What Rabbits Do You Have? Show Off Your Rabbits Here!

[Lynzi777]

My sable point is pulling fur and making a nest!!!!!

 

[dutchbunny83]

Different breeders have different ways of doing things. Some breeders have their does bred as soon as the kits are eating on their own (4 weeks old), some wait until the kits are 8 weeks before breeding the doe again, some only breed a few times a year like SternRose.
Really, it's about what works best for you and your does.
As for breeding at the same time, some breeders will breed two at a time for the option of fostering kits in case of a too large litter or if something happens to the mother, or will breed an experienced doe the same time as a first time mom, in case the new mom rejects her kits or something.
I usually give my does the coldest part of the winter off and the hottest part of the summer off, leaving spring and fall for the majority of the breeding.

Thank you so much, very helpful!!!

 

[dutchbunny83]

Does anyone run their herd in a communal coed pen? I've had mine like this for 6 months and am happy so far but I do have a few questions.

I am still fairly new to this, but I was told NOT to have them in a coed pen.
Supposedly with the Y shaped uterus, the doe could get pregnant and 2 different times, causing a loss of a lot of kits in delivery and potentially injuring/killing the mother.
Also they can get pregnant again 30min after giving birth so if you missed her doing that she could instantly get pregnant again which would give her new babies before the first are even weaned.

I have mine in 2 pens, 3 girls on one side, 3 boys on the other.

If I was misinformed, someone please correct me.

 

[SternRose]

No coed pens. Pregos need solatery. I breed 2 at one time. Or make them 5 days apart or so.

 

[SternRose]

If she get preg after giving birth SHE will wean the first babies before she has her new ones. Just like in the wild. NOT recommended.

 

[dutchbunny83]

No coed pens. Pregos need solatery. I breed 2 at one time. Or make them 5 days apart or so.

Do you keep your pregnant does in separate pens?
I have 3 girls (one is still too young to breed) in 1 pen that is 15 feet by 8ft. Then a hutch in there that is about 2.5ft by 3.5ft. I've never bred at the same time (actually didn't expect the first babies), and they make their own separate nests.
Is that okay or do you suggest putting the pregnant ones each in their own little cage?
They so love to run around, I just hate the cage idea, but don't want to hurt them either.

 

[insanity]

I realize it is not the excepted way of housing rabbits but many old homesteaders used this method.Into the 70's my grandmother kept rabbits in a coed run in rural Alaska. I have had 1 litter of babies born and all went well even though it was her first.

 

[SternRose]

If the cage is big enough rhey stay together. Byt it's risky. My girls were raised together from birth

 

[dutchbunny83]

If the cage is big enough rhey stay together. Byt it's risky. My girls were raised together from birth

Okay thanks.
It's a big run, so I am hoping they will be good since they are all good friends. I guess if I see there starting to be an issue I can bring mom & her nest into the bathroom and switch them to individual cages for the next go 'round.
I appreciate all the help from you guys, this has been quite a learning experience for me!

 

[Lynzi777]

Well my little sable point holland had a whopping 7 kits. However 4 were DOA, so I'm left with 3. I'm actually surprised at the size of the litter...I've never had a holland deliver more than 5...