| Welcome to Rabbit Addict. The forums are a place to discuss all things related to rabbits and cavy. From breeding to pet, emergency to genetics questions. Our members are a mix of genetics enthusiasts, breeders, and pet owners looking to share their animals. Hop on in and join the fun! We don't bite. I promise. You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as joining the discussion, customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| New Litter | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: May 21 2014, 04:53 PM (153 Views) | |
| louierabbit | May 21 2014, 04:53 PM Post #1 |
![]()
Get the Duct Tape, Stat!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I think I'm going to do another litter next summer. I'm in love with these babies (I get very attached to any animal) and want to try to have better luck with another litter. I know I've only lost 2 out of 5 but they were both for reasons that could have been avoided. I am going to breed Sadie again next summer if it's not too late (she'd be about 2 and a half I think). Even thought she's a mixed breed, I only really want to sell for pets and it's more for a hobby then a profit. Sadie is about 4 pounds when she's at her normal weight. I'd like to breed her with a lop rabbit (I love lops!) but I'm afraid they might be too big. I'm still thinking about doing this though and not for sure I want to. Either way, I've decided not to spay Sadie, just in case I do decide to re-breed. Sonny is spayed so either way he can go back with her, if they re-bond. Thoughts? |
|
Visit my website at The Rabbit Louie Keep Hopping! | |
![]() |
|
| ZRabbits | May 22 2014, 04:52 AM Post #2 |
|
Love My Lions!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Well, just to let you know, that a doe who is not bred regularly can go infertile. So that's a bit of a long time between litters and also her age has to be looked at. Might get away with breeding sparingly with a younger doe, but as they age, it gets even tougher for them to conceive. KAZ |
![]() |
|
| NeuBunny | May 22 2014, 07:27 AM Post #3 |
|
Genetics Geek!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
lol - Now you know why we are 'Rabbit Addict' -- breeding and raising babies are addicting aren't they! I typically breed my does once a year, and haven't (yet - knock on wood) had one go infertile after having a litter (even when the whole litter died) I've only had problems with the ones that get older than a year before being bred the first time. Admittedly, the oldest doe we've bred is only 4. Do watch weight/diet and exercise if you go a year between litters. Obesity is the primary cause of infertility in older does. I really try to avoid (even within breed) a buck that is substantially larger than the doe. High risk of the kits being too big for the doe to deliver easily. So if you want lops, look for a nice small lop (holland?) to be the father. Note that the genetics behind lopped ears is not straightforward -- one paper I read suggested 5-7 genes involved just in getting the ears to lop. Which is to say you can get babies with upright ears, lop ears and everything in between (a lot of airplane ears and partial ear control). Personally, I've never really seen the point of spaying does. The surgery is far more invasive and riskier than fixing the buck. I suppose it might help with attitude/territorial behavior in a doe - but haven't ever seen any scientific evidence of that - just a lot of opinion. No reason not to take your time in making a decision. Get through a whole cycle of raising and selling/rehoming kits before you decide that's something you want to do again. To me, losing kits is the absolute hardest part. But sending your babies off to new homes isn't easy either. |
![]() |
|
| louierabbit | May 22 2014, 01:22 PM Post #4 |
![]()
Get the Duct Tape, Stat!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Both those things are hard. I will probably go with a purebred holland and hope for lop ears. I'll keep thinking about it. Thanks! |
|
Visit my website at The Rabbit Louie Keep Hopping! | |
![]() |
|
| ZRabbits | May 23 2014, 03:10 AM Post #5 |
|
Love My Lions!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Louie, not at all trying to stop you from this absolutely amazing experience of kits, as I loved the experience and so can't wait for future litters, but you really have to sit back and plan. Heck, I don't know the sadness yet of seeing those kits you watched from Day 1 leave with a new family, as my first litter is STILL here, lol. Your thoughts of going for a purebred Holland is really smart. Go for show quality, which I think will open up more avenues for your kits. I'm waiting until next year, as in November of this year, hoping more color varieties get passed. Especially Chocolate. Then the hunt for my show quality LH breeding pair will begin. This doesn't have to happen tomorrow, but when we are ready. We have a solid plan, and as much as I drool over kit pics right now, I know I have to stick to it. I have responsibilities that lie with 10 rabbits and a pup right now. I want to get stacking crates ready even before I consider new rabbits. Take your time. Think it through. It will be so much more easier for you to really get into the Rabbit hobby. And yes it's very addicting. But with a plan, it can be so much fun! And a huge learning experience, which I enjoy. After you have your first litter, and the shock has worn off, you start really learning. You start noticing the phases of the little guys growing and marturing. You learn Mom's disposition and responsibilities. You just learn a dictionary full of info. And then you build from there. It takes time, but if you take the time and really plan, you can succeed. It can be a very rewarding hobby. I call it a hobby, because you don't retire on a hobby. You will understand this. KAZ |
![]() |
|
| sidd-says-gimme | May 23 2014, 06:34 AM Post #6 |
|
sidd says stay gold
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I think if you do decide to breed, you should get a good quality pair of purebred rabbits. This will increase the chance of them finding homes (because you can sell the nicer buns as breeding/show bunnies, and the pet quality ones as pets). Then, at least, you'll have more of a reason to breed than "just for fun". |
![]() |
|
| louierabbit | May 23 2014, 10:42 AM Post #7 |
![]()
Get the Duct Tape, Stat!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
We plan on building a nice shed for the rabbits that they can be free range in. Obviously with some sort of a divider in the middle so the boys can't get to the girls. I will probably go with two purebred rabbits. If I do that, I'll go with mini lops because I love the breed. Mini lops or lion heads, I love both breeds and then Sadie can just be kept as a pet. I am not going to spay or neuter which ever baby I keep because I'm interested in BIB (bunnies in baskets) which provides a visiting rabbit therapy class I can take with the rabbits. That's why I'm waiting for the babies to develop more personality. Right now, the white baby has the most potential for what I'm looking for. I think I've found some homes for the other two, but neither are 100% and the great thing is, is that they are both people that I know on a personal level. |
|
Visit my website at The Rabbit Louie Keep Hopping! | |
![]() |
|
| ZRabbits | May 24 2014, 03:38 AM Post #8 |
|
Love My Lions!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Great to hear Louie. Sounds like an excellent plan. Though I do love my Lion heads, mini lops are really a great breed as well. Lovely, mild tempered, outgoing rabbit. Can't wait to hear about the plans for the shed. Sounds like a really nice place for your buns. Please keep us updated! KAZ |
![]() |
|
| NeuBunny | May 24 2014, 06:21 AM Post #9 |
|
Genetics Geek!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
minilops are a really nice breed, a little larger and usually very laid back -- I think a good fit for what you want to be doing -- pets/therapy. Always best when your babies can go to people you know -- hope those homes work out! |
![]() |
|
| louierabbit | May 24 2014, 09:43 AM Post #10 |
![]()
Get the Duct Tape, Stat!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I had a mini lop a while back. He was my first pet rabbit and I made the mistake of getting him from a pet store. When I first got him, he was skinny, had a runny nose, and was very quiet - he didn't move at all for the first week. I fed him a good diet and he fattened up. His nose stopped running and he came out of his shell when he got some TLC. He stayed inside for that winter since he was so small. Louie was SO friendly. After the winter, we moved him outside. I didn't even need to put him in a run to eat grass - I just let him out of his cage and he would rather be by me than anything or anyone else. He'd chase my cats and growl at my 80 lbs dog. He wasn't afraid of anything, and that may have been what killed him. He was only 6 months old when he died. He got out of his cage in the middle of the night. He stayed in the yard and didn't go anywhere, but we have coyotes that hang out in the edge of our forest (they know we have rabbits, but are too afraid of one of my cats because he smacked one in the face once.) I'm guessing he got scared like the kit did from my cat. When we got him back into his cage the next morning, he was fine. But later that day he went to sleep and didn't wake up. It was very similiar to the way the kit died. I didn't know how he died until recently when I watched the kit do the same thing - act fine but die later. Sorry for the novel. |
|
Visit my website at The Rabbit Louie Keep Hopping! | |
![]() |
|
| volz83 | May 27 2014, 08:15 PM Post #11 |
|
Hey, look at you! You chatterbox you. Now you can request a new title! PM the Admin to do so
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Neubunny- I agree it's really hard to send off your kits to new homes, wondering how they will be taken care of and you worked so hard to help create them then raise them. Especially with Holland lops, about half the kits normally don't make it, not an easy breed to breed but I love the challenge. I breed Holland Lops for show, that's why I breed them and I love breeding to! I picked Hollands because I like that they don't look like a normal rabbit but have a look all to themselves, they are really gentle and good with kids (I have three kids that handle them daily), small breed so saves on space and I also wanted something that would sell fairly quickly as kits. That is one main reason why I'm breeding for color, the pet quality ones sell so quick which translates into $ for feed/supplies/new stock etc.
|
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · Rabbit Chatter · Next Topic » |






![]](http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c319/bunniluver/pip_rgt.png)



1:52 PM Jul 11