First Rabbits

[GD91]

Yikes. I was told to cull when they exhibit bad traits like aggressiveness, bad mothers, etc.

Yes, I would definitely recommend culling in those situations. Unfortunately my dear immature, irresponsible old mum (whom I have nothing to do with now) went along the lines of "I'm not going to feed or water them, they'll bite me, Georgia, can you deal with them" pause "Scrreeeeeeeaaaaaaaaammm! Well I'm not doing it!"

Yes, my mum used to throw temper tantrums like a child, when I was supposed to have been a child. And the rabbits were just the very tip of the iceburg beneath.

In other words, she wanted to keep them just because she couldn't bare the thought of getting rid of them in anyway & I was the one who ended up in hospital because I had to look after them (unwillingly) otherwise they would have just been left to their own devices. I think most of us would agree, leaving an animal penned up would have classed as neglect, so since I had no wish to have an animal ban placed on me for the future or the embarrassment of having the RSPCA around, I looked after the things for 6 years until the last one was taken by a fox.

And then I told my mother "That's it now, no more!"

God, I was glad when I met my DH & moved out aged 17...... never looked back.

 

[nayeli]

They should be around 6 months so I am ready to mate them. When they shared a pen the male would hump her frequently but since seperating they aren't as interested in mating, any advice?

 

[Silver Bantam]

Larg breeds like the ones you have, will mature for breeding at more like 7-9 months. We keep Netherland Dwarfs, and I have only just used our new buck for the first time at 8 months old. You can put the doe in the bucks cage, and the buck in the does cage for around a day. This way they will be able to smell each other everywhere. And you switch them back to their own cages for mybe another day, bring the doe to the bucks cage and they should be willing. They, like I suggested befor, might also just be to young yet. I would wait a few months befor trying

 

[nayeli]

Just got my first kits, it was a surprise because which doe it came from. We got two new does one was supposed to be pregnant and I did observe her "nesting" the other day. We put a nestbox with hay in and she would take the hay from the box and place it around her cage. She is very active though and has been using the nest box as a bathroom so I"m not sure she is really pregnant.

The doe that gave birth is a first time mom so the kits were all over, I scooped them and put them in a nest box. She didn't pull fur so I got dryer lint. They are all warm, not sure if she is feeding them though.

 

[nayeli]

Well Isabella, The chin colored rabbit had her kits but they all died. A few days later Cinnamon gave birth, one seems to have been stillborn but we have 8 doing great! They are a couple weeks old now!

 

[nayeli]

The Top one in the photo isn't a baby btw, its our 3rd doe.