Always a wealth of information. I didn't even think of switching cages for the doe to "soak up the maximum [pheromone] funk"! Thanks for another superb educational vid. I was alarmed and astonished and horrified, all at once to see one of my proven does pounding a new proven buck this week....until this video. Thank you!
Super helpful! I was struggling to breed one of my does and having tried some of these methods, I can attest that they work! The doe in question had her first litter of 7 kits last night! Thanks for the awesome video! :)
Perfect timing! We are doing our first breeding on Halloween. Hopefully, all will go well and we will have the first litter at the end of Nov. We raised our Bkn Blk Rex breeders from 2 Mo. old so we have been waiting quite some time for this! :)
@@kingdavidson7430 rabbits don't ever go into heat. They are induced ovulators. After they turn a year old you're often fighting internal fat as an issue for failed conception. Are they lifting at all? Have you examined them to make sure they are healthy and receptive? There are a ton of factors that could be causing issues.
@@SpragueRiverHomesteadi don't know what lifting means. I'm new to this. The does were mounting each other then they stop. Guy told me if you dont bread them in first year or if you skip a year they may never breed again
My cal buck is around 9 months, my CL cal doe died over the California summer... got a blue NZ female about a week ago, from same breeder as my cal buck. They said she 4 months and 8lbs, they also said to wait till 5 months and 9 lbs... you said here the bigger breeds need 9 months? Is it weight or age? Edit: thankyou, you are the first person to tell how long heat sterile lasts!
Oh boy, 4 and 5 months is way too young 😔 The bigger breeds need until at least 8 months. 9 is considered mature/full grown and what I aim for. I've bred a doe or two at 8 months if they seem overly large for their standard or if we are trying to fit them in before taking a summer breeding break.
I just tried an experienced doe and a virgin buck. He didn't even look at her until she jumped at him and bit the side of his head. THEN he realized he was supposed to be doing something. She let him have one fall off, but then wouldn't turn around for him again. She was just getting ragey, and I got bit when I finally removed her (yay for leather gloves). I'm not really sure what to do now. They're in each other's cages now, all alone.
All it takes is one good fall off. Some does will not allow a second breeding. Try them again this evening and see what happens. Does will sometimes relax after they ovulate.
Some good tips. So true that some rabbits are eager while others take their time and need more maturity/time. Some gals are very picky. I also think it's funny how some bucks just get to busy with a one-focused mind while others try to woo the does first :)
Thank you so much for this vid I am giving my girls another few weeks into November they will be 9 months as New Zealand and Satin mix breed meat mutts which I think is what TAMU is ? Plus will give it more time for some cooler weather our nites are cool but days still in 80’s
TAMU/TAMUK are a composite breed made by Texas A&M. Last list I saw the breed is made up of 6 different breeds, including NZ, Satin and Flemish (I can't for the life of me remember the other 3).
@@SpragueRiverHomestead thank you I think Rex I know mine are big they range in colors of satin Californian NZ and Rex with black and white but very big and very short hair in Summer their hair is very thin to combat Texas heat not bred to look pretty but meaty
That happens a lot if you're breeding in December. Some breeds have more issues with the low light levels than others. Everyone here is back to breeding and receptive, so fingers crossed you get some fantastic kits!
U and ur videos r so good, i watched many of them, my 60% Rabbit flock died in one night by accidentally poisonous plant (cleistanth Collins) in their green feeding.
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?
Love Your Educational Videos ! Could you tell me If you ever had a 7 month Buck who Loves to Spray My Does & " Me " when I put them in His cage For Breeding or Take them Out ?? He Is an All Star Buck,.... (Californian ) ..... But This Behavior Is Frustrating ??
We've found that almost all bucks spray at least somewhat in the 6-12 months range. Most boys seem to settle down after they turn a year old. It's their way of saying "I'm a man" and marking their territory. Really gross, but that's the animal kingdom for you. I would keep a hose handy when you go to put him back and give him a short blast if he sprays you. It should help to break the habit.
Hi, I'm just starting with meat rabbits and have New Zealand whites. My doe, who I believe to be about 8 months old was mated by my buck, who is about 6 months old. I also have a second doe but she is only four months old right now. I only have a small set up and limited space. I generally keep all the rabbits separate but I do let my rabbits take turns to roam in the yard each day. My doe had not been very interested in the buck but I had them both out in the yard one day and that is where they mated. They were together for several hours and over that time I saw seven fall-offs. In the following weeks i kept them apart. My doe built a nest and pulled fur but no litter arrived. I'm so disappointed and I'm worried that my doe, or buck, or both could be infertile. I don't know whether to just keep trying with the same pair and see what happens or wait till my younger doe in old enough and try her with the buck. I have enough space for one more rabbit so I'm wondering whether to get another buck as I guess the chances to having two infertile does is quite small, where as if my buck is the problem I'm screwed and just wasting my time. All my rabbits seem to be healthy and not over weight and even though we had a few hot days towards the end of the summer I don't think it went above 85. If anyone has any advise I'd be very grateful. Thanks from the UK.
Most large breed does aren't mature until 8-9 months. If she is just now 8 months old its possible she allowed the breeding but did not ovulate due to immaturity. Boys are usually ready at 6 months of age, but I have seen boys who get overly excited and fall off without actually penetrating. Did you check her vent to make sure he was actually reaching the goal? One failed breeding is far too early to make a decision to get rid or or replace an animal. Try breeding her again, taking her to his cage, and see how it goes.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead Thank you so much for your reply! No I did not check so maybe that was the problem. To my knowledge it was the first time mating for them both. Ok, I will try again and hopefully with some more practice they can get it right. Thanks again.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead Just wanted to thank you again for the advice. Both my does have produced litters now. I have 15 baby rabbits right now so I know I have no problems! So happy, cheers!
Excellent video! Thank you. You mentioned that it's best for larger breeds to be around 9 months old. What about Harlequins? Also, is there a particular time of year when it is not a good idea to breed your rabbits?
Harlequins are considered a mid-sized breed and are ready to breed at 6mo. I breed year round, with the exception of July and August in hot years. Too much heat is really hard on pregnant does and newborns. For me that's consistently over 95 degrees, since our misters and fans only knock the temperature downs by 10 or so degrees.
Wheat Germ Oil. You can use about a tsp for a 10# animal daily, either soaked into oatmeal or soaked into a cube of whole wheat bread. It's the only time I would ever suggest giving bread to rabbits.
Do rabbits usually have their kits at about the same time with each litter? In other words, if she has her first litter on day 32, would you expect subsequent litters to arrive on day 32?
Does tend to be pretty consistent, so yes, I would expect to see some consistency. Most of our Harlequins are steady at 31 days. Our Americans tend towards 31/32, and our Thriantas deliver at 32/33. We had a doe that would kindle early on day 29 and did so consistently for all 5 of the litters we had with her.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead thanks for your response. I’m assuming by now (day 36) that my plans were a victim of heat sterility. We had a ghastly summer, so I’ll try again.
Hope ok to ask here was trying to at the very least ask on the ivermectin video but can’t find it and short on time (you can take your time to respond I just need to run because the sun is going down) Question: do you or have your heard of people using ivermectin on cats? I recently learned that you can give them it for heart worm, scabies , ear mites etc. They mentioned tablets HeartGuard and Acarexx otic suspension 0.01% solution. Could I just do what you do to your rabbits for ear mites? Use the injectable but use it as ear drops (one drop per ear)? Just curious what you may do or advice if you were to treat a cat. Thank you. Glad you guys are back. Really missed you. The world is going to hell lol ahh craziness. Hang in there.
Question: I am new to rabbit breeding and bred my does a month ago. This morning when I got up to tend to the farm, I found a nest full of hay and hair in the corner of the tractor. Yes, I know they need to be in a cage so I put her in a cage alone with a lot of hay this morning, but after doing more investigating around the nest she made I found something that concerns me. I spotted about 5 spots of blood, looks pretty fresh so she must have bled around 4-5 am I'm just guessing. I know that isn't really normal so I'm upset and think she probably already had them and ate them because she either didn't feel safe/comfortable or she did it because it was her first ever litter. I know she was the one bleeding because I picked her up and investigated where they push babies out and there was fresh blood. Is this a normal thing to experience in first time rabbit moms? Should I be concerned? Should I expect any babies or do you think she probably already gave birth? Thank you.
How big are the spots of blood? Does can bleed a bit before birth. Unless you found afterbirth or body parts I doubt she ate them. Far more likely that she was just getting started and you interrupted her. Did you give her a nest box when you moved her and put the nest she made in it? If you haven't, and she hasn't birthed yet, I would. I'm not sure what you're asking when you say is this normal for first time moms? If you are asking if it's normal for first timers to kill a litter - no, but then that doesn't sound like what's happened either. Going forward, your doe needs to be in a secure spot with a box a minimum of three days before her due date. You don't want to stress her by moving her the day of or even day before, as she will be more likely to kill or abandon her litter. For right now, just breathe and see what she does.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead Thank you very much for the reply, I appreciate the time you took to respond. When I transferred her to a cage I put a nesting box with her fur and hay. I noticed in the area she was bleeding that there is still (a tiny bit of) blood coming out. I read sometimes its normal but I'm not sure. I covered the cage with a towel and going to check on her every few hours for the next 2 or 3 days, if she doesn't have them I will try breeding her again in a few weeks. Thank you again for the reply, it gets upsetting but I am a newbie to this so I appreciate the advice.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead I forgot to mention the blood spots are not big. I just noticed little spots on the hay she had nested in the corner. I searched everywhere for babies or parts and never found anything
Varies quite a bit by breed and bloodline. We've found 7-8 litters are the best we can expect from our Americans, at which time they are around 4 years old and producing litters of only 3-4 kits. The Harlequin lines I've kept from birth to retirement are running about 10 litters, retiring around 5yo and litters of 1-3 or flat out not producing. For strictly meat production, you will most likely want to move out or cull does after age 3. That gives them two solid years of production.
Quick question..... one of my does was due this week and so far no babies (it's day 34). At what time do you call it quits and pull out the nesting box?
@@outdoorsmom2000 personally my longest has been 35 days. I've heard of does going all the way to day 40 though. At day 41 I assume they've missed, pull the box, give them a thorough exam and rebreed if all looks good.
I really appreciate the effort you put into your videos, I have learned so much from you. Where do you get the side shields and drip pans you have with your cages? I fabricate mine but I’d rather just buy shields and pans, thanks.
The urine guards I've gotten from Bass Equipment. I have their ABS drop pans, but don't recommend them on cages larger than 30x30. In 6 years all of our 30x36 pans have cracked. Depending on where you are you may look at some of the other cage companies and see who can ship you DuraTrays for a reasonable price. They are much better drop pans and I am slowing replacing a lot of mine with them.
I could really use breeding advice! I have 6 months to 2 year old rabbits, most proven but they don't have litters often after multiple successful fall offs, maybe 1 successful litter born out of 4 breedings or will have litters born but not born in the nesting boxes and the mom pulled fur in the boxes & their proven moms, also 2 of the bucks are about 11months and neither are interested in breeding, one will only mate certian does, any advice ? Also they do get 14hrs of lighting, I've tried a few different feeds their on purina show which is in the levels recommend in a different video I believe 16% protein, 3.5 fat, 23% fiber, I don't free feed but have been giving grass hay with it
When bucks don't breed its usually a vitamin/nutrient issue or insufficient lighting. Can be with the does as well. You can try a 1/2 teaspoon of wheat germ oil on a cube of whole wheat bread with small rabbits, a teaspoon for large. Give it to them once per day for a week and then try again. That will usually jumpstart a bucks libido.
Remember too that when you choose to give grass hay you are dropping the nutrient levels of your feed and upping fiber. That means if Purina show is 16% protein you are at around 14% with hay. That fiber could also be well up over 25%, which causes messes with nutrient absorption.
Thanks for the info! Newbie to rabbit breeding here..we just got our hutches and our rabbits (1 buck/3 does) Does it generally take time for a doe to get accustomed to a new home before she’ll feel comfortable breeding?
Hello! Make sure you watch ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oAVo8if-GSM.html on how to acclimate your rabbits to your farm. Always quarantine for 30 days before breed. It allows the doe to settle in and gives you a chance to look for any illnesses that may pop up during the moving stress period.
Just found your channel. Great information on breeding. I’m just getting started. I noticed in the background it looks like you have stacking cages with trays. Do you line the trays with anything? How do you control the urine odor if anything.
Welcome! In the summer I don't use anything since we are extremely dry. Urine evaporates pretty quick when you have low single digit humidity. In the winter I use a thin layer of shavings and some Sweet PDZ as needed.
Sprague River Homestead thank you for the reply. I’m in central Texas so we do have humidity. I did think of PDZ since I use it in the Donkeys stalls. I also thought maybe using pine pellet stall bedding.
Hi What do think ,to stop urinating after 3 fall offs I leave her in bucks cage for at least 20 minutes, as I feel she does not like to urinate in a males cage .thanks so much for sharing 🥰👍
Hey hope you are well. I know this isn't related to breeding but I have a couple of New-Zealands but I haven't ever got them to 10 pounds what could be the problem?.. also do smaller litters grow faster than larger ones of the same age?
Are we talking bucks or does? NZ bucks can be 9-11#, whereas does should be 10-12#. Some lines are just small. Personally, if an animal doesn't make the weight standard by adult age (9mo for NZ) I cull them. I don't want small animals in my gene pool. Small litters can grow more quickly for a time, but you should see larger litters catch up to them by 12 weeks of age.
What color is the doe's vent? How old is she? What is her weight condition? Has she had litters before? Happy to help try and guide you though. Might be easier if you email me directly at SRHomestead@yahoo.com
Could be the breed, could be the bloodline. Just keep working with them. While most of ours do fine, I have one American line in particular that runs, thumps and grumbles at me whenever I try to take them out. They behave well enough after that, but getting them out of the cage is a pain.
@@annjones1521 it might be the smell of him on your clothes. Most likely though, it's just the rabbits. NZ tend to be really high strung. When we raised them years ago ours were the same way. They would be sweet and would take treats from my hands, but when I'd try to take them out it was a rodeo. Every. Single. Time. Once they were out they'd behave fine. It's probably not something they are going to improve on.
This makes so much sence. All my bucks are fine, but my only New Zealand Red goes mental when I try to pick him up. Nipping and scratching. Slowly but surely he is getting calmer and getting more used to being handled. It's good to know that this could be a breed trait. :)
I've heard that the doe will never urinate in the bucks cage so if you leave her in there for about half hr after she's bred you save her losing it all. Is this correct?
If there are different breeding ages with different bunny sizes are there also different harvesting ages? I have New Zealand. If they are mature at 8-9 months. At what age should I harvest the kits?
Yes, it will vary a bit by breed. You're shooting for 5# live weight, so a NZ should be there between 8-10 weeks. Rex tend to be 10-12 weeks, breeds like Harlequins take 10-14.
Good morning everyone. What might be the cause for our rabbits not breeding,we started off in March,with one buck and ten does . That March and April UpTo mid may breeding was ok,out of the ten does ,seven got pregnant and all gave birth successfully, one gave birth two days before it's due date,and the kits all died. The other three never bred at all at all to date. And even the ones that gave birth in April and may,we even got another new extra buck,we have tried breeding them but nothing is happening,I feel frustrated,coz we are feeding and nothing happening.when you introduce the doe to the bucks cages , either the does try to mount the bucks ,or the bucks tries to mount the does ,but nothing happens ,then they just relax ,nothing happens.,we shifted them to new wooden cages in mid may. So anyone who has experienced such kindly help,coz at the moment even nothing is happening you introduce a doe to the bucks cage ,they just look at each other.ao frustrating,we have given them vitamins nothing happened ,thanks , waiting for your help.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead Now that's where the dilema is,reason ,we aquired them from different farms,so the age factor is a little bit tricky the records showed one year🤔. Then feeds we give them Rhodes Hay,three days wilted weeds mostly black jack,then once twice a week collards greens as we have plenty in our kitchen garden,pellets once in a while. But,I bet we will start breeding those that were born here first batch is now exactly three months ,then two and one½ month . thank you.
Is she actually lifting? If she's not then he's not actually penetrating and won't. Sometimes in small breeds you won't get a fall off at all. Our Mini Rex buck never would, and very few of our Thrianta do either. I'm sure its possible in other breeds as well.
I have an adult doe who squeals when she is mad and she gets mad when I move her from her grazing tractor to her cage in the evening. Tonight I tried breeding her for the first time and she was hissing and squaling as soon as my buck was near her. She also wipped around and tried to bite his genitals 2 times but I swooped in and grabbed him out before she could do any damage. I tried putting in my other buck and she did the same thing with him. I then put her in her grazing tractor and had the buck sniff her and give her kisses through the wire and she was fine with that but as soon as he was on the breeding table with her again she started being aggressive again. I'm so sad because I really like this Rabbit and she is a nice Californian. Any advice?
She sounds space aggressive. You'll need to table breed that doe in a neutral location and restrain her to prevent her from biting. First though, do a very thorough health check and make sure there isn't something else going on, and that her genitals are flushed. She'll need to be red, dark pink or even purple to be receptive. Right now some areas are seeing a spring molt which may mean a pale pink vent. If she's pale, don't bother, and she won't be receptive anyhow.
What if the buck won’t breed? I’ve got a 10 month old buck and a couple of 8 month old does. The buck is blue/fawn tricolor, one of the does is a blue/fawn harlequin, and the other doe a lilac otter. All mini rexes and all inexperienced. Im raising for pets NOT MEAT. (Nothing against meat breeders though) The buck just completely ignores the does. I’ve tried switching their cages, changing their diet, I’ve checked their private areas, I’ve tried housing them close together, and having them completely separated. All my rabbits are beautiful and in good shape so im not sure what else to do. Please anyone give me some tips!! Thanks!
@@SpragueRiverHomestead I’m feeding them breeder pellets from my local feed store and I’m about to pick up some more in a few minutes I’ve also been feeding oxbow Timothy hay every day but I’m looking for a cheaper option and they’ve also been getting apples, broccoli, celery or carrots about 2 times a week. I do need to get some type of light out there because they only get natural sun but it’s about 100 ft from my house so I’ll need to get and extension cord to provide lights. They are under a cover connected to our chicken coop.
@@BlessedWithPets are the girls willing? Its not impossible to have a non functional male. Have you done a vet check on the girls and confirmed the sex of your buck? If the girls are in a low hormone phase (not unusual for this time of year) the buck may be uninterested just because he's not getting a good pheromone hit (keep in mind that's unusual for bucks of that age though). If everyone is healthy and the buck really is a buck, trying upping their B vitamins. A half teaspoon of wheat germ oil on a cube of whole wheat bread daily for a week usually gets them jump started.
@@BlessedWithPets it would be irresponsible for me not to stress, however, that we do not advise or support pet breeding. Rabbits are the #3 animal abandoned and/or dumped at shelters. 80% of those sold as pets do not live to one year of age, and of the 20% that do, 75% of them are used to perpetuate the pet trade, regardless of health or quality. Just something to keep in mind.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead the does are Laying down and lifting but the Buck just ignores them. It is definitely a male testicles fully descended and everything. And the females are both definitely females. I’ve seen a lot of does That aren’t willing to breed but never a buck like this. So I’m kind of just stuck. I will try the wheat germ oil and see if that helps if I can find it.
Nikki, I have 4 days old Cali's & I'm wondering about weather...it is unusual for Texas in mid April to have temps in the 30's...wondering about safety...should I cover w/tarp the cage...doe with her kits?
If she's built a good nest, pulled plenty of hair and there's more than 3 kits they should be fine. If you think the nest is less than adequate you can shelve the entire litter for the night and put them back in tomorrow. I don't do it myself but lots of breeders do. Just bring the nest box into the house and put it somewhere over 50 degrees and safe. The next morning taje the box out and put it back in with mom. She should get in to feed. If she doesn't you may need to put her in to feed.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead you are awesome...my lil girl built an excellent nest (for a first time mom). She may be mean to me...but she seems to be an excellent mom... Thank you for your help
For girls who like to pee after mating, I do 30 minutes in the buck pen, then back to her cage. I watch her for 5 minutes and if she doesn't pee I'll leave her. If she pees in the 5 minutes I put her back in with him for another 30 minutes.
Its a very, very dangerous thing to do. Rabbits get along until the moment that don't, and that's the moment that someone ends up dead or injured (especially bucks who often end up castrated). It's not worth the risk to your stock.
Hi! I am having trouble selling my California bunnies. They are getting older and nobody is even asking about them...I’m worried that I will have too many bunnies! How do I sell mine? I’ve tried Craigslist, is there any other places that they sell good on?
Are the meat rabbits or pets? Pedigreed or unpedigreed? This isn't a good time of year to sell rabbits. Most people buy in the spring, not the late fall or winter months. You might be able to check with your local 4H office and see if any kids are looking for breeders or showmanship animals. Otherwise, you can look at donating them to animal rehabilitation centers that will use them for food for things like injured raptors, or be prepared to eat them yourself.
Hi, I don't know if you can help me. I have a buck that is EXTREMELY not motivated buck. He'll sometimes mount, but scoots way up and kinda chews on them. He doesn't really try to actually breed them, expect for a rare occasion. My does will chase and mount him, and lay down and lift and he just can't seem to get it done. He is almost 10 lbs. Any suggestions on helping him figure out how to get it done? I have seen just a few fall offs, but it was after the heat of summer and I think he may have been heat sterile. He is my only breeding buck.
How old is he? Is he overweight at all? Have you examined him to ensure he doesn't have vent disease or any other ailment? What is he eating? Could be low vitamin B, or low testosterone. Try giving him about a teaspoon of wheat germ oil daily on a cube of whole wheat bread, for about two weeks and try again. Heat sterility won't cause low drive.
@@SpragueRiverHomestead Thanks so much for responding. He is a silver fox. I meant to say almost ten months. He is smaller, not overweight. About 7.5 lbs. I have checked his vent and doesnt seem to have anything wrong with him. His penis comes out and looks pink and healthy when I check. Do I check for anything else down there? Thanks so much, I will try the wheat germ oil. He never has had a huge drive, and I've tried breeding the last few months. Before I thought he was just young, and then it was hot and I didn't know if he just got worn out easily. Now it is cold and no time of day seems to change the fact that he just doesn't really care to chase the does. He'll mount, they lay down and lift, and he scoots up on their back to like groom them.
@@summerpaulsen6847 hmm. I don't know that I would breed him since he's no where near the standard for the breed. At 10 months he should be over 9lbs. If you don't see lesions or discharge around the penis than he's probably fine. I understand though, with a rare breed, that it's hard to find stock sometimes. See if the wheat germ will help him, but I would highly recommend shopping for a new buck that more appropriately meets the standard of his breed.
My doe hates my buck. Attacks him and he is terrified of her.... what can I do? They're the only rabbits I have so I dont have the option of another buck right now. I've tried bring her to him and putting them in new locations. Idk what to do at this point.
While that does happen, it's pretty rare. Most likely something else is going on. 1. Are they old enough? Large breed does mature around 8-9 months, bucks after 6 months. While some will breed earlier than that you'll have the best success when they are fully mature. 2. Have you done a full health check? If she is healthy then does her vent indicate she's ready for breeding? 3. Is the buck proven? First timers can be naturally timid. Takes a bit to work up confidence. 4. The doe should always be taken to the buck, and if not being bred on a table than always in his cage. 5. Have you tried swapping them for a night or two? Sometimes does need a bit of time taking in the bucks scent/pheromones before they are ready to go.
Hi Christie. Yes, you can maybe parents to offspring. I would highly consider watching our video on breeding terms for more info ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Uf2qU5eB_SU.html
How long have you been trying? How old is she? This time of year is tough because the light levels are still low. Usually they be receptive in late January. She also may not like your buck. It's more rare, but I've had it happen here with does. It's part of why I recommend keeping more than one buck.
Its can, but has a higher percentage of failure. Remember, does are induced ovulators. If uninterested for whatever reason, most will not ovulate. Forced mating is usually traumatic for the doe and usually doesn't yield results, so I don't recommend it.
