Need help with breeding timing

[Olbunny]

Hello and thanks folks. I'm trying to plan out the timing on our breeding program. It's middle of February. Justation is a month. 1-1/2 months to ween. 2-1/2 months. So middle of April to sell or barter.
Considerations, it's winter in ak. Temperatures still hitting 10 above common. Highs of 25. Daylight, sunrise is near 8 am. Kinda, the sun is shining behind the hill behind us. Sunset is 6-7ish. Not getting 12 hours yet. So that's a big concern.
4 does and 1 new buck. We started linebreeding 1 Californian buck. 3 black New Zealand does. 1 drop off, beautiful doe , gold then black hair. 8#s.
Our linebreeding program centers on the Californian/ NZ lines. We now have a blue version. New blue buck, now 7-8 months old. 2 new blue does. 1 original doe with great traights.
We breed our does 4 consecutive days. Our average has been 8 kits in preor couple years. In our first year our rabbitry produced over 300 pounds of processed meat. Frozen n vacuum sealed and canned. We did 5 litters, too many. We lost 2 kits that were runts to freezing. They go into the heated water bowl. So 2 losses out of a lot. Mother Nature got us.
Our line is very cold hardy. The does are kept in our greenhouse for the winter. And have boxes stuffed with clean hay. Temperatures in the greenhouse in a month should be over freezing most of the time.
We have what we have to work with. And I enjoy it immensely. What are some of you other colder weather breeders. And certainly you all have great thoughts. And all information is considered constructive.
Thank you, really appreciate it

 

[ladysown]

I'm admittedly not sure of what you are asking.

I live in SW Ontario in the heart of the snow belt. I breed year round as long as the rabbits cooperate. this year I added Lexcan to one side of my rabbitry with a goal to providing more light. it's proven to be effective. As long as the does do their job (pulling lots of fur and building a good nest) everything goes well. If they don't, and I'm able to provide supplemental care (sometimes just adding fur, sometimes shelving for a week) the kits will survive unless something odd happens. Odd things happen.... a vicious storm can blow through, protections provided can fail, moms can have brain farts etc. but most of the time.... kits grow. I love new litters and watching babies grow.

 

[Alaska Satin]

Hello and thanks folks. I'm trying to plan out the timing on our breeding program. It's middle of February. Justation is a month. 1-1/2 months to ween. 2-1/2 months. So middle of April to sell or barter.
Considerations, it's winter in ak. Temperatures still hitting 10 above common. Highs of 25. Daylight, sunrise is near 8 am. Kinda, the sun is shining behind the hill behind us. Sunset is 6-7ish. Not getting 12 hours yet. So that's a big concern.
4 does and 1 new buck. We started linebreeding 1 Californian buck. 3 black New Zealand does. 1 drop off, beautiful doe , gold then black hair. 8#s.
Our linebreeding program centers on the Californian/ NZ lines. We now have a blue version. New blue buck, now 7-8 months old. 2 new blue does. 1 original doe with great traights.
We breed our does 4 consecutive days. Our average has been 8 kits in preor couple years. In our first year our rabbitry produced over 300 pounds of processed meat. Frozen n vacuum sealed and canned. We did 5 litters, too many. We lost 2 kits that were runts to freezing. They go into the heated water bowl. So 2 losses out of a lot. Mother Nature got us.
Our line is very cold hardy. The does are kept in our greenhouse for the winter. And have boxes stuffed with clean hay. Temperatures in the greenhouse in a month should be over freezing most of the time.
We have what we have to work with. And I enjoy it immensely. What are some of you other colder weather breeders. And certainly you all have great thoughts. And all information is considered constructive.

We're in Southcentral Alaska and we breed our rabbits *almost* year-round. The winters here are so much longer than most cold-winter places that I have found that taking a break in mid-winter is worth doing. So, I don't breed for December or January litters, since those accounted for most of my litter mortality; some does pull it off, but finding bunnycicles is so depressing I quit taking the chance. My theory is that even with supplemental lighting, their hormones are at such a natural low that they don't always get the right chemical instructions to kindle or raise the kits correctly.

But as soon as the month of January rolls around, I take my cue from the does and start breeding when they act ready. By the time the sun hits our windows again from behind the mountains, many of the does, the young ones especially, are grunting and lifting at the slightest provocation. It usually works out to bunnies born around about Valentine's Day. I've got four does due this week, and in fact this morning our first litter of the year was born, by my daughter's darling Holland Lop "Sleeping Beauty." Two fat healthy bunnies - she did an awesome job for a first-timer, outside in the barn at 10 degrees F!

 

[Olbunny]

I'm admittedly not sure of what you are asking.

I live in SW Ontario in the heart of the snow belt. I breed year round as long as the rabbits cooperate. this year I added Lexcan to one side of my rabbitry with a goal to providing more light. it's proven to be effective. As long as the does do their job (pulling lots of fur and building a good nest) everything goes well. If they don't, and I'm able to provide supplemental care (sometimes just adding fur, sometimes shelving for a week) the kits will survive unless something odd happens. Odd things happen.... a vicious storm can blow through, protections provided can fail, moms can have brain farts etc. but most of the time.... kits grow. I love new litters and watching babies grow.

I'm asking advice on the timing of when I can start breeding our does. Our climate does not allow for kits. And we like to rest the does.
Sounds like you enjoy your rabbitry and have a good program. B
I've also believe that rabbits will breed more successfully if there is at least 12 hours of daylight. Also thought that wild rabbits breeding cycles are tied to daylight. Minimum 12 hours and the games begin.

We're in Southcentral Alaska and we breed our rabbits *almost* year-round. The winters here are so much longer than most cold-winter places that I have found that taking a break in mid-winter is worth doing. So, I don't breed for December or January litters, since those accounted for most of my litter mortality; some does pull it off, but finding bunnycicles is so depressing I quit taking the chance. My theory is that even with supplemental lighting, their hormones are at such a natural low that they don't always get the right chemical instructions to kindle or raise the kits correctly.

But as soon as the month of January rolls around, I take my cue from the does and start breeding when they act ready. By the time the sun hits our windows again from behind the mountains, many of the does, the young ones especially, are grunting and lifting at the slightest provocation. It usually works out to bunnies born around about Valentine's Day. I've got four does due this week, and in fact this morning our first litter of the year was born, by my daughter's darling Holland Lop "Sleeping Beauty." Two fat healthy bunnies - she did an awesome job for a first-timer, outside in the barn at 10 degrees F!
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Thanks Satin. I figured you may help. For us it's watering n such. And we just don't want that much work. Especially this winter. Like a good bit of snow huh. We're still at over 3 foot.
Our buck is new. 7 months or so. Hopefully he figures it out fast

 

[Alaska Satin]

For us it's watering n such. And we just don't want that much work. Especially this winter. Like a good bit of snow huh. We're still at over 3 foot.
Our buck is new. 7 months or so. Hopefully he figures it out fast

Yeah, we all agree here that we are pretty much sick of this interminable winter. Dumps of snow, then single digit temps, then another dump of snow, then single digits, then more snow...enough already! It's like we're living in Alaska or something!

I also don't want any extra work, especially when it all involves more shoveling and/or slipping around on the ice (our barn is downhill from the house). I've written it in other threads so maybe you've already read about my husband's winter watering trick, but I'll post it again since it's been such a help for us. Our rabbits are supposed to get fresh warm water twice a day, but since teenagers are charge of the chores, that doesn't happen as reliably as one could hope. So I freeze water in empty yogurt/cottage cheese containers (the big ones), sometimes adding carrot peelings or apple cores that freeze into the middle of the ice block. I just fill the containers with water and put them outside the door - easy, they freeze fast. I knock the ice block out of the container and put one of the blocks in each cage. Not only are they great toys and help the rabbits keep their teeth trimmed, but they also help the rabbits stay well hydrated. It keeps the rabbits in good condition, and I think that's part of why we generally have good luck with breeding early in the season.