Rabbit breeding

[cburns0300]

Thank you for letting me join. My name is Conny and live in Texas. I have chickens, rabbits and quail. I am currently trying to breed one of my does but she won't lift. She is going through a false pregnancy and I'm pretty sure she wants to be a mom. However every time I put her with a buck she won't lift. What can I do?

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi Conny and welcome to BYC.

 

[drumstick diva]

I would say that's a question for people with vast experience with rabbits. I have no knowledge of rabbit breeding cycles.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

Maybe this lady can help you...
@Bunnylady she should be by soon.

 

[Kusanar]

I know next to nothing about rabbit breeding, but, if she is going through false pregnancy, then likely she "thinks" she is pregnant and therefore won't breed. Her hormones are probably weird.

 

[chickens really]

@oldhenlikesdogs
@gokittygo
These people also breed rabbits..
Also welcome to BYC..

 

[ValerieJ]

Hi! . Welcome to BYC! I don't know anything about rabbits, but really how fun that will be when she has a bunch of babies and you can watch them grow. I hope you will share that journey with us.

 

[gokittygo]

Welcome! Why do you feel that she is having a false pregnancy?

How long ago did you first expose her to the buck? Is there any chance she is actually bred?

Have you turned her over and examined her vent? If it’s pale, she’s not interested. If it’s dark purple-y red she is ready.

 

[AltonaAcres]

Is she doesn't want to be bred. She won't. i would wait for a nice warm, sunny day as they are usually more receptive then. The pale vent thing doesn't usually work for me. My does always have pale vents. If she is not letting the buck mount her, she could be pregnant. Is there any way that could have happened?

 

[Bunnylady]

Welcome to BYC!

Why do you think our doe is experiencing a false pregnancy? Any possibility it's for real?

A doe pulls fur as a response to a surge of hormones. This could be from pregnancy, a false pregnancy, or simply the hormones related to their normal cycle (and in spite of what some folks may tell you, rabbits do have a cycle, it's just not that obvious). Most does will hit a peak right after kindling, so in a way, fur pulling is a good indicator that you can get a doe bred.

If this doe is giving you all the right signals (which can include grunting, chinning, lifting when being petted, fur pulling, moodiness, and a dark pink to cherry red vulva lining), she should be cycling. I say "should," because a doe that is overweight may not be experiencing a wide enough range in hormone levels to cycle normally. If weight is the issue, giving the doe less feed and more exercise may help.

It is wintertime; rabbits can respond to shorter days by losing interest in breeding (wild rabbits only breed during the warm months, after all). If you don't want to wait until the longer days of Spring time, you might try essentially increasing her day length with artificial lighting.

One thing that can be done with a doe that simply won't lift when everything else is right, is forced breeding. Basically, the doe is put on a table or other flat surface, the doe is held still with one hand, and her backside lifted with the other. The buck is then allowed to do his thing. This may or may not work. The doe may struggle so violently that the only thing that is achieved is a bunch of scratches on your arms. The buck may not welcome your involvement, and be unwilling to do his part. And, even if all goes well with the actual breeding, the doe may not conceive - I know of one study that got about an 80% conception rate with natural breeding, but only about 20% when the does were force-bred.



I suspect you may be beginning to understand why I say that anyone who believes in the expression "breeds like rabbits" has never tried it."

Good luck!