Wondering how to survive being a breeder, preferably not tearing out your own hair in the process? Here are some general requirements for what you should expect to be doing:
•Be comfortable handling an aggressive pregnant doe.
•Be able to handle it if a kit, or two, or the whole litter dies.
•Be okay with being bitten.
•Be knowledgeable about medical problems associated with pregnancy and kindling.
•Be able to wean kits safely, thus preventing weaning enteritis in the kits and mastitis in the doe.
•Have pedigreed and brood/show quality breeding stock.
•Be able to palpate a pregnant doe.
•Be a registered member of ARBA.
•Be a registered member of your breed club.
•Have a registered rabbitry name.
•Have a working knowledge of the genetic inheritance of at least the basic 9 color genes and the possible alleles at each locus, the modifier genes, dwarf genes, and fur genes.
•Have all the supplies needed to take care of a pregnant doe and her kits.
•Have stacking wire cages in a secure location away from predators, mosquitoes, and the elements.
•Know what to do if the doe is a bad mom.
•Be comfortable handling an aggressive pregnant doe.
•Be able to handle it if a kit, or two, or the whole litter dies.
•Be okay with being bitten.
•Be knowledgeable about medical problems associated with pregnancy and kindling.
•Be able to wean kits safely, thus preventing weaning enteritis in the kits and mastitis in the doe.
•Have pedigreed and brood/show quality breeding stock.
•Be able to palpate a pregnant doe.
•Be a registered member of ARBA.
•Be a registered member of your breed club.
•Have a registered rabbitry name.
•Have a working knowledge of the genetic inheritance of at least the basic 9 color genes and the possible alleles at each locus, the modifier genes, dwarf genes, and fur genes.
•Have all the supplies needed to take care of a pregnant doe and her kits.
•Have stacking wire cages in a secure location away from predators, mosquitoes, and the elements.
•Know what to do if the doe is a bad mom.