This is something I wrote on a forum where someone had bred her babies and the mum had eaten the kits. Some bits, therefore, don't apply to you, but I have italiced those bits. As you can probably tell, I'm a rabbit nut and passionate about rabbit welfare. I'm not against breeding, its just important to me its done properly.
If you need anything, feel free to ask.
ETA- the rabbits need to be kept separately prior to the planned breeding. If a girl gets pregnant she can fight the male and try to drive him out of her territory. In addition to that, she is most receptive to getting pregnant up to 72 hours after giving birth which would mean she would get pregnant far too soon and that would be unhealthy for her and any kittens she may have. Ideally the rabbits need to be kept in accommodation that meets the RWA standards to ensure all their needs are met.
I have done irresponsible breeding thinking I knew what was best, and I didn't. I was woefully ignorant and my bunnies suffered (more due to having a rubbish vet than what I did though).
The only way to breed, is to do so responsibly.
This means
~Knowing at least four generations on each side of your rabbits family tree (great great grandparents). Its important to know that there are not genetic issues that could be passed onto kits. Responsible breeders do not breed any rabbits with a history of any sort of potentially genetic health problem. This means, to have that pedigree, you will have needed to have bought your original rabbits from a breeder to ensure you know the history. Pet shop bunnies are not ok for breeding because you can't know their history. Also, bunnies from friends often can't be bred for the same reason- you don't know ther history.
~Ensure that you have a vet on call 24/7 who could do an emergency spay or help with delivering kits, if necessary. This gives you a better chance of not losing your doe (which is a very real risk- and one I unfortunately suffered- twice).
~Ensure that your male is SMALLER than your female. If the male is bigger, then kindling will be incredibly painful and potentially impossible.
~Ensure you know your bunny breeds. You need to make sure your bunnies are pure bred. Cross breeding can often result in genetic deformities that could not have been predicted (for example, often crossing a lionhead with some nethies can result in mega dental problems because their skull shapes can conflict against each other).
~Ensure you have a doe available who can foster your kits if your doe dies. Kits are virtually impossible to hand rear, and losing your doe is a very real risk, so its important to make provisions.
~Ensure your doe is of breeding age. The doe needs to be young enough to breed (this age varies with breed) to ensure she doesn't get into kindling complications. She also needs to be mature enough to breed.
~Ensure that you have learnt and educated yourself about anything related to breeding, like the crucial times when you may lose them, complications, risks, etc.
~Ensure you can keep any rabbits that do not get sold. It would be irresponsible to pass them on to anyone else to rehome. They are your responsibility, so YOU should rehome them.
~Ensure that if any rabbits get rehomed, but in due course can not be kept, they are returned to you and not go anywhere else.
~Ensure you home check any potential owners, so that you know their accommodation meets the RWA standards and that your bunnies are going to good homes.
~Ensure you know more than any potential buyer, so that you can educate them and so that you don't make mistakes on things such as gender.
~Ensure you can afford to spay/neuter before rehoming, so that you know they have been done (yes, the responsible breeders I know do do this).
~Ensure you can afford to vaccinate them before they get rehomed too.
I think its very important to find a responsible mentor to help you with this.
Losing your doe is a very real risk, so you may fnd that you don't increase their family, you actually decrease it, and you will know, if that happens, that that was your fault, and your fault only. Effectively, you will have killed your rabbit. I live with that knowledge everyday- even though I took her to the vets, and the vets stuffed up, it was still my choice and my decision that led to her death.
I now do a lot with rescues. My knowledge has increased tenfold (especially with regards to breeding, because I wanted to know what I had done wrong). The rabbits I take on now are those REALLY in need (so those who will be PTS if I don't take them- they normally have special needs, illnesses or behavioural problems). You know what? Its wonderful! To be able to change the lives of bunnies who desperately need it is one of the most rewarding things that people can do (that applies to other animals and people too).
Part of being a responsible and caring owner is to ask 'what is best for my bunny?'. That means taking out of the equation what you want, or what is best for you. It means looking just at what is best for your bunny. Do you genuinely think its best for her to go through this trauma?
If the answer is 'no' then maybe have a think about what is best. That would probably be getting her spayed and getting your boy neutered and bonding them together so they can live happily together, forever.
If the answer is 'yes', why is it best for her?
I don't think there is anyway for you to responsibly breed your bunny because of what you have already described, which would make you an irresponsible breeder. That's one for your conscience. Do you want to be an irresponsible breeder, or do you want to be a responsible owner?
