When Are Rabbits Old Enough to Breed?

If you are interested in breeding rabbits, you will need to calculate the age at when your rabbits are old enough to breed. Rabbits mature at different rates depending on their size, breed, nutrition and environment. If you have questions about breeding rabbits, it's a good idea to consult the breeder who you got your rabbits from. He or she will know about the family history of maturation and parenting behavior of your breeding pair.

It is critical to know when your rabbits are old enough to breed, because a pregnancy in a very young female rabbit can result in the death of the mother or her offspring. Before the doe is fully developed, a pregnancy can cause her death because it drains her of nutrition and muscle mass. The babies may also be too large to fit through her birth canal, in which case she and the babies will all die without immediate veterinary care.

When determining if you rabbit is old enough to breed, you need to be aware of the rabbit's emotional and mental maturity as well as its physical maturity. A young doe may be physically capable of conceiving a pregnancy and giving birth, but she may not be able to care for her young properly until she is older. Breed your rabbit only when she behaves like an adult, consistently acting independently of her parents and siblings.

In general, female rabbits are physically old enough to breed sooner than males. A small-breed doe, such as a mini-rex or Netherland dwarf, can mate at 5 months of age. A medium-breed doe, such as a standard rex or English spot, is not ready until she has reached 6 months old. Does from large breeds, such as the New Zealand, are old enough to mate at 7 months of age, and giant breeds like the French lop should not mate until they are 8 months old or more.

Because bucks mature slightly later than does, they generally need about one month longer than their female counterparts. A male rabbit will have fully descended, functioning testicles at 6 months of age if he is a small breed. Medium-breed bucks are old enough to mate when they are 7 months old. Large-breed males can mate at 8 months of age, and giant males are fully mature at 8.5- 9 months.

There are several signs that can give you a clue that your rabbits are old enough to breed. They will begin to emit a strong, musky odor-- particularly the males. The male rabbits will have visible testicles that may be somewhat "dangly," particularly when they are interested in mating. A mature female rabbit will have a reddish or violet vent area during her fertile days (about 13 out of every 15 days).

If you have chosen a good breeding pair and both of your rabbits are old enough to mate, it's time to get started. Be sure that you have proper housing accommodations and plans regarding your future kits. Responsibiltiy is a key component of pet guardianship and breeding.