Review our thinking and setup

[Cowboy1]

We are starting to wonder if we are doing something wrong.

We have 2 trios, one is New Zealand white. The other is Californians. Plus we have two more does, Mama and Halo, mutts.

The Californians are all pedigreed and the buck is to show in 4H. We are hoping for meat pens in the spring for 4H as well.
The NZ's are just to provide meat for the table.

Everyone lives in their own cage and is well fed and taken care of. the kids check them twice a day at least and My wife and I are out there at least that much ourselves.

Unfortunately we have had absolutely zero breedings that have worked since last spring.
Mama has lost two litters on the wire and is currently fostering for Ruby (CA) who lost the 8 we had left with her.
EB(CA) lost her one and only kit today, hopefully more to come?

The two NZ's didnt take.
If Mama is able to take her four to weaning we will have had two successful litters in almost a year.

We are frustrated and wondering what we may be doing wrong!
We do attribute the summer with no litters to the heat, something that seems common here lately. It doesnt help that the NM summers reach 100 degrees.

Winter is nearly upon us and the lows will reach zero or below. Do we try for another litter or wait till spring?
Any insight is appreciated.

 

[skysthelimit]

Well my best and largest litters were in the winter, with Lake Erie lake effect snow. i just take my nest boxes in.

 

[Cowboy1]

We find that the snow days are warmer.
Here it is dry and cold. Highs in the 40's at best.

If the nest box is inside how long does the doe need with the kits?

 

[jessie15273]

We find that the snow days are warmer.
Here it is dry and cold. Highs in the 40's at best.

If the nest box is inside how long does the doe need with the kits?

How long does it take you to feed and water. Depending on the doe, she may jump right in and nurse them, or she may be a bit shy

 

[skysthelimit]

I put it in when I go to do chores, I'm out there no more than twenty minutes. I take it back into an unheated house. I take it back out when I get home from work, leave it probably not more than an hour, depending on how cold it is and how willing I am to stay outside. Sometimes I leave it and come back for it around 9pm.<br /><br />__________ Thu Nov 01, 2012 7:36 pm __________<br /><br />

How long does it take you to feed and water. Depending on the doe, she may jump right in and nurse them, or she may be a bit shy

Maybe the first few times a few are a bit shy. I don't leave the box, they won't starve. If that happens, I usually take the box to work so I know they will be at least warmer (need food to stay warm). After that, they are eager to release the pressure of the milk, the longer the box is gone, the faster they jump in. I've had does nurse 10 minutes.

 

[ladysown]

some questions to help you do some figuring.

1. why are you losing kits? poor kindling? predators? lack of milk?
2. how much are you feeding and what are feeding them?
3. are your rabbits in good BREEDING shape (not show or pet shape, breeding shape)
4. kits are just fine outside all year round AS LONG AS mom does her job properly AND if they are at least three kits in the litter.
5. are your does simply lousy at kindling? Do they have much to learn?
6. have you ever had a successful litter off your rabbits (or has someone else)?
7. are they breeding well?
8. are you providing nestboxes to them in a timely manner? AND are they a proper size for the rabbits involved?
9. IF you know they are a problem nestbox user have you done things to encourage a live litter? for instance...providing hay all over the cage floor to hopefully give kits a nest area to burrow into?

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

I had ALLOT of the same troubles up until now. :shock: I have a barn full of junior does and they seem to be having a hard time figuring it out. Now I have 21 live kits and really wouldn't mind if the other three that may be due didn't take. :roll:
I was getting really discouraged but hadn't quite given up yet.
There is a learning curve to this rabbit breeding stuff. Irregaurdless of the "_____ :hump: ______ like rabbits" line. Don't give up. You and your bunnies will get it figured out in time and then you will have more bunnies than you know what to do with.

 

[skysthelimit]

some questions to help you do some figuring.
2. how much are you feeding and what are feeding them?
3. are your rabbits in good BREEDING shape (not show or pet shape, breeding shape)

Maybe the does are overweight? How old are they?

 

[curlysue]

In my experience most new people over feed the rabbits.fat bucks dont want too breed and fat does wont concieve.I would breed in winter giving them too much time off results in difficulty rebreeding.too avoid heat related sterility i use young bucks that are 6 too 7 months old.a doe loses a litter she gets rebred immediately.after three mistakes on her part shes out.i sent a trio of Hollands too the auction i never could get the does bred.

 

[Cowboy1]

some questions to help you do some figuring.

1. why are you losing kits? poor kindling? predators? lack of milk?
Unsure, but for now we attribute the loss to the mother birthing on the wire or not covering her babies and letting them freeze.
2. how much are you feeding and what are feeding them?
ManaPro Grow or equivalent, plus hay and other goodies from the garden and flower beds.
3. are your rabbits in good BREEDING shape (not show or pet shape, breeding shape)
to the best of my knowledge, yes.
4. kits are just fine outside all year round AS LONG AS mom does her job properly AND if they are at least three kits in the litter.
5. are your does simply lousy at kindling? Do they have much to learn?
One doe is experienced but rescued from a situation that had her bred constantly with no nest box. she has managed ONE litter successfully for us and is now fostering three, so far, successfully.
6. have you ever had a successful litter off your rabbits (or has someone else)?
Yes, see above.
7. are they breeding well?
they appeared to be, but no litters over the summer. the October breeding worked.
8. are you providing nestboxes to them in a timely manner? AND are they a proper size for the rabbits involved?
Yes.
9. IF you know they are a problem nestbox user have you done things to encourage a live litter? for instance...providing hay all over the cage floor to hopefully give kits a nest area to burrow into?
No, that thought had not crossed my mind. We will have to try it the next time around for Mama.

thanks!