New buck or not????

[Oscar]

So I want to get a new rabbit because my buck just won't breed and I was wondering if I buy a buck from the fair sales would that bea good idea or not. I don't live in a place where getting lots of rabbits is an option the breeds are slim picking over here and that's the best place I can think of. Is this a good idea or not?

 

[Prisma]

Can you look over the rabbits or talk to previous owners (or both ideal)? Is health guaranteed at pick up at least? What happens if you go to pick up and the rabbit is sick or injured? Are you just out?

Is this like a live stock auction or some thing else? I'm not familiar with fair sales but do have live stock auctions. They bring animals in, crated or boxed, and auction them off. You don't get to look at them prior to and what you get is what you see, sick or not although sick are not supposed to be brought in. If an accident happens where the animal is injured, tough cookies and buyer deals with it. Breeds can be pure or can be some kinda 100x mix, most of the time no pedigree no previous owner information will be listed on them. I used to go quite frequently, buy pity cases, bring home and re-home or if good enough breed; but that's been several years ago and I haven't been to a yard since 2012 or 2013, would have to look to see when I got my last tack lol.

 

[Preitler]

How old are your rabbits? My new buck needed more then 6 months (don't know his exact age) to get the deed done.

I bought 2 of my does at the local small animal fair, the black was supposed to grow to be a giant checkerd (fortunatly, she didn't, I'much better off with 6-7lbs rabbits), the grey was ok for 2 1/2 years but developed teary eyes which I strongly think are caused by tooth problems. Didn't know any background or had a chance to interview the breeder, so it always was a surprise package. But back then I was new to rabbits and wouldn't have known what to ask about :?

 

[Dood]

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Hey i have tried everything i cant get my buck to even mount my doe. anything will help thanks!!!

Hi,

some details would help
What did you try, how do they live, how old are they?

And - one very common problem, even with rather experienced people - are you really sure it's a buck and a doe?

Before you get a new buck please answer the above questions

 

[Oscar]

I have tried; lifting her up, apple cider vinegar, a harness to lift her/pull her forward, on their own, in the bucks cage, Etc. They both live in their own hutches with 6oz. of food and fresh water every day. They are about 7 months old now because i got them in march.

 

[Preitler]

Lol, if I would try that with my does I would end up as a bloody heap of misery

Well, my buck took about that time to develop enough charm to seduce the ladies...
What does the buck do?
Ignore her, act confused, or act as if that is nothing that concern him. Is she aggressive, or grunts, or just not interested?

He is a buck, right? For sure? You never know where the Sex Change Fairy will strike, happend to me more than once. But when they don't fight chances are good that he is really a he.

On their own for how long? I would put them together for two or three days, or actually for close to a month and let them do what rabbits do naturally. Maybe connect the cages. Keeping the buck with the doe when she is pregnant normally isn't a problem, just be sure to remove him a few days before she is due (or you'll have another litter :?, don't ask how I know...)

 

[Oscar]

Yes i am sure he is a buck. they have been apart for a couple of weeks now but see each other regularly. i tried again tonight and got for sure one fall off but possibly two. how many fall offs does it take to make a doe pregnant?

 

[Dood]

One

 

[Oscar]

Ok thanks I hope that this time will work out!!!

 

[FourRingCircus]

Yes i am sure he is a buck. they have been apart for a couple of weeks now but see each other regularly. i tried again tonight and got for sure one fall off but possibly two. how many fall offs does it take to make a doe pregnant?

None :lol: I had a doe that never lifted, the buck never fell off. I didn't think there was a chance for her to be pregnant, but lo and behold, I was walking by checking on the other two that were getting ready to have their litters and I saw her with a mouthful of hay. Stuck a nest box in and she had 5!

Barring no heat sterility or anything, a fall off is usually a pretty good sign. Mark your calendar!

 

[Oscar]

Ok I did but I have no clue what to do never had babies before!?

 

[macksmom98]

I just mark the calendar, and keep and eye on things. A lot of times my does personality will change or things will be different, and I like to watch it for future reference to see what they will act like.
Some people palpate at 12-14 days, and some will try to rebred to see if the doe will allow it. But mine have nest boxes built into their cages, so by day 28 I just make sure they are cleaned out and ready to go. I do love to hang out in the rabbitry, but feel like when they are close to kindling it makes mine more nervous, so I am going to do my best to give them some space this time, checking 3 times a day and feeding/watering as normal. You will only need to watch extra close if you are worried about cold and them freezing. Then you might want to take extra care to try and catch any born on the wire before they freeze....

 

[Oscar]

Thats the thing I cant palpate for the life of me!?! I just don't know where to feel? I an sort of worried about them freezing and how she will be as a first time mom? Is that a thing that comes naturally or does it take a couple tries to get it? I do understand that some of the babies may die. :?

 

[Dood]

Thats the thing I cant palpate for the life of me!?! I just don't know where to feel? I an sort of worried about them freezing and how she will be as a first time mom? Is that a thing that comes naturally or does it take a couple tries to get it? I do understand that some of the babies may die. :?

Depends on the doe

In my bloodlines my first time moms almost always get it right and the few that don't become foster mothers to another does kits

 

[Oscar]

Thats the problem I only have one doe and one buck!!! Is mix breeding all that bad because other websites say that it is really bad?!?

 

[Dood]

Heck no! but I breed mainly for meat so most of my rabbits go to "freezer camp" and mutts taste just as good as purebreds.

If you want to sell pets or breeding stock then mixed breeds don't sell nearly as well and you must figure out what to do with the ones you still have after 12 weeks.

Why do they say it would be bad?

 

[Oscar]

I don't know a few websites I looked at before made it seem like I would be beheaded if I did have mixed breed babies. <br /><br /> -- Thu Nov 26, 2015 11:00 pm -- <br /><br /> Still having trouble with my "breeding problem". Is it possible that my doe is fixed if so how would I tell? I got her from murdochs but I think she was too young to get fixed at that point? This is all new to me! :x

 

[Dood]

Typically vets wait until a rabbit is over 4 months old before neutering.

The cost to spay a female rabbit is in the $100's so I doubt she was fixed, normally males get castrated as it is a much simpler and cheaper procedure

There is no way of knowing but if she was then you may be able see a 3/4" to 1 1/2" scar along her belly

 

[Oscar]

Then I don't believe that either one got fixed! but I still don't understand why they won't have babies :angry: the litter that is closest is the Thanksgiving day babies but still nothing and it is the day after! :? It is so irritating because I just want to go out there and see little buns in her nesting box! But I don't have any other does to breed so she is my only chance!