Essential Tips For Breeding Rabbits

---

     Did you know that spring is the best time to breed rabbits? If you are planning to venture this then you must make sure that you are equipped with knowledge to be able to give the best care for them.

One of the first things that you should know is that the doe (female rabbit) must be at least 6 months old before breeding. They usually reach sexual maturity during 4 to 5 months while males mature sexually when they are 5 to 8 months old.

Mating

The actual mating process takes about 15-20 seconds but it would be great to record the exact date or even time if possible. You should avoid putting an unknown buck (male) into the rabbit hutches of the female, as this will cause chaos. If you are trying to build a relationship between male and female bunnies, then it is advisable to put each rabbit hutch close to one another and slowly introduce the pair.

With this, the buck will slowly make its way to win the heart of the doe. You will see behaviors like licking and sniffing to impress the doe. The male rabbit could also go round grumbling and trying to lift the tail of the female mate.

When the doe is ready for mating, you will notice how she presses herself flat to the ground with her hindquarters raised. This will start the mating process.

Pregnancy

When the mating is successful, it will take around 10 hours before the fertilized egg will reach the uterus. It will also be helpful if the doe will not urinate for at least 30 minutes to avoid washing the sperm away. The pregnancy stage does not take very long time. It can be around 31 to 32 days depending on the breed of your rabbit.

Preparing for the nest

The doe has a strong instinct on preparing the nest so you do not have to worry about this matter. Although you have to make sure that it will get enough rest during pregnancy. You will also notice an increase in food intake during this period. This is also important so it gets the necessary nutrients and vitamins.

Birth

Giving birth is usually a smooth process among rabbits. The doe eats after birth to get additional source of nutrients for her and the babies. Three to four kits (baby rabbits) are common per pregnancy but it can be as many as eight or even twelve. It is also important not to touch the young ones, as the mother gets very protective of her newborns. It is also advisable to keep the male away after birth as they can eat or attack the young rabbits. You might want to leave the nest for a few days and just check occasionally to see signs that they have eaten already.

If you would notice that the kits are very thin then this could be a sign that the mother has not enough milk to give to her babies. During this case, you can opt to bottle-feed them. You can use small feeding bottles of milk from the pet shop to keep them well-fed.

David Neil Warren enjoys writing for The Rabbit Hutch Shop which sells rabbit hutch and rabbit hutches as well as a host of additional products.

David Neil Warren enjoys writing for The Rabbit Hutch Shop which sells rabbit hutch and rabbit hutches as well as a host of additional products. http://www.the-rabbit-hutch-shop.com/rabbit-hutches.html http://www.the-rabbit-hutch-shop.com/rabbit-hutches.html