Rabbit Hutches & Breeding
Breeding rabbits is a great way to develop your own stock. Once you decide to breed, you should decide when to begin your breeding program, make sure your rabbits are in good health, decide which rabbits to breed and prepare the nesting boxes and hutches.
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When to Breed
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Rabbits used as breeders must be mature and healthy. The larger the breed, the more time it takes for the rabbits to reach maturity. Small breeds should be at least 4 ½ months old before their first breeding. Medium- to large-sized breeds--those that mature to 6 to 11 lbs.--are generally ready to breed at 6 months of age. Giant breeds are not ready for breeding until they are 9 to 12 months of age.
Selecting the Breeding Pair
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Producing young is strenuous for the rabbit, so take the time to check each animal's health before you consider breeding it. Breeders should be in good physical condition, not too fat and not too thin, and free from diseases, especially coccidiosis--a common disease that causes diarrhea. Choose the buck and doe that have the greatest potential for producing good-quality babies. If one of your rabbits has a characteristic that you would like to improve on, try to select a mate that is especially strong in that area.
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Mating
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Bucks are usually willing to breed; does sometimes resist. Always take the doe to the buck's cage. Rabbits, especially does, are territorial. Placing the buck in the doe's cage may trigger territorial instincts, causing her to defend her territory from the buck rather than mating with him. Return the doe to her own cage after mating has taken place. Record when the doe will kindle--give birth--on a card kept on the hutch. You can expect a litter to be born in 28 to 35 days; the average length of gestation is 31 days.
Hutches
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You will need separate hutches for the doe and buck. Do not leave the doe in the same hutch after they have mated. You will also need a separate cage for the young rabbits when it is time to wean them. All hutches need to be equipped with feeders, water bottles and bedding.
The Nest Box
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Your doe will need a nest box in which to have her litter. Nest boxes come in many sizes and types. The larger the breed, the larger the box required. Nest boxes constructed of wood, wire or metal are acceptable. Place them inside the hutch on the 27th or 28th day after mating to ensure that the doe will use them. Drill a few holes in the bottom of the nest box to prevent the box from becoming damp. Damp nest boxes can contribute to diseases in young rabbits.
Nesting Box and Hutch Materials
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A doe needs clean, dry, soft materials in the nesting box and hutch so she can make a nest. Hay and straw are the most common nesting materials. Place about 2 inches of wood shavings in the bottom of the nest box and add lots of clean hay on top. Use less bedding in the summer. In winter, place layers of cardboard--for insulation--in the bottom of the box.
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References
- Photo Credit rabbit image by Mirek Hejnicki from Fotolia.com
