Rabbit Breeding

Reliable Rabbit Breeding – What Every Beginner Needs to Know

Rabbit breeding is something not to be taken lightly. Unfortunately there are thousands of rabbits to be found in animal shelters worldwide, mainly as a result of irresponsible “back yard breeders”. These people mean well, but fail to consider the overall outcome, a number of rabbits looking for a excellent home.

If you have but stanch to start breeding rabbits, and have a reasonable plot for their life further than babyhood, there are basic equipment and environmental concerns that must be taken care of previous to a breeding program is started.

Housing and Space Concerns

Adequate cage space is essential. You will need cages for the parents, one each, as it is not advisable for them to be housed together. A rabbit can produce as many as twelve kits per litter, so their income space must also be be spacious and comfortable.

Even if sibling rabbits can be successfully housed together in the initially weeks of life, by the time a kit is three months ancient, they should be housed in their own separate income enclosure. That is an dreadful lot of space, and a large number of cages.

A system for needs to be plotted out in advance to ensure all the rabbits are properly fed, cleaned and groomed. Taking care of a large litter of rabbits, in addition to their parents, can be more than a part time task.

The Best Time to Start a Breeding Program

Weather and the changing seasons also play a major factor in breeding success. Most breeders agree that spring is the optimum breeding season.

Extreme summer heat and the freezing temperatures of winter can prove fatal very quickly for tiny kits. Fall, traditionally is a hard time to produce litters, even if no one has a concrete explanation for why that is.

In addition to her regular cage you will need a clean nest box for your doe. Metal next boxes with the corrugated board removable flooring are well loved and easily available but many choose all wood nest boxes for their does.

Wood is certainly retains warmth more easily, a fantastic bonus, especially for those breeding rabbits in colder climates. The box need only be huge enough for the doe to turn around in it, and house the babies in the initially few weeks of life, previous to they are weaned.

The nest box should be lined with a nesting material of some diversity. Many breeders recommend clean grass hay, but straw and wood shavings can also be used.