Morgan M Baker
Chillin' with the herd
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2016
- Messages
- 11
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- 15
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- 31
Hello, I have a mini rex doe named Cami Anne. Her papers say she is a broken red but I believe she is more of a broken fawn. She has opal/lilac spots. Any opinions on that id be very interested in. Cami is my very first purebred doe, I have had her since the day she was ready to leave her mom. I got her from my animal science teacher who also owned a farm and always had animals in the schools shop, particularly a lot of purebred rabbits, which she allowed us to breed and do projects on. I have 8 rabbits, whom I love very dearly. Only two are purebred. Before I got Cami Anne, I already had 3 rabbits and was never really interested in breeding rabbits. But once I experienced it in the classroom, I was intrigued. So, I picked Cami Anne the day she was born. I automatically knew she was the one. I brought her home later on and soon after that, I bought a purebred male mini rex from a breeder about 2 hours away from me. His name is Casanova, he is broken red with some castor. When Cami Anne turned 1 year old, I bred her to Casanova, who was 3 at that time, and 32 days later Cami Anne gave birth to 2 stillborn kits. I was devastated, but from piecing together what I already knew, research, and some suggestions from a professional rabbit breeder, I bred her again 2 days later, after checking her genitals looked normal of course. This time, 32 days later, she gave birth to 4 healthy, beautiful kits! I was so excited and proud! Cami Anne was such a wonderful mother, and never seemed to mind when I handled her babies. She was just a genuinely good mother, considering this was her first live litter.
They all grew up to be happy, healthy, and ornery too! I kept one, the broken red male, and sold the rest, who were all females. The other 3 were all charlies. Fortunately, one female was returned to me, which I am actually glad she was, because this brings me to my current issue. I have bred Cami and Casanova 3 more times since her last litter was sold. She has failed to get pregnant every time. Im not sure what to do. Cami is almost 2, and Casanova is 4. Is he maybe sterile already? I've read that males almost never go sterile, unless the heat is a factor. The last 2 times I've bred them and waited 33-34 days, it has been chilly out, so it almost can't be the heat. And besides, Cami got pregnant with her litter of 4 in the dead of summer anyways, although I'm sure every time is different. She made a nest about 2 weeks ago (rather early) out of straw in the nest box but hasnt pulled fur. She was actually due December 1st and it is now the 3rd, so I'm not sure what to do as I'm pretty sure she's not pregnant. I wont remove the nest box because she has it year round, she loves to sleep in it. I don't think I want to breed her again until spring because all my rabbits live in the garage with only heat mats and straw to keep warm, and occasionally a heat lamp above the cages when it's below zero. I know a nest would keep them warm but i dont want to risk it. But if anyone has ANY advice or tips for me to get her to conceive, itd be greatly appreciated. I'm starting small, but slowly trying to start my own rabbitry. I already have such a long waiting list for babies, but have not been able to conceive. Thanks. -Baker'sBunnies
They all grew up to be happy, healthy, and ornery too! I kept one, the broken red male, and sold the rest, who were all females. The other 3 were all charlies. Fortunately, one female was returned to me, which I am actually glad she was, because this brings me to my current issue. I have bred Cami and Casanova 3 more times since her last litter was sold. She has failed to get pregnant every time. Im not sure what to do. Cami is almost 2, and Casanova is 4. Is he maybe sterile already? I've read that males almost never go sterile, unless the heat is a factor. The last 2 times I've bred them and waited 33-34 days, it has been chilly out, so it almost can't be the heat. And besides, Cami got pregnant with her litter of 4 in the dead of summer anyways, although I'm sure every time is different. She made a nest about 2 weeks ago (rather early) out of straw in the nest box but hasnt pulled fur. She was actually due December 1st and it is now the 3rd, so I'm not sure what to do as I'm pretty sure she's not pregnant. I wont remove the nest box because she has it year round, she loves to sleep in it. I don't think I want to breed her again until spring because all my rabbits live in the garage with only heat mats and straw to keep warm, and occasionally a heat lamp above the cages when it's below zero. I know a nest would keep them warm but i dont want to risk it. But if anyone has ANY advice or tips for me to get her to conceive, itd be greatly appreciated. I'm starting small, but slowly trying to start my own rabbitry. I already have such a long waiting list for babies, but have not been able to conceive. Thanks. -Baker'sBunnies
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