Rabbits don't mate, what should I do? Mating of rabbits or how rabbits mate

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Any rabbit breeder sets himself the task of increasing his livestock and at the same time getting healthy and purebred rabbits. Breeding work begins with creating good conditions for feeding and keeping young animals. Selecting a pair for reproduction, preparing it for mating, and the mating procedure itself are important stages that require certain knowledge and skills. Let's talk about them in more detail.

When should rabbits be mated?

Each breed of rabbit reaches sexual maturity at different times. Early maturing animals are ready for mating already at 4-4.5 months, the rest not earlier than 6-7 months. Early matings lead to abortions, the birth of a small number of babies and low milk supply of the female. Therefore, veterinarians advise crossing any breeds no earlier than 7-8 months in order to obtain strong rabbits physically and genetically.

Another point is the choice of time of year for giving birth. Rabbits can breed all year round if optimal conditions are created for this. However, most rabbit breeders prefer mating in the cold season, from November to March. An undeniable advantage of winter litters is better health of the litter. Such babies develop faster, have a strong physique and excellent immunity. Winter rabbits are less likely to get sick in adulthood and have better breeding qualities.

Although summer litters are larger in number of cubs, they are inferior to winter litters in terms of physical development. Rabbits born in summer are most at risk of developing infectious and viral diseases. The lowest quality offspring appears during autumn and spring births. Farmers advise not to conduct mating at all during this period and to allow the females to rest for 40-60 days.

Manufacturers' choice

When choosing a female or male for mating, you should first evaluate the appearance of the rabbit. He must be well-fed, meet breed standards, have no physical abnormalities, and be in exceptional health.

animals from the same litter;
obese individuals;
females predisposed to eat offspring;
low-milk rabbits with poorly developed nipples;
animals within 20 days after vaccination.

After several matings, the rabbits are culled. Low-fertile females, aggressive and wayward animals, infertile individuals, etc. are not allowed to further reproduce.

Preparing rabbits for mating

Mating of eared ones is allowed at the moment of sexual heat of the female. In summer, this period occurs every 6-7 days and lasts 3-4 days. In winter, the female comes into heat every 9-10 days. Signs of desire in the female include redness and swelling of the genitals, as well as violent behavior.

Rabbits selected for the production of offspring are fed with more fortified food 15 days before mating, are not allowed temperature changes, and are not disturbed again. Steamed oats and boiled potatoes are added to the diet of males. Females are transferred to concentrated mixtures, hay and twig food.

If necessary, their fur near the genitals is trimmed so that it does not interfere with the mating process.

The process itself

Mating of rabbits should be carried out in the male's cage, where he knows the situation. First, drinkers, feed and other objects that interfere with the process are removed from there. In the summer, a female rabbit is placed next to him in the early morning, and in winter, between 11 and 16 o'clock in the afternoon.

The presence of a person at the time of mating is mandatory in order to control its progress and monitor the behavior of the animals. If the partners are aggressive towards each other, then the female should be removed from the cage. The successful completion of mating is indicated by the characteristic actions of the male: he falls from the female on his side and quietly squeaks.

After 4-6 days, control mating is carried out. Thanks to it, it will be known whether the previous event was successful. If the female fights fiercely with the male, not allowing him to approach her, then fertilization has occurred. After 15 days, you can palpate the fetuses in the abdominal cavity to exclude false pregnancy.

At home, you can breed rabbits using the cohabitation method: the female is left in the male’s cage for a certain period (7-10 days). But here you need to specifically make sure that the animals can get along together and will not hurt each other.

Mating rabbits is quite a responsible and significant moment in breeding work, therefore, for effective results, experienced farmers advise following the following rules:

It is forbidden to plan mating in extreme heat or frost, as well as during the molting period;
it is necessary to carry out control mating;
a young female should be allowed to visit an experienced male and vice versa;
do not allow inbreeding;
After giving birth, the female is placed with the male a week later;
a male can qualitatively fertilize 4-5 female rabbits per day.

If the female does not allow the rabbit to approach her, then it is recommended to once again make sure that she is hunting, and then tie a ribbon to her tail. During rabbit games, you should lift the female's tail with a string, freeing the genitals.

Any rabbit breeder who follows all the rules for mating his pets is able to produce litters all year round. But you shouldn’t be overzealous with this, because animals sometimes need to have a rest period.

Igor Nikolaev

Reading time: 5 minutes

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Any breeder of rabbits, in order to successfully breed them, must have the necessary knowledge about such things as the optimal age for the first mating, the diet of animals before mating, as well as various techniques and tricks to obtain the best results.

The unpretentiousness of rabbits and their resistance to low temperatures makes it possible to get offspring from them even in winter, if you provide them with comfortable conditions for this.

Increasing the number of livestock is the basis on which all rabbit breeding stands. Mating rabbits requires increased attention from the breeder, and above all this concerns the selection of pairs for breeding.

Breeder males must meet the following requirements:

individuals from the first or second (in extreme cases, the third) litter of the queen rabbit are suitable for reproduction;
selection of males is carried out immediately after birth; in any litter there are the weakest cubs and, usually, one strong and large one; it is he who is the best candidate for subsequent reproduction;
You should also pay attention to the rabbit's weight, the quality of its fur, its build and activity level.

Culling is done based on how many matings have failed.

If every third mating of rabbits does not lead to pregnancy of the female, then such a male is not suitable as a breeder.

Among rabbits, selection for a breed takes place according to the following parameters:

rabbits that are not fertilized as a result of control matings are culled;
Also, females who have less than four cubs in several litters in a row are not suitable for the tribe;
they do not adopt mother rabbits who eat their offspring;
A high level of milk production is also important, which is an indicator of good female performance.

It is generally accepted that in a private farmstead there should be at least two breeding males with high sexual activity. Phlegmatic and lethargic animals are subject to culling. Before mating, animals should be carefully examined for general health.

Optimal age and best time for mating rabbits

Beginning rabbit breeders should know that females of almost any breed are ready for the first mating at the age of five months, and their weight should be at least three kilograms (if they are not decorative small breeds). It should also be remembered that the smaller the breed, the earlier the first mating can be carried out. The same is true in the opposite sense: the larger, the later.

For example, females of the black-brown, white or gray giant breeds, which are large rabbits, are allowed for their first mating approximately two to four weeks later. However, it is also not worth keeping the animal, since it gains weight, which negatively affects its ability to fertilize.

A male rabbit is ready to mate at the age of 6 to 8 months.

How do you know when a female rabbit is ready to mate?

Rabbits can be born at a certain time, which is called the hunting period for females. The onset of this period can be determined by the behavior of the rabbit and by some external signs.

Usually females behave calmly and quietly, but with the onset of heat they begin to worry, dragging the bedding, scattering food, and sometimes starting to pinch the fluff on their chest. Possible refusal to eat. The loop of the female rabbit's genital organs is usually pale pink, not enlarged. When the female begins to “want” the male, her loop swells and turns bright pink. Such signs appear in females, regardless of their breed.

Hunting in females who have already given birth can occur one or two days after giving birth and lasts for five days. The next two days (6-7th) it declines, and then there comes a time of rest. The frequency of hunting is individual. For some females, the cycle is 9 days (in summer), for others it is 15-20 days (rest of the year).

Rabbits breed all year round. In summer, it is best to conduct mating in the morning and evening. The most unfavorable time for mating is considered to be October and November, since during these months the animals are usually lethargic.

The high fertility of rabbits is due to the fact that females are ready for mating already on the second day after giving birth. However, you need to give them time to feed their offspring.

Before the breeding period, rabbits need to be prepared for it.

In 15-20 days, you need to examine the animals, determine their weight and general health. Sick and weakened individuals are not allowed to mate. If underweight is detected, such rabbits are transferred to enhanced nutrition.

Preparation should also concern the composition of animal feed. Two weeks before mating, a mixture of boiled potatoes and steamed oats is added to the males’ diet. Rabbits are given concentrated feed without changing the amount of branch feed and hay. It should be remembered that overfed animals reproduce worse. If a rabbit is found to be obese, then concentrated types of feed and food with a high concentration of starch are almost completely removed from its diet.

Before mating, it is necessary to examine the female’s nipples (there are eight or ten of them) and external genitalia. Rabbits with deviations from the norm are discarded. Animals that are actively molting should also not be treated.

To obtain the best results when mating, several conditions must be met:

Before mating, you need to remove the drinker and feeder from the cage.

It is imperative to place the female in the cage with the male, and not vice versa. This is necessary so that the rabbit feels confident in a familiar environment.

At this time, the animals need to be monitored, as a fight is possible between them.

The mating of rabbits is considered completed when, after the process, the male falls on his side (sometimes he makes soft rumbling sounds). This process needs to be repeated two or three times.

After mating, the female is transferred back to her cage. If the mating does not work out, then after 2-4 hours the female rabbit is again placed next to the rabbit. If nothing happens again, a day later the female is placed with another male.

5-6 days after the end of mating, the rabbits undergo a control mating. If the rabbit does not want to mate, she is pregnant. In this case, she will not allow the male to approach, she will scream, fight and bite.

Large rabbit farms use artificial insemination of rabbits. This method is considered the most effective. First, the female is placed next to the male, and then, at the very beginning of the process, a test tube is placed and the sperm is collected. After this, the veterinarian performs fertilization using a special syringe.

Any rabbit breeder needs to keep a journal in which to carefully record the dates of matings, their times, as well as the names or numbers of the mated animals.

Inbreeding is the mating of related rabbits. Such mating of rabbits negatively affects both the health and size of the offspring.

However, some rabbit breeders deliberately crossbreed such animals, and for quite a long time. In order to obtain a new breed.

Accidental inbreeding is possible in cases where young animals are not bred on time.

Since such crossbreeding is harmful, it is necessary to periodically buy males from other families.

If there is no opportunity to inject fresh blood, the most distant relatives available are mated.

Rabbits tolerate cold well and are able to reproduce in winter. However, during severe frosts in the rabbitry, it is still better to increase the heating. Rabbits do not tolerate drafts well. In addition, the rabbitry and cages must be dry to prevent the animals from catching cold.

In winter, mating is best done during the daytime. There are no differences between summer and winter mating, there are only nuances. Firstly, shortening daylight hours negatively affects the activity of animals, so experienced rabbit breeders often “extend” the day with the help of artificial lighting. Secondly, during winter breeding, there is rarely more than one rabbit in the litter. This is not a pathology, but a feature of rabbit physiology.

In winter, it is better to place newborn rabbits in a warmer place than where adult animals are kept.

» Rabbits

Rabbits are unusually prolific animals; it is normal for an adult female to give birth to 60-70 rabbits per year. But an uncontrolled increase in the number of animals is not required; the rabbitry needs healthy and strong rabbits with positive, stable traits.

In this article we will talk in more detail about at what age you can breed rabbits, how to do it correctly and when to breed after birth.

First, let's look at at what age rabbits begin to reproduce and when it can happen for the first time. The rabbit reaches sexual maturity by 3 months after birth. Avoiding random coverings, from this age animals are sorted and seated based on their gender.

However, to obtain healthy and strong offspring, 3 months is still an early age. Therefore, 4-month-old rabbits are suitable for planned mating of rabbits.

This age is not considered an exceptional rule. So, if the farm contains rabbits of meat breeds, then the first mating begins at 5, or even 6 months.

However, rabbits should not be overexposed. Animals that do not participate in reproduction gain excess weight, lose interest in their partner, and such litters are few in number.

Males become suitable for mating later than females of their breed. Therefore, a partner for a mature female is selected 1.5-2 months older.

Childbirth in natural conditions occurs all year round. On average, a healthy female has 6-7 litters annually. In late autumn and winter their frequency is less frequent due to weather factors. October and November are considered unfavorable for mating.

However the best offspring grow more often in winter litters. Rabbits born in the cold season are healthier and stronger than their summer relatives. If the purpose of raising rabbits is to obtain fur, then winter is the most favorable season for mating rabbits. You should also avoid mating rabbits during active molting.

For successful mating, the time of day also matters. In summer, morning hours are most suitable for mating, since it is not yet hot. In winter or in cold times - the warmest hours of the day, that is, daytime.

Selection of partners and formation of pairs

When selecting males and females suitable for mating, the following criteria are used:

Animals must be healthy and be of a suitable age and condition. To obtain high-quality offspring, individuals over 3 years old, overweight rabbits, and animals with underdeveloped or damaged genitals are not suitable;
Rabbits must bear the best characteristics of their breed or their individual qualities are most suitable for the rabbit breeder;
For mating, it is advisable to select winter rabbits, as well as those born in early litters from the female rabbit. These rabbits are best suited to be breeders;
Mating of related individuals is not allowed. If there is a shortage of animals, they can always be found on the side. It is worth remembering the need for quarantine and thorough health checks for new animals joining the herd, especially when it comes to producers.

Experienced rabbit keepers, in addition to choosing active and strong individuals, also pay attention to the mother and brothers (sisters) of the future sire. If there were many weak or sick rabbits in the litter, and the mother also has shortcomings (frequent miscarriages, bad character), then there is a high probability of their recurrence.

In addition to the individual selection of partners, experienced rabbit breeders pay attention to the formation of pairs. The ideal option is to carry out several matings at the same time. In this case, the excess (lack) of rabbits in litters can be mutually compensated, and the choice of future producers will be greater.

When forming a pair, the experience of the male and female is also taken into account.

For the first mating, it is advisable to select an experienced male or female as a partner.

Animal culling

There are frequent situations when a manufacturer loses its status. There are several reasons:

Rare or, on the contrary, too frequent matings lead to the loss of the positive properties of the sire;
The onset of the “limit” age. The best offspring are from rabbits 1-2 years of age;
The presence of a disease leading to frequent miscarriages. The death of several litters in a row indicates that the rabbit has listeriosis, a dangerous disease that is inherited;
The loss of maternal instinct in a female rabbit, leading to the destruction of her own offspring, is a clear sign of the animal’s unsuitability for further reproduction;

The fertility of rabbits gives their owner ample opportunities for selection. Therefore, if due to some individual characteristics there are doubts about the suitability of a rabbit for reproduction, then it is better to replace it.

Proper preparation of a rabbit for breeding

The key stage of preparation for mating is determining the rabbit’s readiness for motherhood, otherwise called the hunting period. Its duration is 3-5 days depending on the season.

Between periods of heat, mating is unlikely. The breaks between the next female hunt also range from 5 to 10 days. In winter, they can last longer, as the sexual activity of animals decreases.

Determining the hunting period is quite simple. This is evidenced by:

Increased activity of the rabbit;
Plucking belly fluff;
Preparing materials for the nest.

To be sure, the condition of the rabbit’s genital organ, called the loop, is checked. Its redness and swelling clearly indicate that the female is in heat.

There are no such restrictions for males.

Immediately before mating, it is important to properly prepare the cage.

Rabbits are mated only in the male's cage. Many years of experience show that adding a male to a female, as a rule, does not produce a positive effect. A similar rule applies to “neutral” territory.

Remove everything unnecessary from the rabbit's cage, including the drinking bowl and feeder. The animals will not have time to eat. The cage must be washed and disinfected. Only after this can you place the rabbit with your partner.

Rabbit nutrition

The diet of rabbits before mating should always be more nutritious. Why is it advisable to increase the share of mixed feed, oats, grains, and legume products.

Steamed potatoes and oats are very useful for males. Feeding with such products begins in 1.5-2 weeks. Sprouted wheat is very useful for females. Good nutrition increases the number of rabbits in the litter and makes them healthier.

Coating process

Now let's find out how to breed rabbits for the first and subsequent times. In small farms where it is not possible to carry out artificial insemination, two mating methods are practiced:

Adding a female rabbit to a male for a long period of time - 5-7 days. In this situation, the animals themselves will decide on the optimal mating option. At first, it is advisable to observe the animals. Cases of fights if you don’t like your partner are not uncommon. If the partners are aggressive and the matter ends in a fight, then the animals should be seated to avoid serious injury;
The second option is a short-term replanting of the female for 2-3 hours. The disadvantage of this method is the need for constant monitoring and, possibly, intervention by the rabbit breeder. Determining the moment of coverage visually is not difficult. It lasts for half a minute. After covering, the rabbit falls over on its side and emits a characteristic squeak - a signal to the rabbit breeder that the partners can be seated. If the partners flirt too much and do not have intercourse, then experienced rabbit keepers simply hold the female rabbit with their hands, allowing the male to do his job faster.

Control mating

Successful mating of a female rabbit does not guarantee pregnancy. Therefore, to be sure, a control mating is carried out 5-6 days after the first mating. There are no special features for the control mating.

Often control mating is also a check of the results of the first mating. If the female rabbit shows aggression and does not allow herself to have a proven partner, you can be sure that there is no need for control mating.

If the mating proceeds as usual, its date is noted, and, accordingly, after 5-6 days another control mating is carried out.

Checking mating results

You can accurately verify the effectiveness of mating within 15 days after it has taken place. To do this, the rabbit's belly is very carefully palpated. There are videos on the Internet showing this procedure, so in order to avoid harm to the rabbit, it would be useful to watch them.

The presence of one or two chains of oblong lumps is clear evidence of pregnancy.

Refusal of the female rabbit to mate

If the female rabbit does not allow the rabbit to approach, then rabbit breeders choose one of the following options:

The animals are placed next to each other after some time, for example, after 2-3 hours. If the situation repeats, then the procedure is repeated every other day;
If the first method does not work, then you can change the male. Often this option is the most successful.

It is necessary to distinguish between refusal to mate and too prolonged mating fuss. In the second case, the rabbit simply needs help to speed up the procedure. Refusal is evidenced by the female’s aggression and reluctance to allow the male to approach her at all.

Forced or accidental inbreeding

Inbreeding or, more simply, inbreeding also occurs among experienced rabbit breeders. When keeping a herd together (in a pit, enclosure, etc.), random crossings periodically occur.

Another problem is the inability to find a match for your own animals that is suitable in terms of health, appearance or breed. Then inbreeding becomes forced.

Dozens of scientific papers have been written about the pros and cons of inbreeding, so without going into unnecessary details, we will give an example from practice. Even ancient pastoralists sought to exclude the crossing of closely related animals. It has been experimentally verified that Regular inbreeding in the herd leads to degeneration. Although in laboratory conditions, inbreeding is practiced to breed new breeds.

If, for some reason, inbreeding does happen on your farm, then experienced rabbit breeders are guided by the following recommendations:

They try in every possible way to prevent the crossing of born rabbits with other relatives on the paternal or maternal side. Based on this, in a small herd, all rabbits born from such a cross will most likely go to meat, and will not participate in reproduction in the future;
With forced inbreeding, they try to select a couple with the weakest family ties possible, that is, distant relatives. Given the fertility of rabbits, this is quite realistic;
All rabbits born with congenital defects, and there will be more and more of them with each subsequent inbreeding, must be removed from the herd.

How can this happen in the cold season?

The rabbit breeder should not be afraid of winter intercourse. However, to prevent frostbite and death of animals, adhere to the following recommendations:

Winter matings are carried out warmly, in closed and heated rooms. A suitable temperature for rabbits is considered to be 19-27 degrees Celsius. If it is impossible to achieve the desired temperature, then a decrease of 3-5 degrees is not critical. With proper insulation of the cage, it is possible to obtain healthy offspring even at 10 degrees Celsius. However, the worst enemy of rabbits is not low temperature, but drafts and dampness, which must be excluded;
Rabbits must be well fed, and the diet is as varied as possible. Potatoes, legumes, oats, sprouted grains of wheat, corn and other cereals are suitable for winter feeding of future parents;
Animals within 1-2 weeks before mating and during it requires long daylight hours, at least 12 hours a day. Artificial light is also allowed. Insufficient lighting leads to extremely small litters (1-2 young rabbits) or is the main obstacle to successful mating.

Now you know how and at what age rabbits are born. However, we note that experience for rabbit breeders comes with years and mistakes. However, careful study of the issue, the use of advice and help from experienced rabbit keepers will protect you from many, often fatal mistakes and will allow you to get healthy rabbits with the necessary characteristics.

And finally, we suggest watching a short video from which you will learn when rabbits are covered:

For a rabbit breeder, breeding rabbits does not seem too difficult, since these animals are very fertile at home. But those who are seriously involved in their breeding know how important it is for a successful result to control the mating of rabbits, so that the livestock remains healthy and viable, valuable females do not wear out prematurely, unwanted crossbreeding and degeneration of breeds do not occur, and there are no disappointments after birth.

Mating must be carefully controlled to maintain livestock health

When are rabbits ready to breed?

Rabbits are precocious animals. They begin to reproduce within a few months after birth. But at what age is this most appropriate?

Usually for small breeds this is at least 4 months old, but for higher quality offspring it is better not to rush and wait another month or two. The minimum body weight of a female is 2.5 kg for small rabbits.

In heavier breeds, maturation occurs more slowly, and they are ready for reproduction at 6 months of age. And after 8 months they are allowed to mate. Having reached puberty, rabbits begin to intensively mark the cage.

To prevent unwanted mating of rabbits from occurring, young animals must be seated separately by gender in advance. To do this, it is necessary to determine the gender of the pets as accurately as possible.

Small breeds are ready to breed when they reach 4 months of age

Learning to distinguish the sex of rabbits

The genital organs of rabbits are designed in such a special way that it is difficult to distinguish individuals of the opposite sex without skill, so it is simply necessary for a novice rabbit breeder to learn how to determine the sex of their pets. If you ignore this skill, then you can get into trouble and not see the long-awaited offspring by planting same-sex animals together. Then you will have to constantly consult with a specialist, and this is a waste of time and money.

Regarding the age at which sex can already be determined, this is at least one month, although even experienced breeders make mistakes. After giving birth, it is problematic to do this, since it is better not to touch the baby rabbits again with your hands, otherwise the rabbit may stop feeding, and these signs are not yet clearly visible.

Therefore, when buying rabbits, especially when there is not enough experience, it is best to adhere to the rules:

when buying a baby rabbit, you should not take the sellers’ word for it, sometimes they have the goal of selling the animal and may give false information;
therefore, you can ask for help from a person who understands the issue thoroughly;
when knowledge is present, but there are also doubts, then it is better not to rush, but to postpone the purchase until next time;
When choosing, it is better to give preference to babies who are already 2 months old; at this age, sexual characteristics are already more pronounced.

The easiest way to determine the sex of rabbits is after they reach two months of age.

Gender of the adult animal

Finding out the sex of a mature rabbit is not difficult, the difficulty is in keeping a fairly strong animal. In addition, their hind legs are dangerous; they can hit and injure with their sharp claws. In order to find out the gender you need to:

the animal sits down on a low plane, then firmly grasps the withers with the right hand;
now the rabbit must be lifted and sat on its hind legs, then instantly thrown over onto its tail;
it is important to do this quickly so that he does not twist or roll over on his stomach, and in this position it is difficult to resist him;
Without letting go of the scruff of the neck, with the other hand, stretching the skin, you need to examine the place where his genitals are located;
pressing them with your fingers from top to bottom, as if squeezing them out;
the genital slit will open wider, the female rabbit can be recognized by a sharp triangle resembling a tongue;
The male will develop a penis shaped like a small bullet. In males, small tubercles are easily palpable - these are the testicles. When they are clearly expressed, then the animal can no longer be tormented and released; it is definitely a male. There must only be two testicles, otherwise it suffers from cryptorchidism, and such individuals are discarded.

The hind legs of large individuals are very dangerous and can seriously injure the breeder.

Male rabbit

Determining the sex of young rabbits

In rabbits, the organs are not clearly visible and for this it is better to use a magnifying glass. If you lightly press in the middle of the cloaca and genitals, then in females nothing will be visible, but in males a small bulge will appear, with a hole in the middle.

Before you start selecting rabbits, it would be useful to practice on adult animals, noticing the slightest nuances and differences.

Sometimes some people try to determine the sex by the behavior of animals, but this is not a selection criterion. Even animals of the same sex, especially young animals, are capable of jumping on each other. This happens due to seething hormones at a young age or from a showdown.

In adulthood, the difference is more noticeable in secondary characteristics. Males are more courageous, larger, with a massive head, this is especially noticeable in large breeds.

Little male rabbit

Manufacturers' choice

The selection of rabbits for the breed can begin almost immediately after birth. The largest rabbits are noticed; they will subsequently continue the family line. Activity, good appetite, weight gain are the keys to health and excellent productivity.

After mating, one can judge the sire more objectively, so culling of those animals that did not live up to expectations is inevitable. A female's abilities are usually revealed most clearly after giving birth. Therefore, during this procedure the following should be excluded from the list:

it is no longer advisable to use a rabbit that has eaten her cubs or refused to feed her as a breeder;
also those who had miscarriages 2 times in a row;
after several matings it was not possible to get pregnant;
females giving birth to less than 4 rabbits;
rabbits are not suitable for breeding when a third of the matings are unsuccessful;
also too nervous and restless;
aged animals, usually after 2 years of active use.

To obtain healthy rabbits, take females without previous birth defects

Preparation

Before mating begins, the following procedures must be carried out:

before mating, two weeks before mating, concentrated feed should be increased, but hay and branches can be left in the same amount;
It is not recommended to overfeed a rabbit, otherwise she will not be able to get pregnant;
the rabbit can be given steamed grain and boiled potatoes;
It is important to conduct a preliminary inspection of the livestock; sick animals with signs of malaise or a rash on the skin should be removed.

The day before, the rabbit should be checked for heat. This can be understood when the genital loop swells and acquires a bright pink color. Sometimes females begin to worry and eat poorly.

The average duration of estrus for a female is 4 days. In warm weather, its frequency is every 2 weeks, in winter - approximately 10 days.

The mating will be more successful if one of the partners is much older and more experienced. One male is capable of qualitatively fertilizing 5 female rabbits. You can allow up to 2 females to approach your rabbit per day, but it is better to give him a break.

Rabbits are capable of breeding at any time of the year, but the preferred time for giving birth when kept outdoors is summer. When they are in a cage with a warm nest, the season does not matter.

Rabbits produce the best offspring in the summer

Pairing

Some people mistakenly believe that rabbits can mate in any cage. The female is certainly transplanted to the male; if you do the opposite, the attempt will be unsuccessful. The male will feel insecure and uncomfortable in an unfamiliar place, will begin to be distracted by exploring the territory, and may not respond to his partner.

Before mating, the room needs to be thoroughly cleaned and excess items removed from the cage, as this can interfere with the important process.

Usually the procedure goes without complications, and the animals, guided by instinct, know what needs to be done.

The female is covered when the rabbit falls on its side after the act, emitting a peculiar rumbling sound. After mating, fertilization can occur within 24 hours.

To be sure, you can carry out a control mating, allowing the manufacturer to cover the rabbit again in a few days. If she avoids him, hits him with her hind legs or snorts, this means that pregnancy has occurred and she remains to wait for the birth.

Another method, when the female rabbit is left with the rabbit for several days, is usually the most productive.

The female rabbit can be left with the rabbit for several days

How to determine pregnancy?

You can understand that the rabbit is pregnant by her behavior with the rabbit at the control mating, when she is favorable to him, so fertilization did not occur.

Sometimes an uncovered female behaves like a fertilized rabbit: she carries hay, plucks fluff, but does not give birth. This is a false pregnancy.

Therefore, to be completely sure, 2 weeks after the rabbits are mated, she will be examined for pregnancy.

Carefully, trying not to scare the rabbit, you need to feel her belly with your fingers. If she is pregnant, you can feel small balls on her belly, these are embryos. When they are not felt, this means that pregnancy has not occurred.

To determine pregnancy, you need to carefully palpate the abdomen

Inbreeding

Inbreeding is an extremely undesirable phenomenon. Its consequences after birth are weak offspring, reduced immunity, diseases, various deformities and mutations, and death of embryos. This sometimes happens if the mating of rabbits occurred without permission, when the owner did not have time to seat the matured youngsters or the animals were kept in a crowd.

Sometimes, when new breeds are born, breeders are forced to cross related pairs, but this is done by breeders, based on scientific data and controlling the process.

It happens that it is not possible to dilute the “old blood” at home, then inbreeding occurs out of necessity, that is, forced. In this case, you should follow the rules:

Mating rabbits and being too closely related is extremely undesirable. The farther it is, the lower the risk of getting low-quality young stock.
For mating, you can choose only healthy sires.
It is better to slaughter the resulting offspring and sell the meat. Whenever the opportunity arises, buy a rabbit or a female rabbit from another farm.

Individuals resulting from inbreeding are not allowed to reproduce

Interbreeding

Many inexperienced rabbit breeders are interested in the question: is it possible to cross rabbits at home if they are of different breeds?

This method is quite applicable when a breeder wants to improve economic traits. Such crossing allows you to obtain healthier, larger offspring, less feed is consumed, and weight gain is more pronounced.

Sometimes interbreeding is used when they want to get rid of the shortcomings of some breeds or develop new ones. But the result will be if rabbits of different but compatible breeds are selected, a male gray giant can be crossed with a female chinchilla or Viennese blue. Downy rabbits and rabbits raised for the sale of their skins cannot be crossed.

Downy and skinned rabbits should not be mixed with each other.

Mating after childbirth

A day after giving birth, the female goes into heat, but now her task is to feed the litter, which is why mating rabbits during this period is not recommended.

Some breeders who do not care about the condition of their pets practice this method, and the female, when she finishes feeding the rabbits, is ready for another birth. But when this happens very quickly after the previous litter, it greatly depletes her body and the next offspring will no longer be as viable, and they will not reach high weight levels. Therefore, at this time, the female rabbit should be kept away from the males.

Let her rest for a month or two, and then with renewed vigor you can begin the mating process.

Breeding rabbits is a fascinating activity and a profitable business. Even at home, you can achieve unprecedented results with a competent approach, planning of births, and careful selection of sires and breeds.

Regular mating of rabbits at home will not be a problem for novice breeders if you conscientiously study the organization of the process. The creation of suitable conditions for reproduction and the time factor play an important role. Although these animals are considered good producers, an uncontrolled increase in the number of animals is difficult for the females. In order for the herd to be replenished with strong individuals, it is necessary to choose the right pair, prepare the animals for mating and monitor the mating procedure.

Puberty age

First, let’s determine at what age rabbits should be bred for the first time. They are considered sexually mature from 3 months of birth. This means that the female is already capable of conceiving and bearing offspring, but it is better not to rush. Although the rabbits are already “ripe”, it is worth waiting until 4-5 months. The eared organism will get stronger and prepare for the process.

Reproduction of rabbits at home occurs from 5-7 months if the animals are raised for meat. It is advisable not to keep animals longer than this age. Otherwise, they will begin to gain excess weight and lose interest in the opposite sex. If such long-eared animals are combined, the offspring will be few in number.

So, let’s determine at what age rabbits can be mated. Too early sex leads to abortions, a small number of cubs and low milk production of rabbits. A male is selected that is 1.5-2 months older than the female. It is better to take one breed, but remember that a rabbit of any type matures later.

It turns out that the ideal age for breeding rabbits is about six months for a female, and 6-7 months for a male.

Breed all year round

Under suitable housing conditions, rabbits breed throughout the year. The female rabbit is ready to mate once a week, during the period of hunting (ovulation). It lasts 1-2 days. You can determine that the female is ready for mating by her genitals (loop), which turn red and swell.

When the females begin the hunting period, a male is offered to her. The right thing to do would be to put her in his cage. If there is no aggression between them, then the rabbits mate very quickly—a few seconds.

When the act is over, the female rabbit is left for a short time in the male’s cage. During this time, another attempt at fertilization may occur. Sometimes animals live in the same cage for 7 days until intercourse occurs.

Best time and rest periods

In summer, it is advisable to cross rabbits in the morning, when there is no heat. In winter, lunchtime is suitable when the air warms up.

The average number of litters for a healthy female is 6-7 per year. Mating of rabbits in winter is considered the most successful among farmers. Winter cubs are better adapted to harsh conditions. Such individuals have good fur, which is important if rabbits are raised for their skins. During this period, the female rabbit hunts less frequently (1-2 times a month).

In winter, rabbits breed in a warm room (19-27 degrees). The animals are well fed. For them, the daylight hours are increased 1-2 weeks before mating and during it (12 hours a day).

In summer, more rabbits are born, but they are pampered. Spring and autumn periods are the most unfavorable. During these months, you need to give your rabbits rest.

To begin the mating process for the first time, the female must finish her first molt, and the male must finish her second. When it is not finished, animals die, since the body is not yet prepared.

Forming a couple

Let's talk about how to make rabbits. From the young stock, individuals are selected that are ready for reproduction and are suitable in age. These are healthy and strong rabbits with good breed characteristics. They are moderately well-fed, without physical abnormalities and without obesity.

A female with well-developed nipples is preferable. If she has already given birth, then the milk production is assessed, which should be high. The animals are culled. They give the opportunity to reproduce only to fertile female rabbits who are not inclined to eat their offspring. Unacceptable qualities are aggression, willfulness and sterility.

For breeding purposes, related animals cannot be created. If there are not enough livestock, then you can take a male from other farms (but first put him in quarantine). Details in articles and.

Eliminate family ties

Inbreeding (inbreeding) can occur accidentally, and sometimes even forcedly. Remember that regular mating of rabbits related by blood leads to degeneration in the herd.

For procreation, it is advisable to choose young animals that are born in winter. Also, rabbits with good breeding characteristics are taken from the early litter of female rabbits. When choosing a strong individual, you need to pay attention to the closest relatives.

There should be no weak or sick among brothers and sisters. Mothers of future sires have miscarriages or bad character. The cubs usually inherit all this.

If a female is mated for the first time, then it is advisable to let an experienced partner in. A skilled female rabbit is selected for a rabbit that has not yet participated in the mating process.

In a familiar environment

Before you start mating rabbits, take into account the following nuances:

when the female rabbit is ready to mate, they transplant the female into the rabbit’s cage (a familiar environment is important for the male);
Remove everything from the cage that could interfere with sexual intercourse and the insemination process (feeders, drinking bowls);
In summer, sexual intercourse is desirable in the early morning, in winter - before 16.00, during daylight hours;
for convenience, a ribbon is tied to the rabbit’s tail and at the right moment it is lifted to expose her genitals;
if necessary, the rabbit’s fur is trimmed near the loop so that it does not interfere with the process;
when the male has covered the female rabbit, he falls on his side and makes a rumbling sound or squeak, which indicates that everything is over and the female can be removed.

These nuances are typical if the rabbit was placed briefly, for a few hours. At the same time, the animals must be constantly observed to notice how they mate. Sometimes it is better for a farmer to keep a female rabbit if the mating games are prolonged and the rabbits are distracted from the main task.

Relocation for a week

You can also breed rabbits by leaving the guest with the male for a longer time. This means that the female needs to be placed with the rabbit for 5-7 days. Within a week, she will come into a state of hunting and mating occurs at the right moment.

Animals themselves determine the good time. First, the couple is observed to see if there is sympathy. Often partners fight. If the aggression does not go away, then it is best to seat them.

We remember about proper feeding. Two weeks before mating, we feed the animals with fortified food. The diet of males includes steamed oats and boiled potatoes. Females are given concentrates, hay and twig food. It is also important not to disturb the individuals and prevent temperature changes in the room where they live.

Control mating

Often, after mating of rabbits, fertilization does not occur. There is no guarantee that after the first mating by a male, the female rabbit will become pregnant. Therefore, after 5-6 days a second mating is carried out. This process helps check whether the animals were successfully mated.

When the female is aggressive and does not allow the trusted rabbit to approach, then most likely repeated sexual intercourse is not required. This behavior confirms the fact of pregnancy.

But if a female individual allows the male to approach, then the rabbits begin intercourse. This date of mating is marked as the first, and after it, a control replanting of the female rabbit is carried out again after 5-6 days.

If the mating of the rabbits was successful, then after 15 days the female’s abdominal cavity is palpated to rule out a false pregnancy. The presence of oblong lumps connected in chains confirms successful fertilization. At the same time, the behavior of the expectant mother changes. The rabbit becomes calmer and eats well.

Refusal to mate

Most often, when the female rabbit is ready to mate, there are no difficulties with this. But sometimes she may not allow the rabbit to come near her. An aggressive female individual must be quickly removed.

After some time, the attempt to bring the animals closer is repeated. This happens the next morning or evening. If the female still continues to be stubborn, then another partner is chosen for her (and vice versa). You can find out why rabbits behave this way from the article.

Breeding rabbits are often disturbed by extraneous noises that make it difficult for them to concentrate. It is important not to confuse protracted mating games of animals with refusal of mating. In the latter option, the female is very categorical and does not allow the rabbit to approach her at all.

How many days after birth should you mate?

Rabbits reproduce quickly and throughout the year. Let's consider when you can give birth to a female rabbit after giving birth. This process can occur at different intervals. But the farmer must control everything in order to get high-quality healthy offspring.

Although the female is ready to mate within a day after giving birth, she is given time to rest and restore her body. This requires at least a month. During these thirty days, the offspring are gradually separated from their mother.

Two days after the rabbits have been weaned, the process of inseminating the rabbits can begin again. Meanwhile, the female should return to the state of hunting. You will learn how to determine this moment by the signs described above.

With the compacted litter technique, the animals have intercourse within 2-3 days after the birth of the offspring. The female rabbit feeds the first litter while carrying the second. On the 28th day, the fed young are removed, and the female soon gives birth again.

It is undesirable for animals to reproduce like this all the time. The female's body does not have time to recover, and she dies.

Failed delivery

Since rabbits breed and reproduce quickly, unsuccessful births often occur. These are abortions (termination of pregnancy), premature birth, natural death of offspring or eating rabbit meat by the mother.

Certain rules help to act in such situations. Once fertilization has occurred, it is important to prevent repeated mating. Because the rabbit is already pregnant. Due to two sections in the uterus, a female who has been bred again begins to give birth prematurely. It happens that first one dead rabbit is born, and then the rest of the litter (in due time).

If the cubs die after birth, or they are stillborn, then there is no need to immediately cover the female rabbit. The cause of this situation is determined, and endometritis is prevented (with the help of antibiotics).

When a female is sick with listeriosis, she experiences spontaneous miscarriages or resorption of embryos. In this case, the rabbit relatives have every chance of becoming infected, so the sick female is slaughtered. When a female rabbit self-aborts for any other reason, she should not breed further.