Have someone who has offered to give me two doe rabbits that are between 2 and 3 years old ... are they too old to be reliable breeding does?

-- SFM (timberln@hyperaction.net), December 04, 2001

Answers

SFM, There are a lot of variables at that age. Have they ever been bred and raised bunnies? Are they overweight? If they have never been bred and are fat, you might not ever get bunnies from them. If they have raised bunnies and they are free, what do you have to lose?

-- Karen in Kansas (kansasgoats@iwon.com), December 04, 2001.

That all depends on how much they have been bred. Rabbits can live for like 10 years, but if they are bred constantly it takes years off them. A good breeder should last 4-6 years, if she's bred once or twice a year. Any more than that, and they get spent.

-- Wendy A (phillips-anteswe@pendleton.usmc.mil), December 04, 2001.

Well ... they don't appear to be overly fat to me, although the one that looks more or less like one of the Flemish Giant types has a "double chin" ... but bodies don't look overly fat to me. I don't think they've ever been bred, my impression is that they were pets until the kids lost interest. I've got a shed and cages ... so guess I'm not going to be out anything but time, some rabbit food and whatever I have to pay to find a young buck rabbit.

I used to raise them 25 years ago (just enough for the family table) but have forgotten most of what I knew ...

-- SFM in KY (timberln@hyperaction.net), December 04, 2001.

If they have never had a litter, chances of getting them bred and having them raise a litter are pretty slim. As does get older they often build up fat around the internal organs (even if they are not overweight) which can prevent conception. They often will have trouble kindling, and then just don't seem to mother as well.

I start breeding my does between 7-10 months depending on the show schedules and my commercial needs. These does are breed to have 4-6 litters per year depending on their condition, as they get older they often don't have as many kits, but those does make my best foster mothers. I just took two kits last night from a doe with nine and gave them to a doe with only 3. I'll now get all the kits raised and neither doe is stressed over a huge litter. Does if they are in good condtion can raise litters until they are 4-5 years old. (I occasionally hear of older does, but it is unusual) Commercial breeders usually let the does go when their production drops, but if you are raising them for your own use no reason they can't have kits when they are older. Good Luck with your bunnies. Denise

-- Denise K. (Rabbitmom2@webbworks.com), December 04, 2001.

The best way I've found to tell if a rabbit is overweight is to run your hand down it's backbone - just like you're petting it. If the spine feels pointy or sharp, the rabbit is underweight. If it feels kind of rounded, it's the correct weight. If you can't feel the spine, that's a fat bunny! :-)

And the "double chin" is a natural part of female rabbit anatomy - doesn't mean she's overweight.

Enjoy your rabbits!

-- Cheryl in Ks (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), December 04, 2001.