who breeds all year round outside

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I would like to know , who breeds all year round with rabbits outside only. I know you can if they are in a barn or some type of shelter with no heat. But not the same outside. Just curious and if so. How do you keep the kits warm. This is in the cold climate zone.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Mine are in a carport type structure, and I breed all year, but I am in SE Texas so we don't get a whole lot of really cold weather.

 

[3mina]

The biggest impediment is the lack of light. So if you supplement the light you should be able to do it. I saw an idea that's grabbed my imagination, solar powered sidewalk lights are supposed to be enough light, ditto with Christmas lights. I've seen posts on other forums about LED 'tap lights' that sound good, you can move them from one cage to another but those are cheap enough I'd just get one for each doe

If the doe builds a good nest you won't have any issues regarding nestboxes being too cold.
I put a couple of inches of shavings in the bottom then lots of straw packed in. I like straw rather than hay for my nestboxes, it seems to mix better with the fur. Drafts and wet are your enemies.

Keep us posted on how it goes if you decide to try it, I would love to extend my breeding season

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

if i need lights. Then i will not do it. I think i will wait till spring we get really cold winters and high winds across the fields. But you are in Alberta i guess your winters will be colder than mine.

 

[3mina]

We live in the wrong country for unsupplumented winter breeding I'm afraid *shrug*

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

I think this just might be why my bunnies are not reproducing. Once figure out who all Im keeping I will be putting lights on them and see how it goes.

 

[ladysown]

lack of light is basically not an issue. Mine breed year round (taking summer heat off). in a carport where water freezes, and it gets COLD.

IF the momma rabbit does her job properly the kits are just fine. In fact, if you have freezing cold hands, placing them OVER the kits (not on them as that simply would be cruel) warms your hands up right fast. it all hinges on momma rabbit doing her job right. I get better kits and better litters in the dead of winter than any other time of the year.

 

[WildWolf]

Is there a particular type of light? Or will any do? Why do they need light supplement... how does it effect breeding?

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

lack of light is basically not an issue. Mine breed year round (taking summer heat off). in a carport where water freezes, and it gets COLD.

IF the momma rabbit does her job properly the kits are just fine. In fact, if you have freezing cold hands, placing them OVER the kits (not on them as that simply would be cruel) warms your hands up right fast. it all hinges on momma rabbit doing her job right. I get better kits and better litters in the dead of winter than any other time of the year.

That is interesting ladysown. YOu are closer to me than most are so our light is the same .. Except my temp are a bit colder than yours . But not by to much .... I think i am going to try this on a few does and see how it goes. The ones that i know that will make a good nest. Do you do it in January and Feb as those are the coldest Months of the year. I know rabbits like the cold. I could always bring in at night too. Let them feed ....Only days old . After a week should be fine in the box. Explain how they are better in the winter.

 

[ladysown]

better: less illness, stronger, better able to cope with change, less noise reactive.

breed through from September to June. every other week I breed 2-3 does.

 

[skysthelimit]

Better for me too. Most of my litters happened between Jan and May. Breeding has seemed to slow down in the summer. I bring kits in so I can;t say much about the cold.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I bring kits in so I can;t say much about the cold.

You say you bring them in... Meaning you bring the nesting box in , then out to feed and back out again. Or do you have your adults inside as well..... How long do you keep doing that with the babies if they are outside.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Mary Ann, Sky brings the nests in and takes them out to feed twice a day. I can't recall when she leaves them out- 7-9 days old, maybe?

 

[skysthelimit]

Usually when they fur out, thought they are so cute, sometimes I keep them a bit longer. When they start to climb out of the box, they go back to the cage. Some adults are in the barn (no heat an no insulation), some are outside.

 

[MaggieJ]

Closed nest boxes may help. I really like the nest tunnels in our colony. The kits stay put better and it holds in their body heat.

 

[ladysown]

I DO NOT bring kits inside except for my polish kits (they only have 2-3 in a litter so I bring them until they develop fur). So usually five nights max. They stay out during the day. I only bring them in at night.

I simply trust my does to do their job and if they don't, it bites, but I'll give 'em another kick at the can. 99% of the time all the kits are healthy and strong and do just fine.

 

[WildWolf]

ladysown, do you put in extra straw or some other way of giving your rabbits (adults included) more heat?