newbie question-rabbits not breeding!

[AmysMacdog]

Hello everyone I just found this forum! We have a small issue... We raise meat rabbits but they won't breed!!! Most of the does won't cooperate or go into heat, those that do the buck won't breed. Our original stock is flemish giants that were supposed to be purebred but they look like they have some NZ in there. The only doe we've gotten bred in the last 6 months (we didnt try when it was really hot) was a 6 m/o a week ago. She got bred with the french lop my daughter gave me for christmas. I just got a californian who is READY! but the buck just won't go for it. Could he just be a warm weather buck? He's only about 18 mos old. But we don't want to breed the cali to the french becuase he's 2X her size... any suggestions?

 

[ZRabbits]

Welcome to Rabbit Talk. I'm a newbie at breeding and thankfully with encouragement and info here was successful with one litter. With all the reading I've done here, found that sometimes the term "breeding like rabbits" is a myth. So many variables that could stop rabbits from breeding. Weather and diet come to mind. Hot weather can make bucks sterile for a bit.

Like readiness. Here's a thread that could help figure out when your does could be ready.
judging-a-doe-s-readiness-and-breeding-tips-t9869.html

Also you have a few different breeds and have read some breeds are ready at a younger age than larger breeds.

I know there are lots of experienced breeders here that can help better than I can, as a newbie.

All I know it's not as easy as some think. Just put them together and POOF popples. Definitely frustrating, but I think the RT Community will help get your rabbitry back on track.

Karen

 

[3mina]

First thing that comes to mind is condition, can you feel the bones on the spine or hips? Spiky or not there? If spiky, they're underweight, not there (most common) diet time. What is your day length? Are your rabbits indoors or out? They may be in winter mode, I know I don't get interested rabbits or litters after the beginning of September. Others in my area do but mine are outdoors and until I get some extra light to them I won't get litters til March

 

[AmysMacdog]

My daughter posted this for me, she goofed alittle. These rabbits breed best from early spring until June. A better question would be is there a breed that breeds well in late fall on through to june. This line of rabbits produces large litters of 8-10 bunnies and are good mothers but usually die or become less thrifty and are butchered by 2 y/o to reveal enlarged hearts. During breeding season, I breed back when bunnies are 6-8 wks old. I feed Manna Pro Premium feed. I give about 6 oz. daily because they tend to get fat and then won't conceive, otherwise look good and very active. Would appreciate your input. Thank you. Amy

 

[3mina]

Moving away from the heart issue would be where I'd start. In most places June isn't too hot but between the heart issues and breeding, it might be too much for them. Personally, I'd pick a breed you like the looks of and go from there, asking the breeder about the production aspects of their stock.
The most popular breeds on this forum are: NZ (white, red and blue), Californian, Silver Fox, American Chin, Rex, Satin, Florida Whites (smaller breed), and meat mutts. I'm forgetting several here and I'm sure people will be chiming in with their favorites since my list is far from complete
Hope that helps

 

[AmysMacdog]

I kind of figured thats what I'd have to do. I'll get on the net and see what I can find. Both lines I have seem to have problems. I bought from two local breeders and each time has been disapointing. First pair, one died asthma like condition, the second one died after her second litter of pneumonia when they were 4 wks old. She was bred to the buck I got, he was one with an enlarged heart. He was less than 2 y/o. I'm feelin a little snakebit, I've both had and known rabbits that were 5, 8, and one 12 y/o, this just didn't seem right. Wish me luck on my seach. Thanks Amy

 

[MamaSheepdog]

:welcomewagon:

Hi Amy! Welcome to RabbitTalk!

Sorry to hear of your rocky start in rabbits. A healthy, vigorous herd is a blessing, and it will make your experience much more enjoyable. If you would be comfortable narrowing your location down for us at least to the state level, I am sure someone will be able to suggest some good breeders in your area.

First pair, one died asthma like condition, the second one died after her second litter of pneumonia when they were 4 wks old.

These rabbits probably had Pasteurella. Did they have white snot by their eyes or nostrils? Do any of your current rabbits show similar symptoms?

But we don't want to breed the cali to the french becuase he's 2X her size... any suggestions?

How big is your F lop buck? The standard calls for them to be 11lbs and over, and the standard for Calis calls for 8-10lbs. Unless he is enormous, your Cali doe should be fine bred to him. However, your new doe should be in quarantine for 30 days, especially with the health issues in your herd.

 

[AmysMacdog]

No runny eyes or noses. the first buck who died young began asthmatic like in the chest, difficulty breathing and listlessness. I treated with antibiocs and rabbit RX and quarantine. It didn't help, I treated him several times, he'd improve some like pasteurella can but no runny eyes or nose. The doe I got from same people lived seemingly healthy until the bunnies were 4 wks old. I took them away, treated her but she died a few days later. All 3 bunnies are 6 mo old and seem quite healthy 2 doeings and an I'm not sure what the third one is. Can't think of the word but its a shim! Charactistics of both!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Can't think of the word but its a shim! Charactistics of both!

A hermaphrodite?!? :shock:

It could be a buck with a "split penis".

 

[AmysMacdog]

Thats the word! Hermaphrodite. Hmmm. I will try to get pics, we can all learn about shim together. The french lop looks to be about 11-12 lbs and yes the cali is in quarantine. I worked for a vet for 18 years but back then vets didn't know anything about rabbits. They would ask me and back then there were so few treatments for rabbits, so I would ask my rabbit friends and we had alot of home remedies or the only known antibiotic for rabbits was tetracycline. I can see looking through current rabbit catalogs I have a lot to relearn. So glad I found this forum. Thank you!<br /><br />__________ Mon Dec 03, 2012 12:48 pm __________<br /><br />Been checking on line, lots of small breeds. Anybody have any NZ or other meat breeds in NE Georgia? I will keep a eye on state Market bulitin, most of the time everything is pretty far away and I'll check at feed stores. My dughter just got a job at Tractor Supply. She is just getting to know customers, hopefully she will meet more rabbit folks.

 

[avdpas77]

Hello everyone I just found this forum! We have a small issue... We raise meat rabbits but they won't breed!!! Most of the does won't cooperate or go into heat, those that do the buck won't breed. Our original stock is flemish giants that were supposed to be purebred but they look like they have some NZ in there. The only doe we've gotten bred in the last 6 months (we didnt try when it was really hot) was a 6 m/o a week ago. She got bred with the french lop my daughter gave me for christmas. I just got a californian who is READY! but the buck just won't go for it. Could he just be a warm weather buck? He's only about 18 mos old. But we don't want to breed the cali to the french becuase he's 2X her size... any suggestions?

It is sometimes hard getting ones first rabbits started. Could be so many different issues. I know I am not helping much here, but we have so many different members that it would be really helpful if you would edit your profile to your state in stead of "USA".
Many questions may have temperature as part of the equation, and there is a big difference between Minot and Tallahassee. Just sayin... it would be helful.

Most of us have a bit of a problem getting rabbis started in the Fall. Rabbits tend to over eat in the Autumn and many of them, especially if they are fed pellets, can get too fat. As you say, it is often too hot to breed rabbits during the summer in some areas of the US. Does that have never been breed are often hard to breed after they are 9 or 10 months old (Flemish, because they are larger, might have a longer time... so someone else needs to speak to that)

Late fall/early winter is also not the natural time for them to breed, as in the wild there is little food available. Still they will raise well once started. My personal opinion is that closely bred rabbit are not as fertile as crossed rabbit, but some will disagree with me. So if you original rabbits are "purebred" that might be a factor.

It would be faster to re-breed if you would learn how to palpate, but it is hard to explain how if you can get a local breeder to show you.

Don't loose hope. Once you get them started, you will get a "feel" for what you need to do. It is often hard to get a new bunch going.

 

[AmysMacdog]

Hi in Missouri, I'm in north east Georgia near Toocoa, I plan for does to finish kindling in June because of heat thru mid- sept. We can have temps down into teens and twenties and sometimes down to zero. I that happens I just bring in nest boxes and take boxes out 2x daily until babies are bigger. For those of you who have never heard of this it works great! No frozen bunnies! How do you guys in coldest regions handle cold weather deliveries? Meanwhile, I'm going to continue to look for new stock to get away from the health issues I've had with these rabbits. Hopefully that will help too.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

No runny eyes or noses. the first buck who died young began asthmatic like in the chest, difficulty breathing and listlessness. I treated with antibiocs and rabbit RX and quarantine. It didn't help, I treated him several times, he'd improve some like pasteurella can but no runny eyes or nose. The doe I got from same people lived seemingly healthy until the bunnies were 4 wks old. I took them away, treated her but she died a few days later. All 3 bunnies are 6 mo old and seem quite healthy 2 doeings and an I'm not sure what the third one is. Can't think of the word but its a shim! Charactistics of both!

Pasteurella can go straight to the lungs as pneumonia...I agree with MSD. Sorry you have had such a bumpy start. Have you checked http://www.rabbitbreeders.us or http://www.bestfarmbuys.com or even Craigslist for your area? One thing I would caution you to do is DISINFECT everything that the sick rabbits touched....before you get any new rabbits.

 

[AmysMacdog]

Been there, done that on the disinfecting. The last rabbit that died of pneumonia died 7 mo ago. Her 3 babies look great. They were 4 weeks old when she got sick. Do you think they are OK? Over the past 7 mo I've watched for respitory symptoms and all eyes, noses and chests have been clear. Also I remove anybody sick away from the rest. I thought by now I was safe on that. What do you think? All my info is outdated. Yes I checked those sites. So Far the breeds are to small (christmas bunny sales in progress) or to far away, but I'll keep looking.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Been there, done that on the disinfecting. The last rabbit that died of pneumonia died 7 mo ago. Her 3 babies look great. They were 4 weeks old when she got sick. Do you think they are OK? Over the past 7 mo I've watched for respitory symptoms and all eyes, noses and chests have been clear. Also I remove anybody sick away from the rest. I thought by now I was safe on that. What do you think? All my info is outdated. Yes I checked those sites. So Far the breeds are to small (christmas bunny sales in progress) or to far away, but I'll keep looking.

Honestly? You won't know until they are stressed. Breed the does and maybe take the bucks on a long car ride....the stress of travel or kindling will likely bring out any latent infection.

 

[AmysMacdog]

I knew it was highly contageous, thats why it was recommended to destoy any effected rabbits immediately. How can you ever really be sure!? I bought from two people who had nice rabbits and nice clean rabbitries and I'd like to think they had no idea. Only one pair was affected that way from one rabbitry. They were 10 weeks old when I got them. They are both deceased. So far the rest, including the bunnies, have never shown any symptoms. I hope the rest are OK. However, we have tried to breed the two doeings recently, we shall see. Any ideas how long symptoms may take to appear if they are infected?

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I knew it was highly contageous, thats why it was recommended to destoy any effected rabbits immediately. How can you ever really be sure!? I bought from two people who had nice rabbits and nice clean rabbitries and I'd like to think they had no idea. Only one pair was affected that way from one rabbitry. They were 10 weeks old when I got them. They are both deceased. So far the rest, including the bunnies, have never shown any symptoms. I hope the rest are OK. However, we have tried to breed the two doeings recently, we shall see. Any ideas how long symptoms may take to appear if they are infected?

Sometimes, a strain can just lay dormant and if the rabbits have weaker immune systems, it flares only when stressed, ie.. a move, a show, kindling, etc. I honestly don't know...but I would be really hesitant to use any of those rabbits in my breeding program.

 

[AmysMacdog]

You mean get rid of everybody, disinfect, move the location of the cages and destroy any wood parts the cages are sitting on? Oh no what a mess. I was planning to get rid of those that had heart problems and the the jr does that came from the infected doe eventually as I could replace them. But I was going to keep breeding the ones I have and eventually they would all wind up in the freezer. Then I would have the new stock in place by the time they were gone.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

had nice rabbits and nice clean rabbitries

THIS has nothing to do with it... IT IS Contagious. Highly contagious. IF YOU CAN get differnt rabbits from a healthy herd that is the way to go. I had to start over from a breeder that had a healthy herd. I dont bring in any more rabbits. I got what i what now. Now i just breed for good mother instincts and good milkers and good fur and good temperment and type. I will not bring in any more bucks as i have 3 differents lines to keep me going for a long time. but it took allot of money and patience and time on my part. I had to cull allot of rabbits from having some kind of form of pasterualla. Like abscess ect. I had one breeder offer to replace two of the ones i bought from . but i said no it is ok. I didnt want any more from this person. So i took a lost and learned from it.

 

[AmysMacdog]

Sorry, didn't mean to upset you. I'm just freaking out alittle. I'm attached some of these guys, others I knew would have to go. All that I have now are young with clear eyes, noses and clear lungs. I had assumed after 7 mo and no more respiratory problems that problem was over. My attention then turned to using those with heart problems for the freezer, ending that problem, then at the same time working in new ones to replace old ones. Not to breed to the old ones. I basically have 3 keepers out of nine, I thought I dtd. This pretty over whelming! Sad.