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Does which don't kit.
Topic Started: Aug 26 2013, 10:46 AM (593 Views)
redbunny
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I've several very typy Netherland dwarf which I'd say are my best looking does. However, I've tried everything but they just won't litter. They mate up ok but nothing comes along. I'm wondering how common it is for a doe never to litter and how long would you keep her for before you give up.
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sidd-says-gimme
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How old are they? How many times have you tried bred them? How often are you trying? What are your breeding practices and have you tried anything to help fertility/conception?
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athomepets
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have you considered if the buck is sterile? I give my does two solid tries, and if everyone else is doing their job, I remove them from my herd. BUT if I am consistently having trouble, then I need to consider what else might be a fault.
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ZRabbits
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athomepets has brought up a really good point. It could be the buck in this situation and not your does. Have you tried another buck with the does that will not take?
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redbunny
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Thanks for your comments. The doe is a ND and now Just under two years old. I bred her myself. Her sister has had two litters and her brother fathered litters. She is very laid back. I have tied her with three different bucks on many occasions through the year. I have looked at her diet and kept her in great shape.
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ZRabbits
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redbunny
Aug 27 2013, 06:45 AM
Thanks for your comments. The doe is a ND and now Just under two years old. I bred her myself. Her sister has had two litters and her brother fathered litters. She is very laid back. I have tied her with three different bucks on many occasions through the year. I have looked at her diet and kept her in great shape.
Sounds like it's the doe. You have done everything I would have done and that was suggested above. Different bucks, good diet and great shape, and still no babies.

Maybe it's her age? I've read so much about the age of the doe and that you should breed BEFORE 1 year old. There is an article in the "Mane Musing" about breeding older does. I'll have to pull it out this evening. Maybe something in that article could help your doe.



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redbunny
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Thanks Zrabbits. I've heard about older does too but can never decide what is old wives' tales.
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sidd-says-gimme
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From what I have heard, the hips don't fuse like the sayin' goes... but fat seems to accumulate around the sexual organs which can make it hard to conceive/give birth. Might be time to call it quits with this doe. :( She may just be sterile.
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redbunny
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Thanks Sidd-Says I think in my heart I've made that decision.

I heard about the fusing of the pelvic after 6 months so that kits can't pass through but never really went with it since I don't always use a doe until nearly a year or so once I know her true type or maybe she's replacing one f the others.
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ZRabbits
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When I first got into rabbits, I had read about the "fusing" pelvis of does, but I think people are getting rabbits confused with guinea pigs. I have read it's their pelvis that fuse once they get older and it gets harder to kindle. But I could be wrong on that because I don't raise guinea pigs. Just read about it.

Sidds, spot on with the "fat deposits" around the ovaries as does get older. That's why the "breed before 1 year old" comes in. There are people who have been successful in breeding older does, but sometimes you will get a doe that no matter how much you watch her weight, fat deposits still form. I think that is why does get cancer of the ovaries. It's the "if you don't use it, you loose it", kind of deal. Does are made to reproduce because of them being "low man on food chain". Massively and continuously they breed and kindle. It's just nature. Domestic rabbits are the same. But we as breeders are the ones that say when or when not to breed.

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redbunny
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Thanks Zrabbits......ok what do we understand as a doe which is too old? I'm kinda thinking up to three years or so.....is that wishful thinking?
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ZRabbits
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redbunny
Aug 29 2013, 04:16 AM
Thanks Zrabbits......ok what do we understand as a doe which is too old? I'm kinda thinking up to three years or so.....is that wishful thinking?
If a doe hasn't been bred by three years old, I would think that doe would be too old to even try. But that's me. Many breeders look at age differently. The span of the doe's breeding that I've read is from 6 months to 2 years. Even some breed younger. That's a doe's prime. That's what I read. I imagine just like anything else that will vary from breed to breed.

It's your rabbitry. It's your decision on who to breed, when to breed, when not breed. Look at Fawkes Mom and Dad for example. Mom is 9 years old and Dad is 10 years old and still going strong. Now both have been bred consistently. He starts his does at 11 months old. Now his line is old, very established. So I guess it has to do with the line also.
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sidd-says-gimme
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ZRabbits
Aug 29 2013, 05:26 AM
Look at Fawkes Mom and Dad for example. Mom is 9 years old and Dad is 10 years old and still going strong.
Huh? Seriously? :thud: Holy moly.
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ZRabbits
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sidd-says-gimme
Aug 29 2013, 07:52 AM
ZRabbits
Aug 29 2013, 05:26 AM
Look at Fawkes Mom and Dad for example. Mom is 9 years old and Dad is 10 years old and still going strong.
Huh? Seriously? :thud: Holy moly.
lol, I was dumbfounded myself when the breeder told me their ages. But have to say, must be REALLY GOOD LINE, because Fawkes is healthy and growing into such a LOVELY Flemish. Not for the show table, but definitely 100% Excellent Companion!
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redbunny
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WOW! Amazing ages.....all down to correct husbandry. Well done.
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