Rockin W Rabbits

So you want to get a rabbit?

Well here are some tips for first timers that we have learned over the years of raising rabbits. If you take our advice and tips you are on your way to a happy rabbitry!

 Go to a rabbit show so that you can see all the different breeds of rabbits. See how large the adults get before buying a young rabbit.. it may grow to 25lbs!

 Talk to the breeders, we found that rabbit breeders are very friendly and will guide you in the best direction.

 Buy the best that you can afford. Starting with the best stock will pay off when it comes time to breed and develop a line of your own. Be willing to wait for good stock, patience pays off too!

 Keep a clean hutch, water bowls or bottles, and fresh feed. Do not overfeed your rabbits. Always keep clean water for your rabbit.

 Handle your rabbit everyday. This way you can see if something is wrong with your rabbit and catch it before you rabbit gets ill. Also, handling makes the rabbit use to people and this helps if you are going to show it.

 Keep your rabbits cool in summer by using frozen water bottles and a piece of tile in their cage. Overheating causes death quickly in rabbits. Never put your rabbit in the sun for any length of time.

 Keep your rabbit out of the wind and rain in the winter. Rabbits can handle most low temperatures, but not if they get wet or have a strong north wind blowing on them all night! Stuff hay in the cage so they can burrow in it to keep warm.

 Keep a radio in the barn going so that the rabbits are use to noise when they go to shows that they have to be there overnight. This keeps their stress level lower.

Feed your rabbits Timothy hay once a week, this keeps roughage in their diet and helps them with digestion.

 Become involved in your local 4-H or FFA group. Also become a member of ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association), your state rabbit club and breed specialty club. The people involved in these clubs are always willing to help and give advice with any problems or questions.

    All breeds have standards that the judges go by to judge the breeds.  If you are going to show rabbits you need to purchase the book, Standard of Perfection.  This is the ARBA rule book.  It is very wise to buy this book BEFORE you purchase your show stock. It will tell you what judges are looking for in each breed.

      If you are going to get a dutch rabbit to show, they are judged on markings as well as type, coat condition and overall appearance.  Here are some markings that you will want to be aware of when looking for show quality stock.  "Fault" is in reference to a deduction of points.  Please notice that different rabbits are used to show different good and bads of a Dutch.

It is VERY HARD to breed the PERFECT MARKED DUTCH 

This Steel Dutch had a good overall body type, nice head,

                shoulders and roundness to body.

This Dutch has good depth. That is the height just in front of the hip area. Be

careful that the shoulders don't dip down then the rise, you want a nice even rise

              This Dutch has nice round cheek circles

 This Dutch has "hooked" cheeks, this is only a fault and not a disqualification

This Dutch has a clean neck, meaning the white goes into a "V" between the ears,

anything else is just a fault.  This Dutch also has a straight saddle. Jags or bias

in saddle are faults.

Where the color "stops" and the white begins on a Dutch is called "the stops"

This should be straight across, these are "bias" stops because they are slanted.

This again is only a fault.

 

More Lessons to come.............