Breed and sex?

mamabun

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Definitely keep the buck away from the doe if you want live kits. Not a good situation if they are allowed together through her pregnancy. She could absorb the kits, she might get pregnant weeks apart, then you'll have preterm kits, he might kill the kits, she may not take care of them if stressed. With losing her first litter would definitely be extra careful for litter 2.

I hope she didn't get so stressed through all this process and end up killing them. I hope it all goes well for her. He won't be able to get near her kits as we are going to add chciken wire so no one will jump over the wall. When she has her kits the nesting box is in her cage. I will keep the cage open then so she can leave her kits as instinct she will do to warn off predators and then feed them at night. I will keep her near her kits for how long before they can survive on their own?
 

mamabun

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If they have been together several times over the last week, you don't need to put them together for at least 4 weeks . . . . Matilda is probably already pregnant by now.

If the doe is willing, "the act" takes literally a few seconds.
Will I know when she's pregnant? Other than a change in eating and pulling fur out to put in her nest?
 

Kaye

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I hope she didn't get so stressed through all this process and end up killing them. I hope it all goes well for her. He won't be able to get near her kits as we are going to add chciken wire so no one will jump over the wall. When she has her kits the nesting box is in her cage. I will keep the cage open then so she can leave her kits as instinct she will do to warn off predators and then feed them at night. I will keep her near her kits for how long before they can survive on their own?
Mood swings happen from time to time with some does. Other than feeling for kits and swelling in the abdomen/milk glands, I believe taking her to vet would be the only way?? I'm not sure.
@Bunnylady , what 'clues' can we use??
My last litter was wiened at 3 weeks old.

Will I know when she's pregnant? Other than a change in eating and pulling fur out to put in her nest?
Pulling fur usually only happens with labor. And I don't think I can help that much with this one, I just go with each one's attitude and personality to tell when mine are pregnant. Pregnant vs not pregnant makes for totally different attitudes. It gets easier when you get to know each doe personally. I have two new possibly pregnant does. I can feel milk from one, she's due by the end of this (coming up) week. The other I have no clue. She's gotten pushy, but I've had her for only a few weeks and she's younger than I breed mine at (I usually wait until 6 months. She was bred at 5), so I'm at a loss to wether or not she's pregnant.
 

promiseacres

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Hard to say if you will know or not, some does are very consistent in signs, some are not. Some breeders can palapate (feel the kits)at 12-14 days. I have yet to consistently do well at that myself. :hu that's after being a 10 yr 4h rabbit member and more recently a breeder for 3 years.
Weaning should happen at 6 to 8 weeks. Earlier and bunnies can have poor immune systems. I usually start at 6, 7 weeks and everyone is out full time by 8.
 

mamabun

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Mood swings happen from time to time with some does. Other than feeling for kits and swelling in the abdomen/milk glands, I believe taking her to vet would be the only way?? I'm not sure.
@Bunnylady , what 'clues' can we use??
My last litter was wiened at 3 weeks old.


Pulling fur usually only happens with labor. And I don't think I can help that much with this one, I just go with each one's attitude and personality to tell when mine are pregnant. Pregnant vs not pregnant makes for totally different attitudes. It gets easier when you get to know each doe personally. I have two new possibly pregnant does. I can feel milk from one, she's due by the end of this (coming up) week. The other I have no clue. She's gotten pushy, but I've had her for only a few weeks and she's younger than I breed mine at (I usually wait until 6 months. She was bred at 5), so I'm at a loss to wether or not she's pregnant.

Thanks ladies.
 

mamabun

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Hard to say if you will know or not, some does are very consistent in signs, some are not. Some breeders can palapate (feel the kits)at 12-14 days. I have yet to consistently do well at that myself. :hu that's after being a 10 yr 4h rabbit member and more recently a breeder for 3 years.
Weaning should happen at 6 to 8 weeks. Earlier and bunnies can have poor immune systems. I usually start at 6, 7 weeks and everyone is out full time by 8.

I will mark that down as a reminder, thank you promiseacres.
 

Kaye

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Hard to say if you will know or not, some does are very consistent in signs, some are not. Some breeders can palapate (feel the kits)at 12-14 days. I have yet to consistently do well at that myself. :hu that's after being a 10 yr 4h rabbit member and more recently a breeder for 3 years.
Weaning should happen at 6 to 8 weeks. Earlier and bunnies can have poor immune systems. I usually start at 6, 7 weeks and everyone is out full time by 8.
I can't either. My husband is good at it.
My last litter was wiened at 3 weeks old.
This was completely mom. I had nothing to do with their weaning. I usually have litters that go for about 6-7 weeks. I always let mom do her thing. So, @mamabun, don't use my example as a guide. I just told you because it did happen. Good luck with your buns!!
 

mamabun

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I can't either. My husband is good at it.

This was completely mom. I had nothing to do with their weaning. I usually have litters that go for about 6-7 weeks. I always let mom do her thing. So, @mamabun, don't use my example as a guide. I just told you because it did happen. Good luck with your buns!!

Rabbit info says 8 weeks to wean from mother, so hopefully I'll be safe to leave them with her until they reach that age. unless other BYH members think it should be less?
 

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