1st breeding

[Amy]

So, I decided to try and breed my rabbits, seeing if the does were ready. I have 2 does: Daffodil (nearing 8 months) and Amadala (7 months), both Am. Chin's. My buck, Peter is just 5 months and he is a Silver Fox.
Yesterday, I put Daffodil in w/ Peter just to see what would happen. He tried, she didn't lift and he never fell over, he just kept trying here and there.I considered it a good practice round.
Today, I put Daffodil in again, she lifted her tail, he did his thing 3 times, grunting and falling over each time--so was that a success, do you think? I'm guessing it was, guess we'll know in a month.
I also tried w/Amadala (since Daffodil was so easy, even without looking ready) but things went quite different. Here is what happened....
She was nervous from the beginning, running around his cage. He was in position once, but she wasn't lifting. Then she ended up humping him, which was totally unexpected, as I know she's a doe. Then, the chase again, and she started peeing, I think 3 times she peed before I took her out (all in 2 or 3 min.s) I figure she's a little young, so maybe I'll try in a month. I held her for a few minutes afterward, it seemed she really liked the comfort, sweetly snuggling under my chin.
I'm just curious if this is somewhat normal? I wasn't expecting Daffodil's breeding to go so smoothly, but now I'm glad I decided to put her in there today.
Hoping for a healthy litter, luckily it's only 1 month wait!

 

[tnelsonfla]

They both should be old enough to breed. Did you check either to see if the does were "ready"? A successful cover, which is what you described is normally a good sign. Time will til if it leads to a pregnancy. The chasing and female mounting the male does happen, normally with a older doe to a younger buck.

 

[Amy]

I have been checking the older doe frequently, but she hasn't looked super ready.. I put her in there just to see what would happen. I keep hearing conflicting ages for breeding, plus the buck is younger. which apparently is no longer an issue!!

 

[mystang89]

Does the second doe's parts look ready? If not you might want to try again the next day or when they look ready.

 

[Amy]

Ok, I'll start checking her more regularly....Is a doe's readiness a consistent occurrence or not? How often is a doe "ready"?

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

Then she ended up humping him

Yup.. she was ready.. just nervous.. Just leave her a little longer and it would of been fine.

__________ Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:49 pm __________

Then, the chase again, and she started peeing,

she was playing hard to get and peeing is normal...You took her out to soon.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I agree with Mary Ann. Why don't you try breeding her around dusk tonight? Sometimes they run around for a while before they will settle and lift for the buck. I sometimes wait 10 or 15 minutes- the doe will race around, hide in a corner, race around, hide... and then finally decide to lift.

If she doesn't lift tonight, try again first thing in the morning. The sooner you get her bred the better, so you have the option of fostering kits if one of the does can't figure out her mothering duties.

 

[Amy]

Thanks for your help. I put her in with him this morning, and she did much better and wasn't nervous at all. She did lift for him, several times, he never fell over or grunted, but he did pause in between-not sure if that was a success or not. I left her in there for at least 10 min.'s, so hopefully it was a success. Would it be a good idea to put her in there again later today? (I wasn't able to try again last nite)

 

[LindseysWoolies]

Unless he falls off it is most likely not successful. I would give it another try.