (in my opinioun) is 12months for any breed. After this a does bones are more formed and if she hasn't kindled before it will make kindling hard on them.

Good luck with them!
-Karlie

 

[OakRidgeRabbits]

Blaze_Amita wrote:

I always had been told to breed the does on their first heat cycle which was typically around 6 months.

Um...rabbits don't have heat cycles.:?Rabbits are induced ovulators, meaning they can breed at any time.

Anyway, it depends on the breed. Smaller breeds, like my Hollands, need to be started at 6 months. If they're not bred for the first timeby 8 months, it gets harder and harder to get successful litters and if it's after a year old, you can almost ensure your doe is done producing.

I usually start my does right on at 6 months old.

 

[Blaze_Amita]

what i meant by the heat cycles was at least with my dutch the does get agressive, at least when they want to be bred(i've got one doe that is normally the sweetest thing until she wants to be bred and then she jumps on my hand and acts like a freak) and when she gets to the point of scratching and she sticks her butt up immediately. that's what i call the heat cycle. induced ovulators like cats(uhg, annoying really with them!) I usually wait until they tell me they're ready with that 'heat cycle' which i've not come across before 6 months old before, until Mimzy and Jules the odd wanting to be bred.
I hope that made sense, My hollands nor my mini rex are like that, just the dutch.