Rabbit breeder's thread!

[dmiravalle]

ps

I have found in my own experience that severly cow hocked does continually have problems giving birth plus it is not a trait you want to breed.

 

[1Chick Magnet]

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not only does that help, it makes alot of sense.

 

[dmiravalle]

phew, I did ok then????

Ya think I would be better at this after teaching 4-H for 20 yrs. Arggg.

 

[Louise's Country Closet]

You did great explaining! lol I don't do well in that department either - I can think it just fine but somehow I lose the ability to explain somewhere between my brain and fingers/mouth.

About the hocks - I've noticed that the only doe I've had trouble with breeding does get sore hocks once in a while. They heal, but they do come back after a time. I wonder if that's linked in some way, because like I said, she's the only one who's had trouble with her litters. Hmm.. something to ponder. We'll see when she has her litter next month

 

[dmiravalle]

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What breed is she? How thick are her footpads? I used a piece of granite tile in my cages for the does to rest their feet on and also helps them to stay cool in the summer. Again, something you want to think about in your breeding program, if I have a rabbit with thin pads, I cull even in the rex and mini rex when I bred them. I hate dealing with sore hocks.

I generally give does the three strike rule, if they can't do it right by the third litter they are gone. Again, I don't want to pass on those bad genes.

 

[Louise's Country Closet]

Rex, and not very thick but I didn't know that when I first started breeding and now I'm attached to her

My husband works where they're always throwing out big plastic mats so we take them and cut 'em down so that they have big mats to rest on. She does well when she has a few of those in her cage though. I haven't had to deal with them too much, just enough to me to notice that she bleeding a bit and then they healed - thankfully! I have her and two others that are pure Rex and the rest are either NZ or NZ/Rex so they have big hairy feet for me, lol.

Her litters went from not taking - to one stretched out dead kit - to four in her last one. I'm hoping this next one gives me a little more.

 

[1Chick Magnet]

I want to thank you ladies for helping me.

It means alot. everyone is so nice. I have to be up in 6 hours for work. I am a truck driver so a little sleep is important. hopefully the next birth will go more smoothly. my next girl is due tomorrow.

 

[dmiravalle]

The sore hocks are a common trait in rex's. If you get it helped up completely, you can put that liquid bandage on them to harden them as well. It doesn't always work, but I have friends that swear by it. I know I am watching my velveteens carefully for foot pads on the babies.

If she is a mini rex, 4 is a good number for a large rex, I would expect 6 ish, depending on how old she is.

I will have check in with ya all tomorrow, I am off to bed, I have to get up early (darn roosters!!)

 

[dmiravalle]

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Good luck with the next girl!!! You will get more confident. I have done this a long time and it is still disappointing to loose kits. I freeze mine and donate them to a raptor rescue so I know they don't go to waste.

 

[Louise's Country Closet]

Ohh, that's a good idea!! Thanks!!

And g'night!!! Oh, and good idea about the babies too I never thought of that!

dmiravalle - Good luck on your girl tomorrow, I'll have my fingers crossed for ya!