Tre3hugger's Rabbit Thread

[Tre3hugger]

Just got both does rebred. Hopefully Maple continues to excel at motherhood and Crewella figures it out. I think this will be her last chance before I start looking to replace her. Maple's kits are three weeks tomorrow. I found one out of the nest box today, so I tipped the box on its side so the kits could come and go from it as they please. Maple can escape them if she wants by climbing on top of it. One more week and I will start slowly removing the kits. All these will be food so I will be separating them from mom by five weeks. This will give her a 2 week break before her next kindle.

 

[MissE]

Sad morning here at Cuckoo Mountain. Crewella gave birth to her first litter last night on the wire. I found 4 cold dead babies this morning when I went to feed her. It was such a pain to get her bred and I was really hoping to hold back a daughter form this group to replace her as a breeder. Oh well, we make plans, the animals laugh.

Tomorrow was the day to rebreed Maple, so I will give Crewella today to rest and then breed them both tomorrow. Only silver lining I can find is now my breeding schedule is lined up for both does.
I have read that rebreeding right after the lost litter is optimal, and can result in heightened receptiveness and larger litters on the next kindling. Can anyone offer any insight on this? Maybe @MissE ? When would you rebreed her?

I know this is just a part of the game. Life and Death. Yesterday I watched 5 guinea keets tumble out of their eggs and look at the world for the first time. Today it is 4 dead kits on the wire. The cycle continues, and I am grateful to be a part of it, on the good AND bad days.

Wire kits are the worst. My first litter was 11, all in the wire. She went on to be my best breeder with 9-13 per litter. Most people go with a 3 strikes and you're out rule.

I would rebreed right away. They usually are very receptive and wild rabbits will breed within a day of having a litter. Nature wouldn't encourage them to do it if it was going to harm their ability to replace themselves.

Glad your rebreeding attempt went well. I'm sure she'll get it right this time.

Theres a saying "They aren't dead until they are warm and dead." While I have never succeeded in warming them up and bringing them back to life, others have. Brooder light, heating pad, hairdryer, etc.

It's great when you can breed multiple at the same time. You can even out litters if needed.

Chances are future litters will be successful. Some breeders pretty much plan on the first litter being a loss. I'm a little more hopeful, but have certainly had my fair share of wire kits from first timers. They are born so fast, the doe doesn't have time to realize what's going on until it's too late.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Wire kits are the worst. My first litter was 11, all in the wire. She went on to be my best breeder with 9-13 per litter. Most people go with a 3 strikes and you're out rule.

I would rebreed right away. They usually are very receptive and wild rabbits will breed within a day of having a litter. Nature wouldn't encourage them to do it if it was going to harm their ability to replace themselves.

Glad your rebreeding attempt went well. I'm sure she'll get it right this time.

Theres a saying "They aren't dead until they are warm and dead." While I have never succeeded in warming them up and bringing them back to life, others have. Brooder light, heating pad, hairdryer, etc.

It's great when you can breed multiple at the same time. You can even out litters if needed.

Chances are future litters will be successful. Some breeders pretty much plan on the first litter being a loss. I'm a little more hopeful, but have certainly had my fair share of wire kits from first timers. They are born so fast, the doe doesn't have time to realize what's going on until it's too late.

Thank you so much for the thoughtful and encouraging response. I am glad she rebred without a fuss and I have my fingers crossed for the next litter.

Maple's litter has left the box. I put a bowl of food and hay that they can reach in there and left Maple's J feeder out of their reach. It is fun to watch them interact and do more than lay in a pile.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Buh bada bahhhhh!!!! I am official.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Maple's kits are four weeks old today. The nine kits weigh a combined 8 pounds. That is 14.2 oz each. On monday I am going to get their grow out cage furnished and start separating the largest ones. They all have learned the sounds of breakfast and are eating hay and pellets.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Got a 6 week weight on my buns today. The 9 of them weigh 19 lbs. That is 2lb 2oz each! They have more than doubled in weight in the last 2 weeks since being on pellets. I am very happy with their growth.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Got some pictures of everyone today. Crewella and Maple are 26 days pregnant, and getting their nest boxes tomorrow. Peep Crewella's dewlap!

And here is lady Maple. She is such a large rabbit.

And some pics of the almost 7 weeks olds.

 

[Tre3hugger]

It is the morning of day 32 and still no buns. I have read this is fairly common, with 31 days being more of an average than an exact number. Both does have pulled hair and made up their nest. Can any one offer any reassurance?

 

[MissE]

It is the morning of day 32 and still no buns. I have read this is fairly common, with 31 days being more of an average than an exact number. Both does have pulled hair and made up their nest. Can any one offer any reassurance?

If there are nests and hair, and they are recent, not ones made at day 14, I would think you'd have little buns any minute.

28-35 days is normal, with 31 being the average. Nest box goes in at 28 for this reason.

Kind of like hatching chickens. 21 is the average, but mine all hatched on days 19 or 20, and lock down is on day 18. Others don't have chicks until day 23.

I had one who would not make her nest until moments before birth. Drove me nutty. I was always second guessing if she was bred, and she was always after day 31. The others were kind enough to follow the rules.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Thanks @MissE that is just what I needed to hear