What is the Best Age to Start Breeding My Rabbits?

Questions about the ideal age to start breeding rabbits are common amongst new breeders. This age can vary a lot depending on the rabbit’s sex, breed, and individual characteristics.

Keep reading to learn more about recommended ages and why it’s important to adhere to them!

Males vs. Females

Males can be bred much sooner than females. Basically, once a buck has sexually matured, he can safely breed. Younger bucks may be a bit shy at first, but you can usually start trying to breed them around 5 months. Giant breed bucks may need a few extra weeks. Don’t be too worried if your buck doesn’t catch on right away though! Check him out to make sure his genitals look healthy and if everything is good to go, keep trying.

Does on the other hand are a little different. It is important to breed at the recommended age or weight for your doe.

The Maturity Factor

First time does are notorious for mothering “accidents.” Delivering outside the nest box, not building an adequate nest, generally not knowing what to do with her babies, these are reasons it’s good advice to always breed a proven doe at the same time as your first time doe just in case you need a foster mom.

Don’t be too worried if your doe isn’t a great mom at first! Around their second or third litter, most of the kinks are usually worked out.

Know what’s even worse than a first time mom, though? A first time mom that’s too young. Provided she delivers safely, these does are often generally lacking in mothering instincts. You might get lucky and everything turns out great, but a 4 or 5 month old doe really can’t be blamed for losing a litter.

So What Age Should I Start Breeding my Does?

The general recommended age to breed a doe for the first time is 6 months. This can however vary based on your rabbit’s breed and genetics.

Dwarf and Small Breeds

Dwarf and small breeds mature faster than large and giant breeds. Because of this, some breeders choose to breed their rabbits as early as 5 months. Before considering if you should breed your doe at 5 months, you should evaluate her weight. A general recommendation is to only breed a doe at 5 months if she is at least 80% of her expected adult weight. Keep in mind that breeding this young can potentially stunt your rabbit’s growth, she may be at greater risk for delivery complications, and does at this age often do not have as much success raising a litter as more mature does.

If you are unsure, it doesn’t hurt to give your doe the extra month.

Medium and Large Breeds

Often, rabbits in these size ranges are best to be bred for the first time at 6 months.

The exceptions to this rule are some commercial breeds. These rabbits are most commonly from New Zealand or Californian decent and come from lines that are bred for fast growth and excellent mothering instincts. If from the right genetics, these does can have quite a bit of success with their first litters when bred at 5 months. Before deciding whether to go ahead and breed your doe, make sure she is at least 80% of her expected adult weight.  

Giant Breeds

Giant breeds are known to mature at a slower rate than other breeds. Because of this, breeders often wait until 8 months to breed their does for the first time.

Don’t Wait Too Long

While it’s important not to breed your doe too young, it is also important to not let her get too old before delivering her first litter if you want to breed her. If you wait too long to breed your doe for the first time, internal fat will naturally begin lining her reproductive organs. This can make conception very difficult. This is why it is best to breed your rabbit for the first time at least by 1 year old for best conception chances, and regularly after that. Does that are given significant time between liters (1 year+) can be difficult to get to conceive again.

Conclusion

Determining the best age to breed your rabbits requires careful consideration of various factors, including the rabbit’s sex, maturity, and breed. Bucks can be bred younger and are often fine to start breeding at 5 months. For does the general rule is to wait until 6 months unless they are a giant breed, in which case wait until 8 months. In some instances, you can breed at 5 months, but this depends heavily on your rabbit’s breed, development, and genetics. By adhering to recommended breeding ages and ensuring that your rabbits are healthy and at an appropriate weight, you can set your rabbits up for success in producing healthy offspring while minimizing risk to your does.