Considering breeding Nosey...

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Nosey is my Angora doe and I'm becoming convinced that she'd make some lovely kits with my buck, Slippers.

Problem is, Nosey was basically given to me by her last owner because she's "crazy" and also a "bad mother." Now...I have not seen her crazy side here. All the complaints about how hard she is to get in and out of a cage have dissolved, and offering a toy or treat every other time I open her cage has made her LOVE hands in her territory; hands in her home usually means good things.

So I'm tempted to do an 'experimental' breeding to see how bad of a doe she really is. According to the last owner, her last litter was huge and colorful, and she proceeded to stomp all but two or three into hamburger. :shock:

I'm planning on breeding Bubbly and Sparkles to my NZ buck. I'm tempted to breed Nosey to him as well, and then when they all kindle, if it looks like she's going to kill her kits, foster 'em out to the other two. I'd use 'em as runty crossbred meat rabbits. The only reason I'm not yet ready to breed her to Slippers is he's still a little young.

Thoughts?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Sounds like a good plan to me. She probably stomped her kits because she was nervous, not out of malice.

How old is Slippers? He might surprise you and be quite capable. :mrgreen:

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Almost five months-ish, I think. I'd have to double check. XD He's still so much smaller than her though!!! Then again I chose the wee small buck out of his litter because his wool is soooooo much nicer than his bigger brothers. XD

I will admit, Nosey is a little more "busy" than the others. She fidgets more, has to have toys to play with, I can see her getting nervous and stomping them. However I keep her pretty happy with lots of toys so maybe with distractions it'll be different?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

He could very well be ready at five months- I would try him with her.

The other option if she is too "busy" is to pull the nest and just give it to her each morning and evening. I forget the dimensions of your cages, but if she has lots of room, maybe it wont be as much of a problem.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Right now she's in a 24" x 24" but if she's bred, she'll be moved into one of the 24" x 36" at least.

I double-checked and he's four-and-a-half months. :lol: I may toss her in with him and just see if he notices. If not, well...oh well, Bison will know what to do with her.<br /><br />__________ Tue Aug 21, 2012 2:10 pm __________<br /><br />...yeah didn't go as well as hoped. XD She hopped right into his cage and charged him open-mouthed.

I grabbed her before she got to him and held her scruff, figuring if she can't chase him or beat him up, maybe he'd at least get the idea...nope. He casually sniffed her and then hopped over to the door, and began nuzzling my arm. :roll: I don't think he's all grown up yet, lol.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

:lol:

Nasty Nosey! Don't bully the young men!

Did you check her color?

Better luck with Bison.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Yeah her color is Evil Man-Hating Cannibal. Also known as pinkish. Not purple though, alas. She was kinda stressing after the "ordeal" of trying to kill Slippers so I figure I'll let Bison have a chance with her tomorrow. :roll:

Three does, one buck...he'll be in for a difficult day, LOL!

 

[3mina]

Kyle some boys consider that heaven

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Three does, one buck...he'll be in for a difficult day, LOL!

All work and no play...

No, wait...

All play and no work...

Either way, give that bunny a carrot! Or a rhinoceros horn... :mrgreen:

 

[AnnClaire]

Kyle,

Sounds like Nosey has had a pretty stressful life so far. Aggression towards a buck could also be for several other reasons ... Slippers may very well not be "of age" yet and she could smell it. Even though my angora bucks' testicles are starting to drop by 4 months, they are just not mature enough for breeding until at least 7 months. The does from the same litter will begin harrassing the bucks long before they are ready to breed :x

Nosey could also have been exposed to a very aggressive buck when she wasn't ready herself. This is very debilitating to does, so having a mature, LAID BACK buck might go a long way towards helping calm her down. You still may need to hold her for the first breeding.

Also, you might try a runout pen for the breeding. The buck would probably have to work a little harder, but giving him more room to work with, and her more room to operate in, might help out.

Good luck!

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Kyle some boys consider that heaven

LOL yeah but...three does, serviced twice in one day apiece...man, crazy respect, I can't do that LOL.

Three does, one buck...he'll be in for a difficult day, LOL!

All work and no play...

No, wait...

All play and no work...

Either way, give that bunny a carrot! Or a rhinoceros horn... :mrgreen:

Gonna attempt mass breeding tomorrow, I figure over the course of the day he'll get all of 'em done.

Gonna start with Nosey as I want his interest to be at it's best, and I do plan to hold her for him.

Kyle,

Sounds like Nosey has had a pretty stressful life so far. Aggression towards a buck could also be for several other reasons ... Slippers may very well not be "of age" yet and she could smell it. Even though my angora bucks' testicles are starting to drop by 4 months, they are just not mature enough for breeding until at least 7 months. The does from the same litter will begin harrassing the bucks long before they are ready to breed :x

Nosey could also have been exposed to a very aggressive buck when she wasn't ready herself. This is very debilitating to does, so having a mature, LAID BACK buck might go a long way towards helping calm her down. You still may need to hold her for the first breeding.

Also, you might try a runout pen for the breeding. The buck would probably have to work a little harder, but giving him more room to work with, and her more room to operate in, might help out.

Good luck!

If he doesn't breed her quickly while I hold her, I'll turn them loose together in a larger pen and see what happens. I do think Slippers is too young, lol. Nosey...may have had a rough time of it being bred before, so if she refuses too often I'll just accept that she can't be bred. I took her for the wool, LOL.