Rabbit Breeding – Your Work, Their Pleasure

A French lop rabbit.

Image via Wikipedia

Breeding like rabbits and rabbit breeding aren’t the same thing. Surprisingly successful rabbit breeding takes a bit more effort than some soft lighting and mood music.

While not uncommon, rabbits are considered exotic pets. The first thing to think about is what will you do with the offspring?

A few things to know. The male rabbit is a buck and the female a doe. Depending on size female rabbits generally mature before the male. A good rule of thumb is rabbits are completely ready to breed by the time both male and female are nine months old.

Unless you are an expert,ideally you should match the same types and sizes of rabbits for breeding. The more you know about the history of the rabbits including any health problems, the better. It goes without saying, stronger healthier animals breed better.

Timing is important. When the doe is ready to breed, her genital area will become swollen and very red. On the other hand, bucks are generally ready and willing to breed at anytime.

If the breeding is successful, you’ll know soon. The gestation period of rabbits is only 31 days. Near the end of the gestation, the doe will be ready to nest to deliver the kits (babies). You should help her by providing a nesting box completely filled with hay.

Once the kits arrive, you are officially a rabbit breeder.

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Filed Under: Breeding, Species Tagged With: , ,

Your Pets Are Your Responsibility

That is, quite honestly, a no-brainer — so many of you are wondering, what in God’s name is the point of this post? After all, you know this to be true; you probably do it already. So what’s the big deal?

It may not happen to you specifically, but know it does happen — maybe you have a friend or family member that constantly tries to pawn off their pets to you, or simply finds strays constantly, leaving you and your family with the responsibility to do the Craigslist route, Humane Society route, or simple animal shelter deal.

Not that you have a problem with it, though. But take note of this….

It’s not your responsibility! If you have pets, they’re your responsibility. If others bring in other animals — that’s another story.

You have to think about extra food, extra maintenance, diseases, everything. If somebody keeps bringing animals into your house, simply put your foot down and say ‘no.’ They’re not your responsibility.

Yes, it’s true — you end up feeling like a major meanie. But the truth is if you don’t have the means to take care of all those animals, they’re not going to fare well in your house. The one who brought them into your house was not you. You need to get them out of your house, so they can have a better chance of living. It’s as simple as that.

Love your own pets as members of your family like you always do — because it’s your home, your household, your life. No one else’s.

Filed Under: Breeding, Feeding