Share about recent or expected rabbit kindling?

[FoodFreedomNow]

I have two does I'm anticipating will kindle in about a week. One is a first-timer, a Silver Fox doe. The other is a proven doe, a New Zealand. The NZ has large litters (11 and 9); her previous smaller litter was sired by a Silver Fox buck and the larger was by a NZ buck. Since the SF doe was bred by a SF buck, I'm guessing the litter will be on the smaller side...around 7 or so.

Anyone else expecting their does to kindle soon or have does that recently kindled?

 

[BantamLover21]

my daughter has a 6 month old holland Lop Doe and she desperately wants to breed it. we are lining up friends who will take the kits. I've heard they can breed this early. any advice on ideal timing/age. we have quite a bit of experience with urban homesteading and will be doing a lot of research so have no fear, this is not an easter inspiration that will result in abandon babies down the road. if there is anyone near by with a buck who is willing to offer sire, feel free to pm me.

6 months is a fine age for breeding Holland Lops. I've once bred (for another person) a Sable doe at 4.5 months, and she had a healthy litter. Holland lops and other small breeds tend to mature more quickly than large breeds, too. Just make sure she is healthy and not too small, breed her to a healthy buck, and she should do okay.

 

[redsoxs]

I don't have rabbits (in fact I didn't even know what kindling meant ). Thought I'd give you the link to BYCs sister site, BackyardHerds. Lots of bunny keepers there: http://www.backyardherds.com
Best wishes!

 

[TroyerGal]

Nice! Is she proven or a first-time mom? Has she started "haystaching"? They're cute when they run around with those big mouthfuls of hay.

I raise meat rabbits, too, and am crossing New Zealand, Silver Fox, and American Chinchilla to optimize growth on pasture.

She's a first timer... No haystaching yet, but she is scratching around in the corners of her cage! Do you have any nestbox ideas? I'm afraid I have almost 0 building experience

.
You're doing pastured rabbit? That's what i'm striving for... But i have to get some stuff built first

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

That's a good sign - like she's trying to dig a burrow. My REW New Zealand doe is doing that, too.

I typically use the large metal nestboxes with the wooden pieces on the bottom that you can buy online. I've also used an all hardware cloth nestbox I made for hot weather - better air flow, but it's light and can be moved around easily by the doe. Last time, I tried these plastic totes that are about the size you'd put shoes in...one doe liked it, but the other didn't. It was also very light. The bonus to plastic is that if the doe pees in it (and they sometimes will), it's easier to clean than wood.

Pasturing rabbits has been great! They're healthy and happy and mow the lawn. lol You're right about the building - I built a lot of tractors, but it was worth it. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Ava haystaching

 

[Elektra2167]

I have a trio of Wh. NZ x Am. Chin crosses. They are all a beautiful peppered silver color.Second doe just kindled 3 weeks ago. Crazy colors! The first doe had 2 albinos, 2 "dirty" whites (barely off white fur w/ light grey edging on ears and nose), and one black. The second doe had 2 peppered silver that look just like mom, 2 blacks, and one white. Has been kind of fun. And they have sweet personalities.
I'm using hardware cloth right now since it is so hot still. I wire it to the cage so mom can't move it around.

Have tried to breed my black SF pair, but it seems the boy is more interested in cuddling than breeding

 

[Tguilbeau]

Be careful with metal nest boxes. In places that it gets super cold, the metal ones have been known to freeze kits. A better material is wood. The rabbits might chew it, but the nest box won't freeze kits.

People should also know never used treated wood where a rabbit can chew it.

 

[Tguilbeau]

Treated wood is fine. I thought that it would hurt them when I first got into rabbits, but now my rabbits live in hutches made of treated wood, and have for years. It has no affect on the rabbits at all. It is better than untreated wood because it rots much slower, preserving the hutch as long as possible.

Yeah I agree on the slower Rot but I was advised not to because of potential arsenic poisoning. I never wanted to chance it. But it's good to know. Thank you

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Just one more...one of the "toast" colored girls