English Angora babies - VIDEO

[SixGun]

I've just had my largest English Angora litter ever.

Pointed White doe with a REW buck out of Pointed Whites. There's going to be a lot of white fluff now.

12 babies. First time mom and first time dad.

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

Wow that is a LOT of kits

How do you handle that many!?!?!?!? My rabbits only have one or two each, if any

 

[MuddyFarms]

Such a beautiful litter, too! How many is normal for English Angoras?

 

[SixGun]

Wow that is a LOT of kits

How do you handle that many!?!?!?!? My rabbits only have one or two each, if any

With Netherland Dwarfs you do tend to get much smaller litters, I believe. My daughter's Mini Rex are usually litters of 4, with 6 being a bigger litter.

Typically @MuddyFarms litters are 7 to 9, so yup, she's on the big end. I had a Satin Angora kindle 15 last year in April, but that was way outside of the norm, in my opinion. With only 8 nipples, anything over 8 is always a bit of a balancing act.

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

My mom has joined some Netherland Dwarf groups on Facebook and somehow people get litters of 3-4 and 5-6??

 

[Mariah's Meadows]

They are so gorgeous and look so strong! What a fluff-filled nest!

 

[Cosima]

wow 12 kits is a lot of kits!

 

[SixGun]

My mom has joined some Netherland Dwarf groups on Facebook and somehow people get litters of 3-4 and 5-6??

One way that has worked for me over the years is to breed in the AM, then, about 8 hours later, breed again, and really, if you want to breed again the next morning, you have the greatest chance of increasing the litter size. This back to back breeding allows the doe to ovulate after copulation (they only ovulate after they've been bred) and then you introduce additional semen after she's ovulated with the 2nd and 3rd breeding, greatly increasing the odds of fertilization.

However, it's also genetic. Some does just are predisposed to smaller litters because they only let down a couple eggs. Keep and breed does from your largest litters.

 

[SixGun]

wow 12 kits is a lot of kits!

It sure is, and even better is that she has kept up with them all. This morning, at 5 days, they are all still showing full bellies. I haven't fostered any out or even done rotational feedings. In my opinion its always good to see what the doe is capable of before you intervene. If I need to step in to keep everyone healthy, I will, but I won't unless it seems to be necessary.

I have an English doe that struggles with raising three (this doe's mother), while other does have no problem with 8, 9 or 10.

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

We have three really pretty Show Bucks and two does that produce good kits. The third doe has a really pretty color. She has quite long ears and a small narrow head but the Buck she goes with is perfect

You can see all of my rabbits (and a cat) here

 

[Cosima]

I love the cat.

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

I love the cat.

That's my Trubbish :]