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Barnyard Buddies:  Wascally Wabbits!- Update!!!  |
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faithymom
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Faith
Sandpoint
ID
USA
360 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 28 2007 : 12:39:18 PM
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So, I bred my Holland Lops a month ago...she was due Monday...and NOTHING! If she doesn't kindle today, I'm taking the nest box out.
I know he accomplished his part of the deal...twice...
I love them 'cause they are cute and easy to take care of but, dang it, this doe has to be the most frigid rabbit ever!
I'm getting frustrated and ready to sell them.
Has anyone here who raises rabbits tried leaving the doe in the cage for a whole day? I'm scared to do this because I've heard that she can hurt the buck, but I've also come across that as an option when breeding.
Faith
"All television is educational television. The only question is, what is it teaching?"-Fmr. FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson |
Edited by - faithymom on Apr 01 2007 09:53:34 AM |
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Somerhill
Farmgirl in Training
22 Posts
Lisa
Caldwell
OH
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2007 : 1:14:09 PM
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I've left a doe in with my buck twice lately. They actually stayed together for 3 days. I think it depends on the doe. My Satin Angora does don't seem to mind, but the French Angora does get huffy and aggressive with the buck much quicker.
Oh, and it worked, one doe has 7 kits I just weaned, and the other doe just kindled this morning. Both were right on schedule, so he must have bred her after I stopped watching. hehe
Lisa at Somerhill
www.somerhillfarm.com |
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Love-in-a-Mist
True Blue Farmgirl
367 Posts
Shannon
Independence
Oregon
USA
367 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2007 : 3:17:25 PM
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We are beginners, but my husband talked me into leaving them together overnight, because she wasn't cooperating. Nothing happened, she growled at him alot though. About a week later we came out and she had dead kits all over. So I lectured my husband about writing down everytime he puts them together, even if "nothing happens!"
Lesson learned: If she doesn't let him near her and growls she could be pregnant!
We have no idea what happened the litter didn't match up with anything we could remember.
I wouldn't take the nesting box out just yet. Last time, we gave up on her being pregnant, I just hadn't gotten around to taking the box out and she had them a week and a half later. Again dead kits all over. We think she wasn't comfortable where she was or she just didn't know what to do. These were her only 2 pregnancies and she is a year and a half.
We bred her the 19th and have all ready moved her to a "birthing cage" where it is really quiet. Hopefully 3rd times charm! Good Luck!
Farmgirl and mother of 2
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Love-in-a-Mist
True Blue Farmgirl
367 Posts
Shannon
Independence
Oregon
USA
367 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2007 : 3:19:33 PM
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Oh Yeah, both times she didn't kindle at all until they were here. The last litter I was out there at 9:00pm and nothing was going on.
Farmgirl and mother of 2
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faithymom
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Faith
Sandpoint
ID
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2007 : 11:47:58 AM
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I did the 'test' with putting her back in with him 2 weeks after and she didn't fight, but she did grumble at him...
I took the box out this morning and then put her in with the buck...he did his thing 4 times, so she better be pregnant!!! Plus I plan on putting her in there again tomorrow.
She is 1 1/2 yo and her first litter (she had 5) she didn't take care of at all and the second one she had 7, but we lost all of them to various causes.
The male and female I have made great colors! I'm glad the buck, who's black, doesn't only have black color genes.
I had picked out my favorite and was really sad when it died...I'm hoping for another one like that this time. Here's a picture:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l80/faithymom/Pinkycrop.jpg
Shannon, I'd love to see pics when you get some. What kind of rabbits do you have?
"All television is educational television. The only question is, what is it teaching?"-Fmr. FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson |
Edited by - faithymom on Mar 01 2007 11:51:41 AM |
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Nancy Gartenman
True Blue Farmgirl
9093 Posts
Nancy
West Seneca
New York
USA
9093 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2007 : 12:23:17 PM
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The only thing I can add to this is I have a Bunny in my living room with a plant in it. But I do agree that floppy eared bunnies are cute cute.
NANCY JO
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
705 Posts
Robin
An organic farm in the forest in
Maine
USA
705 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2007 : 6:04:28 PM
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I've bred a few thousand kits. I might be able to help.
Is the doe getting enough light? The brightness isn't as important as the length of time she's exposed to light each day. Fourteen hours is optimal.
quote:
Originally posted by faithymom
So, I bred my Holland Lops a month ago...she was due Monday...and NOTHING! If she doesn't kindle today, I'm taking the nest box out.
Smaller breeds, especially when they're carrying small litters, often kindle right on time on day 28. The larger the breed the longer the pregnancy will probably be. That said, as long as she's not using the nesting box for a bathroom I'd leave it with her. It won't hurt. It's only Thursday.
quote:
I know he accomplished his part of the deal...twice...
I love them 'cause they are cute and easy to take care of but, dang it, this doe has to be the most frigid rabbit ever!
She's not frigid, she's accepting the buck. He might be the problem.
quote:
Has anyone here who raises rabbits tried leaving the doe in the cage for a whole day? I'm scared to do this because I've heard that she can hurt the buck, but I've also come across that as an option when breeding.
It depends on the rabbits. Some are fine. Others are hazardous. A doe can castrate a buck in seconds.
Successful contact once should be sufficient. Twice is ok but probably unnecessary. Three times is not better and the second day should be avoided. A rabbit's pregnancy is so short that one day's difference can be rough on the second set of kits conceived because they're born a day too soon.
quote:
Originally posted by faithymom
I did the 'test' with putting her back in with him 2 weeks after and she didn't fight, but she did grumble at him...
Watch her closely. If she was pregnant being bred will start labor. Without a nest box the litter is less likely to survive.
quote:
I did the 'test' with putting her back in with him 2 weeks after and she didn't fight, but she did grumble at him...
The doe might now be carrying two litters two weeks apart. Palpation is a more reliable way to confirm pregnancy.
I'd give back the nest box at least for another day or two just to be sure. Good luck! I love Hollands and am looking for a pedigreed pair.
Robin
www.outdoorwriter.wordpress.com
www.thymeforewe.com
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Love-in-a-Mist
True Blue Farmgirl
367 Posts
Shannon
Independence
Oregon
USA
367 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2007 : 8:51:12 PM
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Oh my goodness, I'm glad you stepped in Robin. I had no idea they could get pregnant "twice". We have a New Zealand pair and my doe is a huge Californian mix, that explains the longer pregnancies. The second time we must not have waited long enough again. Do you know usually how long the bigger rabbits gestation is? I was really surprised to see how big the kits were. They were the size of a kitten.
Faith, your babies are so cute! My rabbits aren't quite as cute, but I will post some pics.
Farmgirl and mother of 2
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faithymom
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Faith
Sandpoint
ID
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - Mar 02 2007 : 12:50:46 PM
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Thanks for the advice, Robin.
I have palpated her and I didn't feel anything, which is part of the reason I took the box out...I can't really tell the difference at 2 weeks, but I know I can feel the babies at the end, because I've felt them before at that time. I'm confident that she's not, I just wish I could be as sure at 2 weeks so I didn't have to wait so long and then be disappointed.
I guess I am just going to *hope* that this time she is pregnant and wait another month and see.
Nancy, those ones are sure easier to deal with... although I'm not that good at keeping plants alive, either...maybe I should re-think this farmgirl dream... lol I'm not feeling too successful with the stuff I have tried. But then again, I don't have my farm yet, so there's time to learn all this stuff, right?
Faith
"All television is educational television. The only question is, what is it teaching?"-Fmr. FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson |
Edited by - faithymom on Mar 02 2007 12:53:02 PM |
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Somerhill
Farmgirl in Training
22 Posts
Lisa
Caldwell
OH
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - Mar 02 2007 : 1:23:24 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Love-in-a-Mist
Oh my goodness, I'm glad you stepped in Robin. I had no idea they could get pregnant "twice". We have a New Zealand pair and my doe is a huge Californian mix, that explains the longer pregnancies. The second time we must not have waited long enough again. Do you know usually how long the bigger rabbits gestation is? I was really surprised to see how big the kits were. They were the size of a kitten.
Faith, your babies are so cute! My rabbits aren't quite as cute, but I will post some pics.
Farmgirl and mother of 2
I have French and Satin Angoras, which are in the same size range as your Cals and are considered commercial breeds. Gestation can range from 28 to 35 days, with 31 days being the norm. Most my does kindle on day 31. Sometimes a large litter will come a day early, and does carrying just 2-3 kits can go a day longer.
Lisa
www.somerhillfarm.com |
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
705 Posts
Robin
An organic farm in the forest in
Maine
USA
705 Posts |
Posted - Mar 02 2007 : 2:53:33 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Love-in-a-Mist
Oh my goodness, I'm glad you stepped in Robin. I had no idea they could get pregnant "twice". We have a New Zealand pair and my doe is a huge Californian mix, that explains the longer pregnancies. The second time we must not have waited long enough again. Do you know usually how long the bigger rabbits gestation is?
I agree with Lisa's answer!
quote:
Originally posted by faithymom
Nancy, those ones are sure easier to deal with... although I'm not that good at keeping plants alive, either...maybe I should re-think this farmgirl dream... lol I'm not feeling too successful with the stuff I have tried. But then again, I don't have my farm yet, so there's time to learn all this stuff, right?
Faith
Nah! You'll be fine! I've tried a lot of things and went back to what I started with - the garden. You'll get it figured out!
Robin
www.outdoorwriter.wordpress.com
www.thymeforewe.com
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Love-in-a-Mist
True Blue Farmgirl
367 Posts
Shannon
Independence
Oregon
USA
367 Posts |
Posted - Mar 03 2007 : 11:23:54 PM
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This is Daffodil
My stall cleaning helpers
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faithymom
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Faith
Sandpoint
ID
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - Mar 04 2007 : 4:53:11 PM
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So cute!
Thanks for sharing.
"All television is educational television. The only question is, what is it teaching?"-Fmr. FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson |
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beckels
True Blue Farmgirl
237 Posts
becky
warrington
pa
USA
237 Posts |
Posted - Mar 04 2007 : 7:20:08 PM
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Also try apple cidar vinegar in their water - just enough to change the color or their water - whatever it does it works for us in the pass (makes them more receptive to the male) - I wouldnt leave the female with the buck - with our rhinelanders and fuzzy the females tend to get mean if u leave them to long together. But to make sure the male got the female we do it until he falls off 3 times...sometime you have to position them because the female tuss may be to high in the air or the males are not the most intelligent and do the wrong end of the body
beckels |
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faithymom
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Faith
Sandpoint
ID
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2007 : 09:59:24 AM
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We have bunnies!
Candy kindled this morning and had 6 kits.
Based on what the last litter looked like on day 1, I'm pretty sure we have 4 blacks, 1 blue and 1 that may be very light grey or white.
She had the cutest kit last time, that I think would have been called a smoke pearl. I was very sad when it died!
I am excited to watch them grow and I just pray that we have more that survive this time around.
"All television is educational television. The only question is, what is it teaching?"-Fmr. FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson |
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faithymom
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Faith
Sandpoint
ID
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2007 : 09:38:00 AM
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Well, the bunnies should open their eyes today. We lost one that got pulled out while it was still nursing.
We have 2 blacks, 1 blue (dk grey), 1 that may be a chinchilla or an otter, and 1 smoke point.
I am still dreading the 4-6 week point, but I'm looking for ways now to reduce the mortality then.
I'll try to get some pictures and post them.
Faith
"All television is educational television. The only question is, what is it teaching?"-Fmr. FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson |
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Love-in-a-Mist
True Blue Farmgirl
367 Posts
Shannon
Independence
Oregon
USA
367 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2007 : 7:25:09 PM
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We got babies too! Finally. They were born March 22. 4 pure white and one white with a light gray nose and tail. I took the nesting box out a cou
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Love-in-a-Mist
True Blue Farmgirl
367 Posts
Shannon
Independence
Oregon
USA
367 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2007 : 7:30:06 PM
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Oops my daughter pushed a button.
couple of days ago. So far everyone is healthy and doing well. I will try to post pics too.
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Love-in-a-Mist
True Blue Farmgirl
367 Posts
Shannon
Independence
Oregon
USA
367 Posts |
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Barnyard Buddies: Wascally Wabbits!- Update!!! |
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Wascally Wabbits!- Update!!!
