Rabbits; Check how much feed they should be getting according to their weight (I've forgotten now....) and put them on a bit of a diet if needed. Check their vulva daily; does don't have regular heat cycles but there are times when they are more receptive than others and during those times their vulvas will be a bit swollen and even pinky/purpley colored. If their vulvas look really small and pale they usually won't breed. I used to take does to the buck very early in the morning and again in the evening. (I was milking at 6 & 6, so right after milking). If she wasn't interested or tried to fight the buck I'd wait a couple days then try again. And old culls make great sausage mixed 50-50 with fatty pork. I used to grow and use Pineapple Sage and used that in the rabbit sausage, it was really nice
All the does that we have culled due to not taking for breeding (we typically give them a full year), have been easy keepers (stay fat on the same amount of food as their peers) and had lots of internal fat when culled. I need to be more struck about feeding per weight and condition.
I believe its 1/4 cup pellet for every 5lbs of the rabbits body weight. Nursing does will need a bit more, some people free feed nursing does even. And as much hay as each rabbits body size. Hope this helps :)
@ that is probably in the neighborhood; I was raising Rex and Californians and now I've remember, a tomato soup can full of pellets was maintenance. I did free feed my pregnant does and their litters
hey i just wanted to give you a tip about breeding rabbits. you can tell if a doe is gonna be receptive to the buck by checking her vent. like pop it out like your checking her gender. if you see a cherry red with some purpling color she is rearing to breed. you want to see that purple color. it will be like a bad bruise purple color. you can get that coloring by give the doe something rich in nutrients (like a handful of spinach everyday for a few days) and access to light for 12+ hours. hope you see this and helps you out!
Back in the late 70’s early 80’s I had a pair of rabbits and each time they bred the buck would stand up and scream then plop over. Their names were Bow and Inkiny.
Hey girl! Fellow rabbit breeder here! I have tried all the tricks they say work to help your rabbits breed but most haven't worked for me sadly. The only thing that tends to work (not every time but a lot of the time) is if I put the rabbit in multiple days in a row. It tends to trigger her hormones to want to breed after she has been introduced to the buck a day or two in a row. But I know other people swear by the apple cider vinegar, swapping cages, and taking them for a drive. Just haven't had any of those work for me so far. We had a super rough year with our rabbits this year too. Between some kinda illness in the spring wiping out 30 kits, and some neighbor dogs busting our cages and killing all our pure bred rabbits, we have been really struggling. I love rabbits so much though so I am keeping hope that this year will be better. I hope you have a better year as well!
Thank you SO much for your encouragement and advice! I am so so sorry for the struggles 2024 brought for your rabbitry especially the dogs!! Oh my goodness how devastating. May 2025 be much better! Take care!
Awesome video! I’m learning so much about rabbits and reading the comments too. I would love to have them some day. Their manure is awesome for the garden. I used to go get some at a nearby bunny farm for free!
Greetings from central Canada. Baby it's cold outside! I've given up on breeding my rabbits in cages because the babies mostly freeze in winter. They even freeze in their nesting boxes let alone if they get out. So I fenced off a 30x30 area in the barn and let them basically free range. The rabbits manage their own breeding, obviously less intense than caged rabbits but they are so much happier. And my chore load has gotten so much easier. I drop a square bale of alfalfa about once a week and a daily drop of wheat and oats into a common feeder because I keep the chickens with them over winter. It's so much less work than daily feeding and watering every single cage. And not paying for feed pellets also helps a lot. Merry Christmas wherever you are!
I had themes for breeds or bloodlines when I was raising rabbits. My theme for Californians was cities in California and just going through the alphabet. Worked out pretty well until I'd get to a letter with slim pickings lol.
Lightbulb moment: I picked up a couple of ounces of washed and carded alpaca wool at a recent holiday farmers market. I have a drop spindle, and I thought spinning some yarn would be a fun and creative activity while work is slow between now and the start of fall term January 6th. It has just occurred to me that watching you felting may have contributed to my need for to get my hands into some wool. =) Side note: I’ve only ever used sheep wool. Alpaca is so, so soft!
With B-Doe and C-Doe not lifting and possibly aging out of the breeding program anyway, I kind of feel like it might be better to just name the replacement bunny does instead. I do think increasing their light is a good idea to help them along with being in the mood to lift for the bucks, but I would also possibly be looking at one or two replacement young bunny does (besides Bao Bun) just in case they have adequate time to adjust for breeding and don't perform. The only other thing I could suggest is maybe moving the does to the end that gets more natural light, too (and placing the bred does in the darker area) to see if that makes a difference.
C Doe was retained in 2023 so she isn't old enough to really replace yet. I made the timer go from 3am to 7pm so they will have a good amount of light in there now
Breeding rabbits in the shortest daytime of the year goes against their internal clock, so plenty just don't want to. Try againt from mid january onward, my end jan/mid feb breedings show does with most "yes more" attittude when in with the buck (and blissed out after). Days getting longer wakes things up. Check vulva for where in their cycle they are, pale is no use to try, pink to purple should be fertile. Also check if everything is clean and healthy looking down there and the buck also. Doing health checks (and maybe clipping nails) before breeding also gives you regular moments to verify the health of your rabbitry. Weight can be an issue, put them on hay only for 1-2 months. And possibly flush them 2-3 days before going in with the buck. You may want to put them on hay only (maybe very limited pellet for minerals/vitamins) preventatively during a scheduled break from breeding. Here (NL/EU) the pellet is a supplement feed, mainstay is hay and such. Repeat breeding is a story that is a maybe, rabbits are induced ovulators although there are not always eggs ripe enough when bred (that is why you check the vulva), so one falloff can get you a full litter just as well as repeats can. Advice varies from repeat after 30min./1 hour after first fall off to 12 hours later to leave them in 12hours to 1-2 days. Also depends on if they get along well enough and what works for your schedule.
I got a 1female and1 male 2 years ago with the intentions to breed but didn’t get other cages ready for little ones. But retired now and want to raise them. I know I may have to get younger ones but will. Love watching all that you do. Reminds me of myself.
I have been heavily researching keeping meat rabbits for almost 5 years now, and after about a year, I started looking into pet rabbits. I don't have them yet, but what I've planned is that they have to have a run and play area with toys/tunnels, like either each rabbit gets time in the run or they have their own separate "yards" where I can open their cage every day and they can come out and play (ramp to get up and down into the run) I'm going to see if I can get my does to get along but there is strong evidence the bucks won't if they're not neutered. Does may not get along if they currently have a litter. AND I've seen people have higher success breeding rates from rabbits that breed in the run, and it keeps rabbits fit/active. As far as your gloomy winter situation, you may need to keep a light on in there all day, like 5am to 7pm.
I wonder if meat specific breeds of rabbit function like meat specific breeds of chickens and turkeys. Less mobile to begin with? I haven't tried to give them a large space to jump and run in order to test that out!
@SageandStoneHomestead I want to be really clear in saying I've just read about them and having a run is my idea, i know the method of them staying in a cage works and has worked for so so many people and this isnt to bash at all, like a huge appeal of meat rabbits is small space. but from what I've read, meat new Zealands and Californians can still get zoomies and could benefit from having a run.
I took a video discussion on this exact subject: ruclips.net/video/9CoMvKpJPVY/видео.html Essentially, why not? Doesn't the animal deserve you to acknowledge it for what it is? Is it better to shove them in a dark corner and ignore them until you need their meat? What's more disgusting?
@@SageandStoneHomestead It seems you may be commenting on what I said..my comment was removed so I can't say for shore..I keep them as pets and I could never imagine naming them and butchering them..Like I mentioned before, RUclips brought me here, and I was curious about the title..I didnt know it was about meat rabbits..To me eating a rabbit is like eating a dog. My rabbits live in doors and are part of my family.
@@janc8199 we have an indoor house bunny too. It's possible for someone who eats meat to be able to look an animal in the eye, name it, love on it, give it treats and ALSO put it in the freezer. That's not disgusting, it's good. The last thing you should want as a meat eater is for your meat to be unacnowledged for what it is.
You’re not the only one having trouble with breeding this year it seems. I’ve seen a lot of people on different rabbit boards on social media talking about having smaller litters and does no being receptive. 2 of my Rex does this year were a major challenge and I only got one successfully breed.
I too have had breeding issues this year. Lost a 2 year old doe the day before her delivery date . Also 1 doe didn't deliver at all on her delivery date. I saw them breed to no avail. Also 1 doe only had 4 kits. 2 more to go so we will see what happens by the end of December.
Always love seeing rabbit content, am hopeful to have some on my future homestead someday. Your barn expansion is going to be so nice! Will you have like an outdoor sink and some electricity in your milking room? I could imagine it would make cleanup for the milk machine so nice and maybe not even have to cart it back and forth? Not sure if there's another faucet nearby or if you'd have to run a hose with a splitter? I know BDoe and CDoe may not be with y'all for super long depending on how well they breed, but these are the silly names that popped into my head when you asked for name suggestions: Bedelia, Cecilia Similar in sound to their current names and a bit rhymey I guess. haha We need more pretty bunny pompoms for sure haha. Imagine some spotted pompoms! 💚🐇🐰💚
Haha that's cute too! I thought about having a sink out there, but the barn is VERY dusty with the goats moving around all the time so the milking stuff will still be stored in the overflow shed. The electricity is on the other side of the wall and needs to move over but thankfully it's there already!
It is hilarious to have a screamer buck. It would seem to make more sense that it would be a doe screaming, but apparently it is just that good! 😂 I wean at 6-7 weeks, try to breed back at 6 weeks. I've found that if the doe takes, it seems to really help her dry up at weaning. I try to make it to 7 weeks before weaning, but sometimes the does make it obvious that they are DONE with having the rugrats around, so I'll go ahead then anytime from 6 weeks.
Hi Heather, I'm a rabbit breeder. Sounds like you've been doing everything that I would do. I had one that was doing this and I put her on a diet for a month or so. She did finally get bred, but didn't have a very large litter. I bred her again after the kits were weaned, and she did have 7 the next time. But, if that didn't work, she would have been culled.
The rabbit breeding season has been crazy here too! Not just for me, but also my mentor. We are blaming the crazy weather & temp swings. The poor rabbits don’t know what’s going on. We finally did get a couple litters. On a sad note: One of our does (who had kits place at last years fair) had one large still born kit and then died. Necropsy showed that her uterus ruptured. On a positive note: I bred my black doe back to her solid black son and we got 4 blacks, 3 white, and possibly 2 blue. In-line breeding can answer a lot of questions about genetics (which I am still really trying to wrap my head around).
Very neat!! I think sausage is related to our house bunny somehow (the kids know) and wondered what they would produce. Breeding is really fun! So sorry about your doe that died, that's crazy! We have had big singles that passed but so far thankfully no mamas that passed due to kindling complications. That is so hard!
Awwww the baby bunnies are so cute, when that cat jumped on you, I felt you pain lol I knew his nails hurt. My cats do the same thing, I know they don't mean to cause they just wanna be all over us but Jesus lol that hurts lol
Well that was fast! They sure don’t waste any time! 😂 Better tell the kitty to be careful!😂 Extension looking nice! Can I borrow Levi? I need an extension!❤ Jumpers babies are so cute! Rosette sure is pretty.
Haha it's so funny he has so many comments on various videos about borrowing him for tasks. If he could be split into 20 pieces he would love to help! ♥
Have you tried using Florescent shop lights..Its a White Light and Works For Chickens to extend Daylight 12 to 14 hrs...Make sure Its Lit up like a Brite Sunny day..🌞
I agree with maryhysong, some does can overeat and that can lower fertility or stop it altogether. Even if you cut back on the feed, internal fat can still wrap around the sex organs and make it just hard for them to carry to term or have a lot of babies. So if you cull and even if you thinned the doe but a lot of internal fat around the sex organs that's why. I will cull my rabbits if they fail to produce a litter in three tries. Usually my last try I always use a high fertility buck that is always on top of breeding and produces consistent litters (rarely it could be the buck you are using). If you have issues breeding in the summer, some bucks can become temporarily sterile if the degrees are 85 and above for a sustained amount of time. They will regain their fertility after 60-80 days if it does happen. Sometimes if they are maiden does and they have no idea, sometimes it can be a nightmare getting to lift. I always try to flip up/angle the does back legs so the vent is more exposed to the buck's penis and instinctually they will lift once coming in contact. I'd be careful leaving does/bucks in the same cages. I have some does that will allow a buck to breed and then say they are done by biting/chasing/trying to hurt the buck. Bucks have also been castrated by does. If you feel the does have the right temperament to leave in the cage with the buck do so, but I know I have some ladies that get done and I have to immediately remove them for safety reasons. And the preferred buck thing is funny but true! Some does of mine will refuse to breed to a specific buck but auto lift for another. Wild horses have been found to prefer a certain stallion and will actually make attempts to escape (if they got stolen) back to the stallion they like. Nature isn't too different from us humans in retrospect.
I think you are right on track with the lighting idea for your rabbits. At our first homestead, we had loads of natural light. Never had any trouble with breeding. The next place had barely any natural light (log barn) and we had quite a bit of breeding trouble unless we had good lights going. I used fairly bright lights all day and had a string of LED rope lights on at night just so I could see when I went in there in the morning or late evening. We would turn on the brighter lights when we went in to milk the cow in the morning and turn them off after evening feeding...so roughly 12 hours of light. I've done the ACV also, but really intermittently. I know it does help though.
@@SageandStoneHomestead > I read that book too! 📙 > Watership Down by Richard Adams > 1996 > Yikes....28 years ago is when I read it! That Book sure is getting old. (or is it me..?) Haha. My daughter had a solid black Netherland Dwarf (Alec ) living in her bedroom. I had no idea just how Smart rabbits are! We love rabbits!
@@l.m.4014 Time passes, but good stories are eternal. I've owned my copy since the mid-80s, lol. It has traveled with me from New England to Colorado to Florida and back to New England. And it will make one final trip when I move to Kentucky next year. 💖
I live in a very cold part of Canada where we get maybe 6 hours of daylight this time of year but I have no trouble with breeding! I use a string of led lights on a timer, both inexpensive to buy and run, and it runs 16 hours a day. If you think your does are possibly overweight which is a risk with seasonally breeding a Californian; feed grass hay (no pellets) for maybe 3 days and then put her back with the buck, it can kickstart their system into functioning instead of being sluggish! One suggestion I would have is if you intend to keep a breeding doe, keep her with mum for at least 8 weeks if not longer if you can, it is around the 7-12 week old range where they learn their confidence and to see you as not a threat but rather associate you with positive things like food. This makes much calmer more handle-able does as they aren’t as fearful, and I only want well-adjusted does in my barn as my young daughter handles them too! Totally fine if that timeline doesn’t work for you but I find it works well for us ☺️ Barn is looking great, can’t wait to see it!!
We have had trouble with breeding our rabbits this year also. It was very hot this summer and now we’re having a very cold fall. One of our does just gave birth out of the nesting box and 7 of them froze to death. It’s been very frustrating, plus two of our goats just aborted.
We’ve had screaming bucks and kits as well. When “scruffing” its farther up on towards the neck and cupping the legs so it doesn’t pull and bruise the skin. I’m not sure if it’s just this video or always so just wanted to mention. ❤
Hi there! I was instructed to scruff in the middle of their back so they can't flail and hurt their backs, but I like your method too. Ours can act pretty wild and be very kicky.
@ they say that because it puts them in freeze mode, we don’t have any issues when using the cup method (cup the back legs in) they feel secure and they get used to it and we’ve had no issues plus who doesn’t like a quick rabbit snuggle!
@@DreamweaversHomestead one time I had one bite my side when I held her under my arm so I started holding them away from me. It sounds like your way prevents bites too!
@ yup! They’re in front of you so no possible bites and also they have limited defenses so they got ouch and then bite typically not always but we’ve had them immediately calm. We do a loooooot with rabbits. Bucks screaming cracks me up 🤦🏾♀️
I only tolerate 2-3 missed or small litters before I move the doe on. If I see that my doe is getting chunky, I'll try back to back litters to use up some of her stored fat. But if that doesn't work, I'm not patient enough to wait for weight loss. I also am leaning to the idea that certain family lines breed easier than others. I've had some that need a little more coaxing to get the does to lift. But... This last group I got have all lifted sky high for me no matter the timing of litters, time of year, or Buck I use. Every daughter I've kept has been the same way.
Hey Heather, I have some advice for you on the rabbit front. For some background info, i bred Netherland Dwarfs for several years. So I found that keeping male/female pairs directly next to eachother for several days/a week before physically pairing them was the key for does to lift. I've also found that when breedings are on the forced side, (without the acclimation), even if "successful" does were significantly less likey to ovulate/more likely to "skip". Being induced ovulaters I believe rabbits actually have much more control over their reproduction than say a dog or cat, who are on a fixed cycle. I also found that if a doe has not been bred before a year old they have a lot more problems reproducing throught their life, (Also after long breaks, which I think you said you noticed too) I hope this helps, definitely try the acclimation. I think when the does "know" their guy, they feel more comfortable, understandablly lol.
Also not trying to sound preachey lol just thought I'd share my experience. I've been enjoying the content and can't wait to hopefully have a few dairy goats and a huge garden one day!
I like to crochet while watching my favorite RUclips homesteading channels, so....I am doing that while watching your video and I look up and have to pause the video to make sure I am seeing what I think I'm seeing....at this moment, I am using the same supersaver yarn in the same buff fleck color that I see next to you on the table lol I am easily amused by the small things LOL But seriously how ironic?!
Bunny names, Beatrice and Constance. I think would be wonderful. My mom used to raise rabbits which meant I fed and watered 126 rabbits every morning before school.
@ we had a mini farm, but both of my parents grew up and farm families we were taught where our food came from and responsibility at a young age. I think you can balance those lessons and still let your children play and be children. My parents did it well you learned that the quicker you got your work done the more time you had to play.
Keeping your breeding animals at optimal weight is essential in my experience. Rabbits gain fat around the organs before you'll notice them being chunky looking overall. Defenently feed them per their body weight in pellets. Mine get 1/2 cup pellets per 5 lbs of body weight and either hay or some hay cubes. If they have leftovers, I'll decrease the pellets a little. For frigid does, the apple cider vinegar and a pinch of black oil sunflower seeds seems to help. I've also tried housing the doe next to the buck. I usually won't feed free choice pellets to the doe when she is with her litter. To avoid her pigging out too much. I will give them plenty of hay instead. Then, once the babies go into the grow out cage, I'll increase their pellets as long as they aren't wasting it and still give plenty of hay. I keep my breeding animals on the same diet, only increasing it slightly during their winter off season. To help them generate more body heat. It gets cold in Southern Indiana, most winters. When it's a few weeks before it's time to start up production again, I'll put them back on the normal routine to bring them back to optimal weight. I haven't had many issues with frigid does with this system. You can try an all hay diet to slim your does back down. I would give them just a handful of pellets to supplement whatever nutrition the hay might lack. To avoid any deficiencies. Mine are outside, so I do not mess with a light, but I would set it to mimic the amount and time of daylight that you'd have in spring in your area.
Is that Sandy Brook advent calendar? This is my first video of your homestead. Been thinking about getting rabbits, but not sure if I want to use for breeding. Maybe a couple for the poop for gardening. I hear it is a good compost.
For breeding, disrupting their routine is good. I think that's why cage swapping can work. Nice long car rides to another lication tends to work (the number of does who lift HIGH for judges on the show table anytime they are touched is extraordinary.)
WE've had consistent problems with breeding for over a year and a half with our rabbits. started in cages, moved them to a colony same issue...STOPPED feeding commercial pellets as I feel that is the problem... WHATEVER is in the feed they are putting in it....
Hope your luck with bunnies starts looking up! I just had a litter of 11 from my little rex doe and its been 3 days and 10 made it, the 11th sadly was still born but it happens
I'm braining rabbits today. Also the weather is perfect. I've had half of them. Be perseptive to the buck and the other half. Not so much interested one is young. She's only six months old so I'll give her a retry in a couple days.
I had a horrible time last your and found having a shelter none of the rabbits lice in and putting both rabbits in the cage that neither live in worked they breed beautiful and after mo storing seeing if they are going to be ok through a day I left them together for a week and then separated and everyone was a success...we only had one female she was so aggressive she went to freezer camp after so many tries
In my research rabbits age is not much factor but number of litters is. Each doe should have about 12 litters then decline, 2 year old or 6 years old no different. I struggle with chubby bunny's too lol.
Check vents for darker color (dark pink to purple), this displays hormones when doe is most receptive. Rabbits cycle is up to 4 days not ready to ovulate out of about each 21 days. If color is good and still not receptive then table breed or elastic band method. 10 minute car ride is said to help and I bet just pulled around in the cart for 10 mins get same results. Hope they cooperate for ya soon.
When cat jumped on you i felt that all the way to Norway! I took in a wild cat so i could help her, and i wish she did that with me. Just coz i cant even hold her or cuddle her. She only come to sniff my fingers and get goodies but dont allow me any cuddles.
I would put a nest box in their cages filled with hay and spend a couple hours a day, for a week in the barn talking to them and petting them, also giving a small amounts of grass. Then after that week they were all relaxed so I brought them into my house clipped nails and looked over them, let them explore a little. The following day they lift. That’s been my trick that’s been working. It seems like the more nervous they are the less successful litters I was getting
Oh man I'm so glad you've got the time for that. I do not. if we give boxes without a litter coming soon they use it as a litter box. Our rabbits have always been nervous but that hasn't seemed to affect willingness to breed.
@ oops I meant minutes not hours lol. Mine will use it every now and then as a litter box that’s why we use the old nest boxes that should be tossed out, I also wonder if it’s the smells of past litters and kits in the old nest boxes that get them in the mood.
Oh my, I almost forgot!! The same rabbit breeder who suggested putting a tiny bit of Clorox (ONLY Clorox as it's the most clean & pure bleach) in the water, also suggested taking a doe who's not interested in breeding for a car ride. Don't laugh (I certainly did the 1st time she told us!) She was completely serious! For whatever reason, it does work!!
@tankiescraftingmom4381 If the bunnies are eating pellets & no longer nursing at all they can be weaned. Especially if the litter is left together & mom is taken out of the pen. Usually I leave them together longer, 8-10 weeks minimum.
18:13 have you tried the rubber band method to help the doe lift? The Mrs tried it last year with a stubborn doe and it worked. I think it's too much work and she will be on the chopping block. We rotate our bucks every 5 years and does every 3 yrs.
I know nothing about rabbits but I was wondering if on the new rabbit area if you put the clear plastic roof panels for more light in the winter? I’m not sure how that would work out in summer. I guess you could filter it somehow. Like I said I don’t know anything but thought I’d throw the idea out there and you could research it.
We don't want to make it a greenhouse of sorts in summer. We are putting clear panels on the north side and the west and east doors will be open in good weather. We will still probably have a light on them.
How long do you wait to handle the babies? I think I checked one of my doe’s babies too soon and the next time I checked them a couple days later they were cold.
What breed are your bunnies besides the Californian? I am raising Holland Lops at the moment but I have thought about mixing breeds to see what I can get. Like rexes and chinchillas. One of my does was not receptive this season. I will have to look into her feed and lighting. My other doe has been the best momma but she does not like the breeding process. This season her babies seem to have dirty butts why do you think that could be??❤❤ Babette(Babs for short) and I was thinking Claudette but idk how you would shorten that.😂 Maybe Charlotte! Bao Bun is the cutest name and bunny. When I get into meat rabbits, I want to do Californians bc of you, so thank you. ❤❤ wow, that was a long rant, sorry.
our "pretty bunnies" are a mix of several breeds. Two of our bucks have rex fur and Rosette is a Harlequin coloring. Our buck Abraham looks a like Silver fox but I think he is mixed as well.
🐇🐇When I had rabbits, we only gave the breeding rabbits dry hay and grass when it wasn't breeding season🐇🐇 They only got pellets when they were "working"🐇🐇 The does started getting some pellets after mating and the ration was gradually increased until free access during lactation🐇🐇They always had free access to hay🐇🐇 The bucks always had free access to hay and only got pellets when needed🐇🐇 I learned from the older ones that the breeding animals were healthier and had better teeth and digestion if they were allowed to eat coarse grass hay with clover and timothy🐇🐇 The slaughter animals only got pellets, apart from the little hay they ate while with their mothers🐇
Your breeding rabbits look like they're in very good health, could they be carrying too much weight to breed well? When my does go through a spell where they don't want too breed, I increase the protein content of their feed. I use Kent rabbit pellets. There are 3 types ranging from 16% to 18%. Sometimes changing from 16 to 17 is enough, but occasionally it takes going to the 18% for a bit to get them breeding well & getting larger litters. Also years ago when my daughter was in 4-H a rabbit breeder suggested putting a couple drops of Clorox bleach in the rabbit water after she learned we use well water. At that time it helped significantly. I'm disappointed the ACV didn't help, that's another of my "go to"s! Though the past few years, upping the protein has made the most improvement. God bless!
I haven't tried the ACV this year but in past years it didn't do anything. They are on a 15% Pellet by kalmbach. I used to be able to get an 18% locally but not anymore!
You breed them while they are still nursing? That’s a lot for a mama. We start weaning at 5 weeks old by removing the lil bucks then a few days later we remove the baby does. Then we give mama a week or 2 off then we breed again.
Yep! This is what I was suggested to do way in the beginning. They are not fully nursing as the kits are on feed too. My rabbits are kinda fat too and so the extra calories are there to give up.
increase light to 12-14 hrs a day, and maybe car ride, normally the car ride itself (vibration of the ride) would get them wanting to mount, and be consecutive, until you see fall offs breed multiple days in a row. Hope it helps.
I had a girl that refused to breed so I left the buck in the cage with her until she kitted and after she kitted so she gave me another litter after 4 was. I had to seperate him a couple days after she kitted because he kept jumping on the nest trying to mate again so you have to watch them carefully if you leave the buck in there because he was selfish...lol😂
Rabbits; Check how much feed they should be getting according to their weight (I've forgotten now....) and put them on a bit of a diet if needed. Check their vulva daily; does don't have regular heat cycles but there are times when they are more receptive than others and during those times their vulvas will be a bit swollen and even pinky/purpley colored. If their vulvas look really small and pale they usually won't breed. I used to take does to the buck very early in the morning and again in the evening. (I was milking at 6 & 6, so right after milking). If she wasn't interested or tried to fight the buck I'd wait a couple days then try again. And old culls make great sausage mixed 50-50 with fatty pork. I used to grow and use Pineapple Sage and used that in the rabbit sausage, it was really nice
Thanks so much Mary!!
All the does that we have culled due to not taking for breeding (we typically give them a full year), have been easy keepers (stay fat on the same amount of food as their peers) and had lots of internal fat when culled. I need to be more struck about feeding per weight and condition.
I believe its 1/4 cup pellet for every 5lbs of the rabbits body weight. Nursing does will need a bit more, some people free feed nursing does even. And as much hay as each rabbits body size. Hope this helps :)
@ that is probably in the neighborhood; I was raising Rex and Californians and now I've remember, a tomato soup can full of pellets was maintenance. I did free feed my pregnant does and their litters
Levi certainly knows what he is doing! Good job!
Thank you so much!
hey i just wanted to give you a tip about breeding rabbits. you can tell if a doe is gonna be receptive to the buck by checking her vent. like pop it out like your checking her gender. if you see a cherry red with some purpling color she is rearing to breed. you want to see that purple color. it will be like a bad bruise purple color. you can get that coloring by give the doe something rich in nutrients (like a handful of spinach everyday for a few days) and access to light for 12+ hours. hope you see this and helps you out!
Thanks so much!
Back in the late 70’s early 80’s I had a pair of rabbits and each time they bred the buck would stand up and scream then plop over. Their names were Bow and Inkiny.
I love those names!!
My Californian is a screamer. lol.
Loving these daily vlogs. I watch while having my morning coffee. ❤
Thanks for watching! I appreciate you!
Hey girl! Fellow rabbit breeder here! I have tried all the tricks they say work to help your rabbits breed but most haven't worked for me sadly. The only thing that tends to work (not every time but a lot of the time) is if I put the rabbit in multiple days in a row. It tends to trigger her hormones to want to breed after she has been introduced to the buck a day or two in a row. But I know other people swear by the apple cider vinegar, swapping cages, and taking them for a drive. Just haven't had any of those work for me so far. We had a super rough year with our rabbits this year too. Between some kinda illness in the spring wiping out 30 kits, and some neighbor dogs busting our cages and killing all our pure bred rabbits, we have been really struggling. I love rabbits so much though so I am keeping hope that this year will be better. I hope you have a better year as well!
Thank you SO much for your encouragement and advice! I am so so sorry for the struggles 2024 brought for your rabbitry especially the dogs!! Oh my goodness how devastating. May 2025 be much better! Take care!
@@SageandStoneHomestead thank you!!! And watching your videos always encourages me so thank you!
Sorry that happened to you that would be so awful. It’s worth it to keep with it I have New Zealand Rabbits ❤
@CottontailCorner thank you for the encouragement! I am hoping to get some more New Zealand’s and more silver foxes soon to build my rabbitry back up!
The babies are adorable!! I agree that a repeat of the pairing is a great idea. Thanks for sharing your day!! Stay safe!!🙏❤🇺🇸🌲
Awesome video! I’m learning so much about rabbits and reading the comments too. I would love to have them some day. Their manure is awesome for the garden. I used to go get some at a nearby bunny farm for free!
Greetings from central Canada. Baby it's cold outside! I've given up on breeding my rabbits in cages because the babies mostly freeze in winter. They even freeze in their nesting boxes let alone if they get out. So I fenced off a 30x30 area in the barn and let them basically free range. The rabbits manage their own breeding, obviously less intense than caged rabbits but they are so much happier. And my chore load has gotten so much easier. I drop a square bale of alfalfa about once a week and a daily drop of wheat and oats into a common feeder because I keep the chickens with them over winter. It's so much less work than daily feeding and watering every single cage. And not paying for feed pellets also helps a lot. Merry Christmas wherever you are!
Hi I'm in southwestern KY and your rabbitry sounds like a dream! I'm glad you discovered what works for you :)
@@SageandStoneHomestead Merry Christmas! Its warm outside tonight. Just one degree above freezing!
I had themes for breeds or bloodlines when I was raising rabbits. My theme for Californians was cities in California and just going through the alphabet. Worked out pretty well until I'd get to a letter with slim pickings lol.
Lightbulb moment:
I picked up a couple of ounces of washed and carded alpaca wool at a recent holiday farmers market. I have a drop spindle, and I thought spinning some yarn would be a fun and creative activity while work is slow between now and the start of fall term January 6th. It has just occurred to me that watching you felting may have contributed to my need for to get my hands into some wool. =)
Side note: I’ve only ever used sheep wool. Alpaca is so, so soft!
Yes I've purchased alpaca yarn before, it's luxurious!! If you have cats they seem to love alpaca yarn too for whatever reason!
With B-Doe and C-Doe not lifting and possibly aging out of the breeding program anyway, I kind of feel like it might be better to just name the replacement bunny does instead. I do think increasing their light is a good idea to help them along with being in the mood to lift for the bucks, but I would also possibly be looking at one or two replacement young bunny does (besides Bao Bun) just in case they have adequate time to adjust for breeding and don't perform. The only other thing I could suggest is maybe moving the does to the end that gets more natural light, too (and placing the bred does in the darker area) to see if that makes a difference.
C Doe was retained in 2023 so she isn't old enough to really replace yet. I made the timer go from 3am to 7pm so they will have a good amount of light in there now
Breeding rabbits in the shortest daytime of the year goes against their internal clock, so plenty just don't want to. Try againt from mid january onward, my end jan/mid feb breedings show does with most "yes more" attittude when in with the buck (and blissed out after). Days getting longer wakes things up.
Check vulva for where in their cycle they are, pale is no use to try, pink to purple should be fertile. Also check if everything is clean and healthy looking down there and the buck also. Doing health checks (and maybe clipping nails) before breeding also gives you regular moments to verify the health of your rabbitry.
Weight can be an issue, put them on hay only for 1-2 months. And possibly flush them 2-3 days before going in with the buck. You may want to put them on hay only (maybe very limited pellet for minerals/vitamins) preventatively during a scheduled break from breeding. Here (NL/EU) the pellet is a supplement feed, mainstay is hay and such.
Repeat breeding is a story that is a maybe, rabbits are induced ovulators although there are not always eggs ripe enough when bred (that is why you check the vulva), so one falloff can get you a full litter just as well as repeats can. Advice varies from repeat after 30min./1 hour after first fall off to 12 hours later to leave them in 12hours to 1-2 days. Also depends on if they get along well enough and what works for your schedule.
Thank you SO much for all of your advice!!
I got a 1female and1 male 2 years ago with the intentions to breed but didn’t get other cages ready for little ones. But retired now and want to raise them. I know I may have to get younger ones but will. Love watching all that you do. Reminds me of myself.
You can certainly try with the older rabbits! They may surprise you!
@ thanks I’ll give it a try.
I have been heavily researching keeping meat rabbits for almost 5 years now, and after about a year, I started looking into pet rabbits. I don't have them yet, but what I've planned is that they have to have a run and play area with toys/tunnels, like either each rabbit gets time in the run or they have their own separate "yards" where I can open their cage every day and they can come out and play (ramp to get up and down into the run) I'm going to see if I can get my does to get along but there is strong evidence the bucks won't if they're not neutered. Does may not get along if they currently have a litter. AND I've seen people have higher success breeding rates from rabbits that breed in the run, and it keeps rabbits fit/active. As far as your gloomy winter situation, you may need to keep a light on in there all day, like 5am to 7pm.
I wonder if meat specific breeds of rabbit function like meat specific breeds of chickens and turkeys. Less mobile to begin with? I haven't tried to give them a large space to jump and run in order to test that out!
@SageandStoneHomestead I want to be really clear in saying I've just read about them and having a run is my idea, i know the method of them staying in a cage works and has worked for so so many people and this isnt to bash at all, like a huge appeal of meat rabbits is small space. but from what I've read, meat new Zealands and Californians can still get zoomies and could benefit from having a run.
@@Bellllllz you're good! I love the idea and I'm interested to hear how it works for you! ♥️♥️
I was thinking of names for you... Bonnie Bunny and Cotton Tail! Love how the barn addition is coming along! I could use a Levi here....lol!
Was fun thinking of some name suggestions. Babs and Celeste are all I keep coming up with. The addition is coming along nicely!
Babs is cute!!
Why give their names when they are to be butchered..Disgusting
I took a video discussion on this exact subject: ruclips.net/video/9CoMvKpJPVY/видео.html
Essentially, why not? Doesn't the animal deserve you to acknowledge it for what it is? Is it better to shove them in a dark corner and ignore them until you need their meat? What's more disgusting?
@@SageandStoneHomestead It seems you may be commenting on what I said..my comment was removed so I can't say for shore..I keep them as pets and I could never imagine naming them and butchering them..Like I mentioned before, RUclips brought me here, and I was curious about the title..I didnt know it was about meat rabbits..To me eating a rabbit is like eating a dog. My rabbits live in doors and are part of my family.
@@janc8199 we have an indoor house bunny too. It's possible for someone who eats meat to be able to look an animal in the eye, name it, love on it, give it treats and ALSO put it in the freezer. That's not disgusting, it's good. The last thing you should want as a meat eater is for your meat to be unacnowledged for what it is.
You’re not the only one having trouble with breeding this year it seems. I’ve seen a lot of people on different rabbit boards on social media talking about having smaller litters and does no being receptive. 2 of my Rex does this year were a major challenge and I only got one successfully breed.
I wonder if there's been a change to feed ingredients like what's happened to a lot of processed human foods.
@ that’s a possibility I hadn’t considered. Definitely worth looking into.
Same here (southern Ohio)!
I too have had breeding issues this year. Lost a 2 year old doe the day before her delivery date . Also 1 doe didn't deliver at all on her delivery date. I saw them breed to no avail. Also 1 doe only had 4 kits. 2 more to go so we will see what happens by the end of December.
Yes, lighting has alot to do with it also feed and the amount of feed, more hay. Such cute bunnies
Always love seeing rabbit content, am hopeful to have some on my future homestead someday. Your barn expansion is going to be so nice! Will you have like an outdoor sink and some electricity in your milking room? I could imagine it would make cleanup for the milk machine so nice and maybe not even have to cart it back and forth? Not sure if there's another faucet nearby or if you'd have to run a hose with a splitter? I know BDoe and CDoe may not be with y'all for super long depending on how well they breed, but these are the silly names that popped into my head when you asked for name suggestions: Bedelia, Cecilia Similar in sound to their current names and a bit rhymey I guess. haha We need more pretty bunny pompoms for sure haha. Imagine some spotted pompoms! 💚🐇🐰💚
Haha that's cute too! I thought about having a sink out there, but the barn is VERY dusty with the goats moving around all the time so the milking stuff will still be stored in the overflow shed. The electricity is on the other side of the wall and needs to move over but thankfully it's there already!
Oooo.. spotted pompoms sounds gorgeous!!
I had a problem for a while and I added fennel to ACV to put in their water. It seemed to work. Sometimes I give them chamomile to relax them.
It is hilarious to have a screamer buck. It would seem to make more sense that it would be a doe screaming, but apparently it is just that good! 😂
I wean at 6-7 weeks, try to breed back at 6 weeks. I've found that if the doe takes, it seems to really help her dry up at weaning. I try to make it to 7 weeks before weaning, but sometimes the does make it obvious that they are DONE with having the rugrats around, so I'll go ahead then anytime from 6 weeks.
Hi Heather, I'm a rabbit breeder. Sounds like you've been doing everything that I would do. I had one that was doing this and I put her on a diet for a month or so. She did finally get bred, but didn't have a very large litter. I bred her again after the kits were weaned, and she did have 7 the next time. But, if that didn't work, she would have been culled.
I fed B doe and C doe hay only today, that has been the most common suggestion other than making sure there is enough light ♥ Thank you!
Omg I haven’t seen you on my home page in like almost a year I’m so glad it popped up
Hey Bribri! Glad the algorithm connected us again!
I would say more light in the barn. 14-16 hours of light, your barn is really dark
The rabbit breeding season has been crazy here too! Not just for me, but also my mentor. We are blaming the crazy weather & temp swings. The poor rabbits don’t know what’s going on. We finally did get a couple litters.
On a sad note: One of our does (who had kits place at last years fair) had one large still born kit and then died. Necropsy showed that her uterus ruptured.
On a positive note: I bred my black doe back to her solid black son and we got 4 blacks, 3 white, and possibly 2 blue.
In-line breeding can answer a lot of questions about genetics (which I am still really trying to wrap my head around).
Very neat!! I think sausage is related to our house bunny somehow (the kids know) and wondered what they would produce. Breeding is really fun! So sorry about your doe that died, that's crazy! We have had big singles that passed but so far thankfully no mamas that passed due to kindling complications. That is so hard!
Awwww the baby bunnies are so cute, when that cat jumped on you, I felt you pain lol I knew his nails hurt. My cats do the same thing, I know they don't mean to cause they just wanna be all over us but Jesus lol that hurts lol
Well that was fast! They sure don’t waste any time! 😂 Better tell the kitty to be careful!😂 Extension looking nice! Can I borrow Levi? I need an extension!❤ Jumpers babies are so cute! Rosette sure is pretty.
Haha it's so funny he has so many comments on various videos about borrowing him for tasks. If he could be split into 20 pieces he would love to help! ♥
@ I think you have a hot commodity there! You could rent him out and make some extra $$! 😂
@@BecomingaGreenstalker 🤣🤣🤣
Have you tried using Florescent shop lights..Its a White Light and Works For Chickens to extend Daylight 12 to 14 hrs...Make sure Its Lit up like a Brite Sunny day..🌞
What we have in there is an LED floodlight. I'll show it in a couple days! ♥
At 14:30 I love how the music went along with his tool sounds! So satisfying
Thanks!! It's fun for me when people notice things like that haha
I agree with maryhysong, some does can overeat and that can lower fertility or stop it altogether. Even if you cut back on the feed, internal fat can still wrap around the sex organs and make it just hard for them to carry to term or have a lot of babies. So if you cull and even if you thinned the doe but a lot of internal fat around the sex organs that's why. I will cull my rabbits if they fail to produce a litter in three tries. Usually my last try I always use a high fertility buck that is always on top of breeding and produces consistent litters (rarely it could be the buck you are using). If you have issues breeding in the summer, some bucks can become temporarily sterile if the degrees are 85 and above for a sustained amount of time. They will regain their fertility after 60-80 days if it does happen. Sometimes if they are maiden does and they have no idea, sometimes it can be a nightmare getting to lift. I always try to flip up/angle the does back legs so the vent is more exposed to the buck's penis and instinctually they will lift once coming in contact.
I'd be careful leaving does/bucks in the same cages. I have some does that will allow a buck to breed and then say they are done by biting/chasing/trying to hurt the buck. Bucks have also been castrated by does. If you feel the does have the right temperament to leave in the cage with the buck do so, but I know I have some ladies that get done and I have to immediately remove them for safety reasons.
And the preferred buck thing is funny but true! Some does of mine will refuse to breed to a specific buck but auto lift for another. Wild horses have been found to prefer a certain stallion and will actually make attempts to escape (if they got stolen) back to the stallion they like. Nature isn't too different from us humans in retrospect.
I think you are right on track with the lighting idea for your rabbits. At our first homestead, we had loads of natural light. Never had any trouble with breeding. The next place had barely any natural light (log barn) and we had quite a bit of breeding trouble unless we had good lights going. I used fairly bright lights all day and had a string of LED rope lights on at night just so I could see when I went in there in the morning or late evening. We would turn on the brighter lights when we went in to milk the cow in the morning and turn them off after evening feeding...so roughly 12 hours of light.
I've done the ACV also, but really intermittently. I know it does help though.
Thank you for that confirmation!
We have some artificial light to extend the day as well and it does seem to help.
Sausage's babies are all so beautiful! Such lovely color patterns.
Bao Bun is getting big. 🥰
She sure is! Feisty thing!
Blackberry and Cowslip? (Watership Down) 😉
Ohhhh I read that quite a few years ago and loved that book!
@SageandStoneHomestead I still have the copy my mom bought for me back in middle school. 😂
@@SageandStoneHomestead > I read that book too! 📙
> Watership Down by Richard Adams > 1996 > Yikes....28 years ago is when I read it! That Book sure is getting old. (or is it me..?) Haha.
My daughter had a solid black Netherland Dwarf (Alec ) living in her bedroom. I had no idea just how Smart rabbits are! We love rabbits!
@@l.m.4014 Time passes, but good stories are eternal. I've owned my copy since the mid-80s, lol. It has traveled with me from New England to Colorado to Florida and back to New England. And it will make one final trip when I move to Kentucky next year. 💖
I live in a very cold part of Canada where we get maybe 6 hours of daylight this time of year but I have no trouble with breeding!
I use a string of led lights on a timer, both inexpensive to buy and run, and it runs 16 hours a day.
If you think your does are possibly overweight which is a risk with seasonally breeding a Californian; feed grass hay (no pellets) for maybe 3 days and then put her back with the buck, it can kickstart their system into functioning instead of being sluggish!
One suggestion I would have is if you intend to keep a breeding doe, keep her with mum for at least 8 weeks if not longer if you can, it is around the 7-12 week old range where they learn their confidence and to see you as not a threat but rather associate you with positive things like food. This makes much calmer more handle-able does as they aren’t as fearful, and I only want well-adjusted does in my barn as my young daughter handles them too! Totally fine if that timeline doesn’t work for you but I find it works well for us ☺️
Barn is looking great, can’t wait to see it!!
Thank you so much!! She will stay with mom until 9 weeks since mama just re-bred
Bunnicula is a great bunny name for b-doe. Great kids books as well.
We have had trouble with breeding our rabbits this year also. It was very hot this summer and now we’re having a very cold fall. One of our does just gave birth out of the nesting box and 7 of them froze to death. It’s been very frustrating, plus two of our goats just aborted.
Wow I am so sorry!!
@ Thanks, very frustrating
We’ve had screaming bucks and kits as well. When “scruffing” its farther up on towards the neck and cupping the legs so it doesn’t pull and bruise the skin. I’m not sure if it’s just this video or always so just wanted to mention. ❤
Hi there! I was instructed to scruff in the middle of their back so they can't flail and hurt their backs, but I like your method too. Ours can act pretty wild and be very kicky.
@ they say that because it puts them in freeze mode, we don’t have any issues when using the cup method (cup the back legs in) they feel secure and they get used to it and we’ve had no issues plus who doesn’t like a quick rabbit snuggle!
@@DreamweaversHomestead one time I had one bite my side when I held her under my arm so I started holding them away from me. It sounds like your way prevents bites too!
@ yup! They’re in front of you so no possible bites and also they have limited defenses so they got ouch and then bite typically not always but we’ve had them immediately calm. We do a loooooot with rabbits. Bucks screaming cracks me up 🤦🏾♀️
@DreamweaversHomestead thank you so much!
Ive had a virgin doe that did not want to lift, so I've helped her by putting my hand under her and lifting. She's now 2 and my best momma.
I considered that, haven't done it yet! Thank you ♥
Bring them in and warm them up in front of a window. Leave the light on for a bit in the evening. We always gave them a papaya tabs.
It's not cold out . Today it's 62 :)
I only tolerate 2-3 missed or small litters before I move the doe on. If I see that my doe is getting chunky, I'll try back to back litters to use up some of her stored fat. But if that doesn't work, I'm not patient enough to wait for weight loss.
I also am leaning to the idea that certain family lines breed easier than others. I've had some that need a little more coaxing to get the does to lift. But... This last group I got have all lifted sky high for me no matter the timing of litters, time of year, or Buck I use. Every daughter I've kept has been the same way.
Very interesting info! Thank you!!
Thank you for sharing. Thoughts and Prayers. Love and Blessings.
Doris, Penrith 🇦🇺🦘
Hey Heather, I have some advice for you on the rabbit front.
For some background info, i bred Netherland Dwarfs for several years.
So I found that keeping male/female pairs directly next to eachother for several days/a week before physically pairing them was the key for does to lift. I've also found that when breedings are on the forced side, (without the acclimation), even if "successful" does were significantly less likey to ovulate/more likely to "skip". Being induced ovulaters I believe rabbits actually have much more control over their reproduction than say a dog or cat, who are on a fixed cycle. I also found that if a doe has not been bred before a year old they have a lot more problems reproducing throught their life, (Also after long breaks, which I think you said you noticed too)
I hope this helps, definitely try the acclimation. I think when the does "know" their guy, they feel more comfortable, understandablly lol.
Also not trying to sound preachey lol just thought I'd share my experience. I've been enjoying the content and can't wait to hopefully have a few dairy goats and a huge garden one day!
I'm excited to get the new rabbitry set up, the bucks and does well be under the same roof and it will be easier to make that kind of setup happen :)
I like to crochet while watching my favorite RUclips homesteading channels, so....I am doing that while watching your video and I look up and have to pause the video to make sure I am seeing what I think I'm seeing....at this moment, I am using the same supersaver yarn in the same buff fleck color that I see next to you on the table lol I am easily amused by the small things LOL But seriously how ironic?!
How Funny!!! I love that, I just made a scarf with it :)
@@SageandStoneHomestead I'm making a blanket (Drunken Granny stitch) 🥰
Having the same trouble here...trying extra light and putting my girls on a diet too. ❤
Bunny names, Beatrice and Constance. I think would be wonderful. My mom used to raise rabbits which meant I fed and watered 126 rabbits every morning before school.
Wow that is a big responsibility! I love that!
@ we had a mini farm, but both of my parents grew up and farm families we were taught where our food came from and responsibility at a young age. I think you can balance those lessons and still let your children play and be children. My parents did it well you learned that the quicker you got your work done the more time you had to play.
@auntdayskitchen6315 I totally agree! What an awesome way to grow up!
Keeping your breeding animals at optimal weight is essential in my experience. Rabbits gain fat around the organs before you'll notice them being chunky looking overall. Defenently feed them per their body weight in pellets. Mine get 1/2 cup pellets per 5 lbs of body weight and either hay or some hay cubes. If they have leftovers, I'll decrease the pellets a little. For frigid does, the apple cider vinegar and a pinch of black oil sunflower seeds seems to help. I've also tried housing the doe next to the buck.
I usually won't feed free choice pellets to the doe when she is with her litter. To avoid her pigging out too much. I will give them plenty of hay instead. Then, once the babies go into the grow out cage, I'll increase their pellets as long as they aren't wasting it and still give plenty of hay. I keep my breeding animals on the same diet, only increasing it slightly during their winter off season. To help them generate more body heat. It gets cold in Southern Indiana, most winters. When it's a few weeks before it's time to start up production again, I'll put them back on the normal routine to bring them back to optimal weight. I haven't had many issues with frigid does with this system. You can try an all hay diet to slim your does back down. I would give them just a handful of pellets to supplement whatever nutrition the hay might lack. To avoid any deficiencies. Mine are outside, so I do not mess with a light, but I would set it to mimic the amount and time of daylight that you'd have in spring in your area.
Oh, how about Clarice, Claudia, Bekah, and Belinda for your does names? Or maybe Barbara or Bathsheba?
well if you want to go with food names (like sausage) you could name B "bacon" and C something like "chutney" (or Coffee if you like that)
Is that Sandy Brook advent calendar? This is my first video of your homestead. Been thinking about getting rabbits, but not sure if I want to use for breeding. Maybe a couple for the poop for gardening. I hear it is a good compost.
I think every gardener should have a pet rabbit! Go for it! Yes that's Sandi's advent calendar :)
For breeding, disrupting their routine is good. I think that's why cage swapping can work. Nice long car rides to another lication tends to work (the number of does who lift HIGH for judges on the show table anytime they are touched is extraordinary.)
That is so interesting!! Thanks for sharing!
I’m having a really hard breeding year also. I decided to enjoy Christmas and then try again. May have to make some tough decisions.
Hugs, so sorry! It's been rough
WE've had consistent problems with breeding for over a year and a half with our rabbits. started in cages, moved them to a colony same issue...STOPPED feeding commercial pellets as I feel that is the problem... WHATEVER is in the feed they are putting in it....
I just pulled b doe and c doe off pellets for a few days, they have alfalfa and orchard grass hay
Little bit of soft music and spiking the water feeder? Maybe some lipstick.
LOL!!
😂
😂
Hope your luck with bunnies starts looking up! I just had a litter of 11 from my little rex doe and its been 3 days and 10 made it, the 11th sadly was still born but it happens
Congratulations!! Send me some of that good juju! ♡
Enjoying this video ❤❤❤❤ love the bunnies 🐰 ❤️
Background music is so smoothing
LOL! I thought at first that they had names: Bido and Cido!
LOL Funny!!
I'm braining rabbits today. Also the weather is perfect. I've had half of them. Be perseptive to the buck and the other half. Not so much interested one is young. She's only six months old so I'll give her a retry in a couple days.
I had a horrible time last your and found having a shelter none of the rabbits lice in and putting both rabbits in the cage that neither live in worked they breed beautiful and after mo storing seeing if they are going to be ok through a day I left them together for a week and then separated and everyone was a success...we only had one female she was so aggressive she went to freezer camp after so many tries
In my research rabbits age is not much factor but number of litters is. Each doe should have about 12 litters then decline, 2 year old or 6 years old no different. I struggle with chubby bunny's too lol.
Ohhhh well that could be it. 12 litters is 3 years of breeding for us, two on a cooler spring or early fall year.
Check vents for darker color (dark pink to purple), this displays hormones when doe is most receptive. Rabbits cycle is up to 4 days not ready to ovulate out of about each 21 days. If color is good and still not receptive then table breed or elastic band method. 10 minute car ride is said to help and I bet just pulled around in the cart for 10 mins get same results. Hope they cooperate for ya soon.
I am always learning so much watching your channel. 🙏❤️
I know nothing about taking care of rabbits but I sure know they are cute!
Indeed!! ♥♥
My cats jump on my back all the time because my son does this with them! It’s funny now.
I would concentrate on giving your does more light. We have our barn lights on a timer giving them 14 hours of light a day.
I'm dealing with the same issue.. I'm going to try "The rubberband method"...
When cat jumped on you i felt that all the way to Norway! I took in a wild cat so i could help her, and i wish she did that with me. Just coz i cant even hold her or cuddle her. She only come to sniff my fingers and get goodies but dont allow me any cuddles.
I love Monty and he knows it! I just wish that shirt was a little thicker lol!!
I've pulled pellets for a day or 2 and only feed hay. That can help.
I thought the rabbit was screaming for joy. lol ❤❤❤
He might have been haha
I would put a nest box in their cages filled with hay and spend a couple hours a day, for a week in the barn talking to them and petting them, also giving a small amounts of grass. Then after that week they were all relaxed so I brought them into my house clipped nails and looked over them, let them explore a little. The following day they lift. That’s been my trick that’s been working. It seems like the more nervous they are the less successful litters I was getting
Oh man I'm so glad you've got the time for that. I do not. if we give boxes without a litter coming soon they use it as a litter box. Our rabbits have always been nervous but that hasn't seemed to affect willingness to breed.
@ oops I meant minutes not hours lol. Mine will use it every now and then as a litter box that’s why we use the old nest boxes that should be tossed out, I also wonder if it’s the smells of past litters and kits in the old nest boxes that get them in the mood.
OH haha that's better!
Oh my, I almost forgot!! The same rabbit breeder who suggested putting a tiny bit of Clorox (ONLY Clorox as it's the most clean & pure bleach) in the water, also suggested taking a doe who's not interested in breeding for a car ride. Don't laugh (I certainly did the 1st time she told us!) She was completely serious! For whatever reason, it does work!!
Oh how funny! Maybe I'll take one of them on my feed run today lol
Is six weeks too early to be separated from their mom if they stopped nursing
@tankiescraftingmom4381 If the bunnies are eating pellets & no longer nursing at all they can be weaned. Especially if the litter is left together & mom is taken out of the pen. Usually I leave them together longer, 8-10 weeks minimum.
Heather! Where did you get the candle?? Cashmere Plum?
Wick and Bear!
Bunny names. Bumble and citrus
18:13 have you tried the rubber band method to help the doe lift? The Mrs tried it last year with a stubborn doe and it worked. I think it's too much work and she will be on the chopping block. We rotate our bucks every 5 years and does every 3 yrs.
I have never heard of that! Off to look it up!!
@@SageandStoneHomestead It was a hassle. OMG my spelling was horrible lol
Sausage and her babies are so pretty!
Never knew about the light for breeding! Thank you for sharing! Question: does artificial light work?
Yes it sure does!
Your light for the rabbitry, is it a full spectrum light?
I am not entirely sure! I went back to check in my amazon orders but I guess it was too far back. Possibly not? It's LED
I know nothing about rabbits but I was wondering if on the new rabbit area if you put the clear plastic roof panels for more light in the winter? I’m not sure how that would work out in summer. I guess you could filter it somehow. Like I said I don’t know anything but thought I’d throw the idea out there and you could research it.
We don't want to make it a greenhouse of sorts in summer. We are putting clear panels on the north side and the west and east doors will be open in good weather. We will still probably have a light on them.
Good morning! ☕️
Good morning!
Nice and usefully information 🎉
Feed a 1/2 a cup to 3/4 of cup of Feed a day
Heather I think B doe should be Beatrice and C doe should be Calipso.
Hello. Have you tired a half apple the night before for the doe and other half to the buck you are trying to breed?
Will you be able to have more bunnies with the expansion or is it just for all of the other reasons you’ve already mentioned?
We don't really need more rabbits honestly! We have 7 does with Bao added and 5 bucks. We just need them to have babies :)
Another great all around video..😊
Thank you!
Blossom , Bella, Beth
Clover , Chloe, cinnamon
Blaze and Charlie (future males)
I feed my fresh spinach and it works great that way if they are lacking anything it fixes it
Bunny names: Beatrix and Cashmere (or Cassie).
How long do you wait to handle the babies? I think I checked one of my doe’s babies too soon and the next time I checked them a couple days later they were cold.
I check them as soon as I see she's kindled. If mama was still cleaning up I'd probably wait a few hours.
What breed are your bunnies besides the Californian? I am raising Holland Lops at the moment but I have thought about mixing breeds to see what I can get. Like rexes and chinchillas. One of my does was not receptive this season. I will have to look into her feed and lighting. My other doe has been the best momma but she does not like the breeding process. This season her babies seem to have dirty butts why do you think that could be??❤❤ Babette(Babs for short) and I was thinking Claudette but idk how you would shorten that.😂 Maybe Charlotte! Bao Bun is the cutest name and bunny. When I get into meat rabbits, I want to do Californians bc of you, so thank you. ❤❤ wow, that was a long rant, sorry.
our "pretty bunnies" are a mix of several breeds. Two of our bucks have rex fur and Rosette is a Harlequin coloring. Our buck Abraham looks a like Silver fox but I think he is mixed as well.
🐇🐇When I had rabbits, we only gave the breeding rabbits dry hay and grass when it wasn't breeding season🐇🐇 They only got pellets when they were "working"🐇🐇 The does started getting some pellets after mating and the ration was gradually increased until free access during lactation🐇🐇They always had free access to hay🐇🐇 The bucks always had free access to hay and only got pellets when needed🐇🐇 I learned from the older ones that the breeding animals were healthier and had better teeth and digestion if they were allowed to eat coarse grass hay with clover and timothy🐇🐇 The slaughter animals only got pellets, apart from the little hay they ate while with their mothers🐇
I also found breeding them on table top or different cage does help
I get so scared a rabbit is going to launch off the table!
Name suggestions: Bedelia and Cecelia
Your breeding rabbits look like they're in very good health, could they be carrying too much weight to breed well? When my does go through a spell where they don't want too breed, I increase the protein content of their feed. I use Kent rabbit pellets. There are 3 types ranging from 16% to 18%. Sometimes changing from 16 to 17 is enough, but occasionally it takes going to the 18% for a bit to get them breeding well & getting larger litters. Also years ago when my daughter was in 4-H a rabbit breeder suggested putting a couple drops of Clorox bleach in the rabbit water after she learned we use well water. At that time it helped significantly. I'm disappointed the ACV didn't help, that's another of my "go to"s! Though the past few years, upping the protein has made the most improvement. God bless!
I haven't tried the ACV this year but in past years it didn't do anything. They are on a 15% Pellet by kalmbach. I used to be able to get an 18% locally but not anymore!
You breed them while they are still nursing? That’s a lot for a mama. We start weaning at 5 weeks old by removing the lil bucks then a few days later we remove the baby does. Then we give mama a week or 2 off then we breed again.
Yep! This is what I was suggested to do way in the beginning. They are not fully nursing as the kits are on feed too. My rabbits are kinda fat too and so the extra calories are there to give up.
Betsy for b doe? someone else said bumble I think that's cute too!
beautiful babies. rabbit name suggestion Bell (Bell Pepper) & Carrot.
increase light to 12-14 hrs a day, and maybe car ride, normally the car ride itself (vibration of the ride) would get them wanting to mount, and be consecutive, until you see fall offs breed multiple days in a row. Hope it helps.
Thank you!
I had a girl that refused to breed so I left the buck in the cage with her until she kitted and after she kitted so she gave me another litter after 4 was. I had to seperate him a couple days after she kitted because he kept jumping on the nest trying to mate again so you have to watch them carefully if you leave the buck in there because he was selfish...lol😂
wow! I've heard of them breeding back immediately, that's crazy how they do that if left to their own devices!
Curious - what part of the country are you in?
Southwestern KY! :)