buck and doe housing

[DBA]

Just curious, those of you with multiple rabbits, how close do you keep your bucks and does? I have a buck currently housed between two does. One of the does has a litter of four on her. Anyway, the buck seems to have a bit of an attitude. He isn't aggressive, but he doesn't like being touched or approached. Would he possibly calm down and return to his previous, calm, self if he were removed from the presence of the does? Little background, I just aquired him a couple of days ago.

Wondering if I shouldn't rearrange the rabbits' living accomidations and keep all of the bucks in one area, and all of the does in a different area. Then put them together in a secluded neutral cage for breeding, then return each to its own cage afterwords.

What say you??

 

[ottersatin]

Hello DBA,
All of my Rabbits have their own cage/territory.
does are brought to the Bucks cage for breeding only.
I allow them to service the Doe at least twice at that time.
the Does are then returned to their quarters.
I have housed Bucks between Does but at this time
my Bucks are housed away from the Does.
i have eight Does and two Bucks at this time.
My Bucks are too young to breed yet [not quite four months].
i have four litters with their Dams at the moment.
The rest will be bred when the Bucks are able.
You say you just received your Buck, I would give him a chance
to become familiar with you, He will change with a little calm attention.
Remember, you are and must be the ALPHA! Any show of fear can and will turn
any animal [Rabbits are animals!] into the aggressor/ ruler of the roost!
Calm self assured attention will reap you the rewards.
As always, JMPO.
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[lereg15]

I'm new at this but I will be separating my bucks and does when I get my does. If nothing else, just to try and cut down on the spraying aspect of it, and that they are located on my back porch. With the set up I have, I will be putting the does under the bucks, and just taking the does to the bucks when it's time to breed them. I haven't noticed anybody on here or elsewhere that has a neutral cage for breeding, but I could be wrong.

When I first got my bucks, they weren't too fond of me either, but after a few days they come to the front of the cages to greet me when I go out there now, and they're much calmer with me when I pick them up and put them in a pen out in the yard. It may just take some time for him to get used to you.

 

[michaels4gardens]

I'm new at this but I will be separating my bucks and does when I get my does. If nothing else, just to try and cut down on the spraying aspect of it, and that they are located on my back porch. With the set up I have, I will be putting the does under the bucks,

and just taking the does to the bucks when it's time to breed them. I haven't noticed anybody on here or elsewhere that has a neutral cage for breeding, but I could be wrong.

When I first got my bucks, they weren't too fond of me either, but after a few days they come to the front of the cages to greet me when I go out there now, and they're much calmer with me when I pick them up and put them in a pen out in the yard. It may just take some time for him to get used to you.

It is always better to leave the Buck in his own territory [cage] when breeding , better for the buck, and better for the doe ,to be in what is obviously his territory. that way there is not likely to be any disputes over whose territory they are in.
Also-- it takes time for the buck to accept and "own" his new territory, during the acclimation period there is likely to be some aggression from him when defending his new space.-- but as stated above, you need to be always in charge, not him.

 

[Silver Cloud]

Our bunnies have their own wire cages to them selves in a long row. Our bucks are at one end and that places a doe beside a buck but, we use coroplast as a solid wall between all cages so one can not see the others it keeps them calmer in our opinion (our cages are 1" apart just enough we can slide each in and out with out catching on the other). The does can have their litters with out being bothered or stressed by any other bunny. We give them tp rollers and Dollar store large plastic balls with a little ball inside and a bell inside the little ball. You here a lot of bells going off all the time in our rabbitry. We also play music load but not over bearing during day and lightly (soft) at night, they never seem to get spooked even when we fire up the vacuum, table saw, air compressor so on.

-- Tue Apr 07, 2015 8:26 am --

We also keep our bucks in their own cage at all time except when cleaning . We bring the doe to the buck and then return her to her cage, once the kits are weaned we take them to a grow out. It just the way we do things till we find a better way ( If it's not broke we don't fix it lol).

 

[Marinea]

My two main bucks are in a single divided cage (7ft long divided into two holes), but away from my does. There are some issues with spraying, mostly by my older buck towards the newer one. I will likely replace their setup with individual cages down the road.

As to your new buck, he's scared, and adjusting to his new space. Give him time (and treats ) and he will likely calm down. For breeding, I take my does to the bucks' cages- that way the bucks aren't on the defensive.