Before you Think of Breeding Holland Lops....
One of the best parts of raising rabbits is breeding them. However, before you even think of starting, you need to analyze WHY you want to breed and raise rabbits. There are right and wrong reasons for wanting to do so.
To breed rabbits, you need a few vital tools that you can't buy at a store.
Just like hang gliding and surfing isn't for everyone, neither is breeding rabbits.
If breeding rabbits is REALLY something you want to do, I think it's time for you to move on to my next page, Breeding Holland Lops!
To breed rabbits, you need a few vital tools that you can't buy at a store.
- A stated purpose for breeding rabbits. Rabbits should not be bred to experience the value of life, because baby bunnies are cute, or because you have a buck and doe...so why not. Clear, good objectives such as bettering the breed, increasing the health and vitality of your herd, or raising rabbits for meat will help you select the best breeding pairs and get you on the right road in raising rabbits.
- A reliable demand for for the bunnies you produce. You cannot keep every rabbit you produce, unless you only want 1-2 litters (which can still result in 10 or more rabbits). The pet market is shaky at best. The world just doesn't need more pet rabbits produced.
- Suitable equipment for keeping multiple animals. This you will need to buy in a store (or online). You will need at least 4 cages for breeding just one pair of rabbits and having one litter. The buck and doe cannot live together, and once the babies are a certain age they will need to be separated by sex or you could end up with a lot more litters then you bargained for.
- Suitable budget. Rabbits are relatively low-cost animal to keep, raise and breed, compared to a dog or horse. However, as you begin to produce litters, and the size of your herd increases, the cost of feed and hay will go up. Then there's the cost of cages and other supplies that you just can't live without in raising and breeding rabbits.
- Ample knowledge. Learn as much as you can about rabbit husbandry before you breed your first pair. This website is a great place to start! If your new to rabbit ownership, I recommend keeping a rabbit for a few months or even a few years before deciding to breed. It will be very disappointing to sell rabbits a year after you begin breeding because you thought rabbits were completely different. Better to re-home 1 pet then several breeding rabbits. It's also best to know the habits, personality and temperament of the individual rabbits before you breed them. A relationship with an experienced breeder is invaluable and should not be overlooked. You will most certainly run into questions!
- A flexible schedule. Rabbits give birth at any time of day or night. You need to be there in case of complications. Then there's the babies to think about. They are very vulnerable the first month of life, and it's best that you be there to make sure mom is doing everything right.
Just like hang gliding and surfing isn't for everyone, neither is breeding rabbits.
If breeding rabbits is REALLY something you want to do, I think it's time for you to move on to my next page, Breeding Holland Lops!