Breeding Rabbits: What You Need to Know About Breeding Your Rabbits

Raising rabbits can be very rewarding. Before you begin, however, ask yourself why you want to breed rabbits. People breed rabbits for many reasons. They may raise them to feed their families or to sell to restaurants and stores. They may breed them because they show rabbits in 4H or in American Rabbit Breeders Association shows. What are your reasons?

Purebred rabbits are a must if you want to show them. Join the American Rabbit Breeders Association and study their Standard of Perfection. Choose a breed that appeals to you and get the best stock you can afford.

If you want to supplement your food budget, most meat breeders use New Zealand rabbits crossed with Californian rabbits. They develop and grow quickly to marketable size. Other breeds also make terrific meat rabbits, but they grow a little slower. In fact, many of the breeds you'll see at shows started out as meat breeds.

If you won't be eating them, what will you do with the babies? Selling pets may not always be a reliable way to find them homes. Those who show will only buy animals that are high quality and meet the breed standard. Show animals must also be pedigreed. You will need to keep records of when your does are bred, when they kindle, how many were born, and who belongs on the pedigree.

Each doe needs her own cage. It must be large enough to be comfortable for her, include a nestbox, and hold the growing litter. Each buck also needs his own cage. Most breeds can produce babies safely once they reach the age of six months. Larger breeds may take longer to mature.

When you want to breed, place the doe in the buck's cage. If you put the buck in the doe's cage, she may attack him. Does can be very territorial. While the doe is in the buck's cage, keep an eye on them. If they begin to fight, they will need to be separated. The buck may chase the doe around the cage. This is fine. It may take a few attempts before the doe decides she is ready. Once the buck mounts properly, and he may do this improperly many times, you'll know if the breeding was successful if he falls off. You may want to let the buck try again before removing the doe.

Write down the breeding date on the calendar and count out 28 days. This is when you need to give the doe her nestbox and lots of hay. The doe will make a nice nest. She will pull fur right before she gives birth. Rabbits usually give birth 28 to 31 days after breeding. If you find the babies outside the box, put them in and cover them with fur if they are still alive.

Most does have no problem producing a litter and caring for them. They will nurse the babies once or twice per day, spending only a few minutes with them. This is normal. Sometimes the doe doesn't conceive and there is no litter. Sometimes the doe will deliver dead babies or savage them. It is not always known why. Babies should be weaned at 6 to 8 weeks of age.