A Clean Nestbox to Prevent Infection [Editor’s Note: When baby rabbits are in the nest box, they can suffer from infections in their eyes and genitals. For this reason it’s very important to keep a clean, dry box for them to sleep in. If the bedding in the nest becomes wet or soiled, you should … Read more
Moving Kits from One Doe’s Litter to Another’s Nest When I have small litters, I often combine them so that a fewer number of does are occupied with nursing. The does that are freed up can then get back into show condition (a relatively small percentage of does can do that) or, more likely, can … Read more
Caring For Baby Bunny Kits During Their First Week Of Life After waiting a whole 31 days, your doe pulls fur and kindles. You have babies! It is so exciting and you can’t wait to see how many there are, but you dare not touch the babies because the mom will reject her kits. Wrong! … Read more
Does Pulling Her Fur Mean She’s Ready To Kindle? Hormones in the doe’s body near kindling make it easier for her to pluck her own fur, which she uses to line the nest she has made for her babies. Thus, it doesn’t hurt her much if at all. Some does wait until moments before the … Read more
Placing A Nest Box With Your Rabbit On day 28 after breeding, place a nest box in the doe’s cage. You may want to make it a practice to do this whether the doe palpated positive or not. I once heard a long-time breeder say that he palpated a doe and thought she had missed. … Read more
Palpating Does To Determine Pregnancy Palpate your does 11-14 days after breeding. Even if you don’t think that you feel anything, get into the habit of palpating so that you can eventually learn how. I’ve seen videos that teach you to reach your hand between the front paws. Place your thumb on one side of … Read more
Look over your buck and doe for health before breeding Check your buck to make sure his penis looks normal, he is feeling well today, and his nails are clipped. If so, he’s ready to go. A buck can be bred anytime after his testicles descend, so, if you are breeding a young buck, you … Read more
Calculating And Recording the Date Your Doe Will Give Birth The gestation period of rabbits is 31 days. Bunny Mommas usually give birth right on target at 31 days after breeding, but can often go a few days early or late without problems. Now that you know which bucks and does to breed together, it … Read more
Advantages and Disadvantages to Different Breeding Strategies In addition to selecting pairs to mate based on complementary faults and strengths, try to select rabbits with common ancestors. Here’s why. Holland lops are a relatively new breed, having been around for only decades compared to centuries for some breeds. There are several breeds of rabbit that … Read more