Hello! Introduction + Request For Advice

[LovelyLad'sLagomorphs]

Hello and Howdy, my fine folks. Greetings from Maryland!

So, I'm not exactly new to rabbits as I've attempted to raise them in the past. HOWEVER! I'm getting into the game again, and I've returned with a passion greater than ever!

Back a year or two ago, I had some rabbits in my care, but this year I'm starting with a completely new colony.

I had some general questions since I'm very much a novice to it all.

1. Can someone explain rabbit genetics to me? I've been told it's non-exhaustive, but I haven't the slightest clue how on where to begin.

2. Rabbit Pregnancy: A. How do you know if a mating was successful? B. Is there a way to check for pregnancy? C. How often is it safe to mate a buck?

Any advice, links, or pointers for a newbie would be very much appreciated!

Pictured: my own little fluffle

 

[Captaincatholic]

Hello and Howdy, my fine folks. Greetings from Maryland!

So, I'm not exactly new to rabbits as I've attempted to raise them in the past. HOWEVER! I'm getting into the game again, and I've returned with a passion greater than ever!

Back a year or two ago, I had some rabbits in my care, but this year I'm starting with a completely new colony.

I had some general questions since I'm very much a novice to it all.

1. Can someone explain rabbit genetics to me? I've been told it's non-exhaustive, but I haven't the slightest clue how on where to begin.

2. Rabbit Pregnancy: A. How do you know if a mating was successful? B. Is there a way to check for pregnancy? C. How often is it safe to mate a buck?

Any advice, links, or pointers for a newbie would be very much appreciated!

Pictured: my own little fluffle

Hi and welcome from an other Marylander!

1. There are plenty of people here who can help woth genetics questions much better than I can!

2. A. 3 falloffs seem to be a generally accepted indicator, but a successful litter is not guaranteed.
I am now also let the doe chill in the buck's territory for 30 minutes to avoid her washing out the buck's contribution.

B. I have heard that you can feel pregnancy by palpation around 10-14 days. I have not practiced enough to do it.

C. I have tried the same buck more than once per day but I try to give him a couple hours to build up his contribution again. I do not know if it helps. Maybe I can do some experiments to figure this out by breding a buck to sisters in the same day.

 

[Cosima]

I have bred one buck to 4 does in one day but he won’t be breeding again for at lest 6 weeks.

 

[Cosima]

1. Can someone explain rabbit genetics to me? I've been told it's non-exhaustive, but I haven't the slightest clue how on where to begin.

If you want to learn rabbit genetics ask @Alaska Satin or search for existing threads. There’s a lot of rabbit genetic threads here.

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

2. Rabbit Pregnancy: A. How do you know if a mating was successful? B. Is there a way to check for pregnancy? C. How often is it safe to mate a buck?

A. You can't really guarantee a pregnancy, but you'll know if the Buck successfully mates with the Doe if he falls off and makes a sneezing sound. Some people say you only need one but I always breed them two days and try to get as many as possible (Obviously not having her in his cage for the full two days)
B. You can Palpate the Doe at a certain time, you feel their belly
C. I've read somewhere that a Buck can get as many as 20 does per day, but I don't breed nearly that many (mainly because I don't have that many). Kind of depends on the Buck's breed

 

[ladysown]

okay so.... for a pregnancy to occur all you need is contact. And both parties can be quite different. I have one buck, you'd never know he did anything but if the doe lifts....she'll 9 times out of 10 be bred. NO noise, no fall out...but babies. Another buck breeds a doe once quite dramatically but then he's done. and again.... kits with only one fall off. Some does roll and get pregnant, some does run and run and run, stop once briefly to lift and they're bred. So want you see in one herd, might not be what you see in another herd. In my herd... once and done works really well. Good litter sizes, it works.

for palpation.. watch Youtube videos. Nine came up for me when I used the search "how to palpate a rabbit"

How much to use your buck depends on your buck. I've one holland lop buck who will literally go all day... most I've let him is do is three (all does got bred). And another that one breeding and he's just done.... I prefer the first, but will work with what I have. There are many who believe that you can use a buck once in the morning and once at night.

Re: genetics. There are some good rabbit genetics books available. One I've looked at but not purchased but often see recommended...

Once Upon a Bunny: Simplifying Rabbit Genetics Once Upon a Bunny: Simplifying Rabbit Genetics: Burton Mrs, Katlynn G: 9798354050840: Amazon.com: Books Link to amazon to make it easy for you.​

You can also read through some of the genetic threads on the forum to get a good primer.

 

[LovelyLad'sLagomorphs]

okay so.... for a pregnancy to occur all you need is contact. And both parties can be quite different. I have one buck, you'd never know he did anything but if the doe lifts....she'll 9 times out of 10 be bred. NO noise, no fall out...but babies. Another buck breeds a doe once quite dramatically but then he's done. and again.... kits with only one fall off. Some does roll and get pregnant, some does run and run and run, stop once briefly to lift and they're bred. So want you see in one herd, might not be what you see in another herd. In my herd... once and done works really well. Good litter sizes, it works.

for palpation.. watch Youtube videos. Nine came up for me when I used the search "how to palpate a rabbit"

How much to use your buck depends on your buck. I've one holland lop buck who will literally go all day... most I've let him is do is three (all does got bred). And another that one breeding and he's just done.... I prefer the first, but will work with what I have. There are many who believe that you can use a buck once in the morning and once at night.

Re: genetics. There are some good rabbit genetics books available. One I've looked at but not purchased but often see recommended...

Once Upon a Bunny: Simplifying Rabbit Genetics Once Upon a Bunny: Simplifying Rabbit Genetics: Burton Mrs, Katlynn G: 9798354050840: Amazon.com: Books Link to amazon to make it easy for you.​

You can also read through some of the genetic threads on the forum to get a good primer.

Wow! Thank you so much for your reply! I feel more hopeful going forward now, haha

 

[LovelyLad'sLagomorphs]

If you want to learn rabbit genetics ask @Alaska Satin or search for existing threads. There’s a lot of rabbit genetic threads here.

Thanks for the tip! <3

 

[LovelyLad'sLagomorphs]

Hi and welcome from an other Marylander!

1. There are plenty of people here who can help woth genetics questions much better than I can!

2. A. 3 falloffs seem to be a generally accepted indicator, but a successful litter is not guaranteed.
I am now also let the doe chill in the buck's territory for 30 minutes to avoid her washing out the buck's contribution.

B. I have heard that you can feel pregnancy by palpation around 10-14 days. I have not practiced enough to do it.

C. I have tried the same buck more than once per day but I try to give him a couple hours to build up his contribution again. I do not know if it helps. Maybe I can do some experiments to figure this out by breding a buck to sisters in the same day.

Thanks for the pointers! I definitely appreciate it!

 

[Scooter1A]

I go with two falloffs, quite dramatic ha. He leaves her alone after that. My Rex/NZ cross doe knows immediately that she is pregnant and her food intake increases almost instantly. Amazing. She also looks at me like she is mad as if to say thanks alot.