20kidsonhill
True BYH Addict
Rabbits are extremely sensitive to being over weight. They wont breed nearly as well or have very big litters if they have to much finish on them.
Rabbits not getting pregnant!
- Thread starter montverdechick
- Start date
iajewel
Exploring the pasture
This is a common issue in the winter. Even with lights, its hard. Most people don't have litters in the winter for this reason. Wait a few months and I bet come April you will have little bunnies everywhere.
3 River's Rabbitry
Just born
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This might sound strange, but when I am ready to breed my flemish does, I will add cider vinegar to their water the week before, this seems to help mine.
Ms. Research
Herd Nerd On A Mission
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Why? Just curious. If it helps why not. But I'm just wonder what the cider vinegar does to the does to make them accept mating, if they don't want to at the time you decide?3 River's Rabbitry said:
Thanks.
M.R. Lops
Ridin' The Range
People say to add artificial light will help, which I've heard of but never tried myself. Also, bucks can get summer sterile, but haven't experienced that yet here either in my rabbitry and my bucks are kept outside and this Missouri weather has been in the 100's.
After a week of 100 degree weather in July, once it cooled down, I bred my Holland doe. I was really worried that she wouldn't take because of the heat or that my buck was summer sterile or something. A couple days after I bred her the weather went back up in the 100's. My does are kept in an air conditioned barn though. And guess what, 31 days later, I now have babies! She only had 4 though, which is normal for a Holland, but she usually has larger litters of around 7-8. I think in the heat they have smaller litters. So, one thing that could be wrong, is if your buck is outside and the weather is really hot, he can get summer sterile. (its also more common in older bucks). Also, depending on the age of the does, they could be over weight or something. One thing I do when breeding, is I take the doe to the buck, leave her there for a 5-15mins. take her out and then breed her again 6 hrs. later. This seems to be working for me. Following this method my does have taken every single time.
After a week of 100 degree weather in July, once it cooled down, I bred my Holland doe. I was really worried that she wouldn't take because of the heat or that my buck was summer sterile or something. A couple days after I bred her the weather went back up in the 100's. My does are kept in an air conditioned barn though. And guess what, 31 days later, I now have babies! She only had 4 though, which is normal for a Holland, but she usually has larger litters of around 7-8. I think in the heat they have smaller litters. So, one thing that could be wrong, is if your buck is outside and the weather is really hot, he can get summer sterile. (its also more common in older bucks). Also, depending on the age of the does, they could be over weight or something. One thing I do when breeding, is I take the doe to the buck, leave her there for a 5-15mins. take her out and then breed her again 6 hrs. later. This seems to be working for me. Following this method my does have taken every single time.
