late breeding Q

[Nyctra]

I freaked a while ago because Yetti started nesting after being with a rabbit I had thought was female. (lol Made me doubt she was really a she, and she didn't like me checking and re-checking!) I'd read that rabbit's hips fuse after a year old, so you can't breed them. Now I've been told otherwise...and now I'm again considering breeding her...
Yetti is 3 years and some months, never been bred, and she weighs about 8 to 9 pounds. Could I breed her to a New Zealand? What could go wrong, besides just not getting pregnant or killing her babies? Has anyone else bred an older rabbit for the first time?
It's so easy to get her build nests, but then she gets very sad when no stork comes. lol I'd like to see what she'd do with babies, but I don't wanna accidentally kill her. :/

 

[MamaSheepdog]

At 8 or 9lbs she should be fine bred to a NZ.

Other than her failing to get pregnant or not having good mothering instincts the first time I don't think anything else is likely to go wrong. Giving birth carries risk no matter how young or healthy the mother of any species is, but most births have good outcomes.

The fact that she builds nests makes me think that she will do just fine. I would give her a chance.

 

[Nyctra]

This is sooo tempting. I've wanted to breed her for so long, but I was never really sure about it...

 

[OneAcreFarm]

You won't kill her by breeding her...she is more likely to die from uterine cancer from NOT being bred and even THAT is a very small risk. Go ahead and give it a try....I bet she makes a great mom!

 

[akane]

Hips fusing is a complete myth on all animals. I've had 2year old rabbits have their first litter.

 

[curlysue]

I also have had first time two year old does have babies with no troubles.

 

[skysthelimit]

Give it a try.

I bred a 3 year old holland five different times. Well the main problem could have been that she was a holland, difficult to breed anyway. She got pregnant all but one time, but only had one live kit, which died at 12 weeks. I culled her, and she had plenty of fat inside. So you never know.

 

[Nyctra]

Well, that was amusing. No silly fall offs, just a disgruntled buck. lol Yetti's usually quick to jump on another rabbit's back, but she just laid flat when I put her with the buck. She kept budging her tail higher and higher. I think maybe she was trying to "lift," but doesn't know how? Maybe I can catch her in a better mood and it'll click. lol

 

[skysthelimit]

Well, that was amusing. No silly fall offs, just a disgruntled buck. lol Yetti's usually quick to jump on another rabbit's back, but she just laid flat when I put her with the buck. She kept budging her tail higher and higher. I think maybe she was trying to "lift," but doesn't know how? Maybe I can catch her in a better mood and it'll click. lol

sounds like she was already in the mood.

 

[Nyctra]

The second try went a lot better. lol Guess now I get to wait a month to see if anything comes of it! X)<br /><br />__________ Fri Oct 19, 2012 4:08 pm __________<br /><br />I felt her tummy at 14 days and felt nothing, so I didn't get my hopes up. On day 25-ish, she started to nest; I still wasn't totally sure, 'cause I'd been messing with her earlier and STILL felt nothing, and she's pretty easy to put into nesting mode. LOL
Then suddenly a couple nights ago her tummy was moving with little babies! :razz: I think at least 3!
She built a nest of hay and topped it with her fur yesterday. I'd think any time now...
Ahh, I'm too anxious to know what will come of this! Hoping all goes well.

 

[skysthelimit]

Yeah!!!! Hoping it goes well too

 

[SarahMelisse]

I've got my fingers crossed for you!

 

[ZRabbits]

Fingers crossed for an easy delivery and healthy popples!

Karen

 

[Nyctra]

She's been tensing up frequently for the past four-ish hours, sometimes bleeding a drop with it. There's a bit of blood on her underside now. She ground her teeth for the first couple minutes of it, but she's been silent since. I won't be terribly bummed if none come out alive, but I sure hope SOMETHING comes out. :shock:<br /><br />__________ Sat Oct 20, 2012 2:53 pm __________<br /><br />I think she may be on her way to the "Rainbow Bridge." Her ears are cold, and she's made no progress. Mostly limp now. I had a feeling it would be like a gamble. She did so well up until she started to bleed. She seemed really happy after she was bred, though. I'd never seen her play and do that content dead bunny flop so much! XD lol
The bright side? If she dies, I don't have to wait till she dies of old age to get more rabbits. Somewhat glad about that, but I'll sure miss her. ): I've spent so many nights with her, it'll feel strange if she goes. :/ I guess it's just one of those things.

 

[skysthelimit]

I'm very sorry about this.

 

[ZRabbits]

So sorry to hear about Yetti.

Karen

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

She's been tensing up frequently for the past four-ish hours, sometimes bleeding a drop with it. There's a bit of blood on her underside now. She ground her teeth for the first couple minutes of it, but she's been silent since. I won't be terribly bummed if none come out alive, but I sure hope SOMETHING comes out. :shock:

__________ Sat Oct 20, 2012 2:53 pm __________

I think she may be on her way to the "Rainbow Bridge." Her ears are cold, and she's made no progress. Mostly limp now. I had a feeling it would be like a gamble. She did so well up until she started to bleed. She seemed really happy after she was bred, though. I'd never seen her play and do that content dead bunny flop so much! XD lol
The bright side? If she dies, I don't have to wait till she dies of old age to get more rabbits. Somewhat glad about that, but I'll sure miss her. ): I've spent so many nights with her, it'll feel strange if she goes. :/ I guess it's just one of those things.

This is when you need the Oxytocin

__________ Sat Oct 20, 2012 5:04 pm __________

Hips fusing is a complete myth on all animals.

This is true for guinea pigs...She has to breed before 10 months old

 

[Nyctra]

She's been tensing up frequently for the past four-ish hours, sometimes bleeding a drop with it. There's a bit of blood on her underside now. She ground her teeth for the first couple minutes of it, but she's been silent since. I won't be terribly bummed if none come out alive, but I sure hope SOMETHING comes out. :shock:

__________ Sat Oct 20, 2012 2:53 pm __________

I think she may be on her way to the "Rainbow Bridge." Her ears are cold, and she's made no progress. Mostly limp now. I had a feeling it would be like a gamble. She did so well up until she started to bleed. She seemed really happy after she was bred, though. I'd never seen her play and do that content dead bunny flop so much! XD lol
The bright side? If she dies, I don't have to wait till she dies of old age to get more rabbits. Somewhat glad about that, but I'll sure miss her. ): I've spent so many nights with her, it'll feel strange if she goes. :/ I guess it's just one of those things.

This is when you need the Oxytocin

__________ Sat Oct 20, 2012 5:04 pm __________

Hips fusing is a complete myth on all animals.

This is true for guinea pigs...She has to breed before 10 months old

Now I know. o:
Well, she went belly up and passed. :/ Real shame it was her.

 

[skysthelimit]

Real sorry. I had an 8 month old doe have 6 stuck kits. Took four days to have them, and I had to pull or it would have took longer. I had a three year old holland have one kit. It may not have been the age, she may have not been wide enough for a litter no matter what the age.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

That is to bad ,but you took a chance. Only guinea pigs has to be breed by 10 months old . Not rabbits.