Rabbits are adorable pets. They are docile and gentle sure, but they can also provide so much love to their family.
They can be aloof at the beginning but once they come to see you as non-threatening then they’ll provide unconditional love and support that I’m sure all bunny lovers can attest to, unlike any other.
This is also one of the reasons why some bunny enthusiasts consider breeding rabbits as a livelihood. After all, bunnies are popular pets and they also reproduce rapidly and in great numbers!
Imagine all those rabbits brought into the world and selling them off to other bunny lovers. However, besides the monetary payoff, some owners would like to breed their rabbits out of enthusiasm or curiosity or merely increase the number of bunny pets in their families.
Whatever the motivation though, there is no denying that there is a certain knowledge that is required on how to properly and safely breed rabbits.
This article on Do Rabbits Mate for Life? will help walk you through all this knowledge so that you can assess if you have the needed capacities and environment to breed rabbits.
Things to consider before Rabbit Mating
Before trying to mate or breed your bunnies there are a few considerations that one should think about first. While it is true that rabbit breeds very fast and tend to breed in large litters, you still need to be responsible about how and when to breed them.
It’s important to remember that rabbits are sentient animals and they also have innate rights that we should not ignore. While you may be enthusiastic about rabbit breeding, you might not be the best fit. Listed below are the top considerations that any prospective rabbit breed should consider:
- Responsible Breeding Practices: Breeding rabbits requires a deep understanding of their specific needs, reproductive cycles, and genetic considerations. It is crucial to prioritize the health and well-being of both the parent rabbits and their offspring.
- Space and Housing Requirements: Rabbits need ample space to move around, exercise, and exhibit natural behaviors. Proper housing, such as spacious hutches or pens, with appropriate bedding and protection from the elements, is essential for their physical and mental well-being.
- Time and Commitment: Breeding rabbits demands a significant investment of time and effort. From daily feeding and cleaning to regular health check-ups and socialization, ensuring the rabbits receive adequate care and attention is vital.
- Genetic Diversity and Health Screening: Breeding should aim to maintain and improve the overall health and genetic diversity of the rabbit population. It is important to conduct health screenings and avoid breeding rabbits with known hereditary issues to prevent passing on genetic diseases.
- Ethical Considerations: Breeding rabbits should be approached ethically, with a focus on the welfare of the animals rather than purely commercial or aesthetic goals. It is essential to avoid overbreeding, selling to inappropriate homes, or contributing to the pet overpopulation crisis.
- Knowledge and Education: A prospective rabbit breeder should have a solid understanding of rabbit behavior, nutrition, and healthcare. Continuous learning and staying updated with best practices in rabbit breeding will contribute to the well-being of the rabbits under their care.
- Finding Suitable Homes: Responsible breeders prioritize finding suitable homes for their rabbits, ensuring potential adopters are educated on proper rabbit care, have the necessary resources, and are committed to providing a lifelong commitment to the rabbit’s well-being.
By considering these important factors, prospective rabbit breeders can help ensure that their breeding practices are aligned with the ethical treatment and welfare of these sentient animals.
Why do you want to Breed Rabbits?
As with everything else in life, any big decision should come with asking the important question of why. It is important to review the motivations behind our actions because good motivations will most likely be more sustainable than actions that are based only on a whim.
Maybe you’re obsessed with your pet bunny and would like to breed others like him? Or maybe you are attracted to the prospect of monetary gain, after all some bunnies do sell for hundreds and hundreds of dollars? Or maybe you’re bored and looking for a new hobby to start?
If your motivation is boredom I beg you to reconsider and focus your time and efforts on other hobbies that do not involve sentient beings. Rabbits can be costly and a litter of baby rabbits needs more time and attention to keep them healthy. Hence, they need commitment and not just some passing whims. As much as possible, you would like to reduce the number of abandoned bunnies in shelters.
If the monetary gain is one of your motivations, then it’s also not necessarily a bad thing, as long as you can provide space and proper nutrition for them.
Just make sure that you have made extensive research to be able to responsibly breed and raise these rabbits.
It’s also advisable that you reach out to rabbit breeders or a breeders’ community group. This will be able to provide you with the right knowledge and great support for your endeavor.
Can you sustain large litters?
With a great number of kits comes great responsibility. It is therefore important to consider the costs and time it would take to take care of a large number of rabbits. It’s also very important to note that you would also be taking care of the parents, especially the Doe that has just given birth.
Rabbits will be needing their own space to run and exercise as they grow. Thus, if you do not have enough space for a large litter of rabbits then breeding them is also not a good idea.
Another thing to consider is their vet costs and their food, since rabbits will be needing lots of hay and potential vet visits (especially for first-time owners) then you should also take into consideration the costs that will be incurred for these and if you can sustain it.
Can your breeding pairs handle giving birth?
The health of a doe is probably one of the most important things to be considered before trying to breed your rabbits. A healthy mother would mean healthy kids and a not-so-healthy one would mean lots of complications and probably unhealthy babies as well.
Does that are not in the right condition to give birth even when they’re at the right age should not be forced to bear children.
You can have your does checked and your bucks as well, by your trusted veterinarian so you can better assess their health and if they’re physically fit enough to bear babies.
Are rabbits at the right age?
Age is important to breeding rabbits. If your rabbit pairs are not at the right age then they would not be able to breed. Sexual maturity in rabbits is usually reached at 4 months but this is largely dependent upon their breed.
Large rabbits sexually mature later than small rabbit breeds. As a rule of thumb, small-sized rabbits are ready to mate by 3.5 to 4 months, medium-sized rabbits mature at 4 to 4.5 months while giant breeds mature at the latest at 6 to 9 months.
Do you have the right gender of rabbits?
This might seem common sense but it’s harder than it looks. Sexing bunnies is not that easy especially when they’re young of an age.
You must be sure of the genders of your rabbits because of course, two same-sex rabbits will not breed and will not produce a litter.
5 Tips to Successfully breed Rabbits
If you have considered all the things that are needed to be considered and you have determined that you can indeed handle breeding and taking care of kits then the following are the tips you can follow for successful breeding:
1. Choose The Right Breed for your End Goal
Some breeders breed rabbits with an end goal in mind and thus it is important to know what rabbit breeds are the best fit for your needs. Usually, breeders breed for three of the most common purposes such as for pets (to be sold), for meat, and fur.
Breeds that are perfect for pets include the most affectionate breeds such as the rex rabbit, polish, dutch, or the large continental giants.
The Angoras or the Chinchilla Rabbits are the breeds of choice for those who are breeding for fur while New Zealand and Californian rabbits are known to have large litters and are perfect for those breeding rabbits for meat.
2. Choose the Right Time for Breeding
There is an age at where rabbits sexually mature. However, breeders recommend that the safest age that rabbits can breed is at 6 months of age.
Until then, keep your Bucks and your Does separate to prevent any unwanted pregnancies and other complications that might occur when they breed too young.
Also, even rabbits are already at the safe age of breeding, keep them in separate hutches unless you want to end up with a continuous supply of kits.
Rabbits can breed all year round, they do not have a hormonal cycle like humans and other mammals. Instead, their eggs are triggered by intercourse, thus, every intercourse could mean a pregnant bunny.
3. Choose the Right Pairs
There are two golden rules to follow when choosing the right pairs of rabbits to breed with each other. The first one is to never breed two rabbits that have a drastic difference in size.
For example, breeding a large buck to a small doe can result in large baby rabbits that might cause lots of complications as they may be too big for the doe to carry.
Also, it is advisable that you do not crossbreed rabbits but only breed rabbits that are of the same breeds. You should also not breed two rabbits with the dwarf gene as you will most likely end up with peanuts or still-born rabbits.
4. Socialize Your Pairs:
Before mating your rabbits it is important they like each other. Some rabbits specifically female rabbits tend to be snobbish and might not accept new rabbit companions.
So you must help build a relationship between them. Always keep playtime supervised to prevent any fights if ever they might occur.
5. Prepare a nice and appropriate Love Nest:
The proper hutch should also be arranged to encourage breeding. Do not use hutches with a wired floor, or cover this floor with mats or linoleums that will be gentler on your rabbit’s feet.
Conclusion
Only breed the number of rabbits that you can care for. If you notice that your breeding pairs are getting tired then maybe it is time for them to retire.
Rabbits are companions and should not be treated as a means towards an end. I hope to have helped you with all your questions with this rabbit breeding article! See you at the next one!
