Hob too old to breed???

[Yorkshire Ferreter 13]

Hi all, just looking for a bit of advise regarding my hobs; I've had them about 5 years and they've lived together all the time I've had them and apparently all their lives with no bother. This year i decided to buy in a pair of jills as the hobs are getting on now, especially the sandy who seems to have failed to get his winter coat this year. This makes me think that he won't be with us much longer, and wanted to get some kits out of him this coming spring as he's an excellent worker, what do you guys think, is he too old? We've predicted him to be about 7 or 8 years old, do you think he'll be up to scratch?

Also, if i breed from him will i be able to house him back with my other hob or will they fight do you think? Bearing in mind that my sandy hob is quite small and my other one is relatively large? Like i say they've both lived in harmony all their lives with no problems, however theres never been any jills around before now.  What do you guys reckon?

Thanks in advance, Jack 

[Arry 21,704]

Jack I think your main problem its getting a pair of gills that you can breed off they are hard to come by. Finding kits for sale will be easy but will put your program back by at least a year. Have you a mate who has some gills you could use your hob on and then have a couple of gill kits of the litter to keep your line going.

Cheers Arry

[Yorkshire Ferreter 13]

Sorry mate, don't think i made myself clear, i bought two jills last summer so I'm going to breed from them this coming spring. thank you anyway tho Arry.

Thank you, Jack 

[Arry 21,704]

Just try then mate nothing to loose.

Cheers Arry

[Yorkshire Ferreter 13]

fair enough then mate, just didn't know whether the age would vase any complications n'that.

Thanks, Jack

[Aussie Whip 4,097]

I bred my hob at eight and got 6 kits.You might find the other hob that didn't mate will try to bonk the  mated hob when he returns due to scent.Better keeping apart till the hobs come off season.

[Sirblessed 2,511]

On ‎16‎/‎01‎/‎2018 at 07:38, Yorkshire Ferreter said:

Hi all, just looking for a bit of advise regarding my hobs; I've had them about 5 years and they've lived together all the time I've had them and apparently all their lives with no bother. This year i decided to buy in a pair of jills as the hobs are getting on now, especially the sandy who seems to have failed to get his winter coat this year. This makes me think that he won't be with us much longer, and wanted to get some kits out of him this coming spring as he's an excellent worker, what do you guys think, is he too old? We've predicted him to be about 7 or 8 years old, do you think he'll be up to scratch?

Also, if i breed from him will i be able to house him back with my other hob or will they fight do you think? Bearing in mind that my sandy hob is quite small and my other one is relatively large? Like i say they've both lived in harmony all their lives with no problems, however theres never been any jills around before now.  What do you guys reckon?

Thanks in advance, Jack 

Women are trouble, you know there will be drama 

[terryd 8,409]

Funny you should say about a winter coat. My old jill has not puts hers on and she is pretty ancient now

Be sad as she is a cracker. I took her out at the weekend and she did her bit as all ways but was struggling when I got her home

 

 

Good luck with your breeding program I am sure it will work out

 

Edited January 16, 2018 by terryd

[gnipper 6,459]

My 2 hobs are father and son and were always fine together but I studded them both out this summer and they were going to kill each other and still are now.

[tsteve9999 456]

Same as Gnipper I think you could have a problem after they have both mated.

They seem to get very territorial after breeding so which ever hob you put back in the original pen will get knocked about by the other, you may end up having to let them live as pairs with the jills.