Two Californian does and a buck : New additions to our backyard

[Joshua-n-fam]

 

[Joshua-n-fam]

Eight babies, helping super runt nurse & my last minute nesting box

 

[SA Farm]

Great job on the nest box. Babies are so pink and wriggly at that age

 

[Joshua-n-fam]

Thank you, I did my best in the time given and material available. It's a little small, but will have to do for now.

We got another doe today. It's a dutch and she's had a litter before, so she's somewhat experienced. We immediately bred her with our Californian buck who's a little young but very willing. The song and dance went on for a long long time the first caging. I had to intervene a lot and tried to help but every time I was a part of the picture he wasn't interested in getting busy. He finally did though on my last attempt when I walked away. He did the whole "pass out" thing and after that seemed interested still but wouldn't mount so we removed her.

Later this evening we put her back in and almost immediately they mated and he passed out. The first time she was thumping her legs a bunch afterwards like it was her way of cursing at us. The second time that didn't happen, but we're hoping he hit the right spot and she'll kindle in a month.

We're learning every day something new. The past week has been very exciting =)

 

[kada6305]

how old are they that your breeding? I can't wait to breed my mini lops and dutch's!! we just got the mini lops today ( 1 doe 1 buck) and are picking up 3 Dutch next week ( 2 doe, 1 buck) I am excited to breed but dont know when to start?

 

[Joshua-n-fam]

It goes out exponentially depending on the breed size. Smaller breeds are ready sooner like at 3 months on for the minis and then mediums take 4-5 months and large breed females take 6+ months. A general rule of thumb is when they reach their mature weight they are ready to breed.

 

[kada6305]

okay thanks they are currently housed together at the moment, it's how we got them. We are getting another cage tomorrow so they can be housed separately.I am guessing they are about 3-4 months. But I think I am going to wait until they are at least 6 months to start breeding.

 

[Joshua-n-fam]

So we found a deceased kit in the box today, and... 8 live ones. The dead kit looks like she's been gone for a little while, and we never counted nine. She was a fairly large one and looks like she was crushed. Meanwhile, super-runt is still alive and kicking, full of energy, and empty on milk. We actually have two runts, but one is doing ok. She takes to milk quickly and fills her belly up when we help. But the other one won't drink from a syringe (oh sorry, forgot to mention we used goats milk from a friend to try and help the runts along). We did a hybrid thing where we had her drink from momma while dripping goats milk on the teat hoping she'd get some of that in. In the end after like twenty minutes she got a little bit in her belly and we're hoping for the best.

Everyone else is doing pretty good. I think we succeeded in getting rid of the fleas the first three had with DE, but now we think the new arrival (dutch) has them so we're going to DE everyone again tomorrow and comb through them with the flea comb.

Also on the agenda tomorrow is to build a permanent rabbit hutch, so pictures of that will definitely be coming once they're available. =)

 

[Joshua-n-fam]

 

[SA Farm]

Awww