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Post by Ozarks Tom on Nov 13, 2015 14:10:15 GMT
We've been raising New Zealands for about 5 years now, with very iffy results. This last breeding one had 3 huge kits on the wire, another wouldn't use the nest box and built her nest on the wire - 5 dead, and this morning one doe who'd had 5 didn't keep them properly covered and we lost 2. Of the 4 does, only one is a good mother, consistently raising 5 or 6 healthy kits.
Do we just have a bad bunch, or are there other breeds with better instincts?
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Post by nyhunter on Nov 13, 2015 14:51:05 GMT
I raised Nzw rabbits for a cpl years and all were great mothers with huge litters of 8, but i bought them threw a well known breeder. If i were you i would replace your breeders with new. Im getting back into rabbits now and am looking to buy a cpl new zealands to breed with my new champagne d' argent buck.
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Post by shellymay on Nov 13, 2015 20:01:18 GMT
It's been a long time but I use to raise rabbits, Californian rabbits is what I raised and always had good luck with that breed, but I never bred for winter kits.....
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Nov 14, 2015 10:42:23 GMT
I had Californians and NZ, most of mine of both breeds were very good mothers, but there were stinkers in both breeds as well. I gave each doe two tries, because sometimes it just takes time for new breeders to figure it out. If they weren't kindling at least 8 kits per litter and raising them, I culled them. With my good breeders, I saved replacement does from their litters, as I feel good mothering is to a great degree inherited. I didn't save breeders from any doe who didn't mother well the first time around and who didn't produce consistent litters.
If you're only getting 5 kits in a litter and/or they are not mothering well, I'd replace your does with new ones, preferably from a well established breeder with quality production stock.
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