Last round of spring breeding completed

[SFM in KY]

Doesn't seem like it should be over already! But the last three does that weaned their first litters earlier were bred back yesterday and that will be the last litters until the fall breedings start.

I may decide to breed two does back before weaning current litters. I don't usually do that but these are both young does with their first litters that I'd like to get another litter from before they "lay off" for the summer months. They could both be bred back before May 10th ... which would have them kindling in early June ... likely to be hot but maybe not disastrously so ...

I'm also considering setting up an "in house" kindling cage for the Holland Lop doe, so I can breed her through the summer with the air conditioning. Can't believe I'm actually contemplating this ... ummm, wait. That might also require keeping the buck inside as well ...

Cages in the bathtub and limit myself to showers in the half-bath for the summer?

Ah ... back to the drawing board?

[Backfourty,MI.]

Are you in a southern state where it gets really warm? I was just wondering because I want to breed mine all summer so all the babies are in the freezer before the winter is really bad, Like by January. I tried that late fall breeding last year & way to cold here, water freezes, etc. Never lost any popples but I din't like going out all times of day & night with warm water all the time.

[SFM in KY]

Originally Posted by Backfourty,MI.

Are you in a southern state where it gets really warm? I was just wondering because I want to breed mine all summer so all the babies are in the freezer before the winter is really bad, Like by January. I tried that late fall breeding last year & way to cold here, water freezes, etc. Never lost any popples but I din't like going out all times of day & night with warm water all the time.

More or less ... south/central Kentucky ... and it was 88 here yesterday. It certainly got just as hot in Montana during the summer as it does here, but didn't stay up in the high 80s-plus for as long, cooled off at night and the humidity wasn't high. Here the high 80s feels like you're walking into a steam room with absolutely no breath of air ...

When I had rabbits in Montana I did breed through the summer ... didn't breed for December/January/February litters. Last winter I wasn't really set up for the cold weather here, even though it wasn't really "Montana cold" and lost my first litter. Think I've got things figured out better now but will still not breed for kits to arrive in mid-winter.

Plan now is to breed for two spring/early summer litters from each doe and two early fall/late fall litters.

I'm still kind of figuring out what works for me in this climate ... this will just be the second year I've had them here.