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Breeding Advice

Melb4054

New Kit
Hi everyone,

This is my first post so sorry if it's in the wrong category.

I have recently rehomed some rabbits due to the lady/breeder having a disabled son to care for and no longer having the time to care for them, breed them, show them etc

I am really interested in breeding and showing rabbits (I already do this with my dogs!) and wondered if anyone could help me to get started.

Through google, I have found the following (please correct me if wrong):
- put the doe into the bucks hutch for 5-10 minutes. Stay with them if possible. Remove doe if she seems aggressive or trying to escape the buck
- best way to tell if she is pregnant is palpation. This is easiest at 2 weeks or more after become pregnant.

I was just wondering if there was anything else I need to know. All rabbits are friendly, healthy etc so none are aggressive or 'not to be bred'

Once the kits are born, can they live together until either sold/put into own hutch for showing? Or do I need to transfer them to separate hutches once weened?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)
 
I don't actually have any advice, I just wanted to perhaps warn you that a lot of people here are kind of against breeding and selling rabbits because there are so many rabbits in rescues who need homes already. Breeding would just create more and take away homes for potential rescue bunnies.

I don't know anything about showing either! :roll:
 
Hi thanks for your replies,

I should also point out that I regularly rehome rabbits myself so am aware of what unfortunately does happen to many rabbits. I have 6 rabbits in total. 3 of which are family pets, but 2 of the 3 that I have just adopted are a rung breeding pair and one is the most beautiful lion head.

The reason I would like to breed rabbits is to produce something worthy of showing. Not to keep producing litters in order to just make money. I would rather keep the whole litter than sell them to bad homes.

But if I was to let my doe have a litter, I would like to do it properly which is why I hoped people could shed some light.
 
Hi thanks for your replies,

I should also point out that I regularly rehome rabbits myself so am aware of what unfortunately does happen to many rabbits. I have 6 rabbits in total. 3 of which are family pets, but 2 of the 3 that I have just adopted are a rung breeding pair and one is the most beautiful lion head.

The reason I would like to breed rabbits is to produce something worthy of showing. Not to keep producing litters in order to just make money. I would rather keep the whole litter than sell them to bad homes.

But if I was to let my doe have a litter, I would like to do it properly which is why I hoped people could shed some light.

People here would argue that if you know what happens to many rabbits then it would be irresponsible to breed more.

I know that some breeders do find genuinely good homes for their babies, but we are more about rescuing rabbits than breeding them.
 
There should not be a 'backlash'.

You came here to ask for advice and just because most people do not agree with Breeding it does not mean we cant be civil :)

If after careful consideration about the consequences of breeding your Rabbits, both for you personally and for the wider situation regarding the amount of unwanted Rabbits already here, you decide to proceed then do have a look at the links in my previous post. Make sure you fully research everything before you start, especially the genetic history of the Rabbits you intend to breed from. A responsible breeder would keep papers for all their Stud and he/she should be able to provide you with details of your Rabbit's parents/grand-parents.

Remember, by breeding you are bringing lives into the world for who's welfare you will be responsible for all of their lives. That includes any you rehome.
 
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