OT/ anyone raise rabbits?

Anyhew, cages were hung by chains from a covered roof (bottom of cage about 3' off floor with no connection to the floor) open building (covered top with adequate overhang) high enough to walk through with a concrete floor and under the cages the concrete made a drain on each side to capture the droppings and allow removal. Center walkway, cages on each side.

1cm x 1cm wire mesh cage (all walls and floor) dimensions (2x4 wood frames) about 3'cubed (3x3x3).

Water was supplied by pipeline with a tongue activated ball valve in each cage about 5-6" off cage floor...hence fresh water.

Only feed was Purina brand Rabbit chow. Had a salt lick disc.

Buck was kept alone till breeding was desired. Would leave with doe for 24 hrs.

Doe had a delivery box placed in cage in anticipation of litter. Hay was added. Box dimensions adequate for comfortable entrance and birthing of doe....probably 18x18x24 with a single opening (the only opening) on one side, half the length and 3" off the floor to the top which was also closed in....didn't want the babies to crawl out.

Fryers were culled when desired size was achieved. Forget all the particulars but I used to butcher them. Used a horizontal 2x6 (comfortable height off the ground) strung between 2 posts about 6' apart with several pairs (pair per fryer and would butcher several at a time) of 16d common nails driven in with the heads removed....nails per pair were about 6" apart to give adequate spreading of legs.

What else do you want to know?

Gotta tell this story.

In wife and I raising 4 chillins I was always looking for a way to "legally beat the system". One of my capers was to go to a friends farm (lived in the city then), purchase a feeder bull, kill it and butcher on the spot. Things went according to plan up to the point where it was time to disembowel the critter. Had the legs tied up in a tree (just like I did rabbits) and commenced to start the ritual.

What I didn't realize is the fact that a feeder bull outweighs a rabbit significantly and when it was time for the stomach to roll out over the ribcage which I had done 100's of times with rabbits, the stomach (weighing an estimated 150#) tears as it rolls over the rib cage and slings "stuff" all over me.....musta been stomach 2 or 3 as this stuff was as rank as it gets. I will never forget it. Only water was a 5 gallon can and it was hours before we got home.....boy that is only part of the story, but I learned.

Nuf for now. Need more ask.....I am remembering this like from 55 years ago so I may not remember all of it.

Mark

Yep been there done that with 2000 head. LOL

If you bought mature rabbits, they most likely won't breed for 6mths. Rabbits will stopping reproducing or slow to reproduce or samll litters until they know there enviroment. That takes about 6mths on the average.

That's why it's better to buy fryer size, 5lbs average at 8wks, then wait until there 6mths old to breed.

Too make sure your 100% bred, breed three days in a row is the rule of thumb. To recheck, put the doe into the bucks cage about a week latter. If the doe fights the buck then she's PG, if not repeat the three day rule. The heat cycle runs every 3rd day.

Rebreed before 10days after the litter is born or you have to wait until after weaning the kits(30days) but no sooner than 3days. Rebreeding from 1 to 2days will kill the doe.

Rebreeding at the 3rd day yields the highest kit return but kills the doe in 6mths. A 7 day breeding cycle yields the best average and the doe will last for about 2yrs for production type of breeding. For pleasure type of breeding at 4 litters a year, then 7days and the doe will last 6yrs plus.

Always put the doe into the bucks cage. Never the buck into the does cage as the doe's are territoral and will kill or de-nut the buck. Either way you loose the buck.

Bucks go sterile at more than 80ºf, then it takes 2mths of cool weather before the bucks are once again ready.

Common run of the mill rabbits, colored is the best, will produce better with less problems and have larger litters than NZ, NZ Giants or Cal breeds will. Commerical produced wants all white fur as it will color fast more evenly when dyed.

Gee's that's been 30yrs ago and I still haven't forgotten that...LOL

T_Bone

My daughter raises rabbits for 4-H, from what I've seen rabbits don't breed like rabbits. How old are your rabbit? Has your buck dropped yet? Some times water or feed might be the cause some problems.
She was told to add a couple drops of vinegar to the water to help with bacterial infections. She also switches to feed for lactating rabbit before breeding. If that doesn't work maybe some wine a little music and some mood lighting might help.
Good luck.