Rabbit Breeding Question

[flgardengirl]

Hi I bred 2 of my rabbits to a lionhead male. I saw the male mate one female but never the other. I took the first female out after they mated and left the second one overnight with him in hopes he would mate her. Now the second female gave birth to 7 babies. The first female never did give birth even though she got fat and has teats. I really thought the first one was preggo and not the second because the second one didnt even look preggo even towards the end of her pregnancy. I have them in separate cages with thier own nestboxes.

Okay so now the first bunny has no babies. It has been 9 days since the other one gave birth. I know that I can rebreed the first female (without babies) again soon but how soon should I do it?
Also, I left her nest box in there with her. She seems to really like it and has been sleeping in it at night. So should I remove her nest box before I breed her again or is it okay to just let her keep it?

 

[Inkheart]

Remove the nest box - if she hasnt pulled her or made efforts to build a nest - she is just using it as a cozy bed! I would rebreed her - they someitimes miss on their first "try"

 

[imtc]

you can rebreed her any time.
oh yeah....and I would remove the nesting box also or she'll just use it for sleeping & pooping. Give it back to her a day or 2 before her next due date.
Good luck on your next try.

 

[Louise's Country Closet]

Next time, maybe let him mate with one female and then a day or two later, mate with the other one. I always make sure I'm there to watch so that I know he's bred her, and I usually take her out after the fourth time or so. I get large litters with that so that I don't have to keep her in with him overnight.

Take away the nest box and rebreed the one without babies. Like Inkheart said, sometimes they do just miss on their first try. I had one take three tries to get pregnant last year.

 

[Akane]

If she isn't pottying in it I see no problem leaving the nest box. Some people have cages with built in nest boxes. Others have colonies with permanent nest tunnels. It works out fine so long as the doe's don't use them as litter boxes. Then you don't have to worry about how soon to put a box back in.

General rule I've always heard is to watch the buck breed successfully 3 times. Just once may not have done it. Some also repeat breeding up to 8hrs later. It depends on the doe as to what I do. I wouldn't leave the pushier, more aggressive ones in the cage overnight or leave a doe with my chocolate buck who will mate nonstop for hours until the doe is ready to kill him or he looks like he's going to pass out from exertion. My calmer does and less annoying buck I've left together for days in 2x4' or 3x6' cages.

 

[flgardengirl]

Thank you. I don't see any poop in the box. Dh made it, it has wooden sides and a wire bottom that is lined with hay. I am wondering if she had a 'false pregnancy' because she pulled all the nesting materials out at first and fixed it up. I think she is sad that the other one has babies and not her. I think I will just take out the nest box and rebreed her.

 

[Louise's Country Closet]

It happens though. I've had does that even pulled hair and made beautiful nests and never had any babies

 

[flgardengirl]

I rebred her today so I'm keeping my fingers crossed lol. The other bunnies babies have thier eyes open now and they all have black fur with kinda longish fur on thier heads like the lionhead father and shorter hair on thier bodies like the momma. I wonder if the fur on thier bodies will get longer as they get older?

 

[rabbitgeek]

Usually when I breed the rabbits I'll put them together and watch them. I don't like to leave them in the cage overnight because they might fight and injure each other. I prefer to watch them and then I can mark it on the calendar.

Have a good day!