Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]


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:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
breeding myths?
Topic Started: Nov 19 2012, 06:43 PM (1,238 Views)
Bumper
Member Avatar
POWITH
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
We all know there are plenty of those old :bonk: wive's tales when it comes to raising rabbits. Maybe we could even start a collection of them in this thread... But in the meantime, does anyone know if these need to be debunked?

-is there such thing as "breech" birth for rabbits? Seems like I've heard somewhere that either way works with bunnies.

-Is it really actually true that breeding multiple times can increase litter size? Or do we just not know.

Thanks!
--Ellyn
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Shaded Night Rabbitry
Member Avatar
POWITH!!
[ *  *  * ]
I don't know if breech is always bad, but about 75% of the time that I need to pull a stuck kit, it's breech.
Megan Smith - Olympia, WA
[shaded night rabbitry website]

Posted Image
Youth Breeder of ND in Sable Point and Otter, with compatible varieties.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
athomepets
Member Avatar
This bunny isn't leaving anytime soon
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
the breeding multiple times needs to be further expanded.

Do you mean... multiple fall offs per ONE event.
Do you mean... multiples events within a 24 hour period?

For me personally I've learned that one event is sufficient UNLESS I have a doe who is notorious for having small litters and doesn't like to breed. Breed her several times over the course of one day and I'll get a decent litter. if not.. I'll get a solitary kit.

As to the multiple times per event... depends on the doe. Most does do fine with just two fall offs, two of them do fine with just one fall off (as in big litters). I play it according to the doe and what she's proven to me in the past to be best with.

AT Home Pets

My rabbitry blog

Rabbit Talk Blog
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
fuzzypatch
Member Avatar
Baby Gandalf ❤ R.I.P.
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
I think I had a bun that was breeched once. There was a peanut, a DOA, and a live baby in there. The peanut was born last, and was alive. We discussed it in a thread a while ago, and it's the only explanation we could come up with.

A a myth I heard of:
-Breeding at the 2 week mark can cause a rabbit to get pregnant again, sometimes causing the wrong litter to be born.
Posted Image

-::- Kristina -::- Jersey Woolies in Florida -::- Website -::- Facebook -::- Blog -::- The Hoppin' Circle -::-
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Shaded Night Rabbitry
Member Avatar
POWITH!!
[ *  *  * ]
I believe that there is a very slim chance of that happening. I'm 90% certain that I had a litter born that had fully developed DOA's and what I now know to look like aborted kits. The doe was sent to me "unbred" but was obviously very bred. XD

But, in theory, they can only be pregnant in one horn in order to do that.
Megan Smith - Olympia, WA
[shaded night rabbitry website]

Posted Image
Youth Breeder of ND in Sable Point and Otter, with compatible varieties.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bumper
Member Avatar
POWITH
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
athomepets
Nov 20 2012, 06:40 AM
the breeding multiple times needs to be further expanded.

Do you mean... multiple fall offs per ONE event.
Do you mean... multiples events within a 24 hour period?


I guess I meant multiple times in a 24 hour period.

I've heard of people taking a solid doe to a solid buck and then to a charlie buck within 24 hours. The broken babies are out of the charlie and the solid babies are out of the solid buck. If this really works, then this must be increasing the litter size, right? Because if you just left the doe bred to one buck, she'd only have those babies....?
--Ellyn
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sidd-says-gimme
Member Avatar
sidd says stay gold
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Bumper
Nov 20 2012, 11:38 PM
I've heard of people taking a solid doe to a solid buck and then to a charlie buck within 24 hours. The broken babies are out of the charlie and the solid babies are out of the solid buck. If this really works, then this must be increasing the litter size, right? Because if you just left the doe bred to one buck, she'd only have those babies....?
This is a very interesting theory.. I have heard of it several times but I wonder if it has worked for anyone? If I ever am able to get a charlie buck I'm going to try it out.

What do people think about the "fused hips in does if not bred before 1 year old" thing? With mine they haven't had a problem.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
SomeBunny2Love
Member Avatar
Hopelessly Addicted to the Fuzz
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
I had 2 does that were older than a year before having their first litters. (Sort of how I got into raising rabbits...I had 3 "female" rabbits who had lived together since we got them, and a little over a year later....SURPRISE!!!! We had babies!) Anyway, neither of those does had any problems giving birth, and both have had litters since then without problems.
Amanda, raising Lionheads and Mini Lops since 2012
Brough Burrows Rabbitry
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
fuzzypatch
Member Avatar
Baby Gandalf ❤ R.I.P.
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Bumper
Nov 20 2012, 11:38 PM
I've heard of people taking a solid doe to a solid buck and then to a charlie buck within 24 hours. The broken babies are out of the charlie and the solid babies are out of the solid buck. If this really works, then this must be increasing the litter size, right? Because if you just left the doe bred to one buck, she'd only have those babies....?
Wow, I've never heard of that. That is interesting! So rabbits are like cats, the babies can have different fathers?
Posted Image

-::- Kristina -::- Jersey Woolies in Florida -::- Website -::- Facebook -::- Blog -::- The Hoppin' Circle -::-
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bumper
Member Avatar
POWITH
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
I think fused hips is only an issue in cavies, not rabbits. And I think a lot of breeders say it's a myth in cavies anyway. The biggest problem with getting older does bred is obesity.

I knew a girl that would do the thing with charlie bucks regularly. I had a charlie buck that I used a lot, but I never tried double-breeding does with him because it just made me feel creepy...

Edited by Bumper, Nov 21 2012, 02:34 PM.
--Ellyn
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
whoalookitsme
Member Avatar
Hopelessly Addicted to the Fuzz
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
For breeding multiple times it really does depend on the doe. We have had young rabbits that have been bred once have five babies. Then a young doe who had been bred six times have seven babies. There is a LOT of variance in that myth and I dont think it can be set as just one statement.

Rabbits can be pregnant in BOTH of their uterus. It is however VERY rare but can happen and I have heard that it can cause an aborted litter.

The fusing hips thing is definitely a myth. I also believe it has to do with a buildup of internal fat around the reproductive system.
Raising Show Quality Tans, Polish, and Himalayans in Houston, Texas
Owen's bunnies
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sidd-says-gimme
Member Avatar
sidd says stay gold
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
I had a buck who was a super lazy breeder, but if he was able to get the doe even once, they would still have a normal-sized litter. My current buck needs to get the doe quite a few times, and even then the litters have been smaller than usual.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Maple Front Rabbitry
Member Avatar
Keep it Fresh
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
How can you be sure it's an older litter and an aborted litter and not just underdeveleoped kits?

Multiple breedings will increse the chance of more kits. There won't necessarily be more kits in the litter, it's just possible for more eggs to be fertilized. I've had does bred multiple times within one hour and then not end up having kits. But I haven't had success getting a doe pregnant from just one singular breeding. The # of kits is dependant on many factors, not just how many times the doe was bred.
Tessa
Maple Front Rabbitry
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
whoalookitsme
Member Avatar
Hopelessly Addicted to the Fuzz
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
i think it varies with each situation but aborted litters especially if they are young just look like crazy little jelly aliens. Or at least in pictures they do. I have never had a doe abort a litter but thats just what I have heard. It kind of makes sense to me because of the contractions in the uterus I wouldnt doubt if they were also able to push the other litter out early
Raising Show Quality Tans, Polish, and Himalayans in Houston, Texas
Owen's bunnies
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sarah_
Member Avatar
New to the Addiction
[ * ]
Rabbits have 2 horns in their uterus and are induced ovulators, so it makes some sense that they can get pregnant in both horns at two different times. I've heard that this causes aborted litters, a litter of fully developed kits and underdeveloped kits, and I've even heard that if the timing is right the rabbit can give birth to two fully-developed litters with out a re-breeding at 3 weeks apart.

Also, has anyone ever heard the "if you have two rabbits that won't breed, take them for a ride in your car and when you get back they'll be willing to breed"? I've heard people SWEAR by this, but I've never actually tried it myself.
::: Twin Maple Rabbits -- Located in Ohio -- Mini Rex: Tri's, Black, Chocolate, Blue and Lilac :::
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Breeding Basics · Next Topic »
Add Reply