Breeding back?

[Teddy2511]

I kept a doe (Mimi) from one of Teddy and Izzy's litters together, and I was wondering now, if I should breed her back to Teddy (the sire of a fuzzy holland) to see if she happened to get the fuzzy gene from her parents (she is a full sibling to the fuzzy)? I wanted to keep her and find a new buck to breed her to, but now that I know there is a chance that she could be carrying the wool gene, should I change those plans?

Should I breed her back to her sire to see if she happens to carry the wool gene, and if it might show up?
She is 5 months old today, and I am also wondering how soon should I consider breeding her to any buck? This will be my first time with a first timer doe, and I'm not totally sure how young I should breed her, or how late I could wait.
She acted like she ready to be bred a month ago, but I decided that 4 months was to young for her to be thinking such thoughts... :mrgreen:

 

[OneAcreFarm]

You can breed her back to her sire, no problem. As to age, have you checked her vent area to see if the color has changed? Check out this thread:
judging-a-doe-s-readiness-and-breeding-tips-t9869.html?hilit=judging

 

[Dood]

You could do the test breed or you could just tell people you sell her kits to that they had a fuzzy uncle and leave it at that.

 

[Teddy2511]

You can breed her back to her sire, no problem. As to age, have you checked her vent area to see if the color has changed? Check out this thread:
judging-a-doe-s-readiness-and-breeding-tips-t9869.html?hilit=judging

Yes, I have checked her vent, and it is almost always a nice dark pink color, and she responds and lifts to any pressure on the area just above her tail. She has been doing this for awhile now... Should I start breeding her sooner or later?


In my place, would you suggest doing the breed back?

 

[Dood]

The small breeds tend to mature earlier than the 8+ pound rabbits so I can see no harm in breeding her at 5 months and for her to give birth at 6 months.

 

[Teddy2511]

Okay... So do you think it would be a good idea to do a test breeding for the wool gene or should I just leave her until I get a new buck?

 

[AnnClaire]

Teddy,

I would have to weigh the pros and cons of dealing with the litter if you breed her now ... will any in the litter be candidates for furthering your breeding program? Any in the litter that would not advance your breeding program will be "disposed of" how? Pet sales, freezer camp?

How soon will you be acquiring another buck that could breed with her?

 

[Teddy2511]

Hm, while I am certain that I most likely will not be keeping any kits from the litter for my breeding program. But unfortunately i won't be able to get a new buck for awhile yet...
Pet and 4H sales would be where any unkeepable kits would be going, and though Holland kits aren't too hard to sell in my area, I'd rather not breed to many litters that don't have an important purpose.

If I don't get a new buck though by the time Mimi is about 7 months, I'll probably breed her back to her father anyway just so she isn't getting too old before I start breeding her.