Breeding age for NZ's? UPDATE: popple pics!!

[PSFAngoras]

So when does everyone start to breed their NZ does?

My doe is currently four months and over 8 pounds. Pure bred (not mixed with anything which might potentially stunt her growth). Parents were 10 pounds each. I can't remeber what the breeder told me she bred at, I think six months? My Frenchies don't mature until much later, and I wait a minimum of 8 months before breeding them, usually even a year.

I'd like to make sure I don't breed her too early and compromise her full growth potential, but I've heard some breeds have issues where their pelvis fuses and they can't survive birthing kits afterwards (a friend with harlequins was told this, and that she needed to breed her doe by five months to ensure it doesn't happen, and though I can see why it could be true I don't think I buy it...)

So what is the best time frame? Six months? Sooner? Later? Just trying to get a gauge as my other meat momma is unreliable in any season and I'm debating whether to keep her around until this other doe matures or if it's soon that the younger doe mature I might just eat the unreliable doe when I butcher out her last successfull litter in a few weeks. I know this new doe may not be any better, but since she does come from lines that does have a good mothering instinct vs. the older doe that doesn't, I think my chances are better.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Dood]

In my AmChins and crosses I start checking for readyness at 5 months, about 2/3rds are bred before 6 months and the other third before 7 months. I ve only had one doe not get pregnant until after 7 months but she ended up being hard to get pregnant the rest of her life and giving small litters if 2 to 6

 

[PSFAngoras]

I checked her vent and she's certainly showing that she's ready, but I'd rather hold off and make sure it won't stunt her growth before I breed her. So 5 months is okay instead of 6? That puts me at the end of March for her first breeding.

And I guess I should give credit where credit is due, my other doe is a wonderful mother as are her siblings, just a PItA to get to take...it's her mom that let kits die...But still, not earning your keep you gotta go!

 

[Dood]

I cannot say if it will stunt her growth or not, you could weight her at 5 months and if she is over 9 pounds it probably be ok to breed as most of my does will still gain a pound or so after birth and nursing.

 

[skysthelimit]

OAF breeds her NZ's starting at 16 weeks. I've bred a Rex at 5 mos. It won't stunt their growth. A rule of thumb is 75% of adult weight. Before, I could not get a Rex bred before 8 mos, but I also had buns that didn't get 5 lbs till 6 mos, and wouldn't reach sr weigh till 8-9 mos. Now I'm getting 5lbs at 16 weeks, and my 5 mos old does are showing color and humping each other. The faster they grow, the sooner they mature.

 

[BlueMoods]

I have bred my NZ at 16 weeks, if they are 8 lbs or more by then, if not that is my goal, ready and 8 lbs and, good to go. Most are by 20 weeks but, I have one that is now one of my best (M&M) that had to wait until 8 months to hit the size I wanted. She's 2 now and is 11.5 lbs and, an excellent mother.

 

[PSFAngoras]

Do they still seem to fill out after they're bred like Dood's do? It would be nice to know how full NZ do.

 

[BlueMoods]

Yes, they do. Breeding doesn't seem to stunt them. Of course it slows the does down while pregnant and nursing, but, after that, they take off and finish filling out just fine between litters. My biggest doe (Sassy) was first bred at 15 weeks and she did fine, and grew out nicely. Average for me is 17 to 20 weeks but, I do like them a bit on the big side for the first breeding. Most are suitable by 15 to 16 weeks, I just like to let them get another 1/2 to 1 pound on them. Usually that's fairly quick but, once in a while one wants to be a slow poke about growing.

 

[ZRab]

I give them till 5 months and check if they are ready and also weigh. Consistently mine are around 9lbs at that time, so definitly big enough. Just a matter of being receptive. These does will then be 11lbs+ at 1 year. Breeding will not stop them from growing. I like starting to try at 5 months in case you can't get her bred, or she don't take. Time passes doe gets older and fatter and in the long run doesn't seem to produce as well.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

As Sky said, OAF starts trying at 16 weeks if they show good color and are at 75% weight. If they lift for the buck, good. If not she will try again in a week or two.

I have bred my Rex before Sr. weight and had them put on the pounds even while raising a litter, so I don't believe it stunts their growth.

Many of our members have found that by breeding "early" the does actually have larger litters and are better mothers.

I believe that in commercial rabbitries, the goal is to have does that mature early enough for breeding at 4-5 months.

 

[PSFAngoras]

After everyone's thoughts I decided to go ahead and stick her with the buck, since she was almost nine pounds and her vent color was very deep purple. Sure enough, she acted like she was an experienced doe that has done it a million times. She lifted immediately, and was even willing to go start teasing the buck so he'd lay off bragging and cover her again. My others does usually take about half an hour to get three covers from. I was able to separate the two after just five minutes.

Better yet, I palpitaded her this weekend, and she took! Even at that, her temperamnent is as mellow and loving as it's ever been, and she still begs to be picked up and snuggled. For as much as I was against commercial breeds when I got her, I'm starting to think if I ever get more meat buns I'll be looking at the different NZ colors!

 

[skysthelimit]

:cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Whoo-hoo! :bouncy: Popples on the way!

 

[grumpy]

Younger does, if they're at weight and ready, easily breed @ 5 months.
Usually they turn out to be good first-time mamas. Litter size is usually
very good and the kits are well-fed by these young does.

 

[michaels4gardens]

at my place with my "mut" rabbits, I like to wait until 5 months to breed, and try to have everything bred for sure by 8 months. I have great litters, and moms with long productive life spans, but a lot of it has to do with individual lines of genetics, -- I have heard from other successful breeders who have different ideas.

 

[PSFAngoras]

Woot! Tatty had her popples yesterday morning while I was picking up my new FA buck from a friend.

Her first was born outside of the box but the rest were all in te box covered in fur and well fed. Eight total with the poor little guy that didn't make it, not bad for a first timer!

She was bred to my broken fawn FA/SA buck, for red, brkn red, fawn, looks like maybe fox (tort with heavy rufus), a chestnut, and a broken opal with it's only white spot being the one on the very top of it's head. Odd broken modifiers, but I know none of them carry Vienna. The little one that didn't make it was a booted broken chestnut... Really wish she'd had gotten it in he box, but I can always breed the two again...

Anywho, enough rambling, here's a baby pic for ya!

 

[Sagebrush]

How cute!!! I love pics of little bunnies.

 

[HoppinHalfPints]

looks like maybe fox (tort with heavy rufus),

I thought foxes were torted otters. :shock: Is it different in other breeds?

 

[Skyrocket]

Anywho, enough rambling, here's a baby pic for ya!

omg how cuuuuute

 

[PSFAngoras]

looks like maybe fox (tort with heavy rufus),

I thought foxes were torted otters. :shock: Is it different in other breeds?

Maybe it is... Have to refer back to my color book, I'm still learning what colors look like. I thought it was torts with heavy Rufus. I'll look when I get home and see what it says! <br /><br /> __________ Mon Mar 31, 2014 5:59 pm __________ <br /><br /> Nope, your right, foxes have the otter markings. Hmm, well, they're very orangey anywho!