There is much more to breeding any type of animal than just putting a male and a female together. Research must be done. Plans must be made. By reading this you have shown that you are interested in becoming a responsible and reputable breeder. You have also shown that you are interested in learning the differences between a responsible breeder, a backyard breeder, and a raiser. You have shown that your best interest is in your rabbits rather than yourself; and I commend you for that.
First of all, start with the best and you're guaranteed better luck. If you start off with pet store rabbits you might as well forget about breeding altogether. Pet store rabbits:
a) usually never have pedigrees
b) are often times sick
c) are sometimes mixed breeds
d) are meant to be pets!!!!
This leads me to distinguish the differences between a responsible breeder, a backyard breeder, and a raiser.
First of all, responsible breeders breed quality animals with pedigrees and promising show careers. Responsible breeders breed to improve their chosen breed of animal; they have specific goals in mind. Responsilbe breeders are always there to offer information to their current and prospective clients.
Backyard breeders breed their pets. Their pets may be purebred...and they also may be crossbred. They may cross breeds together. Their knowledge of rabbits (or their animal of choice) is usually limited. Their sole purpose of breeding is to create more pets. If you are a responsible breeder you will not be guaranteed a grand champion or even a show quality rabbit in every litter; let alone every rabbit in every litter. Your cull outlet (definition of cull: to remove. This can mean to sell; it does not always mean kill.) could be the pet market. BYBs sell ALL of their animals as pets. They don't breed to show or to use as meat or fur . . . and this is extremely irresponsible.
Raisers breed animals in mass quantities and have no empathy for the animals what-so-ever. They sell to whomever has money. The conditions the animals are kept in are often horrendous. The animals get little or no socialization throughout their entire lives. This causes them to be skittish and eventually those skittish traits get passed down to their offspring. Since these kinds of people are the ones who keep a continuous supply of animals in pet stores, the rabbits found in pet stores are usually very skittish.
If you are considering breeding rabbits, only use the best that you can afford. (But if the best you can afford are rabbits from the local pet store, reconsider taking up this hobby) Please locate a responsible and reputable breeder in your area to purchase breeding stock from by visiting M & E Rabbitry's Breeder Directory.
For links on breeding please see the following sites:
M & E Rabbitry
Deb Mark's Rabbit Information
Rabbit Web
Islandgems Rabbitry
Pedigrees
Generally it is best to breed rabbits with pedigrees. Pedigrees usually go back three generations (the specific rabbit ---> that rabbit's parents ----> the parents' parents and sometimes the grandparents' parents. This proves that the rabbit is indeed pure.
There are only a handful of times when it is ok to breed rabbits without pedigrees.
a) When a rabbit posesses a desirable trait that is worth entering into your breeding program.
b) When an unpedigreed rabbit shows extraordinary quality and looks very much like a purebred.
c) When the rabbits are being bred as a food source.
To just breed two unpedigreed rabbits for the heck of it is irresponsible. However if you are working towards the betterment of your herd or you are breeding rabbits as a food source, it is considered acceptable to breed an unpedigreed rabbit. Please make all attempts to learn about your rabbit's genetic history if he does not have a pedigree and you are considering breeding him. There are many genetic problems that can be contributed to bad breeding in the past. Malocclusion (uneven teeth) is one such problem. The causes of Malocclusion can be environmental at times; it isn't always hereditary (chewing on wire bars of the cage can dislocate teeth).
With caution, you will succeed.
Back