When to consider keeping replacement breeders

[Bonnie]

So I'm starting to wonder when I need to consider keeping kits to replace current breeders. I only keep one buck and two does as we simply don't have space to expand more in our current location. (At least so my husband says! ) Our buck and one doe are just over a year old and my second doe is just coming up on one year. They are all NZW, does are from two different farms.

 

[Marinea]

I know someone will give you answers, I just wanted to welcome you to RT!

I hope you stick around and share with us your experiences. I am always looking to learn more about rabbits.

( *waves* from another Virginian)

 

[Bonnie]

Thanks! I've been reading a lot and still pretty new to all this, currently just up to processing our first litter and have two litters that are 8 weeks now. I will post pics of our setup when I figure out how. We have them outside under a wonderful shade tree that has kept them cooler than I expected with our current heat.

What part of VA are you in? I'm in Winchester.

 

[Dood]

My buck is still fathering litters of 12 and he's 9 so you shouldn't need to worry about your male for awhile

If your goal is more than 6 litters a year from each doe, I would start thinking about keeping a replacement doe in the next 6 months to a year, remembering it will take 6 months before she starts having kits.

If you give your girls more time off between litters or you dont mind smaller litters you could get away with waiting a couple years.

The oldest breeding doe I ever had was a Netherland dwarf who had a litter when she was 7 but she only had litters of 3 or 4 kits one to three times a year. She was still in good form and may have been able to keep producing but I retired her after the last litter as I was getting out of breeding rabbits. She lived to 11.

I am always keeping back replacement does, if they turn out better than one of my older girls I make room for her. This way I am always improving my production qualities. Mothering skills, milk production and litter size are on track so now I'm working towards growth rates and depth which is somewhat lacking in my meat mutts.

 

[Bonnie]

Since we are just feeding ourselves and an occasional friend we plan on about 4-5 litters a year per doe. If we get more demand from friends wanting to start up or buy meat from us we might change that but for now that is what I have figured is our schedule. Nice to know our buck is good for a while, he is a nice mellow guy that has so far given us litters of 4 (didn't know to rebred again) 8, and 11 (we lost 3 on this litter, two cause we interrupted the doe during birth and one later that we aren't sure of the reason). So we are happy with his litter sizes and he is a nice big boy.

Thanks! My biggest issue now is I see all the pretty colors everyone else has and white is getting boring LOL!

 

[CWD]

Welcome to R/T
you are right white is boring, that was the main reason I was breeding meat mutts.
I wanted size, but color was also important for me. I love lots of color.

as to your question, I will start holding back replacement stock when my does hit 2 years, unless they are still throwing big litters.
however you also have to remember the young replacements will take time to reach breeding size and age.
so you may end up with 3 does and 1 buck for a short while.
I replace my bucks when ever I have one miss breeding to 2 different does in a row.
For some reason I always seem to have 1 or 2 more buck hanging around than I need or want.

 

[SuburbanHomesteader]

Welcome to RT. I raised NZ Whites for years and the family kept complaining about how boring white rabbits were. We now have Whites, Blacks, and Reds. And even some Rexes.

Funny thing about raising rabbits: You always have too many rabbits. At the same time, you never have enough rabbits. Go figure.

I try to base my replacement decisions on production results. However, I'll admit to having one or two favorites that will probably be kept regardless.

Good luck to you. Enjoy!!

 

[Marinea]

Thanks! I've been reading a lot and still pretty new to all this, currently just up to processing our first litter and have two litters that are 8 weeks now. I will post pics of our setup when I figure out how. We have them outside under a wonderful shade tree that has kept them cooler than I expected with our current heat.

What part of VA are you in? I'm in Winchester.

I am in extreme southwest Virginia- about 30 minutes to the Kentucky/Tennessee borders.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Welcome to RT!!!! White can be boring but just think: if you save the hides, you can dye them any color of the rainbow!!!

 

[luvmybunnys]

Welcome to Rabbit Talk! Im in southwest Va too. Im about 2 or 3 ours east of you tho.

 

[stone soup farm]

Funny thing about raising rabbits: You always have too many rabbits. At the same time, you never have enough rabbits. Go figure.

I feel you there. I call it my rabbit habit...but really these rabbits are quite addicting. I was warned. :lol: