Breeding a junior lop

[TwoAcreDream]

I have a lop youngster who was born mid Feburary. She is close to
4 months old. I was told her mom is a Holland when I bought her last fall.
I should put Molly on a scale to get her weight. I am guessing all of 5 pounds.
The dad, Barney is black and white, and guessing weight 5 to 6 also.

This junior is a tri color. White with brown on her body area and black markings,
on her face. I call her Darla. She is one pretty girl. I am trying to keep buck
numbers down to a reasonable number. So my option would to breed Darla
to her Dad or to raise up a buck from the second litter mom has, which would
be, a full brother to Darla but younger.

So am I going by weight or age for when to breed Darla ?
I was guessing 5 months maybe ?
And okay to use Dad or I should I bring in a different buck ?

 

[Dood]

Weight is not a good way of guessing sexual maturity in mutts and not very reliable in purebreds either so I don't know why people say to breed when they are 3/4 of "mature weight" because frankly there is no way to know how big a junior will grow it.

If you breed does young it can stunt their potential full size and for showing purposes they may not reach senior weight because they are spending energy on growing babies and milk instead of themselves. If you plan to cull out your breeders frequently then this is not a big problem but in the long run the doe will not likely be a terrific liftime producer.

The choice is yours, as long as she is sexually mature (purple vent) then she can get pregnant and when this happens is up to the owner. I personally start trying st 5 months old.

Breeding her back to her father won't be a problem.

 

[TwoAcreDream]

Thanks Dood.

I am in no big hurry to get this rabbit bred. I think it will be a wait and
see how she turns out. A combo of weight and age.

This is Darla,

Darla being silly. The cali doe and her have been together
since being weaned from their moms. They really like each other.

This is Molly the mom. She has had only 2 litters so far.

Barney, he is the Dad to both litters from Molly.

This is a white doe from the current litter Molly has. Am thinking of keeping her.