Always think before breeding your rabbits. Are you going to be able to provide homes for these kits (baby rabbits) once they are born? If you can then you must also take into consideration some key factors before breeding your rabbit. Always make sure that if you are crossbreeding that the buck is a smaller breed than the doe. If not the birth could result in death for the doe or kits if they are too large for her to pass. Always make sure that the surrounding environment is correct for breeding. If the temprature is too hot about (90 degrees) or too cold (32 degrees) the buck cannot produce live sperm. Also, if the lighting is not adequate then they will not breed.
There are also steps you must take before, during, and after breeding. The first step you must take is to pick up your doe and check her vent area to see if her vulva is a deep crimson color or perhaps even a shade lighter, indicating that she is in heat. If the doe is in heat you take the DOE to the BUCK'S cage since the doe is very territorial and may cause physical harm. If the doe starts to grunt or attacks the buck remove her immediately then try again the next day. However, a solid indication that the doe is in heat is if she mounts the buck. If in heat, the doe will raise her back end and allow the buck to mount her. After the period of about 10-15 seconds you know they have bred sucessfully when the buck is flipped onto his back by the doe. The chance of her kindling is greater if you allow the pair to breed a second time. After breeding remove the doe from the buck's cage and check her vulva again for a semen deposit. If the doe urinates right after the process will most likely have to be repeated again the next day or at least after 8 hours since the last breeding.
It is important to keep the date you bred your doe marked down. Add 31days to the date you bred her to get an estimate on the day she will most likely kindle. At 10-14 days after breeding you should be able to feel marble-like structures in the lower abdomin. So, at 10-14 days you must palpate to see if the breeding took. I will explain the palpation process and kindling process on separate pages complete with pictures. |
