Question experienced rabbit Breeders!

[Bunny B.]

Hi,

I am just starting to breed Holland Lops, and have a few questions,

(well I have tons but I will try to keep it to a min.) What is test breeding? Sorry that may sound like a really stupid question!

I will be showing this year for the first time, and would like to show one of the ones in some of my litters, but I am not really sure what to look for?

I know the basics like check for DQ and stuff but what else should I be looking for?

I also bought a doe a week ago and she just had her litter, it was her first. She lost a lot of wait, she had 5 and she is small to begin with,is there any thing I can give her in her diet to help her?

Thank you

 

[TinysMom]

Hi! Welcome to the wonderful (and sometimes heartbreaking) world of breeding!

1. 
   [align=left]To discover the specific colors behind the REW (Ruby Eyed White) you're working with[/align]
2. 
   [align=left] To discover if the rabbit is single mane or double mane (lionheads)[/align]
3. 
   [align=left] To discover if a rabbit carries maloclussion[/align]

[align=left]I'm sure there are other reasons too.[/align]
[align=left]Good luck with breeding Holllands. I am sort of breeding Hollands as Puck now has a girlfriend Milina (she's chocolate and he's broken black otter carring chocolate). She's very very very angry with me lately - she tries to bite the food thing I use to feed them with, etc. She's also looking just a weee bit chubby. I can hardly wait to see my PUCK BABIES!I'm hoping to get at least one broken chocolate out of this litter..butalas...I ramble too far from your questions (see what the cold medicine does to me?). :shock:[/align]
[align=left]Peg[/align]

 

[RogerL]

My suggestion along with Peg's is to go to shows and watch the judging.

Talk to other breeders about your breed, make friends, ask questions,

look at good quality rabbits of your chosen breed. Rabbit breeders are

very friendly people and are glad to help out new breeders. When your

babies are old enough ask an experienced breeder to evaluate the litter

with you. I still do that, it is easy to turn a blind eye to faults in a bunny

when you really like them. I get together with other experienced breeders

all the time, we compare our babies and pick the ones that we really like.



I would be careful supplementing your doe. It is a very delicate time for

a doe after she kindles. You do not want to increase her feed too much

after she kindles or you could bring on mastitis. Slowly increase her feed

until by the time the kits eyes are open she is on free feed. You could give

her some rolled oats and a few black oil sunflower seeds now, and slowly

add a little calf manna into her diet, not too much at once.

Good luck with your babies.

Roger L