When to breed mini rex

[peggysue]

I am trying to find when is the best time to put my 2 girls to my stud. 2 breeders have told me 5 months, 1 said 6 months and advice online can vary.

One girl is big! She's been fully grown since about 12 weeks, she is a bit bigger than my stud, she is 17 weeks. My other girl is 19 weeks and still a bit smaller than my stud but I do think she is still growing. My stud is 5 1/2 months and a lovely size.

When do you put your girls to stud for the first time? I am waiting for some digital scales to arrive so I can weigh them all.

 

[tnelsonfla]

I would have to say after 6 months of age but before 12 months would be the generic answer. If the doe is of senior weight, which is 3 1/2 lbs., with ideal weight being a little over 4 pounds. Then you could breed at that time. I try also to breed at least two does at the same time encase one needs to foster for whatever reason. Also if you are planning on showing you have to count back from show dates. Right now my next breeding are for a show in January and a show in March, so I have breeding scheduled for middle September and beginning of December. Hope this helps, good luck.

 

[skysthelimit]

Pretty much the same, but some will breed at 5 mos if they have reached senior weight or at least 75% of their adult weight. I've had does act like they are ready at 4 mos, but I've never had anyone produce anything earlier than 6 mos.

 

[jessie15273]

I just came on here to ask this!!!!

...I have a 12 week old doe who is 3.4 lbs! I hope she stops growing now! her mama is a tiny girl, but papas pretty big

 

[peggysue]

Thanks for answering.

I will weigh the girls when my scales come, I would be shocked if the younger girl wasnt adult weight.

 

[skysthelimit]

I just came on here to ask this!!!!

...I have a 12 week old doe who is 3.4 lbs! I hope she stops growing now! her mama is a tiny girl, but papas pretty big

false dwarf perhaps? Some of the meat breeders here breed at 16 weeks, so if you think she's up to it, you might give it a try, or wait another month.

 

[curlysue]

I go by size and age.if a doe is senior weight she can be bred at 4 months although i usually wait 5 or 6.dwarf breeds mature fast.i know several breeders that used too breed dwarf does at 4 months.Mini rex do have the dwarf gene.

 

[jessie15273]

I just came on here to ask this!!!!

...I have a 12 week old doe who is 3.4 lbs! I hope she stops growing now! her mama is a tiny girl, but papas pretty big

false dwarf perhaps? Some of the meat breeders here breed at 16 weeks, so if you think she's up to it, you might give it a try, or wait another month.

I definitely think shes a false dwarf! She is almost as big as her mom now! Still not sure if i want to keep her for brood, or sell her as a pet, shes the sweetest thing!

 

[skysthelimit]

if her ears are small, and she looks good, I'd keep her as a brood. You'd never have to worry about peanuts.

 

[peggysue]

I weighed my 3 today, my big girl who is 18 weeks weighs in at 4.2lb, my dinky bew girl who is almost 20 weeks weighs in at 3.1lb and my sexy boy weighs in at 3.2lb.
How are these weights for breeding? My plan was to put the girls to stud at the same time but im not sure my bew girl is large enough?? (I plan on waiting until the younger girl is 20 weeks anyway)

__________ Wed Jul 18, 2012 3:15 pm __________

<br /><br />__________ Wed Jul 18, 2012 3:16 pm __________<br /><br />

 

[tnelsonfla]

The weights seem fine. Of coarse there is nothing wrong with waiting. Is there a reason or cause for you to breed them young? You never know the young buck may not produce his first time. Has both of his testicles dropped? Let us know what happens. Do you have cage space for two possible litters?

 

[peggysue]

Thanks for replying, the breeders I got the rabbits off (3 seperate) all first try their girls at 5 months so I was just going along with what they said. But then started worrying about weights! I was also a little worried of waiting longer and the kits being born as the weather was getting colder.

My boy is a little older than the girls, he is almost 6 months now.

My girls are each in their own 5ft x 2ft x 2ft hutches and I have 3 spare 4ft x 2ft x 2ft hutches so space isnt a problem.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

This may be a silly question, but have you checked their vent area to see if they are displaying signs of sexual readiness? I routinely start looking to breed mine at 16wks...I don't have MR, I have Cals, NZW, Rex and American Blue. If they are 16wks or older, at or near senior weight and their vent is hot pink/red to purple in color, then I will try them with a buck. If they are ready, they will lift for the buck no problem. If they aren't, they will run in circles so I take them out. I don't force breed. I wait a week, check them and try again until they readily lift. I tend to think that my rabbits know when they are ready to breed, why should I make them wait?

 

[peggysue]

You know what I havent been checking their vents, I am going out shortly to feed and water so will have a look (hope the neighbours arent looking)!

 

[3mina]

You know what I havent been checking their vents, I am going out shortly to feed and water so will have a look (hope the neighbours arent looking)!

Even if they are will they know what they're looking at? :lol:

 

[OneAcreFarm]

You know what I havent been checking their vents, I am going out shortly to feed and water so will have a look (hope the neighbours arent looking)!

What I do is turn them on their back in my arm, like a baby and hold the tail with the hand on the arm they are laying on. Then I use my free hand to expose the vent area by pulling gently on the top, back toward the rabbit's stomach. If you do it this way, those nosy neighbors will think you are just cuddling your bunnies! :lol:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

What I do is turn them on their back in my arm, like a baby and hold the tail with the hand on the arm they are laying on.

And again... :twilightzone:

Since I have gone to a couple of shows and seen how the judges flip a rabbit- by holding their ears, rump toward your body- I started trying to sex them that way. They were not amused. Cradling in my arm keeps them calm and minimizes kicking.