Breeding
Does are induced ovulators, and can therefore be bred at almost any time after reaching sexual maturity. Does of small breeds (Mini Rex, Polish) normally reach sexual maturity at 4 to 5 months, medium breeds (New Zealand, Rex) normally reach sexual maturity at 5 to 6 months, and large breeds (Flemish Giant, Checkered Giant) normally reach sexual maturity at 6 to 7 months. Males usually require more time to fully mature, and normally reach adult sperm counts between 6–7 months. Due to the territorial nature of female rabbits, it is standard practice for the doe to always be brought to the buck’s cage. When the doe is brought to the bucks’ cage, he quickly mounts her, performs pelvic thrusting culminating in orgasm, and “flops” off. The whole act may take less than 30 seconds, and is often repeated several times. When he is finished, the buck should then be removed, but many breeders will reintroduce the buck a few hours later to increase the size of the litter.
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Famous quotes containing the word breeding:
“We have been God-like in our planned breeding of our domesticated plants and animals, but we have been rabbit-like in our unplanned breeding of ourselves.”
—A.J. (Arnold Joseph)
“The breeding we give young people is ordinarily but an additional self-love, by which we make them have a better opinion of themselves.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)
“Civility, which is a disposition to accommodate and oblige others, is essentially the same in every country; but good breeding, as it is called, which is the manner of exerting that disposition, is different in almost every country, and merely local; and every man of sense imitates and conforms to that local good breeding of the place which he is at.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)