My NZ White Doe Doesn't Want to Mate

[matt77]

Good morning all! I have a NZ white female who is being a bit difficult. I put her in the bucks cage and he mated with her immediately, my book says to put her back in about 8 hours later just to be sure and mate her again. I've tried three times on three different days and she just puts her bum to the floor and the male tries and tries with no luck. I've read a couple things (put apple cider vinegar in their water or wait until the full moon) but does anyone have any tips? This is the 2nd time I've mated this rabbit.

Thanks,

Matt

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

THERE Is no need for all of that.. If she left him mate the first time and not the second. Then she probably took.

 

[jollysrabbits]

yeah, I concur I am not sure when this whole breed a second time thing became gospel. I have read it in a couple of books as well but it seems so unnecessary. My rabbits typically won't breed any later if they are bred. When you put them together just let them do it 2or more times if she will let him and then take her out. 80% of the time my does are bred from just one visit.

 

[3mina]

It became gospel when it got written down in a certain book that's very good in some aspects and not so great in others.

 

[skysthelimit]

I don't second breed either. Usually mines aren't receptive after the first visit either.

 

[Demamma]

I will usually see if she will let buck service her a few times on the first visit. I then put her in again about 12 hours later. Some Does will let the buck breed again and some won't. I do this as a backup and to increase litter size. Not sure if needed though. I just bred all my Does for meat pens and 5 of the 8 would only let the buck breed once.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

:hi:

Welcome to RabbitTalk, Matt!

does anyone have any tips?

This may help:

judging-a-doe-s-readiness-and-breeding-tips-t9869.html

I am not sure when this whole breed a second time thing became gospel.

I believe the idea to breed 8 hours later stems from the fact that rabbits are induced ovulators, and the eggs are released about 9 hours after the initial copulation, so people do it in the belief that "fresh" semen/sperm will be more successful. Sperm live for at least 72 hours, so I find it unnecessary- millions of them are there ready and waiting when the eggs are released, so the new sperm don't stand a chance.

I have not noticed a correlation of large litter sizes to number of "services" by the buck. I have had small litters after multiple covers and large litters after one cover.

If the buck hasn't been used in a while, there are typically quite a few dead sperm in the first couple of ejaculates, so I like to see three covers in that case. I usually let my bucks service the doe two or three times in a single visit and call it good. Rarely, a doe will allow only one cover, but even those matings have resulted in litters.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Yes, I concur... I let my buck get 3-4 "fall off's" and call it good.

 

[LeAnn24]

One mating is all it takes to breed a doe for sure. I seen someone on here a little while back state their doe only allowed one mating and had 11 kits. However my understanding of the 8 hour breed back is.... A rabbit is an induced ovulator and will release eggs about 8 hours after breeding, so as to insure a successful mating and increase litter size a second mating is suggested. Sometimes a doe will urinate after mating, so if she did after the first time a second breeding will increase odds of a successful breeding. The increased litter size is only about 10%, so about 1 kit really. As with most things in rabbit raising it is an option and not a necessity.

 

[matt77]

Wow everyone thanks for all the great advice! Sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner. The book in question says to re-mate them in case the doe urinates after insemination. The last doe I bred only allowed him to one time and she is due in 3 days

I appreciate the tips and I will put them into action.

Matt

 

[GBov]

Wow everyone thanks for all the great advice! Sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner. The book in question says to re-mate them in case the doe urinates after insemination. The last doe I bred only allowed him to one time and she is due in 3 days

I appreciate the tips and I will put them into action.

Matt

And that would do exactly what to the semen? He isnt putting it in THERE! :shock:

Sorry, have to laugh but she isnt going to get preggers with a bladder full of "genetic contribution!" :lol:

 

[Wyldrose]

And that would do exactly what to the semen? He isnt putting it in THERE! :shock:

Sorry, have to laugh but she isnt going to get preggers with a bladder full of "genetic contribution!" :lol:

I was thinking the same thing too! lol
Urine is very acidic which will kill sperm, but I highly doubt she is going to get urine "up there".
My rex girl only let my boy have her one time. I'm pretty sure she's going to give me a litter next week. Wow times flying!!

 

[mystang89]

I'll breed again the next day just in case. I don't believe it to be gospel or anything but if they're good enough to breed once then they're good enough to breed twice.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Wow everyone thanks for all the great advice! Sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner. The book in question says to re-mate them in case the doe urinates after insemination. The last doe I bred only allowed him to one time and she is due in 3 days

I appreciate the tips and I will put them into action.

Matt

And that would do exactly what to the semen? He isnt putting it in THERE! :shock:

Sorry, have to laugh but she isnt going to get preggers with a bladder full of "genetic contribution!" :lol:

I think the idea is that the flow of urine will wash the semen out of the vaginal canal IF it isn't deposited high enough...but I really doubt that is even possible. :thinking:

 

[GBov]

I think the idea is that the flow of urine will wash the semen out of the vaginal canal IF it isn't deposited high enough...but I really doubt that is even possible. :thinking:

Yeh, its one of those things that SOUNDS right until you actually THINK about it, then it becomes a "Yeh what?" moment! :lol:

 

[ohiogoatgirl]

I think the idea is that the flow of urine will wash the semen out of the vaginal canal IF it isn't deposited high enough...but I really doubt that is even possible. :thinking:

Yeh, its one of those things that SOUNDS right until you actually THINK about it, then it becomes a "Yeh what?" moment! :lol:

my thought exactly.
here is a link to a simpler drawing of a female rabbits reproducing parts: http://www.ansci.wisc.edu/jjp1/ansci_re ... ction.html

my thinking is that if the buck doesnt get the goods delivered far enough that if the does pees right afterward (which some seem to always do and others dont do, odd) it will "wash away" the semen. instead of it being left there if she had not have peed and the semen could have wiggled its way to the prize.

personally of all the does i've had some seem to only let him cover once and then they want out NOW and wont put up with him any longer and wont let him breed again. and some will let the buck cover as many times as he keeps going at her.

my very first breeding i left the doe in with the buck for about 5 minutes and they did what they did. all of my first breedings were like this. i figured that once would be enough but i figured why not let the buck have his fun while it lasted and i will either have average litters or a bit more then average litters. he covered her 14 times (falling and all) that first doe the first time i ever bred rabbits. :lol: :mrgreen: