Longest overdue doe?

[Links56]

Hello everyone Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. This is my first post. I've always had animals my whole life and decided to try raising some meat rabbits about 6 months ago. For some reason I've been having a rough time. I started out with 3, year and a half old does and a 4 month old buck. I knew the buck wasn't old enough to breed so I got a 1.5year old buck at a swap meet which was a mistake because he was very mean kept trying to bite me. I bred them all with the older buck and he fell over multiple times. Few weeks later one of the does loses the use of her front legs so I had to put her down. A week after that the older buck bites into my arm pretty good, so that was his last choice. The next week I've got the boxes in with the 2 does I have left and they never kindle. So I wait another month or so for the other buck to hopefully be ready to breed and one of the does is just dead when I come in in the morning for chores.

I have one doe left and it's been 50 days since she was bred, at this point. I put the doe in with the original buck I started with and he does his job good and everything. I write the date down. 10 days later I come in and she pumped out 11 kits on the wire?? I got 4 of them going by warming them up and put a box in and she didn't take care of them and they died.

I know for a fact that she was only with the buck that bit me and I know the date but everything I read says it's not possible. I added to the flock again recently but can anyone help me out and tell me what I am doing wrong? They all have separate wire cages. Thanks in advance. Sorry for the long post.

 

[a7736100]

You now know that the doe can have babies. Next time she'll probably do better specially if you give her a next box and lots of straw or hay to build a nest.

 

[Links56]

I had a box in with her and straw, but a week after day 35 I took it out because I figured it was a false pregnancy.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

:hi: to RabbitTalk!

Are you sure you didn't write the wrong month? If I am reading your post correctly, she would have been right around 60 days according to the date you have noted, so if you accidentally wrote the wrong month, she kindled at 30 days.

Another possibility is that she was bred through the wire if the buck was next to her cage.

 

[Links56]

I'm positive I didn't put the wrong date. I never thought about breeding through the wire. It's not a good idea to keep a buck and doe next to each other I suppose. I knew I had to be doing something wrong. Do you have any other seemingly common sense general rules I should know about? I have read many,many books about this but there is no replacement for experience. Thank you! I have been pulling my hair out about this.

 

[MaggieJ]

Welcome to RabbitTalk, Links56. :hi:

!. Relax
2. Take three long, slow. deep breaths.
3. Accept that there is a steep learning curve with breeding rabbits. People new to it assume they will "breed like rabbits" but that is only so when everything is favourable.

A sheet of something (cardboard, plywood, foamcore etc.) between buck and doe cages will prevent accidental breedings. Continue to keep good records. Your younger buck is probably old enough now to breed the does. You know that one doe is at least fertile, and the others are right, she may well do better next time. ALWAYS leave the nest box in for at least 2 weeks past due date. Time after time I hear someone say: "I thought she had missed!" and the result is dead kits on the wire.

It will get better. Hang in there!

 

[SoDak Thriver]

Hey Links,

I also came here wondering what I was doing wrong and why they weren't breeding "like rabbits." You're in good hands; the people here will help you. Welcome to RT!

 

[Links56]

Well that's a relief! Honestly. I've always had chickens and ducks, cows and hogs, turkeys, etc. This has been the most frustrating, that's for sure. Knowledge is priceless, I always try to share whatever info I have with others so I just wanted to really say thanks for sharing with me. Wish I would have joined sooner.

I just wanted to go through my process maybe you guys and gals could let me know of I need to change anything.

So first I check to see if the doe is receptive by seeing what color her vent is, if it's swollen and red, she should be receptive.

Then I always take the doe to the bucks cage, watch and make sure he's on the right end and if he doesn't get her after a few minutes I will try to help gently until he gets her.

Then I put the doe back in her cage and about 6 hours later put her back in with the buck and let him get her again.

Write the date down

Wait 25 days and put nest box in.

Once she kindles then how long do you wait to breed her again? How long do you leave the kits with the doe?

 

[Oscar]

Well some people breed the doe the same day she kindles so I guess it doesn't matter how long you wait but I would wait a while and give her a break! For the weaning part the shortest time I would say 4-5 weeks the longest would be 8 but I guess I'm not exactly an expert on this but I think I'm getting this down.