more breeding questions

[reverie]

Ok, I'm a little slow so I just wanted to spell out what my little brain had put together from the wonderful links, tutorials, and info you guys have shared with me to see if I am hopping the right direction.
1) You check the vulva to see how receptive the doe might be (great pics!)
2) If you think the doe might be ready you put her with the buck.
3) they will breed- a successful breeding being one where the doe lifts her tail/hind end
some and the buck 'passes out' and falls over. Then doe ovulates. Or doe will not lift
for buck and she is not ready yet, wait a few days and try again.
4) See if you can palpate fetuses at day 15-16 or wait 28-36 days to see if you have babies
(watch for fur pulling/nest building as sign to put in nest box)
5) If no babies then...? buck shooting blanks, doe reabsorbed, or ???

If the buck 'passes out' and falls over does that mean he was successful (other than if he is shooting blanks)? Will the doe let him be successful if she is not ready?
Thanks a bunch!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

You are a good student! :up:

1. Check
2. Check
3. Check
4. You can palpate as early as nine days.
5. Check

My Rex bucks have never "missed", but I have seen my LionHead falloff when he was way too high on a doe's back to have been successful. I don't think a doe will lift if she isn't ready.

 

[skysthelimit]

My Rex bucks have never "missed", but I have seen my LionHead falloff when he was way too high on a doe's back to have been successful. I don't think a doe will lift if she isn't ready.

I've force bred does that wouldn't lift, and they have had litters.

 

[akane]

You should let the buck breed about 3 times. He can miss and just end up shooting it all in her fur.

 

[wsmoak]

4) See if you can palpate fetuses at day 15-16 or wait 28-36 days to see if you have babies
(watch for fur pulling/nest building as sign to put in nest box)

If there's any chance she is bred, put the nest box in about 27 days after the first possible breeding.

Not all does pull fur beforehand, she may have them early, etc., etc.

You may also see her carrying hay or straw around in her mouth. That usually happens prior to fur pulling.

-Wendy

 

[mystang89]

I normally let the doe and buck have 2 or 3 goes at it in a roll just to improve the odds.
If the doe doesn't let the buck have his way I wait about 8 - 12 hours and then try again.

 

[reverie]

Great! few more questions- how often will a doe go into heat (checking vulva for color) and will she show heat color if she is pregnant (thinking not, but I don't know nuthin' 'bout birthin' no bunnies!)

 

[akane]

Rabbits are pretty much constantly in heat. They don't come in to heat like a dog or cat. They are induced ovulators. Rather than having a cycle where they release an egg, come in to heat, go out of heat, pass the egg, etc... they stay ready and release eggs upon breeding. How ready they are is not mostly dependent on a cycle, although they do seem to have a minor one, but on external factors. Good feed, good condition, stimulation by being around a buck, sunlight....

 

[hypnotist]

Wow - so if he doesn't pass out, no babies?

 

[3mina]

Wow - so if he doesn't pass out, no babies?

He doesn't actually "pass out" he loses what little grip he has and falls off, this happens because of the way rabbit feet are built. Its the most obvious sign of sperm delivery but the buck doesn't always fall off.

 

[reverie]

If the doe is pregnant, I'm guessing her vulva will no longer change color?

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

If the doe is pregnant, I'm guessing her vulva will no longer change color?

That is right... You cant not always go by the color of the vulva either. Some rabbits will bred all the time even pregnant. And others that are ready will not bred either.

Bucks do NOt pass out not even close ... That is a new one.

This is why you check the doe for readiness as she get closer her vulva changes. But dont let this fool you. Some will go dark and some will not. If it is white in color the rabbit will not lift. I can just picture every checking all the does to see what color they are.

 

[skysthelimit]

I have never had a rabbit get anywhere close to the color dark pink or purple. I usually if she's got a funky attitude I breed her. After the pictures I started really checking color, and I've got all sorts of pink now, but still no one is willing to breed. I am back to force breeding.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

but still no one is willing to breed. I am back to force breeding

sky,,, there has to be a reason why you have to do that .. I dont force breed and i will never will. If you dont breed out you go. I think if you do that all the time . Then they will never on there own.When a rabbit is in a prime cycle .. She will lift .... But i think you should look at why they are not doing this for you..Like your protien level and fat content of your food. How dark are your cages.. Look down at there level and see how much light they get . I have been having good success with flax seed... If i was you i would start giving pinches then up to a quarter of a teaspoon. I will be upping my amounts when it gets colder. To see how it goes .. I think flax will help to improve your rabbits in breeding. ANd it isnt expensive to buy.But you have to give it at least a month before you start noticing .. I noticed it in 2 weeks.

 

[reverie]

Thanks! got a good idea about it now... just have to wait...wait...wait...sucks! glad it's not very long!
I called it 'passing out' at work when I described it to my coworkers so they would get a big laugh at it- and they did. now they want me to film it so they can see but the rabbits don't seem to be into bunny porn, they just give me a disaproving look and wait till I put the camera down!

 

[OneAcreFarm]

4) See if you can palpate fetuses at day 15-16 or wait 28-36 days to see if you have babies
(watch for fur pulling/nest building as sign to put in nest box)

I put the nest box in on Day 28 or sooner if I see the doe gathering hay in her mouth (aka "haystache") or pulling fur.

 

[AnnClaire]

Also, if a buck *really* connects, they will often do a little "stomp" dance :cheesysmile:

My angora twitches his ears straight forward ... really funny to see those tassels swinging around