Housing kits with the bucks

[TerriG]

I have 2 bucks that are in their own 31"x24" cages. I was reading on another thread about being able to keep kits with the bucks after the kits wean. I kinda like that idea since I worry about the buck not having anyone to snuggle with on really cold nights.

So give me some guidelines. Any kits or only theirs? Bucks? Does? One or a litter? How old?

Since these are meat rabbits, we usually dispatch them around 10-12 weeks (finally got a scale, so we will have a better idea on the 5 lb mark).

 

[MaggieJ]

In a colony situation, bucks like having kits around. Even when our buck had to be temporarily crated, the kits would squeeze through the bars and hang out with him. I don't know, however, how this would work with rabbits accustomed to individual cages. If your bucks are mellow, chances are it would be fine... but I would still introduce the youngsters when you have time to watch and observe the buck's reaction. Another consideration is that while your cage size is adequate for a single buck, it might feel crowded if you try to put more than one kit in there.

 

[Dood]

My bucks ( and does) are given turns in the colony 'play pen' with my weaned (4 to 12 week) kits a couple times a week so they can stretch their legs. I never have any problems with them picking on the youngsters but they do spray urine EVERYWHERE!

 

[AnnClaire]

Terry, I would advise against housing the kits in with a senior buck in a cage that small. However, if you make larger grow out cages, the bucks can certainly be housed with the kits ... something like 30"x36" at least.

As for the "makeup" of the kits, I would also suggest that you only house bucklings with the senior bucks and be ready to remove any buckling that the senior buck begins to harrass. Other than that, it doesn't seem to matter whether they are "his" kits or not ... by weaning age, a kit is a kit is a kit :cheesysmile:

 

[Secuono]

My bucks don't mind kits. My Cali buck darn near loves them.
Here's my pair, buck is not the sire of these kits. He's "nursing" them while mom hops around avoiding them. =D

 

[TerriG]

Terry, I would advise against housing the kits in with a senior buck in a cage that small. However, if you make larger grow out cages, the bucks can certainly be housed with the kits ... something like 30"x36" at least.

As for the "makeup" of the kits, I would also suggest that you only house bucklings with the senior bucks and be ready to remove any buckling that the senior buck begins to harrass. Other than that, it doesn't seem to matter whether they are "his" kits or not ... by weaning age, a kit is a kit is a kit :cheesysmile:

I do have grow-out cages that are 24"x46". That was another thing we were talking about.

I don't sex all of my kits since it doesn't matter. I do know that one litter has 3 does and 1 buck, and the other litter has one buck for sure. We saw him trying to mount another kit, even though they were only 3-4 weeks old. I know it was dominance, but we flipped him to check and he is a buck. I haven't sexed the other 4 in that litter.

 

[Miss M]

I'm thinking about trying this, too. Our working buck is in a 24" x 36" cage (only slightly larger than yours, TerryG), but I just may try a kit or two in there to keep him company. I may even stick one in with our retired buck who's in a 24" x 24" cage (I know, very small... it's a holdover from the old rabbitry, and I'll try to get him in larger digs when I can). I know that would be really tight, but I could just try and see. He may like the company more than the space the company would take up.

I'm sure he would take a kit, so it's just a matter of whether our working buck would be good with them.

He's "nursing" them while mom hops around avoiding them. =D

:lol:

 

[Teddy2511]

How about with another doe? Would I be able to put a weaned kit in with one of my junior does?

 

[OneAcreFarm]

How about with another doe? Would I be able to put a weaned kit in with one of my junior does?

Not likely...does are much more territorial. You could try, but be ready to take the kit out quickly if the doe gets nasty.

 

[Teddy2511]

How about with another doe? Would I be able to put a weaned kit in with one of my junior does?

Not likely...does are much more territorial. You could try, but be ready to take the kit out quickly if the doe gets nasty.

Okay, I guess that is something I'd have to careful trying. The doe is pretty mellow though so I may give it a try...
How about with my Holland buck; he is pretty curious and active, but generally easy going, unfortunately he loves to spray his cage corners and water bottle... Would that be an okay environment for a just-weaned kit, or should I cross him off the list?

 

[TerriG]

My bucks are so mellow, but I don't want to deal with them spraying. That is not ok with me. They seem to be fine and have survived some really cold nights (like 5 degrees) so far. Maybe I just need to not worry about it and keep things status quo.

 

[AnnClaire]

Ok, I think there may be a bit of mis-communication going on about what I mean by "housing" younger buns with older buns.

I don't know how much experience folks have with colony raising, or using a runout pen during the day, but when I say that putting younger doelings and bucklings with older rabbits, I am talking about doing it in my runout pen which is 9'x6' ... way larger than even most growout pens. With my set up, the rabbits all have the option to get away from the others if they want ... and some do. Also, I provide areas where bunnies can lay and not have to look at another bunny they are annoyed with. And through all this, the babies are running, sleeping, snuggling, annoying the older does.

I don't know how caging 2 rabbits would do ... that is a confined space compared to my runout pens.

Apologies for adding to any confusion. Please be very careful when putting 2 or more junior or senior rabbits together in a cage.

 

[Teddy2511]

Apologies for adding to any confusion. Please be very careful when putting 2 or more junior or senior rabbits together in a cage.

No worries! I won't be confining two rabbits to the same pen unless it is a fairly large cage or hutch and the rabbits were already used to each (like same-gender litter mates or rabbits that have spent a fair bit of time together). Thank you for clarifying!