new litter from california doe/ flemish buck

[boundarybunnyco]

Yay! My lovely California doe had her kits! I moved her to the cage with a nest box in the floor two days ago. This morning I checked, and she had two nests of kits. One group in the nest box with no fur. Other group in her haypile with a lot of fur. I moved them all into the nest box along with the fur. 10 kits, mostly white, but with three or four dark. All wiggly and seemed warm. Wonder why she had two nests? After losing the litter of Flemish Giant kits, I am thrilled that these are all alive! The three does I bred, all first timers, had 9 kits, 7 kits, and 10 kits so far. lost about half but we are learning as we go. am also weaning the 4 survivors from the first litter now. so much to learn!

[SquashNut]

I am not sure why they divide them, but I have found it's best to put them together into one nest. Some times I think the doe just cann't feed all of them so she divides them up.

[boundarybunnyco]

checked the bunnies today. they are still all wiggly and have round tummies. seem to be very warm and well covered in the nest box. I'm hoping I don't lose any of this litter.

[SquashNut]

do you have a pedigree for your cal doe? Do you have a Cal Buck?
I am one county from you.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Congratulations on your new kits! Will be keeping my fingers crossed that you have luck with this litter & no losses!

[boundarybunnyco]

thanks Backfourty, I hope so too. No, I don't have a pedigree on my California doe. I wish I did, she is such a nice rabbit.

[Backfourty,MI.]

I have a Flemish Doe & love the babies I get from crossing her with my giant Chin buck. Nice meaty fryers that grow out fast.

[boundarybunnyco]

I have a flemish doe, a california doe, a new zealand doe, and a flemish buck. so far I've had 9 kits, five died from the heat I think, from the new zealand doe. 7 kits from the fg doe, died on the wire. 10 new kits, from the cali doe that are doing great so far. I'm new and learning about rabbits. I really like all of them, the fg doe had a bit of attitude before kindling, but she is fine now. the four kits from the nz/fg cross are growing fast!

[Backfourty,MI.]

Sounds like you'll get everything worked out & will be a pro at the rabbit buisness in no time. Good luck with the new kits & hoping you have lots more little one's soon.

I just bred the last doe here the other day. These will be all of their last litters until spring because I don't like to breed during the winter months.

[boundarybunnyco]

well I did lose one kit from this litter. it just kills me to find their little bodies. I assume it was latched on nursing and mama pulled it out of the nest. I found it in her sleeping area under the hay.
but the other 9 are so cute and funny! they twitch and wiggle and squeak when I look at them. 7 white and 2 sandies.
Bred the flemish doe back last week, bred the nz doe back today. that will be it for this winter. I'll see how it goes and try again in springtime.
thanks for everyone's comments and advice. ps if I keep any of the kits, can they be bred back to the buck (father) just for meat rabbit purposes? I have three separate does..... what would be best for the future of my bunny "herd"?

[brandkelz]

You can line breed as it is called and there shouldnt be any problems. Just pick the best for what you are wanting to do....

[MaggieJ]

Absolutely you can breed youngsters back to their parent. As long as you choose only the healthiest, best ones to keep, you will strengthen the line of rabbits. Inbreeding intensifies characteristics, good or bad; it does not cause problems per se. You have a lot of leeway when it comes to inbreeding or linebreeding with rabbits.

Keep the best and eat the rest and you'll do fine.

[boundarybunnyco]

thanks everyone!

[hardworkingwoman]

Oh wow! I was just wondering about this.

[boundarybunnyco]

checked on the kits today, they are so active! when I touch them they start squirming and squeaking. they are looking good, their hair is coming in nice. especially the two sandy ones. I'm in love! (they are 5 days old now)