Rabbit people - how often do you breed your doe?

[debilorrah]

I am curious what my BYC peeps have to say. I am getting such varying information on another rabbit board.

 

[SurprisingWoman]

Never.

They are all spayed and neutered.

 

[debilorrah]

Well, at least you put it to the top.

 

[gaited horse]

I have only breed my breeder doe once and know I just don't have enough cages to wean and grow out in.

 

[the4heathernsmom]

I only bred mine once per year......but I raised english angoras and I live in texas. I know a lot of breeders will just breed and breed and breed but the longevity and health of their rabbits suffer horribly.

 

[Duckchick2011]

When I do breed my rabbits(which isn't very often) I usually only breed them once a year(early spring or mid. fall) or I at least give them a five month interval between...you could probably breed them more than this but I would imagine it would be tough on the rabbits...

 

[Nikkumz]

I have checkered giants and i only breed once every 8 months or so. ive been told as short as 4-6 months in between but with mine being giant breeds, they tend to mature a bit slower and take a bit longer to wean off momma.

 

[BCBunnies]

For show stock that is actively showing once a year, I also limit it to once a year for does that have large litters or if they loose condition while they are pregnant/nursing. Have had a couple of does that stay "fat" in condition even when pregnant and nursing (mostly meat rabbits with small/med litters) so they get bred 2 times a year but I wouldn't do more than that. Some big time breeders rebreed 2 day - 2 weeks after delivery of a litter because it is said they are more apt to take then but I honestly feel that is too soon and too hard on the does. Sometimes it seems like the bucks have the easy job. LOL

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
They absolutely have the easy job!! I actually had someone tell me I can re-breed her right now. That shocked me!!! I wouldn't think that more than 3 times a year would be very healthy at all.

 

[lasergrl]

I raise rabbits for meat for my pets and me, so here is what I do:

They are bred starting early spring. They kindle, and then I rebredd them when the babies they have are 4 weeks old. I do this as often as possible untill winter. I then butcher the mothers, or hold them through winter, and hold back the best babies of the summer for replacements. I usually end up getting about 4 litters per doe per year.
If your rabbit is a pet or a show animal then it will be different.