When do I give up?

[cmany]

So far it seems as if my Flemish Giant just is not conceiving...which is really upsetting. She was SO receptive when I bred her...

At what point do I determine she is infertile? She feels healthy, no lumps or bumps...but here were are entering day 31, and there have been NO signs of her getting ready to give birth...

Even took her out and exercised her a bit yesterday...

I bred her with a proven buck...multiple times...I just don't know what to do...If she does not produce she will have to go...and she is a REAL sweetie I hate to part with her...but we want a Flemish line...so I won't have room for an infertile doe...

What do I do?

Christine

 

[majorv]

How old is she? How many litters has she had before...any?

We have a Tan doe going on 4 years old. We made the mistake of waiting too long after she had her first litter to breed her again. We probably waited a year. We thentried breeding her several times and shehad a fetal giant the first time and didn't take after that. We learned a valuable lesson! Normally, though, we give a doe 3-4 chances and that's it.

 

[cmany]

She is just about a year...never had any litters before...

 

[majorv]

If you feel like you've done everything right and she hasn't produced after 3-4 attempts then I'd seriously consider petting her out. At 1 year of age and never had a litter, it will be harder for her to produce a litter at this point.

Just some observations we've made as we gained some experience - try not to breed when it's hot because it can affect the buck's fertility. Breed the doe several times then wait an hour or two and then breed her again. you could even wait until the next day to breed her again. About 24 hours after you first try to breed her the doe will 'know' if she's bred and won't be receptive to the buck. To aid in breeding we will take the doe's water out of her cage because if she pees after breeding you're back to square one. After breeding her, turn her over and cradle her in your arms for a bit, with her butt elevated. These are just little things that might help to have a successful litter.

 

[CCWelch]

Another way to know within a few days of breeding if she took...watch how fast she eats her food. If she suddenly seems ravenous then very likely she is pregnant.
Larger breeds take longer to mature, I had a French Lop that would not take until after she was a year old. Keep trying as long as she is receptive to the buck. If after 3 or 4 attempts to get her to have a litter with no luck, it is time to decide what to do with her.

 

[cmany]

Thank you all SO much! I have been going crazy with this...everyone my hubby talks to makes it sound so easy...and that I am doing everything wrong...

So again...Thanks So much!!!

 

[LakeCondo]

Men often think breeding is easy. lol

 

[ZRabbits]

cmany wrote:

Thank you all SO much! I have been going crazy with this...everyone my hubby talks to makes it sound so easy...and that I am doing everything wrong...

So again...Thanks So much!!!

To those who have been breeding for a long time would think it's easy. They have gone through the trial and errors and have their schedules set making it easier. And lots of advise from different ways people do it, will make a newbie think they are doing it "all wrong". You need to find your way. Once you do, it will come easier.

K

 

[majorv]

ZRabbits wrote:

cmany wrote:

Thank you all SO much! I have been going crazy with this...everyone my hubby talks to makes it sound so easy...and that I am doing everything wrong...

So again...Thanks So much!!!

To those who have been breeding for a long time would think it's easy.  They have gone through the trial and errors and have their schedules set making it easier.   And lots of advise from different ways people do it, will make a newbie think they are doing it "all wrong".   You need to find your way.  Once you do, it will come easier.  

K

When we started out it helped us to hear of the different methods other breeders used. We tried different things and found what worked for us. We still go back to more seasoned breeders when we have a problem. I wouldn't say that breeding is easy, though some breeds are less troublesome in the breeding process than others.

 

[cmany]

Thanks again...

I do believe that my newest doe, which is a Californian is about to kindle...she made up her nest early this morning with the extra hay I put in her cage...

And has been relaxing since...but I figured that the hair pulling would probably happen tonight...

I think once I get through the first litter things will start coming easier...I just hope that my Flemish can have babies...I would hate to have to part with her...I fell in love with her when I got her...

 

[cmany]

MY Californian (Sparkles) Kindled Last night!!!!

YEA!!! Not sure how many - she is a real touchy and grumpy rabbit - so I don't want to disturb anything...especially since this is her first litter...

I feel so much better! Now if that Giant would do the same!!!

 

[ZRabbits]

cmany wrote:

MY Californian (Sparkles) Kindled Last night!!!!

YEA!!! Not sure how many - she is a real touchy and grumpy rabbit - so I don't want to disturb anything...especially since this is her first litter...

I feel so much better! Now if that Giant would do the same!!!

Congratulations! Hoping Sparkles and babies are doing well.

Hoping your Giant follows Sparkles example!

K

 

[Nela]

cmany wrote:

I would hate to have to part with her...I fell in love with her when I got her...

She can be your childless rabbitry matron :biggrin:

 

[cmany]

Thanks...I don't think my hubby will want to keep one that cannot produce...no matter how hard I try....

With my Giant, I had bred her a few days after her due date...and she was receptive to the buck...all snugly and cuddly with him...she would even roll on her side...lifted and everything...

So as a test, I put them together a couple of days ago...TOTALLY opposite...so to test we did it again this morning...This time she was a bit nasty...going after him...to the point where he was running and spraying at her...

So...............I am going to take that as a good sign, that maybe this time she actually took...I hope...

I checked on Sparkles again...she was eager for her breakfast - loves her veggies and apples...and I was able to see that there were 4 or 5 little squiggling kits in there...Plus, she had a larger one that didn't make it and she pushed it out of the litter...

It looked a bit bigger then the others, and the skin on its belly was wrong...transparent like...like it had been peeled off or didn't form...but it was definitely dead. So we are taking it as a good sign from her...in that she separated it from the rest...

The other interesting thing...her personality has taken a complete 180...when we first got her she was rather stand-offish...barking at us...and even charging. So I would once or twice a day, talk to her and gently pet her from nose to ears...

But when I went back after her breakfast...she seemed eager to see me, and when I opened the door, she stayed there and allowed me to pet her and even scratch her cheeks...which she has never done...and she didn't make a peep...

Is such a change in personality normal like this??? Not that I am complaining...I have always handled her with tenderness and understanding...but it is just such a shock to see her SO calm and content...

Oh and another thing...is it common for rabbits to greet you by smelling your head...right at the hairline?

Both Sparkles and Fred - which are pure Californians like to do that...

 

[ZRabbits]

cmany wrote:

Thanks...I don't think my hubby will want to keep one that cannot produce...no matter how hard I try....

With my Giant, I had bred her a few days after her due date...and she was receptive to the buck...all snugly and cuddly with him...she would even roll on her side...lifted and everything...

So as a test, I put them together a couple of days ago...TOTALLY opposite...so to test we did it again this morning...This time she was a bit nasty...going after him...to the point where he was running and spraying at her...

So...............I am going to take that as a good sign, that maybe this time she actually took...I hope...

I checked on Sparkles again...she was eager for her breakfast - loves her veggies and apples...and I was able to see that there were 4 or 5 little squiggling kits in there...Plus, she had a larger one that didn't make it and she pushed it out of the litter...

It looked a bit bigger then the others, and the skin on its belly was wrong...transparent like...like it had been peeled off or didn't form...but it was definitely dead. So we are taking it as a good sign from her...in that she separated it from the rest...

The other interesting thing...her personality has taken a complete 180...when we first got her she was rather stand-offish...barking at us...and even charging. So I would once or twice a day, talk to her and gently pet her from nose to ears...

But when I went back after her breakfast...she seemed eager to see me, and when I opened the door, she stayed there and allowed me to pet her and even scratch her cheeks...which she has never done...and she didn't make a peep...

Is such a change in personality normal like this??? Not that I am complaining...I have always handled her with tenderness and understanding...but it is just such a shock to see her SO calm and content...

Oh and another thing...is it common for rabbits to greet you by smelling your head...right at the hairline?

Both Sparkles and Fred - which are pure Californians like to do that...

Sounds like a real good sign your Giant might be pregnant. Got my fingers crossed for you.

Congratulations on Sparkles being a Great mom and all the squirmingbabies. And I've read and talked to breeders will have a doe that is standoffish but once experiencing Motherhood will be just like Sparkles. Hope she stays that way for you. Some though after weaning go back to being standoffish again.

I thought it was me, but my rabbits tend to greet me by smelling my hairline. Neville and Luna more than the others. I thought they liked the smell of my shampoo. lol But I guess there is something they like at that spot that tells them it's me.

K