Question

[preciousgurl63]

I have a doe that I have bred before and had a litter of 11. Well I decided to breed her again since her first litter was so big. I put her in with the male and waited hoping he knew what to do since this was his first time lol. Well after awhile it came to him and he mounted her. I let him mount her about 5 times and she lefted every time. Well I waited 31 days like last time and she ended up having them yesterday. I ended up walking in on her when she was in the nestbox giving birth. I checked the other rabbits and then quickly lefted not to disturb her. I then went back after a hour or so went by to check on her and see how many kits she had. Well she only had 2. One still born and the other one alive but cold since it wasn't in the nest. It ended up dying after trying to warm it up. My question is why she only have 2 after being mounted 5 times. I really thought she would have had a big litter after being mounted that many times. Her first litter she had she was only mounted twice by a first time buck again and had 11. I was really hoping for a big litter again. Do you think their was something wrong with the buck or was it just her? I don't want to forget but she was nuring 3 wk almost 4 wk old kits. I don't know if that would of had something to do with it. I don't believe she has any kits still in her since I have seen her eating. She started eating a few hours after having them. Sorry for rambling but im just curious and I guess a little confused. If anyone can answer my questions or try to help me out with understanding it I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[rawfeeder]

Hmm... could just be bad luck? your buck isn't fully fertile/mature yet or your doe just didn't have it in her to support a huge litter so soon? How is her over all body condition? I would breed her back right away and see how she does next time around.

I don't think number of breedings really contributes to litter size. My doe had a litter of 9 and I rebred her back about a week after kindling. The buck got her twice and she ended up delivering a litter of 15!!!!

 

[Dood]

She just didn't have a lot of eggs ready for fertilization or there is something wrong with his sperm or there was something genetically wrong and most of the kits were re-absorbed or there was something g environmentally wrong and the kits were absorbed.

There are many possibilities as to why she only had 2.

 

[Prisma]

As said could be a number of things...rebreeding sooner than later should help if she's in good shape. If it was a long time in between litters that could have some thing to do with it too. Does get fat deposits and out of shape when they're not kept on a breeding schedual of some kind in my experience.

 

[preciousgurl63]

Well when I got the buck I was told he was 2 or 3 yrs of age. So he should of been plenty old enough to breed to my doe. And her body condition is good. She is a nice weight. I able just a little sad because those kits was suppose to be for the freezer and now I don't got a good meaty buck to breed back to her because I sold him. The only buck I got is a mini rex and I don't think the kits would get a good size for the freezer. I guess my freezer is going to be a little empty with rabbits until I can find me another nice size buck.

 

[trinityoaks]

Can you save one of her buckling kits to breed to her in a few months?

 

[preciousgurl63]

Well I went out today to check on the rabbits and notice some fur blowing around in my does cage. So I checked her nestbox and to my surprise I seen more fur pulled and it moving. I moved the fur and there was 4 nice healthy looking kits. I checked the nest for any die ones and found 5. Looked to be one normal size kit and the other 4 really really small kits. I doubt they was even as long as my finger. She must of had them this morning which means she waited a full 24 hrs to give birth to the rest of her litter. So if all the kits would of been alive this count would of been 11 as well. I have another question though. Why would she have such small looked to be undeveloped kits when the other died one seemed to be of full size and developed? I never had a rabbit have such small kits like that. They was so small I thought it was the placenta until I notice it had feet and tiny ears.

 

[Miss M]

Well when I got the buck I was told he was 2 or 3 yrs of age.

It's possible that since he had never bred, most of the sperm he had was dead. He didn't make more, because it wasn't used. His first breeding got rid of some of the dead sperm, but it may have taken another breeding or several to get him completely "cleaned out".

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

It's possible that since he had never bred, most of the sperm he had was dead. He didn't make more, because it wasn't used. His first breeding got rid of some of the dead sperm, but it may have taken another breeding or several to get him completely "cleaned out".

This is true-- a case of "use it or lose it" Rabbits, once they get active though, can start generating fresh sperm quickly after a sterile stretch..

I keep trying to remem ber exactly how old Marsha is-- I find it intetrsting her first two litter had only 5 each, and the last litter, she delivered 10 after over a year without being bred... but then, I flushed her the last time around..

 

[preciousgurl63]

Since she had the rest of her litter today. And their was a lot of undeveloped small kits in it. Would it be safe to keep a buck out of this litter to breed back to her or do you think the buck I bred to her had genetic issue which could of been past down to the kits. I just want to be safe and have no more small undevelped kits.

 

[Miss M]

Hmmmmm... it sounds like that doe/buck combination just might not be good. They probably both have some gene that is coming into play here. Breed a rabbit with it to a rabbit without, no problems. Breed two rabbits with it, and stuff happens.

To make undeveloped kits, the buck still has to have live sperm. The doe is already nicely proven. I think you've just got a bad genetic combo. I would not keep any kits back from this litter, I don't think, and especially not to breed back to her.

 

[preciousgurl63]

Ok thanks for all the help. I greatly apperciate it.