How can I maximize my rabbit litter size? ?
The way to maximize litter size is to re-breed several times in a 12 hour period. Take the doe to the buck's cage, let them breed at least 3 times. Remove the doe to her own cage. One hour later place her back with the buck, again let them breed 2-3 times. Remove her and then re-breed again in 8 hours, same let breed 2-3 times. Then re-breed again in 12 hours from the first time. This should increase the litter size. It also depends on the breed, smaller breeds do not have large litters. Large litters in the small breeds can lead to many dead kits and even the death of the doe during kindling.The largest litters come from the large meat breeds and the "giant" breeds. Since you sell to 4H and FFA kids why not invest in some pure breed rabbits? These kids should be getting the best rabbits they can for their projects. It is just as easy to breed purebred rabbits with pedigrees as it is to breed mixes. You can also sell them for more money if they are pur and come with a pedigree.
Why did my rabbits litter come out stillborn?
So i have a 3 yr old rew netherland dwarf doe rabbit that i bred with my siamese sable buck rabbit for 4h, and the breeder i bought the doe from had bred her previously 6 times before i bought her and said that she always had very successful litters from her. So, i was very confused when i found two stillborn kits in her nest on the 31st day. The kits looked perfectly healthy and a good size, so i have no idea why they were stillborn. Does anybody have any ideas? Could it be that she was bred too many times? Maybe she was too overweight because she was a half pound overweight? Idk maybe it just happens except i thought stillborn kits were more common in first litters??? Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
How many litters of babies can a rabbit have safely??
Sure you can safely breed again! 2 litters in two years is not many at all, most brood does have 3-4 in a year. She should be retired after this litter due to her age though, condition of the doe will tell you more than to set a hard and fast rule, some breeders will continue breeding a doe until she is 4 if she keeps her condition and shows no signs of aging, but generally it's best to retire most does around 3 years of age. However I would suggest getting a Mini Rex mate for her, you can use a breeders stud if you don't want to buy one. Lop breeds have very wide crowns and a Mini Rex are not built to deliver babies with wide heads, it increases the risk of difficulties during labour. Cross breed rabbits are also not very valuable sadly and there are so many unwanted. Pure Mini Rex will have the lovely velvet coat and it will be easier to place them with people who will look after them as they are looking for something specific not just any old bunny so the chance of them taking good care of the baby is higher. Good luck.
Why are my baby rabbits squeaking?
The activity and noisy squeaking of healthy babies trigger the "maternal instincts." Baby rabbits will sometimes squeak when they are afraid or hungry. Whimpering, squealing, and squeaks: are associated with pain and distress. Translation: "That hurt! I don't feel well." Some squeaking is done is close, intimate situations and is an indication of closeness. If a rabbit squeals when you touch it it may be telling you it does not wish to be touched or it may be displaying territorial behavior. Spaying and neutering can greatly reduce the risk of this behavior. Also a rabbit that has never been picked up by a human be4 can squeal in fear as it being picked up. Rabbits will squeek when they are frightened or upset. They also squeek when they get sexually frustrated and this is know as sex 'honking'. If your rabbit isnt spayed yet chances are it is this. best of luck hope this helps :)
Do My 3 week old Baby Rabbits need help?
My rabbit had a litter 3 weeks and 1 day ago, she died 3 days ago leaving 7 baby rabits in her nest. I have read that they can be weaned at 3 weeks, is this correct. We have been giving them chopped carrots and they seem to be eating them OK. This morning when I went to the nest some were crying, does this mean they need milk and if so what should I do? Any suggestions about care of these I would appreciate.
How many days will baby rabbits stay in their mother's den before taking their first steps into the outside world?
I raised rabbits for several years and here’s what I learned from my own breedings and from rabbit breeders who had 30+ years experience…Domestic rabbits … Born with eyes closed. The eyes will open at 10 days (approx) and they venture out of the nest box around 14 to 21 days. They are born totally naked and get fur in a few days, enough to tell color and patterns.WILD rabbits … eyes are open at birth and they are completely furred so they can “run early to escape predators”. Unless you can actually observe them in the wild, I would guess, maybe a few days. I’ve never seen any from birth or how long till they are “up and running” but I mowed over a nest once and the babies looked to be about 2 days old. One got “blown” out of the nest and I simply picked it up in my hands and put it back IN the nest, covered it back over with the nesting material that was there. I checked on them the next day and ALL WERE GONE. None were dead and all were gone and the nest was clean. I’m only estimating their age but from the information I was taught I would say the babies were only a few days old.Domestic and Wild rabbits are totally different species and will not crossbreed.
I found what looks like a baby rabbit in my rabbit cage. Is this my rabbit’s baby? I only found one. What should I do now?
“I found what looks like a baby rabbit in my rabbit cage. Is this my rabbit’s baby? I only found one. What should I do now?”It looks like one, yes. It also looks to be deceased. You can check to see it it's still alive, but you probably already have the answer from having laid it out for the photo.Get your rabbit spayed. It will extend her life. Unspayed rabbits get uterine cancer in very high numbers. Rabbits will also multiply like, well, rabbits.If you have a buck, aka male, get him neutered. He’ll be a lot calmer.Rabbits are living creatures, obviously. One can't just own them and expect things to go smoothly. Have a knowledgeable vet take care of your rabbit. They get health issues that, if left untreated, will kill them. Go at least twice a year even if there's nothing wrong. Consider it well-bunny check-ups/preventative medicine. Your vet will see teeth problems when they're starting to develop.
My rabbit is pregnant with a second litter? Help!?
First off get the buck out of there and keep him out of there! If you keep letting her breed with no rest between litters you will wear her out and she will have a very short life! Second. When the litter is 6 weeks old, wean them. If they are already that old, wean them now. They have been eating on their own for a few weeks and will be ok without anything from the doe. 8 weeks is a better weaning age but you don't have that luxury. She needs a few days on her own before the next litter. What ever you do, DO NOT put the older litter with the doe after she kindles the second litter. The older kits will drain her dry and there will be no milk for the new kits. Please be a responsible owner and keep the buck and doe separate and separate the buck kits from the doe kits or you will be producing a lot more litters. I'm glad you are worried. That is the first step in motivating you to do the right thing which is to stop producing litters of kits that you don't know how to handle. Breeders who behave like you are now give responsible breeders a bad name and populate the shelters with unwanted rabbits.
Until what age do baby rabbits require milk?
It varies, but young rabbits should never be separated from their mother until they've been weaned and are able to subsist on solid food, and as Candice says, properly socialized both to other rabbits and to humans. As far as socialization goes, I've read that you should start to interact with baby bunnies every day from about 24 days on, talking to them, and *gently* petting and playing with them, at this point in their development (a bit over 3 weeks since birth), their fur has grown in, their eyes and ears are open and they start getting playful and frisky. By 42 days (6 weeks), they should be getting well-socialized with humans and with one another.
How many babies does a rabbit make in 4 years?
Bunny math, alright! :) It’s not the best strategy as you will wear out the doe much faster or even kill her but if she lives, this can get you the most kits per year.It takes 1 month of gestation to birth a litter of 1–10+ kits. (Normally 6–10) Because it takes a month to wean kits, re breeding should be no sooner than 2 weeks post kindle. By this time the kits will be eating more solid food and nutrients can be spared for the gestating litter. Every month and a half you get 6 or 10 (just for the math) so you can have 8 litters per year, 32 in 4 years. If you always get 6 kits, you’ll have at least 192 offspring or a max of 320. There are variables so you may get more or less. Realistically this way you’d be getting ~210 or so kits. Breed like rabbits! Best part is, there is no heat or estrus to be watching for and timing. The buck mounting will stimulate the release of eggs so as long as it’s been 2 weeks since the last litter and the doe is over 6 months, you can pretty much breed whenever.