We really enjoy them. I would recommend getting two bucks unless you are picking a breed that's pretty easy to come by. Nothing worse than losing a buck and not being able to replace him. Better to keep a "spare". If you can get unrelated bucks that gives you diversity in your herd without having to turn animals over as often.
I have a silver fox doe who will be 2 years old in April (I was told) she’s around 8lb 5oz I also have an American chinchilla/ New Zealand buck who was born June 6/29/20 he is more than willing to do his part but she just chases him away and starts to get aggressive with him I was told that since I had them together when he was a baby and let her on his side of the exercise pin she maybe still thought it was her territory so I cleaned it down with white vinegar to eliminate her smell! I just don’t know that much about her since I got her at an older age I also bought what I was told was her daughter who is the same age as my buck so I would think she is ready to breed again but no luck I’m new to breeding so I’m a little nervous handling my older doe because she doesn’t seem to like anything more then a brushing then feed me and leave me be 😂 do u think maybe she was bred young and a lot possibly or I just need to try other options I just don’t want her to hurt my only buck before my other does are ready to breed so could u maybe give me other tips on breeding and possibly some tips on handling her and how to make her a little more friendly and trusting of me!?
I really enjoy the videos where your caring for your bunbuns!!!! The other ones are rough on me!!!! You are very smart with these babies!!! I'm thankful I got you to watch and ask for help!!!!!
Funky Farm No it’s not they will get sore Hocks it will make them not show able would u like to stand on wire in a tiny cage your whole life I think not!!!!! (I breed rabbits)
Funky Farm is correct, wire flooring does not cause sore hocks. Dirty or damaged floors and untrimmed nails cause sore hocks. As someone who shows very extensively and has many, many Grand Champions and a Reserve in Show, what you're saying makes absolutely no sense. In addition, we offer our rabbits all resting boards if they don't want to be on the wire. Very few of them will actually use them. And FYI - bumble foots is the nickname for a very serious staph infection found in poultry. Once again, usually from dirty living conditions.
@@dunestaniszewski2300 they don't have pads on there feet like dogs or cats so it hurts there feet! Would u like to stand on wire your whole life? I am a ARBA member! I have shown and raised rabbits my whole life!! They can get sore hocks from wire!!
Hi my rabbit is about 4 and a half months old and I've got a buck I walked into the room and they were together accidently the buck was on top of her then fell off her after he done his business I've done a lot of reading up and it says palpate her belly carefully to feel for lumps I did that and I can feel soft lumps would it be the babies more to the sides of her belly or could I mix it up for something else? She's also a very loving rabbit but has been lunging at me growling two three times?
Palpating takes a lot of practice and is very difficult in young and/or first time breeders. You could be feeling fecal pellets in the intestines. A change in attitude usually will mean a change in hormones. Some does get aggressive and some get super sweet. I would plan on having kits 31 days after you witnessed the incident.
Thought i bought 2 female rabbits next minute I check the hutch and there’s a nest of lots of babies!! Just separated the male from the mother and watching these videos lol
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your educational videos! Many thanks for doing this. Question:.... concerning my first Californian buck that has not fall of yet (age 11 months old he quickly gets on, but never seems to "complete"). In your video you stated they may and may not have falloffs. How do you know if "his" breeding is successful. I've never had a buck not do his complete without falloffs". My experience is with Satins (no longer have any), American Chinchillas (love 'em!), and New Zealand (reds and broken reds). David
Is he showing any signs of completion? (Eye squinching, exaggerated facial expressions, etc) You can turn the doe over and check her vulva for moisture that would indicate semen. You'll want to look at her before and after she's spent time in the cage. How many times have you attempted to breed him? He could just not be getting where he needs to go, or could be a shy breeder. We had a Harlequin buck that would never finish if you were in the barn or he could see you. I would have to walk outside and wait for the think of him falling over. He was a great breeder, just a weirdo, LOL.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead We have tried him on 4 different does... 7 different times. No fall offs! He doesn't waste time mounting, but..... again, not a "bell ringer". I haven't watched his facial expressions. :D Nor did I check the doe, but... she did seem "wet" as I was returning her to her cage. I'm just wondering about keeping.
@@d.bartholomew50 I'd be curious to see if the does actually are being bred or not, which may be impossible to know until they kindle (or don't). Personally, either way, I wouldn't keep him. Being as busy as I am usually, I want a quick, easy and reasonably guaranteed breeding when I put two rabbits together. Fussing with an unknown takes too much time and energy.
Thanks for the video I recently bought a pregnant doe and she was meant to deliver her kits on the 4th of this month but till today she hasn't pulled fur nor delivered, please what do you think might be wrong
Sounds like she just didn't take, or the stress of moving may have caused her to absorb her kits before they really began to develop. Either way, it doesn't sound like she is pregnant. Rabbits seldom go past 33 days. 35 is an exception but can still produce viable kits. She's outside of that window now, so she was either never pregnant, absorbed early kits or aborted. You should be able to rebreed her now.
I have a lion head rabbit that is about 9-10 months old and I can’t get her to breed with any buck I put her with and my dwarf male rabbit has pulled her fur out and mounted her several times and I got nothing. Now they share a cage and I tried to breed her with my friends rabbit and still 2 weeks later i still can’t find anything. I bought her and my dwarf rabbit from pet stores. Any ideas ?
Hi, I wanted to thank you for the video. One of my does had been unwilling for the last month. The other doe has already kindled. Their last litter is now 12 weeks. I tried ACV and BOSS but no success. I was frustrated because the whole month was wasted. I didn't try switching cages. I thought there was no need for it because they were side by side. Yesterday after watching your video I finally did it for 24 hours. Today I put the buck back in his cage with her but no success. Then I put her back in her cage and put the buck with her and it worked!!! I'm just back from my rabbitry and thought to share my joy with you and thank you. 😊
Binny Bhatti - I'm so glad you've had success! It is surprising when they are already next to each other how swapping cages seems to make a difference. Rabbits are funny that way. Wishing you good luck on your upcoming litter ☺
Sprague River Homestead Hi, I’m having a problem. My New Zealand doe after throwing two consecutive litters usually become stubborn. They take a break for more than a month. I was wondering if there is a food supplement to reduce this break to 2 weeks. 🙂
What do you use in the covering of the door panel, the red plastic like material? can you post a link or could you make some video on how to make that? Thanks a lot
I think you are talking about the edging around the door holes to cover the wire? It's actually called door edge, door guard, or edge guard. Usually sold in 4-6' pieces from the cage companies. Bass Equipment, KW Cages and some of the other sell it. Usually only a couple of bucks for a stick of it. Most common colors are grey and black, though I've seen vendors who offer red, blue and green at shows.
I'm curious about something. How do your bucks act around your husband or if you have sons how do they act around them? My daughter bought a brown rabbit from the farm store years ago and it was a boy. he could tell when another creature with testosterone was in the room. He acted like me and my daughter were his ladies.
Rabbits don't keep "harems", so bucks don't get overly protective or territorial about females usually. There are exceptions to everything of course. My bucks don't act any differently with men than they do with women. They're pretty socialized though, as all of my breeding bucks also show regularly until close to age 2.
Austin Chester my friend has two rabbits (siblings) that bred accidentally twice. The first time was not successful, but they ended up giving away two healthy babies and keeping one of the babies. To this day all of the rabbits are very healthy.
Hi Austin, the short answer is yes, that's safe provided that the rabbits are not already intensely linebreed. Rabbits can be linebred around 10 generations before genetic mutations occur. However, do be on the lookout for other genetic issues as linebreeding will usually bring these out as you tighten up the genetic diversity in the offspring. Some of these are wry tail, malocclusion and moon eye. You can also bring out weird colors, impact growth rates, etc. We linebreed here and regularly use brother/sister, parent/offspring, etc. Thanks for watching!
I'm not exactly sure what the question is. Are you housing them all in their own cages or together? Rabbits are territorial so they should all have their own space. If they do, you can certainly rotate your breedings and use two males to breed one doe. Years ago the common belief in the commercial rabbit industry was that if you bred a doe in the morning to one buck, then bred her to another buck in the evening your would get larger litters due to the second buck trying to "out-do" the first one. Oftentimes you will actually get a larger litter if you breed the doe twice in a day, but you don't need to use to bucks.
Depends quite a bit on the breed and how they are bred. Large rabbits will live 6-10 years. Giants will usually go 5-7. Smaller buns 8-11. As far as breeding goes, most bucks can breed for life, though fertility drops off steadily after age 4. Does can produce consistently until around 3.5 years, then litter sizes drop off with them not taking around 4-4.5 years. I've heard of some does still producing at age 5, so it really is line dependant, as well as how their weight is managed and how many litters they've produced.
@@suzanneguiho4882 I've never had a case of fleas in my rabbits, but I know plenty of people with house rabbits that have. To my knowledge the only thing that works is Revolution for kittens.
No they dont. Rabbits rarepy roam, because leaving their den puts the at risk for predators. And rabbits raised in captivity have no idea what roaming is
@tweenwave123 so here’s the thing, I have been breeding and caring for my rabbits and other animals (such as steers + cows, pigs, goats) for over 10 years and every year I learn more. Very early on in my rabbit breeding career I learned this while determining my cage size for my rabbits. We have smaller ones for our Polish and Mini Rex and larger pens for our Creme’d’Argents. I understand that not everyone has multiple rabbits like me and therefore do not use the same system as I do, but the FACT that I said before is true. I find it very offensive that you said that was ignorant when you obviously just don’t have as much experience as me. I’m sorry if that sounded rude but I am very passionate about this subject along with animal cruelty and I really want people to be educated on things that they say.
Dear creators of this video, I have a slight problem with my rabbits. You see, the buck mounts the doe but she jumps away every time. What should I do?
The rabbit is not being carried by it's nape. It's being steadied by it's nape which caused no harm. The rabbit's weight is carried by the lifting hand. Thanks for your concern.
I have a Beveren doe 2 years old who is in false pregnancy and is very grumpy. Does this last long and should I wait until she stops acting pregnant to try breeding her again?
I've had that happen twice with a white American doe. She went through the false pregnancy/nest building phase for three months! I'd always heard to wait it out, but the second time she did it I put her in with the buck. She refused him the first day but it seemed to break the false cycle, and the next day when I tried again she was lifting sky high and produced a litter 31 days later. Breed her, or at least give it a go. If she doesn't lift it may just break her cycle. Good luck!
@@SpragueRiverHomestead Thanks so much for your speedy and helpful response! I'll keep trying with her. She's a proven breeder, just having a bad summer maybe. 😊
@@vixxcottage Hello, I only know of the breeder I bought mine from, and we are in Iowa. You might try searching the ARBA website for Beveren breeders in VA. I love ours! Good luck!
That's actually incorrect. Domestic rabbits are bred with thicker foot pads specifically for raising on wire floorings. It's dirty, rusty and damaged floors along with overgrown nails that cause sore hocks.
A lot more than you would need for just meat production, LOL. We breed for show, sale and meat so we have 55 breeding does and around 20 bucks, plus a few pets and future breeders.
I have an 8 month old NZ doe that I bred for the first time with a 3 year old experienced buck. When I put her into his cage she immediately mounted him and bit his back. It took a few run around a between them but he eventually got a few fall offs. Do you have any idea why she would be so aggressive in that way? I’ve never seen a doe mount a buck like that. Thanks for your videos and your time!!
That's actually really common in does that are extremely hormonal and ready to breed. If we hold a doe too long before breeding the first time or too long between breedings we see the same behavior. If you'd have checked her vent just before or just after breeding you would likely have found her to be flushed such a deep reddish pink that she was almost purple. The good news is that does that worked up almost never miss, so you should have kits on the way 😊 Thanks for watching!
No, rabbits are not capable of asexual reproduction. Some does will go through a false pregnancy on occasion, which can include hormone changes, weight gain and nest building. They must be exposed to a buck to actually produce offspring.
@@hannahnewton5202 no, if the rabbits are purebred you create crossbred animals. Crossbred animals are of two breeds. If the initiall animals are different crossbreeds then their offspring become mixed breeds, indicating they are more than two breeds.
Every video I have watched has different ways to breed like "They only need to bee in the same cage for two minutes" or "They need to stay together for the night!" Also people say they only need one fall of some people say none and then some people say four! By heck this is confusing me!
It's certainly possible to get a successful fall off in one breeding under 2 minutes. Leaving a doe overnight is dangerous unless you really know your animals though. I have a beautiful doe that is horribly scarred from being left with an aggressive buck overnight by a previous breeder. I'm sorry you're finding such conflicting info. My suggestion is just to start and see what works for you. If you get small litters you may need more fall off. If no litters you might try longer breedings or even breeding a second time 8-12 hours later. This video is how we do it, and we produce over 75 litters per year. Thanks for watching!
She's probably not ready. Did you check her vent? She should be dark pink/red/purple. There's two things that might be giving you issues- 1. Low light levels. There are quite a few breeds that won't breed during winter. We struggle with this in some of our American lines even. By mid-January they are usually receptive because the days are getting longer again. 2. Plenty of the small breeds don't breed at 6mo. Most of my friends with Holland's don't even try until 8mo. My Thrianta won't breed until closer to 8mo either, even though they are technically mature at 6mo.
I have a bunny too and it's also have a baby but we don't know how to clean it and in the firm bunny is a girl and a boy and it's a big now and i hope you have a nice day with your little pony another video of
This was so informative! I am hoping to breed my angoras. My son made a mistake and put her in the bucks cage for a few minutes without separating them..he was on her so quickly. Any chance she may be pregnant?
You can breed them all at the same time in case you need to foster babies to another mother. Breed one doe in the morning, move the buck back to his cage. Move him to the next doe the next morning, then back, then again to the 3rd doe.
Hi just wandering if it matters if the doe is a miniature and the buck is not? Would that hurt the mom or the babies? Because I have a miniature lion head and the male is just a lionhead
@@lennonlover9078 then no, it's not safe to breed them. That's a huge size difference. Breeding dwarves and small breeds takes experience as they are highly prone to complications to begin with. You are likely to kill both mom and any kits she conceives.
Hi, I've now tried almost every technique recommend by many different breeders. I am now seriously considering Artificial Insemination. I am unable to find any reliable guide. Could you please help me with this. Thanks in anticipation.
Artificial insemination doesn't work in rabbits because they are induced ovulators. Your does are receptive correct? Just not conceiving? There are usually only two things that can cause that. Either 1- the does have gotten to fat and need to lose weight, or 2- the buck has low sperm count due to seasonal heat induced sterility. It can take several months for their sperm count to come back up. I would try the doe every week until she shows pregnancy behavior and tries to fight him. Sorry to hear you are having such trouble. Rabbits usually aren't that difficult to breed.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead Thanks for replying. I've been breeding rabbits for a while alright but my does have grown unreceptive now. They are otherwise healthy in every respect. They are niether overwieght nor over age. I've seen many videos on AI of rabbits but they are either in French, Italian or Arabic. For ovulation they feed some drug through a syringe after inserting sperms. They claim 85% above success rate. 😑
@@binee77 interesting. All the research I've read here in the states says that it doesn't work. That's fascinating that they've got a proven method in other parts of the world. If it's not your does then it is your buck. Do you know anyone that has rabbits that you could convince to let you try their buck instead? AI tends to be labor and financially intensive.
I have mini Rex. My chickens 5 months old and my doe is 10 months. I’ve put them together about 4 different times over a few days. He seems interested at times but tends to try to breed but without notes fall off. Then he seems to lose interest. I’m bringing her to him. What am I doing wrong?
Maybe nothing. Is she acting bred at all? She would be refusing and usually vocalizing. I have twice had Mini Rex bucks that never fell off. I was sure they weren't breeding until the does started looking very pregnant and nesting with their hay. If she isn't acting bred, then she's probably not lifting. Expose her vent and check the color. If she is pale or light pink she isn't receptive right now. Its time for molt in many areas, and quite a few does won't breed during molt as their hormone levels change.
Is it hard for you to sell them or sell the meat? If you are a breeder and have a lot of cages, does that mean you are successful at getting people to use your product?
Oregon doesn't allow us to sell the meat unless we have a USDA certified processing facility. We can sell them alive, and have done so here and there. We mostly sell show animals and just keep the meat for our farm use.
That's too bad. You know in some states, some farm vets have meat inspecting licenses; at leas that's how it was old school (the newer vets and non-farm vets see it as a get rich quick scheme sometimes). And I wonder if there's a way you can be umbrella'ed under an old school small time meat processor, if you did the labor yourself or did some labor exchanges. I'm not implying you do anything illegal. But there are small time meat processing centers in some states. (If you cross state boundaries they ask you to have vet certificates though, extra cost.) It just seems like this is the same old tune; big monopoly by big company at the top while locals get snuffed out. This is how the milk price went up over the last 50 years. Local dairies would get snuffed out because they couldn't compete with expensive equipment and corporate holds of bigger companies. I'm aware of one county in a certain state that had about 35 diaries 50 years ago, but now only has maybe 2. And this is why the middle class is disappearing in the US. And as the middle class disappears people are getting sneakier and less self respecting.
Question: Can I place my doe in a “birthing” cage that is not her own cage and keep her there while the babies grow out? And likewise place my other doe in the vacant doe cage?
You don't want to move a doe in the last 2 weeks of pregnancy, but its not unusual at all to move a doe to a larger cage once she's been bred. Remember that its always advised to breed more than one doe at a time as well. Are you using just 2 cages for does with no extra for grow outs? Its a very tricky strategy, and one I don't recommend. Life tends to get in the way, and even our most perfect breeding flow plans will sometimes to awry.
I have several pairs, but those yellow ones in particular are Kevlar Sleeves from BunnyRabbit.com. some of the other cage and supply companies sell them, but Bunny Rabbit usually has the best price.
All of our rabbits have resting boards if they choose to use them (most don't). Domestic rabbits have been bred for thicker footpads and do just fine on cage wire flooring.
The female is a new Zealand the male is a California both rabbits have 9 months but the female have never bred before the male on the other hand he usually does a grate job
@@richardbeeray2548 if you haven't already, I would start with swapping their cages for 24 hrs. Put her in to breed, if she refuses then remove him and put him in her cage. Sometimes a day of smelling his scent in his cage will do the trick. After 24 hrs put her back into her cage (where he is) and see if that helps. Sometimes maidens are tough. If the cage trick doesn't work I'll put mine in with the buck every 3 days until she breeds. I've never needed to do that more than 3 times. Let me know if that still doesn't yield results.
No, adult rabbits are territorial and should never be housed together. I suggest checking out oir video on rabbit housing ruclips.net/video/TRrh7P9dh_w/видео.html Depending on where you live, Bass Equipment, KW Cages, Kluberklantz and Woodys Wabbits all have nice cages.
Is he not producing offspring, or is he just not falling off? Not all small rabbits will fall off, so it can be tough to know if he's getting there. Neither of my Thriantas ever fall off and they are producing fine, as did our mini Rex buck when we were breeding him years ago. I'd need more info to be able to suggest anything. Is he showing interest? Mounting? Are the does lifting?
Is there something I can feed my rabbits to help them produce more does in that case more bucks as well whichever seems to sell better in a given year or so
This time of year it could be a false pregnancy, indicating that she wants to breed. If she is pulling fur and there's a chance she's bred, she needs to be moved somewhere quiet, by herself and provided a nest box. What I'm reading from your comment is that you have had intact rabbits in together, which is the ultimate no-no. They need to be separated ASAP if they aren't already, and permanently unless you are breeding for a legitimate purpose.
Never. One, injecting rabbits is always a bad idea and should be a last resort as they are highly prone to skin abscess. If you are feeding a well-balanced diet then injecting vitamins would probably kill them. Domestic rabbits are very sensitive to over doses of vitamins. If you are worried about low libido in your rabbits you can give wheat germ oil on a cube of whole wheat bread daily for 5-7 days. This increases their B vitamins, but because it going through the digestive system, anything they don't need gets flushed out.
If we have a 3 pound poland dwarf, and a 8 pound lop, amd they are put together, will they breed amd conceive with such a size difference, want to avoid neuter expense of at all possible
I'm not sure what you're asking. Rabbits are capable of rebreeding within 24-48 hrs of delivery. I don't recommend it. Most commercial breeders rebreed 2-3 weeks post delivery. I usually recommend breeding 2 weeks after weaning, so close to 10 weeks post delivery
@@tinalee6627 again, not sure if you are referring to 2-3 weeks post delivery or post weaning. Post weaning is fine as long as they are in good body condition. Post delivery can be okay too if she's in good condition and she's allowed a good break afterwards (2 back to back litters with at least a month to 2 months before the next breeding). Pregnancy isn't usually hard on a doe, but nursing is.
What might be harder? Breeding them? Most of the Angora breeders I know keep there rabbits clipped if they are breeding so that there is no wool to get in the way or make nursing difficult. Only show animals are left in coat.
how many rabbits do you have? i just got 3 mini rex rabbits and I'm so happy with them. i got a buck and 2 does the buck is tricolor one doe is harlequin and the other doe is a lilac.
What if you are trying to breed 2 non proven rabbits and they aren’t doing anything? My male is seven months old and the females are over 5 1/2 months old. I tried both females with the male and they just hung around each other and did not try to mate.
@@BlessedWithPets mini rex should breed at 6 months. Have you checked the does for vent color? This time of year they are usually molting, which drops hormone levels.
Dude she grabbed it by like the scruff?? Youre not supposed to lift rabbits by their scruff because they dont have one like dogs and cats.. and it rips off the skin D: the poor rabbit....
Hello, I have two Netherland Dwarfs who are coming up to two years old. They successfully mated and produced a single kit last May. I have been trying periodically every 40 days to breed them since and had no luck. Even with 3/4 fall-offs and letting them mate like this 2 days in a row. Still no babies. Any ideas?
Are either of them overweight? A small litter like that followed by not conceiving is usually a sign that the doe is overweight or has built up too much internal fat.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead I don't think either are overweight. I'm in Scotland so I was wondering if it might have anything to do with how cold it has been? I have tried to breed them again today so hopefully it has worked this time. I have also added black oiled sunflower seeds to her diet too.
@@ailsamunro3029 cold temps are never an issue, though hot temperatures can be. Short daylight hours can certainly play a part, but most rabbits started breeding again in mid February. With a stubborn doe I would be breeding her 2x daily for 2-3 days in a row. Palpate at day 14 or expose her to the buck again. Most pregnant does will run from a buck, slap him, make noises and/or hunker down. If she continues to not conceive there is a very real reason to believe that she's just not going to.
@@_jeongjaehyun93 our does always care for their own kits. We don't intervene unless absolutely necessary, and if we do it's to Foster them onto another doe. We never hand raise kits.
@@_jeongjaehyun93 there's not an easy answer to that. Maybe? Some bucks and does can develop dominant and territorial tendencies once they've been bred, regardless of spaying or neutering. They would need short, supervised time together in the beginning and building up to longer if no problems arise.
@@elisebadenhorst3900 nope. A healthy and cared for male rabbit should live 8-10 years, whether he breeds or not. ☺️ Beware of what you read online, LOL.
Hi, we’re trying to breed our New Zealand whites, the buck is about 7 months and the doe is about 4 months. We notice that when we put them together in the bucks cage, they’re just chasing each other and not breeding. The doe also seem aggressive towards the bucks. Is there anything we can do or that the doe is still not ready yet?
Connie Crites - they are Kevlar sleeves, also known as arm guards or wrist guards. They are especially used for rabbits to avoid scratches and bites. I bought mine from BunnyRabbit.com for somewhere between $15-$20. Worth every penny if you have any high strung rabbits. I use them when I'm trimming nails, handling nervous juniors, or showing.
Hi I have a problem so my female rabbit gave birth a while ago and I didn't separate the male and female fast enough to and she got pregnant again now I have two litters and i don't know if the litters can be together because I have newborns and older babies about 10-8 weeks old? Can they be together?
No, they should be separated ASAP. The buck and doe should not have been living together in the first place, as a doe can conceive within 24 hrs of giving birth! Kits over 5 weeks of age can be weaned from the mother without too much trouble. Just separate them by gender and you can leave girls with girls and boys with boys until 12 weeks or so depending on breed. Does can conceive by 10-12 weeks, so if they anywhere close to that they need to be away from their brothers NOW.
Sprague River Homestead ok thanks so much I will do it right now also I'm a first time rabbit owner and I'm trying to keep learning and I accept my mistakes and I take full responsibility so I thank you for these videos and I will do it right now
Question: I have a doe that I put with my buck in a tractor about 33 days ago. I left her in there and saw the breeding, then we took her out and put her in another tractor with a buck that we thought didnt breed. We never saw him do anything but they were together for about 2 weeks before we could afford to put all the rabbits in cages. Now she is in her cage, I put a nesting box in there and I calculated her pregnancy from the first breeding 33 days ago. She acts different and any time I put her with the male she does this crying noise and won't let him mount. I've tried that for almost a week now and she won't let him and grunts and growls. Also, I'm not an expert but I think I feel tiny balls in her stomach as well as I can see part of her stomach looking like its dropping. I'm not sure if she is pregnant or not and I hate to waste time if she isn't pregnant by not breeding her, but I also don't want to stress her out. Any tips? Thank you
Okay, first things first, does can take up to 38 days to Kindle. It's not common, but I've had gals go to 35 and produce live kits. Secondly, just because you never saw them breed doesn't mean they didn't. The noises the doe is making and her behavior would indicate she is bred. Maybe the first buck, maybe the second. In any event, she needs to be left alone and quit exposing her to any bucks. At this point you are risking miscarriage/infection/sterility. Give her a full forty days from her last exposure before you attempt any more breedings. Sure sounds like she's already pregnant.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead Thank you so much for the answer and advice. I'm new to this breeding thing so I appreciate the help. She just pulled a bunch of fur this morning but made a nest in the corner of the cage instead of the box. I hope I didnt do the wrong thing but I went ahead and put the fur and hay in the box and now she is nesting in it. Fingers crossed I didn't expose her too much and cause too much stress. I wish I knew more about breeding but it's a learning experience. Thank you
For what purpose? I'm not a proponent of breeding just to breed, and the pet market is terribly over-saturated. Keeping them together as companions isn't necessarily a good idea because rabbits can be territorial and injure each other at worst, or create unwanted litters at best.
@@candicedriskill6300 remember that rabbits are primarily solitary animals in the wild and don't really need companions. Domestic rabbits have been human raised for a very long time (hundred of years in some breeds), and are raised individually as well in the vast majority of cases. Congrats for doing the best you can to keep your bunny happy though, and thanks for watching!
Hiya I have an experienced proven buck who has had 2 litters we had him with one of our does for about 3 months we seperewted them and we have tried to breed him with two of our other foes that we’ve never breed with him before and he shows no interest in them what’s wrong
Hard to say based on that info. If I had to guess he's dealing with low drive. It can happen when they are molting or missing something in their feed. It also happens with older bucks sometimes. If he's molting just give him a chance to finish. If he's not and you've examined him thoroughly for disease or injury and found nothing, you can try adding some Black Oil Sunflower Seed (a tsp a day) to his feed once per day or feed him a cube of whole wheat bread soaked with 1 tsp of wheat germ oil daily. It'll raise his vitamin B a should kickstart his drive.
@@itsmerachael6466 yes. They molt twice per year - in spring they drop their winter coat, in fall they drop their summer coat. Molts are pretty taxing on the overall system, so they can slow down on feed consumption and/or quit breeding. Once the molt is over they get back to being themselves. Usually takes 4-6 weeks.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead ok it might be him jolting as I’ve noticed in his cage loads of his loose fur came out so yeah maybe it’s that but his food is the same as when he bred with my foes before if not I’ll try your idea with the seeds thanks so mcuh
Someone had mentioned that apple cider vinegar works as well, also how do I know my female is ready and I have seen the male fall off but I can't tell if it's been in her
@@rurucristina4075 for the most part, apple cider vinegar increasing libido is a myth. What breed is your doe? Some breeds don't mature until 8 months or so, so at 6 months she may not be ready. You can check her vent to see if she is. It would be slightly swollen and a deep dark pink, red, or even purple. It's odd for a buck to fall off if he's not penetrating though, so if he is there's a good chance he's making contact.
That is completely incorrect. Domestic rabbits have been bred to have thicker footpads specifically to allow them to be raised in wire cages. Many European countries have laws against using wire floored cages, but the US does not. Solid floored cages are actually more likely to cause foot issues and are also less hygenic.
Great tips. We plan on getting a few does and a buck this spring.
We really enjoy them. I would recommend getting two bucks unless you are picking a breed that's pretty easy to come by. Nothing worse than losing a buck and not being able to replace him. Better to keep a "spare". If you can get unrelated bucks that gives you diversity in your herd without having to turn animals over as often.
I have a silver fox doe who will be 2 years old in April (I was told) she’s around 8lb 5oz I also have an American chinchilla/ New Zealand buck who was born June 6/29/20 he is more than willing to do his part but she just chases him away and starts to get aggressive with him I was told that since I had them together when he was a baby and let her on his side of the exercise pin she maybe still thought it was her territory so I cleaned it down with white vinegar to eliminate her smell! I just don’t know that much about her since I got her at an older age I also bought what I was told was her daughter who is the same age as my buck so I would think she is ready to breed again but no luck I’m new to breeding so I’m a little nervous handling my older doe because she doesn’t seem to like anything more then a brushing then feed me and leave me be 😂 do u think maybe she was bred young and a lot possibly or I just need to try other options I just don’t want her to hurt my only buck before my other does are ready to breed so could u maybe give me other tips on breeding and possibly some tips on handling her and how to make her a little more friendly and trusting of me!?
Thanks for the tips... I got a rabbits too... God bless
I really enjoy the videos where your caring for your bunbuns!!!! The other ones are rough on me!!!! You are very smart with these babies!!! I'm thankful I got you to watch and ask for help!!!!!
nice video.
Thanks!
Get those rabbits off wire they will get bumble foot!!!!!
Allissa haberland that’s false
Funky Farm No it’s not they will get sore Hocks it will make them not show able would u like to stand on wire in a tiny cage your whole life I think not!!!!! (I breed rabbits)
Allissa haberland no they won’t, look it up. You might breed rabbits, but you’re uneducated about them
Funky Farm is correct, wire flooring does not cause sore hocks. Dirty or damaged floors and untrimmed nails cause sore hocks. As someone who shows very extensively and has many, many Grand Champions and a Reserve in Show, what you're saying makes absolutely no sense.
In addition, we offer our rabbits all resting boards if they don't want to be on the wire. Very few of them will actually use them.
And FYI - bumble foots is the nickname for a very serious staph infection found in poultry. Once again, usually from dirty living conditions.
@@dunestaniszewski2300 they don't have pads on there feet like dogs or cats so it hurts there feet! Would u like to stand on wire your whole life? I am a ARBA member! I have shown and raised rabbits my whole life!! They can get sore hocks from wire!!
Hi my rabbit is about 4 and a half months old and I've got a buck I walked into the room and they were together accidently the buck was on top of her then fell off her after he done his business I've done a lot of reading up and it says palpate her belly carefully to feel for lumps I did that and I can feel soft lumps would it be the babies more to the sides of her belly or could I mix it up for something else? She's also a very loving rabbit but has been lunging at me growling two three times?
Palpating takes a lot of practice and is very difficult in young and/or first time breeders. You could be feeling fecal pellets in the intestines. A change in attitude usually will mean a change in hormones. Some does get aggressive and some get super sweet. I would plan on having kits 31 days after you witnessed the incident.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead thankyou what I'm feeling feels a lot bigger than fetal pellets and it's more squishy
Thought i bought 2 female rabbits next minute I check the hutch and there’s a nest of lots of babies!! Just separated the male from the mother and watching these videos lol
Oh no! That happens a lot.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your educational videos! Many thanks for doing this. Question:.... concerning my first Californian buck that has not fall of yet (age 11 months old he quickly gets on, but never seems to "complete"). In your video you stated they may and may not have falloffs. How do you know if "his" breeding is successful. I've never had a buck not do his complete without falloffs". My experience is with Satins (no longer have any), American Chinchillas (love 'em!), and New Zealand (reds and broken reds). David
Is he showing any signs of completion? (Eye squinching, exaggerated facial expressions, etc) You can turn the doe over and check her vulva for moisture that would indicate semen. You'll want to look at her before and after she's spent time in the cage. How many times have you attempted to breed him? He could just not be getting where he needs to go, or could be a shy breeder. We had a Harlequin buck that would never finish if you were in the barn or he could see you. I would have to walk outside and wait for the think of him falling over. He was a great breeder, just a weirdo, LOL.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead We have tried him on 4 different does... 7 different times. No fall offs! He doesn't waste time mounting, but..... again, not a "bell ringer". I haven't watched his facial expressions. :D Nor did I check the doe, but... she did seem "wet" as I was returning her to her cage. I'm just wondering about keeping.
@@d.bartholomew50 I'd be curious to see if the does actually are being bred or not, which may be impossible to know until they kindle (or don't). Personally, either way, I wouldn't keep him. Being as busy as I am usually, I want a quick, easy and reasonably guaranteed breeding when I put two rabbits together. Fussing with an unknown takes too much time and energy.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead agree
I have a rabbit too.
What breed is it?
Thanks for the video
I recently bought a pregnant doe and she was meant to deliver her kits on the 4th of this month but till today she hasn't pulled fur nor delivered, please what do you think might be wrong
Sounds like she just didn't take, or the stress of moving may have caused her to absorb her kits before they really began to develop. Either way, it doesn't sound like she is pregnant. Rabbits seldom go past 33 days. 35 is an exception but can still produce viable kits. She's outside of that window now, so she was either never pregnant, absorbed early kits or aborted. You should be able to rebreed her now.
Thank you
Thankyou for sharing this video.
hi how you install the drinking water in the cage
We mostly use either a crock (a bowl that attaches to the cage) or a water bottle with metal nipple.
I have a lion head rabbit that is about 9-10 months old and I can’t get her to breed with any buck I put her with and my dwarf male rabbit has pulled her fur out and mounted her several times and I got nothing. Now they share a cage and I tried to breed her with my friends rabbit and still 2 weeks later i still can’t find anything. I bought her and my dwarf rabbit from pet stores. Any ideas ?
What breed are these?
The rabbits in the video are Harlequins. The breed used in the thumbnail pic is American White.
Hi! Nice vedeo i learn much thank very much God Bless
Thank you
You're welcome! Thanks for watching.
Hi, I wanted to thank you for the video. One of my does had been unwilling for the last month. The other doe has already kindled.
Their last litter is now 12 weeks. I tried ACV and BOSS but no success. I was frustrated because the whole month was wasted. I didn't try switching cages. I thought there was no need for it because they were side by side. Yesterday after watching your video I finally did it for 24 hours. Today I put the buck back in his cage with her but no success. Then I put her back in her cage and put the buck with her and it worked!!! I'm just back from my rabbitry and thought to share my joy with you and thank you. 😊
Binny Bhatti - I'm so glad you've had success! It is surprising when they are already next to each other how swapping cages seems to make a difference. Rabbits are funny that way. Wishing you good luck on your upcoming litter ☺
Hello Binny..are you in india
Ammas Rabbit Farming Telugu Telugu I’m from Pakistan
Sprague River Homestead Hi, I’m having a problem. My New Zealand doe after throwing two consecutive litters usually become stubborn. They take a break for more than a month. I was wondering if there is a food supplement to reduce this break to 2 weeks. 🙂
What do you use in the covering of the door panel, the red plastic like material? can you post a link or could you make some video on how to make that? Thanks a lot
I think you are talking about the edging around the door holes to cover the wire? It's actually called door edge, door guard, or edge guard. Usually sold in 4-6' pieces from the cage companies. Bass Equipment, KW Cages and some of the other sell it. Usually only a couple of bucks for a stick of it. Most common colors are grey and black, though I've seen vendors who offer red, blue and green at shows.
How old should a doe be before breeding?
For your larger breeds (does that mature at 10lbs or more) the appropriate breeding age is 8-10 months old.
I dont agree with it
I ❤ ths chanels they helping me alot
Awesome!
@@SpragueRiverHomestead can two bunnies breed if they've been in the same cage together since adoption?
@@hihi-td9jd yes.
Good stuff! Just subscribed 👍🏼
Thanks for the sub!
I'm curious about something. How do your bucks act around your husband or if you have sons how do they act around them? My daughter bought a brown rabbit from the farm store years ago and it was a boy. he could tell when another creature with testosterone was in the room. He acted like me and my daughter were his ladies.
Rabbits don't keep "harems", so bucks don't get overly protective or territorial about females usually. There are exceptions to everything of course.
My bucks don't act any differently with men than they do with women. They're pretty socialized though, as all of my breeding bucks also show regularly until close to age 2.
My sister's rabbit acted that way too!
Hi! I have a question. I got two rabbits a while ago, they’re brother and sister. I was wondering if I can breed them?
Austin Chester my friend has two rabbits (siblings) that bred accidentally twice. The first time was not successful, but they ended up giving away two healthy babies and keeping one of the babies. To this day all of the rabbits are very healthy.
CraisyFraise slime thank you! That helps a lot :)
Austin Chester I’m glad I could help!
Hi Austin, the short answer is yes, that's safe provided that the rabbits are not already intensely linebreed. Rabbits can be linebred around 10 generations before genetic mutations occur.
However, do be on the lookout for other genetic issues as linebreeding will usually bring these out as you tighten up the genetic diversity in the offspring. Some of these are wry tail, malocclusion and moon eye. You can also bring out weird colors, impact growth rates, etc.
We linebreed here and regularly use brother/sister, parent/offspring, etc.
Thanks for watching!
Hi, can l use two bucks to breed with one doe.Please is it safe
No, the males will fight to the death
I'm not exactly sure what the question is. Are you housing them all in their own cages or together? Rabbits are territorial so they should all have their own space.
If they do, you can certainly rotate your breedings and use two males to breed one doe. Years ago the common belief in the commercial rabbit industry was that if you bred a doe in the morning to one buck, then bred her to another buck in the evening your would get larger litters due to the second buck trying to "out-do" the first one. Oftentimes you will actually get a larger litter if you breed the doe twice in a day, but you don't need to use to bucks.
@@marzbee8744 thanks dude
Bright Mero your welcome
@@SpragueRiverHomestead Am housing them together. Is that the best way to house them?
How long do rabbits live and can breed?
Depends quite a bit on the breed and how they are bred. Large rabbits will live 6-10 years. Giants will usually go 5-7. Smaller buns 8-11.
As far as breeding goes, most bucks can breed for life, though fertility drops off steadily after age 4. Does can produce consistently until around 3.5 years, then litter sizes drop off with them not taking around 4-4.5 years. I've heard of some does still producing at age 5, so it really is line dependant, as well as how their weight is managed and how many litters they've produced.
Sprague River Homestead Thanks. Do the ever get fleas? If so what do you use to get rid of them?
@@suzanneguiho4882 I've never had a case of fleas in my rabbits, but I know plenty of people with house rabbits that have. To my knowledge the only thing that works is Revolution for kittens.
Hi, I have a question I noticed the cadges aren’t to big do you ever let them run around to get exercise and stretch?
Good switcheroo there breeder rabbits
they breed rabbits and its sad because they dont have enough room to roam 1 rabbit needs atleast 4 foot by 2 foot cage
No they dont. Rabbits rarepy roam, because leaving their den puts the at risk for predators. And rabbits raised in captivity have no idea what roaming is
If you give rabbits too much space, they could get stressed as well, so it’s hard to find a good balance between the two
@tweenwave123 so here’s the thing, I have been breeding and caring for my rabbits and other animals (such as steers + cows, pigs, goats) for over 10 years and every year I learn more. Very early on in my rabbit breeding career I learned this while determining my cage size for my rabbits. We have smaller ones for our Polish and Mini Rex and larger pens for our Creme’d’Argents. I understand that not everyone has multiple rabbits like me and therefore do not use the same system as I do, but the FACT that I said before is true. I find it very offensive that you said that was ignorant when you obviously just don’t have as much experience as me. I’m sorry if that sounded rude but I am very passionate about this subject along with animal cruelty and I really want people to be educated on things that they say.
Get a bigger cage change the floor
Thanks for the comment!
Thanks so much for this video I have been looking into breeding my lops
Dear creators of this video,
I have a slight problem with my rabbits. You see, the buck mounts the doe but she jumps away every time. What should I do?
How old are they and what breed(s). Have either of them produced offspring before?
You touch there tail and the doe stays still,so that will help the buck
At 1:11 you cant carry a bunny like that 🐰 🐰
The rabbit is not being carried by it's nape. It's being steadied by it's nape which caused no harm. The rabbit's weight is carried by the lifting hand. Thanks for your concern.
edwin Barraza yea u can it doesn’t hurt them do ur reasearch
Adelaine’s Animal Life 🙃😒
Still cruel how would you like to be treated like this in such poor living conditions
Don't you just love it when peta ( people eat tasty animals) show up and think they know it all. Morons.
I have a Beveren doe 2 years old who is in false pregnancy and is very grumpy. Does this last long and should I wait until she stops acting pregnant to try breeding her again?
I've had that happen twice with a white American doe. She went through the false pregnancy/nest building phase for three months! I'd always heard to wait it out, but the second time she did it I put her in with the buck. She refused him the first day but it seemed to break the false cycle, and the next day when I tried again she was lifting sky high and produced a litter 31 days later.
Breed her, or at least give it a go. If she doesn't lift it may just break her cycle.
Good luck!
@@SpragueRiverHomestead Thanks so much for your speedy and helpful response! I'll keep trying with her. She's a proven breeder, just having a bad summer maybe. 😊
Jan Whetstone I have been looking for Beveren rabbits with no success. Am in VA. Are you or anyone you know selling breeding stock?
@@vixxcottage Hello, I only know of the breeder I bought mine from, and we are in Iowa. You might try searching the ARBA website for Beveren breeders in VA. I love ours! Good luck!
@@janwhetstone4870 I did that but will continue my search. Thanks for responding.
Wire Floors arent good for their feet they Can get sore socks not hating btw
That's actually incorrect. Domestic rabbits are bred with thicker foot pads specifically for raising on wire floorings. It's dirty, rusty and damaged floors along with overgrown nails that cause sore hocks.
can i breed breeded rabbits?
If they are bred already, the female shouldn't be receptive. She will most likely be aggressive to the buck and try to drive him away.
How much rabbits do u have
A lot more than you would need for just meat production, LOL. We breed for show, sale and meat so we have 55 breeding does and around 20 bucks, plus a few pets and future breeders.
Ok I have 30 rabbits in all
I have an 8 month old NZ doe that I bred for the first time with a 3 year old experienced buck. When I put her into his cage she immediately mounted him and bit his back. It took a few run around a between them but he eventually got a few fall offs. Do you have any idea why she would be so aggressive in that way? I’ve never seen a doe mount a buck like that. Thanks for your videos and your time!!
That's actually really common in does that are extremely hormonal and ready to breed. If we hold a doe too long before breeding the first time or too long between breedings we see the same behavior. If you'd have checked her vent just before or just after breeding you would likely have found her to be flushed such a deep reddish pink that she was almost purple. The good news is that does that worked up almost never miss, so you should have kits on the way 😊
Thanks for watching!
Can female rabbit gives baby bunnis without breeding??? Please reply
No, rabbits are not capable of asexual reproduction. Some does will go through a false pregnancy on occasion, which can include hormone changes, weight gain and nest building. They must be exposed to a buck to actually produce offspring.
Can you breed them if they are not the same kind of rabbits
You can breed different rabbit breeds together. You just need to keep size in mind and not breed rabbits of vastly different sizes together.
yes but the kits will be mixed breeds
@@hannahnewton5202 no, if the rabbits are purebred you create crossbred animals. Crossbred animals are of two breeds. If the initiall animals are different crossbreeds then their offspring become mixed breeds, indicating they are more than two breeds.
thank you for this video it has cleared up a lot of questions that I had this was very helpful once again thank you.
Are you selling. I want one for my son Trendan. The small white ones .I live in SC mom ks corner
Every video I have watched has different ways to breed like "They only need to bee in the same cage for two minutes" or "They need to stay together for the night!" Also people say they only need one fall of some people say none and then some people say four! By heck this is confusing me!
It's certainly possible to get a successful fall off in one breeding under 2 minutes. Leaving a doe overnight is dangerous unless you really know your animals though. I have a beautiful doe that is horribly scarred from being left with an aggressive buck overnight by a previous breeder.
I'm sorry you're finding such conflicting info. My suggestion is just to start and see what works for you. If you get small litters you may need more fall off. If no litters you might try longer breedings or even breeding a second time 8-12 hours later. This video is how we do it, and we produce over 75 litters per year.
Thanks for watching!
How many does do you have?
New breeder, my doe is very aggressive towards the buck. First time for them both. Holland lops. 6 months old any ideas she was very mean to the buck.
She's probably not ready. Did you check her vent? She should be dark pink/red/purple. There's two things that might be giving you issues-
1. Low light levels. There are quite a few breeds that won't breed during winter. We struggle with this in some of our American lines even. By mid-January they are usually receptive because the days are getting longer again.
2. Plenty of the small breeds don't breed at 6mo. Most of my friends with Holland's don't even try until 8mo. My Thrianta won't breed until closer to 8mo either, even though they are technically mature at 6mo.
i love ur vids
Thank you!
I have a bunny too and it's also have a baby but we don't know how to clean it and in the firm bunny is a girl and a boy and it's a big now and i hope you have a nice day with your little pony another video of
This was so informative! I am hoping to breed my angoras. My son made a mistake and put her in the bucks cage for a few minutes without separating them..he was on her so quickly. Any chance she may be pregnant?
There's a good chance she could be. It doesn't take long for the rabbits to breed.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead Wow! I will be observing more closely now. Thank you.
What's the timeline on 1 buck, 3 does. I thought I wanted them to kindle at the same time to cover my bases on a less than perfect mom.
You can breed them all at the same time in case you need to foster babies to another mother. Breed one doe in the morning, move the buck back to his cage. Move him to the next doe the next morning, then back, then again to the 3rd doe.
Wow, you have a lot of rabbits!! Do you use them as Meat rabbits or pet rabbits?
We don't do pet rabbits are all. Ours are mostly show/show breeding, meat and conservation of rare breeds.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead that's cool! I am looking into getting another rabbit soon! I think I'm going to get a Holland lop!☺
Hi just wandering if it matters if the doe is a miniature and the buck is not? Would that hurt the mom or the babies? Because I have a miniature lion head and the male is just a lionhead
I have never heard of a miniature lion head. A standard lion head isn't but 3# or 4#. How big is the "mini"?
@@SpragueRiverHomestead she is 2.5 inches in length and weighs about 2.5 pounds
@@lennonlover9078 then no, it's not safe to breed them. That's a huge size difference. Breeding dwarves and small breeds takes experience as they are highly prone to complications to begin with. You are likely to kill both mom and any kits she conceives.
Ok thank you so much for the advice
Hi, I've now tried almost every technique recommend by many different breeders. I am now seriously considering Artificial Insemination. I am unable to find any reliable guide. Could you please help me with this. Thanks in anticipation.
Artificial insemination doesn't work in rabbits because they are induced ovulators. Your does are receptive correct? Just not conceiving? There are usually only two things that can cause that. Either 1- the does have gotten to fat and need to lose weight, or 2- the buck has low sperm count due to seasonal heat induced sterility. It can take several months for their sperm count to come back up. I would try the doe every week until she shows pregnancy behavior and tries to fight him. Sorry to hear you are having such trouble. Rabbits usually aren't that difficult to breed.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead Thanks for replying. I've been breeding rabbits for a while alright but my does have grown unreceptive now. They are otherwise healthy in every respect. They are niether overwieght nor over age. I've seen many videos on AI of rabbits but they are either in French, Italian or Arabic. For ovulation they feed some drug through a syringe after inserting sperms. They claim 85% above success rate. 😑
@@binee77 interesting. All the research I've read here in the states says that it doesn't work. That's fascinating that they've got a proven method in other parts of the world. If it's not your does then it is your buck. Do you know anyone that has rabbits that you could convince to let you try their buck instead? AI tends to be labor and financially intensive.
Hey! My doe is not getting pregnant my my buck I hade about 6 months ago sude I bring in my second buck to try?
How old is the doe and how old is the buck? Breed of each? Have either produced offspring before?
I have mini Rex. My chickens 5 months old and my doe is 10 months. I’ve put them together about 4 different times over a few days. He seems interested at times but tends to try to breed but without notes fall off. Then he seems to lose interest. I’m bringing her to him. What am I doing wrong?
Maybe nothing. Is she acting bred at all? She would be refusing and usually vocalizing. I have twice had Mini Rex bucks that never fell off. I was sure they weren't breeding until the does started looking very pregnant and nesting with their hay.
If she isn't acting bred, then she's probably not lifting. Expose her vent and check the color. If she is pale or light pink she isn't receptive right now. Its time for molt in many areas, and quite a few does won't breed during molt as their hormone levels change.
Is it hard for you to sell them or sell the meat?
If you are a breeder and have a lot of cages, does that mean you are successful at getting people to use your product?
Oregon doesn't allow us to sell the meat unless we have a USDA certified processing facility. We can sell them alive, and have done so here and there. We mostly sell show animals and just keep the meat for our farm use.
That's too bad.
You know in some states, some farm vets have meat inspecting licenses; at leas that's how it was old school (the newer vets and non-farm vets see it as a get rich quick scheme sometimes). And I wonder if there's a way you can be umbrella'ed under an old school small time meat processor, if you did the labor yourself or did some labor exchanges.
I'm not implying you do anything illegal. But there are small time meat processing centers in some states. (If you cross state boundaries they ask you to have vet certificates though, extra cost.)
It just seems like this is the same old tune; big monopoly by big company at the top while locals get snuffed out.
This is how the milk price went up over the last 50 years. Local dairies would get snuffed out because they couldn't compete with expensive equipment and corporate holds of bigger companies.
I'm aware of one county in a certain state that had about 35 diaries 50 years ago, but now only has maybe 2.
And this is why the middle class is disappearing in the US. And as the middle class disappears people are getting sneakier and less self respecting.
Question: Can I place my doe in a “birthing” cage that is not her own cage and keep her there while the babies grow out? And likewise place my other doe in the vacant doe cage?
You don't want to move a doe in the last 2 weeks of pregnancy, but its not unusual at all to move a doe to a larger cage once she's been bred.
Remember that its always advised to breed more than one doe at a time as well. Are you using just 2 cages for does with no extra for grow outs? Its a very tricky strategy, and one I don't recommend. Life tends to get in the way, and even our most perfect breeding flow plans will sometimes to awry.
Did you make those gloves/arm protectors? or order them from somewhere? Thank you.
I have several pairs, but those yellow ones in particular are Kevlar Sleeves from BunnyRabbit.com. some of the other cage and supply companies sell them, but Bunny Rabbit usually has the best price.
Rural king has some welding sleeves made like those. They are light material and work perfect for rabbit handling.
Those wire bases would be so hard on rabbits feet . Can you please put some cardboard or something down
All of our rabbits have resting boards if they choose to use them (most don't). Domestic rabbits have been bred for thicker footpads and do just fine on cage wire flooring.
Are you selling the rabbits???
So I have a female that will not raise for the my Buck any advice
Possibly, but I'd need some info first.
Breed?
Age?
Are either of them experienced (proven)?
The female is a new Zealand the male is a California both rabbits have 9 months but the female have never bred before the male on the other hand he usually does a grate job
@@richardbeeray2548 if you haven't already, I would start with swapping their cages for 24 hrs. Put her in to breed, if she refuses then remove him and put him in her cage. Sometimes a day of smelling his scent in his cage will do the trick. After 24 hrs put her back into her cage (where he is) and see if that helps. Sometimes maidens are tough. If the cage trick doesn't work I'll put mine in with the buck every 3 days until she breeds. I've never needed to do that more than 3 times.
Let me know if that still doesn't yield results.
How many pump do male rabbit to do to seperate them?
We're not sure what you're exactly asking.
Can you place adult rabbits in the same cage? If not, how big do cages need to be, and where to buy ready?
No, adult rabbits are territorial and should never be housed together. I suggest checking out oir video on rabbit housing ruclips.net/video/TRrh7P9dh_w/видео.html
Depending on where you live, Bass Equipment, KW Cages, Kluberklantz and Woodys Wabbits all have nice cages.
I have a male lionhead that does not seem to be capable of finishing. What can be done to help him get the job done?
Is he not producing offspring, or is he just not falling off? Not all small rabbits will fall off, so it can be tough to know if he's getting there. Neither of my Thriantas ever fall off and they are producing fine, as did our mini Rex buck when we were breeding him years ago. I'd need more info to be able to suggest anything. Is he showing interest? Mounting? Are the does lifting?
How do you treat from ear mights
Is there something I can feed my rabbits to help them produce more does in that case more bucks as well whichever seems to sell better in a given year or so
No. There is no way to influence sex in rabbits.
I haven’t breaded mine unless the boy did it without me being there and she has been nesting for weeks and shes pulling her fur help me 😢
This time of year it could be a false pregnancy, indicating that she wants to breed.
If she is pulling fur and there's a chance she's bred, she needs to be moved somewhere quiet, by herself and provided a nest box.
What I'm reading from your comment is that you have had intact rabbits in together, which is the ultimate no-no. They need to be separated ASAP if they aren't already, and permanently unless you are breeding for a legitimate purpose.
You should never leave does and bucks alone in cages they should always be supervised
Generally, that's true. It really comes down to knowing your stock and being an honest judge of temperament. Thanks for watching.
How young can you breed Californians and New Zealand rabbits. I have my first stock and am getting conflicting info. Thanks!
Depends on the line. I don't support breeding rabbits before they are mature, and in the case of large breeds that is 8-9months of age.
Just found this video. Tfs! Where did you get those arm covers??
BunnyRabbit.com. They are Kevlar sleeves.
Again wire floors
I have Rabbits too
do you inject vitamins on your buck or doe in preparation for breeding?
Never. One, injecting rabbits is always a bad idea and should be a last resort as they are highly prone to skin abscess.
If you are feeding a well-balanced diet then injecting vitamins would probably kill them. Domestic rabbits are very sensitive to over doses of vitamins. If you are worried about low libido in your rabbits you can give wheat germ oil on a cube of whole wheat bread daily for 5-7 days. This increases their B vitamins, but because it going through the digestive system, anything they don't need gets flushed out.
If we have a 3 pound poland dwarf, and a 8 pound lop, amd they are put together, will they breed amd conceive with such a size difference, want to avoid neuter expense of at all possible
Yes, breeding is possible. I have seen a 3# Lionhead breed a 10# New Zealand.
Thats determination! Will keep apart and watch carefully, thank you 😊
2-3 weeks after shes had a litter ? That's too soon to breed her again ?
I'm not sure what you're asking. Rabbits are capable of rebreeding within 24-48 hrs of delivery. I don't recommend it. Most commercial breeders rebreed 2-3 weeks post delivery. I usually recommend breeding 2 weeks after weaning, so close to 10 weeks post delivery
Yeah they are capable of breeding but it cant be good to breed them that quick after
@@tinalee6627 again, not sure if you are referring to 2-3 weeks post delivery or post weaning. Post weaning is fine as long as they are in good body condition. Post delivery can be okay too if she's in good condition and she's allowed a good break afterwards (2 back to back litters with at least a month to 2 months before the next breeding). Pregnancy isn't usually hard on a doe, but nursing is.
I have an angora rabbit so it might be harder for me
What might be harder? Breeding them? Most of the Angora breeders I know keep there rabbits clipped if they are breeding so that there is no wool to get in the way or make nursing difficult. Only show animals are left in coat.
Sprague River Homestead ok thank you I am beginner
how many rabbits do you have? i just got 3 mini rex rabbits and I'm so happy with them. i got a buck and 2 does the buck is tricolor one doe is harlequin and the other doe is a lilac.
We've been downsizing so honestly, in this moment, I don't exactly know. I believe we're down to around 70 breeders with more cuts coming.
Amazing i love the video 😹😻🙀🙀
Thanks for watching!
hey please help, i will like to know what breed of rabbit is that you are trying to breed in this video. thanks
That video features some of our Harlequins.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead thanks for the information and please keep up the good work.
What if you are trying to breed 2 non proven rabbits and they aren’t doing anything? My male is seven months old and the females are over 5 1/2 months old. I tried both females with the male and they just hung around each other and did not try to mate.
What breed? They most likely aren't mature yet. Six class rabbits mature at 8-9 months.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead they are pure bred mini Rex rabbits.
@@BlessedWithPets mini rex should breed at 6 months. Have you checked the does for vent color? This time of year they are usually molting, which drops hormone levels.
Her vent area looked good. The female is lifting the male just does not try to breed her.
@@BlessedWithPets have you confirmed that he is for sure a he? Testicles fully descended?
She’s not too nice to the poor thing
Dude she grabbed it by like the scruff?? Youre not supposed to lift rabbits by their scruff because they dont have one like dogs and cats.. and it rips off the skin D: the poor rabbit....
yejinni yeah you can
Hello, I have two Netherland Dwarfs who are coming up to two years old. They successfully mated and produced a single kit last May. I have been trying periodically every 40 days to breed them since and had no luck. Even with 3/4 fall-offs and letting them mate like this 2 days in a row. Still no babies. Any ideas?
Are either of them overweight? A small litter like that followed by not conceiving is usually a sign that the doe is overweight or has built up too much internal fat.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead I don't think either are overweight. I'm in Scotland so I was wondering if it might have anything to do with how cold it has been? I have tried to breed them again today so hopefully it has worked this time. I have also added black oiled sunflower seeds to her diet too.
@@ailsamunro3029 cold temps are never an issue, though hot temperatures can be. Short daylight hours can certainly play a part, but most rabbits started breeding again in mid February.
With a stubborn doe I would be breeding her 2x daily for 2-3 days in a row. Palpate at day 14 or expose her to the buck again. Most pregnant does will run from a buck, slap him, make noises and/or hunker down. If she continues to not conceive there is a very real reason to believe that she's just not going to.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead thank you for your advice, I will put them together a couple of times each day over the weekend 😀
@@ailsamunro3029 good luck!
which breed are those rabbits?
The rabbits in the video are Harlequins.
HELP! I've kept my doe and buck together since I got them. They'e 7 months old. Is this why they're not doing anything?
By not doing anything do you mean they aren't breeding? What breed are you dealing with?
What do I do if my buck is scared of her lmao he hinds from her he won’t breed
Sounds like an immature buck. How old is he?
@@SpragueRiverHomestead nvm sorry turns out earl is a pearl lmao 🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️
@@VV-zh8mx 😂 It happens!
Where can we buy rabbits from
Local breeders in your area is probably the best bet. Where are you located? What age are you looking for? What breeds?
@@SpragueRiverHomestead I got a few thanks for replying 😎👍
Am looking to buy or adopt one
Hi, i have a question is it ok for my 2 rabbits to let them play my female and male rabbit in not separated..
Putting a male and a female in together will result in breeding, not "play".
@@SpragueRiverHomestead so how did you Care those baby rabbits? Did you just let the mother care for them
@@_jeongjaehyun93 our does always care for their own kits. We don't intervene unless absolutely necessary, and if we do it's to Foster them onto another doe. We never hand raise kits.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead tnx for reply but can i put female and male rabbit together if they are already spayed?
@@_jeongjaehyun93 there's not an easy answer to that. Maybe? Some bucks and does can develop dominant and territorial tendencies once they've been bred, regardless of spaying or neutering. They would need short, supervised time together in the beginning and building up to longer if no problems arise.
I would also be interested in knowing at what age you start breeding your does. Thank you!
Depends on your breed, but for larger breeds (does that mature past 10lbs) 8-10 months is appropriate.
Is it true that male rabbits die after mating?
No.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead oh ok, thx! I read this stupid article on google that said the male rabbit would probably die before the babies are born😂
@@elisebadenhorst3900 nope. A healthy and cared for male rabbit should live 8-10 years, whether he breeds or not. ☺️ Beware of what you read online, LOL.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead lol😂 thank you!!
Hi, we’re trying to breed our New Zealand whites, the buck is about 7 months and the doe is about 4 months. We notice that when we put them together in the bucks cage, they’re just chasing each other and not breeding. The doe also seem aggressive towards the bucks. Is there anything we can do or that the doe is still
not ready yet?
NZ does do not fully mature until 9mo of age. She is very much not ready. Boys mature much faster and are ready to go by 6mo..
This video will give you more info ruclips.net/video/X1CtboB6_nE/видео.html
الله ابارك 👐😻😻
What are you wearing on your arms. Do they help keep them from scratching you.?
Connie Crites - they are Kevlar sleeves, also known as arm guards or wrist guards. They are especially used for rabbits to avoid scratches and bites. I bought mine from BunnyRabbit.com for somewhere between $15-$20. Worth every penny if you have any high strung rabbits. I use them when I'm trimming nails, handling nervous juniors, or showing.
Sprague River Homestead thank you. I need some. LOL I have one doe that will cut you up. I will buy some and trim them nails.
Hi I have a problem so my female rabbit gave birth a while ago and I didn't separate the male and female fast enough to and she got pregnant again now I have two litters and i don't know if the litters can be together because I have newborns and older babies about 10-8 weeks old? Can they be together?
No, they should be separated ASAP. The buck and doe should not have been living together in the first place, as a doe can conceive within 24 hrs of giving birth! Kits over 5 weeks of age can be weaned from the mother without too much trouble. Just separate them by gender and you can leave girls with girls and boys with boys until 12 weeks or so depending on breed. Does can conceive by 10-12 weeks, so if they anywhere close to that they need to be away from their brothers NOW.
Sprague River Homestead ok thanks so much I will do it right now also I'm a first time rabbit owner and I'm trying to keep learning and I accept my mistakes and I take full responsibility so I thank you for these videos and I will do it right now
Sprague River Homestead so I already put the two litters of kits apart and I will separate the babies by female and male
@@aldkwllwlrl8692 it's a learning curve. You'll get it! 🙂
Question: I have a doe that I put with my buck in a tractor about 33 days ago. I left her in there and saw the breeding, then we took her out and put her in another tractor with a buck that we thought didnt breed. We never saw him do anything but they were together for about 2 weeks before we could afford to put all the rabbits in cages. Now she is in her cage, I put a nesting box in there and I calculated her pregnancy from the first breeding 33 days ago. She acts different and any time I put her with the male she does this crying noise and won't let him mount. I've tried that for almost a week now and she won't let him and grunts and growls. Also, I'm not an expert but I think I feel tiny balls in her stomach as well as I can see part of her stomach looking like its dropping. I'm not sure if she is pregnant or not and I hate to waste time if she isn't pregnant by not breeding her, but I also don't want to stress her out. Any tips? Thank you
Okay, first things first, does can take up to 38 days to Kindle. It's not common, but I've had gals go to 35 and produce live kits.
Secondly, just because you never saw them breed doesn't mean they didn't. The noises the doe is making and her behavior would indicate she is bred. Maybe the first buck, maybe the second.
In any event, she needs to be left alone and quit exposing her to any bucks. At this point you are risking miscarriage/infection/sterility. Give her a full forty days from her last exposure before you attempt any more breedings. Sure sounds like she's already pregnant.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead Thank you so much for the answer and advice. I'm new to this breeding thing so I appreciate the help. She just pulled a bunch of fur this morning but made a nest in the corner of the cage instead of the box. I hope I didnt do the wrong thing but I went ahead and put the fur and hay in the box and now she is nesting in it. Fingers crossed I didn't expose her too much and cause too much stress. I wish I knew more about breeding but it's a learning experience. Thank you
@@tristancassidylloyd223 how’s the bunny?
I have a male bunny who is not fixed would it be okay to get him a girlfriend?
For what purpose? I'm not a proponent of breeding just to breed, and the pet market is terribly over-saturated. Keeping them together as companions isn't necessarily a good idea because rabbits can be territorial and injure each other at worst, or create unwanted litters at best.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead Thanks for advice and I thought he might want a companion
@@candicedriskill6300 remember that rabbits are primarily solitary animals in the wild and don't really need companions. Domestic rabbits have been human raised for a very long time (hundred of years in some breeds), and are raised individually as well in the vast majority of cases.
Congrats for doing the best you can to keep your bunny happy though, and thanks for watching!
Hiya I have an experienced proven buck who has had 2 litters we had him with one of our does for about 3 months we seperewted them and we have tried to breed him with two of our other foes that we’ve never breed with him before and he shows no interest in them what’s wrong
Hard to say based on that info. If I had to guess he's dealing with low drive. It can happen when they are molting or missing something in their feed. It also happens with older bucks sometimes.
If he's molting just give him a chance to finish. If he's not and you've examined him thoroughly for disease or injury and found nothing, you can try adding some Black Oil Sunflower Seed (a tsp a day) to his feed once per day or feed him a cube of whole wheat bread soaked with 1 tsp of wheat germ oil daily. It'll raise his vitamin B a should kickstart his drive.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead is moulting where his summer coat comes. Out
@@itsmerachael6466 yes. They molt twice per year - in spring they drop their winter coat, in fall they drop their summer coat. Molts are pretty taxing on the overall system, so they can slow down on feed consumption and/or quit breeding. Once the molt is over they get back to being themselves. Usually takes 4-6 weeks.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead ok it might be him jolting as I’ve noticed in his cage loads of his loose fur came out so yeah maybe it’s that but his food is the same as when he bred with my foes before if not I’ll try your idea with the seeds thanks so mcuh
Molting
Also do you keep them in cages all day ?
What you do with so many rabbits? 🤔
We breed for meat, show and breeding stock - so eat them, breed them or sell them to other show breeders.
Hi how do I know it's been done
I'm not sure what your question is?
Someone had mentioned that apple cider vinegar works as well, also how do I know my female is ready and I have seen the male fall off but I can't tell if it's been in her
Also can you breed a yr old male with a 6 months old female
@@rurucristina4075 - I just noticed that my reply never posted! Sorry about that. Yes, you can breed a doe to an older buck.
@@rurucristina4075 for the most part, apple cider vinegar increasing libido is a myth. What breed is your doe? Some breeds don't mature until 8 months or so, so at 6 months she may not be ready. You can check her vent to see if she is. It would be slightly swollen and a deep dark pink, red, or even purple. It's odd for a buck to fall off if he's not penetrating though, so if he is there's a good chance he's making contact.
Sorry not to be rude but u are not supost to put rabbits in cages with wire bottoms they can damage their feet
That is completely incorrect. Domestic rabbits have been bred to have thicker footpads specifically to allow them to be raised in wire cages. Many European countries have laws against using wire floored cages, but the US does not. Solid floored cages are actually more likely to cause foot issues and are also less hygenic.