Rebreed when??

[grey_brindlebuck]

What do you think about when deciding to rebreed a nursing doe?
Mini rex: she has good condition, healthy appetite, 8 kits at almost 3 weeks old

I've just started the rabbitry and am trying to build a good line. It's not exactly an accelerated program, but I don't want to wait months before rebreeding either. Thoughts?

 

[Zass]

If she's in good shape and ready to lift, go ahead and rebreed whenever.

Most does have no problem nursing and carrying a litter at the same time.

Weaning can happen anytime you or the doe prefers it to between 4 and 12 weeks.
Breeders have a lot of different opinions, but most everyone agrees that it's a bad idea to wean before 4 weeks without a REALLY good reason, and that it's not safe to leave bucks with does past 12 weeks...though small breeds have been reported to mature as early as 8 weeks.

If you breed her back now, the doe might get testy with the kits a little earlier then if she wasn't pregnant..
For example my does will usually tolerate their kits as long as they are left together, but others have reported having to wean a week or two before they intended because a pregnant doe decided she was done with her current litter..

 

[Dood]

Other things to consider at this time of year is your climate, are you expecting weather in the 90's in the next couple months?

Heat stress can cause a buck to become temporarily infertile and is very taxing on a pregnant doe and young kits who are stuck in a nest box and cannot move to cooler areas