Well, Let's See How This Turns Out... Not Well! (pics)

[Bad Habit]

Took Star out today to groom her, she started lifting for the brush, so figured her breeding after kindling didn't take. Let Snow cover her 4 times.

Then, I got a brain storm.

Hannah's been getting chunky, and her kits are to start being weaned in just a couple days here... So I let Snow cover her. Just once, directly after he had covered Star 4 times. I am hoping that this will keep Hannah from having such a huge litter. If she does have a large litter, and Star stomps her babies again, I'll give her some of Hannah's to try again. I figure if I can just get Star past her initial freaking out, I'll be able to convince her that I intend no harm to her babies.

 

[rawfeeder]

That's a really great idea, I'm super interested to see how this turns out Good luck Bad Habit, keep us posted!!

 

[Bad Habit]

Oh, I am pretty sure I covered it on previous posts, but in case anyone finds their rabbits more important than mine... Hannah has large litters, and tends to lose a fair bit of weight while nursing them. I was actually considering rehoming her because of her large litters, as both she and I find them a lot to handle. I am hoping that by letting Snow cover another doe first, and then only letting him cover Hannah once, she will have a smaller litter. I would love to make Hannah my "back up mom", since I know she is a great mom, and could occasionally handle a larger litter, if I needed to foster onto her.

 

[Whipple]

Is it a possibility to cull some kits before they take too much out of their mom?

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

but in case anyone finds their rabbits more important than mine...

That's funny!

 

[Wyldrose]

I hope things work out for you! My doe that scattered her kits and had still borns etc. I rebred her and another doe at the same time so I can foster some the same age over.
Good luck! I hope Star does a better job this time and Hannah has a smaller litter.

 

[Bad Habit]

I could cull, but prefer not to. For all I know, I could be culling the best of the bunch, because at that size I would be culling for colour. I like nature selected kits, and would prefer a smaller size litter over having to pick and choose.

Yeah, it was meant to be funny, coffee.... Kind of a nod to how self absorbed I can be, automatically assuming everyone knows what I am talking about.

It will interesting to see how many she produces.

 

[Miss M]

in case anyone finds their rabbits more important than mine...

:lol:

I hate to tell you this, but one of my does had a litter of 8, and the buck got her only once, and after he had covered another doe twice.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I hate to tell you this, but one of my does had a litter of 8, and the buck got her only once, and after he had covered another doe twice.

I'm not holding out much hope for you either, Bad Habit. :no: When we are talking about millions of sperm in each ejaculate... even if he was "running low" by the end, there would likely still be a couple hundred thousand little swimmers in there.

I think that if Hannah's condition becomes too poor she will refuse breeding and give herself a break.

I hope Snow does better this time! :clover: If she is a whacko again at first, I would remove the nest for the first couple of days and only put it in at nursing time.

 

[Bad Habit]

Well one way or another, it is done. I am still hopeful that she will have a smaller litter. Either way, I will report back with how many she has .<br /><br />__________ Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:48 pm __________<br /><br />Final countdown is on. Both girls seem pregnant. I think Hannah will be going soon, she's been nesting for a few days now.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

umm, folks, the male has NOTHING to do with the number of offspring UNLESS his swimmers are not healthy!!! It is the number of ova available for the swimmers to hit that counts!!!

 

[skysthelimit]

umm, folks, the male has NOTHING to do with the number of offspring UNLESS his swimmers are not healthy!!! It is the number of ova available for the swimmers to hit that counts!!!

Which is of course, hereditary.

 

[Bad Habit]

And as always, I am just an idiot. Forget it.

 

[Wyldrose]

Soon we will find out

 

[Honorine]

I read a study that said that the third or fourth ejaculate of a buck is usually the best, with the most swimmers, thats why a buck can cover numerous does in a day and still impregnate them. I know with dogs you need to 'clear the decks' on a regular basis to mantain sperm quality. I always try and get three breedings per doe, I worry that less may give me less kits, based on sperm quality, age and condition of doe etc. Yes the doe does control how many eggs are released, but the quality of the sperm matched with her physical condition has a lot to do with how many eggs remain and develop. Dogs and Rabbits have something in common, they both have the ability to reabsorb their young, and sometimes that too can control litter size. I always try to breed as many does as possible at the same time, then I play musical babies when they all kindle. I have often bred a doe I knew I had to foster her kits out at birth, so I don't think there's anything wrong with that, sometimes her genetics are just too important to lose. I hope you get something nice out of these breedings.

 

[Secuono]

Are you feeding the mom with huge litters extra?

 

[Bad Habit]

Are you feeding the mom with huge litters extra?

... Yes. Why wouldn't I be?? It would be disgustingly cruel to let a 4lb rabbit try and raise that many babies on normal rations.

Yep. I'm an idiot. It completely backfired. She had her largest litter ever.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Are you feeding the mom with huge litters extra?

... Yes. Why wouldn't I be?? It would be disgustingly cruel to let a 4lb rabbit try and raise that many babies on normal rations.

Yep. I'm an idiot. It completely backfired. She had her largest litter ever.

BH, you are not an idiot....our rabbits just like to totally confound us! :mrgreen: Chin up, girlie!

 

[Bad Habit]

There's 9 of the darned things.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Lol!

Sorry that didn't work out as planned, Bad habit.

I think you need to just accept that Hannah is a kit making machine. If you think about it, it is actually a very good thing... large litters make for easier kindling, and when you are dealing with dwarf breeds that is a wonderful trait.

Stop fighting it, BH, and accept her for what she is. She is obviously in great condition or she wouldn't be able to keep doing this.

And just think of the piles of :money: 9 kits will bring! You'll be rich, RICH, I say!