Rabbit breeding question.

[Mixedbirdies]

So we’re getting only two rabbits, male and female, we are going to breed them but if they die we can’t breed they’re kids because you can’t breed siblings. Is there any kind of loophole?

 

[mesafox101]

buy more rabbits

 

[Killer Tomato]

Find someone on craigslist who has the breed you want, and bring your doe over there for a "date". Make sure their rabbit is a kind, gentle lover, and that your girl is open to his advances. Be ready to step in and separate them, (wear gloves!) if needed. It can end badly otherwise.

Before you embark on the breeding rabbits path, you might see how you endure the adolescent phase with your original pair -- the teenage months with rabbits can be AWFUL (worse than roosters!). Your sweet, cuddly babies turn into hormonal beasts, like the rabbit in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This is when most pet rabbits get dumped into parks and fields. It takes time, and understanding, but they can grow out of this phase, and become wonderful pets again.

All of my house rabbits were strays who were dumped by former owners when they hit their teen phase -- we weren't interested in breeding, so we got them fixed (it costs a fortune if you do it privately, so shelter buns are a great deal). My oldest boy lived to be 10! Not a short-term commitment pet.

Have fun! They are wonderful pets, and good luck.

ps
All of my buns and chickens get along just fine, and free range in the yard together, along with the cats, and dogs (including the much aligned pitbull -- so much for that myth!).

 

[balloonflower]

It is not absolutely forbidden to practice what most would know as inbreeding with rabbits. It's generally called line breeding, and can be commonly found in some show lines, or for simple meat production where you're not really trying to sell/breed the kits. You don't say what your purpose is with breeding, and it will affect the conversation.

With rabbits, the most common reason to intentionally line breed, whether sibling-crosses or sire/daughter dam/son, is to continue a preferred genetic trait. Like a specific desired pattern or color. Why it can be used in show lines. But the flip-side is that it can also perpetuate negative traits too if you're not careful.

I have Silver Fox, and my original does were sibling-crosses, and my buck also has same in lineage. Probably because they are more rare in my area. It didn't concern me when I was mostly planning for meat. Now, I'm looking to do more selling/possibly showing and am looking for different lines to expand with. I also want to promote the breed and wouldn't choose to line breed. But if it was your only option, it's not terrible either unless you know there is a specific negative genetic trait.

 

[cassie]

I couldn't tell from your post what you intend to use the rabbits for. Meat? Pets? If they are for pets, why breed them? If they are for meat, you might be better off to buy two does and two bucks. That gives you a lot more options.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have bred siblings in many species. I haven't had problems because of it. Generally it takes more than one close cross to be a problem unless there's some genetic anomaly that would be brought out by the cross. Than I would never breed them again.

 

[Mixedbirdies]

Yes we are just keeping them for meat.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yes we are just keeping them for meat.

Than extra legs wouldn't matter anyways. Sorry, couldn't help myself.

 

[Mixedbirdies]

Than extra legs wouldn't matter anyways. Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Hahaha

 

[CapricornFarm]

I have started a rabbit hutch building thread on the coop building area if anyone is interested.