4-H Rabbit Showing

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

What is the best breed for showing in 4-H? Would Dwarf Hotots be OK? I just LOVE them!!! How could I get them groomed and trained for show? What is a good age to buy them at? What kind of food is the best? How should I take care of them? If I got 2 which would be best, male w/female, female w/female, or male w/ male? If I bred them, how should I care for them? How could I tell she was pregnant? How should I take care of the kits?

Thanks

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

I think a lot of it depends on what your local program is like. I think many focus on the meet breeds and raising "meat pen" rabbits, but I do know SOME have a good focus on things like handling and caring for your rabbit, and a knowledge-bowl kind of round with rabbit trivia. If your local club is more like that, then I think a Dwarf Hotot would be fine and dandy! Try to find a local breeder that will work with you and show you the tricks of the trade, if possible.

I would also recommend joining the American Rabbit Breeder's Association and any local rabbit clubs, if possible. Adults really like to help and work with serious youth, if you show that you're really into the hobby and want to stick with it.

 

[RabbitMage]

Have you contacted your local 4-H rabbit group yet?

 

[Sumatra503]

It's a good idea to have a few small calm bunnies around if you plan on raising the meat rabbits. It's always hard for kids to handle the larger meat rabbits.

Around here kids tend to focus on raising an dhandling. A couple focus on breeding and I had the only Meat pen this year.

There can be some good money in the youth auction here. I made $775.00 from my pen. Of course the half I chose to spend is gone now, but the other half is safe in my college fund.

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Thanks!!! I don't want to raise a meat pen. What would be the best breed for showing?

 

[dutchhollow]

If you choose one of the 'meat' breeds, you can show them in the breed class as a 'meat pen' and as individual fryers and broilers, much more showing then just one of the small type rabbits. Any arba recognized breed if fine, just pick one you like. Hotots would be fine, in some areas they are hard to find. Male or female doesn't matter , some males are more laid back, don't buy from someone who breeds aggressive or growly rabbits (yes they do exist). Just remember you have to have one cage per rabbit, rarely do they do well together, and the fight can be savage and result in death. My advice is to visit the arba website, look at breeds, find one that appeals to you, then look for breeders in your area. Start small, one or two rabbits, and after a year if you still like it build from there.

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Thanks!! Any other tips?

 

[vicki2x2]

You can choose any breed you like to show, technically, they will all have an equal shot, though some breeds do tend to be showier, if that makes sense. However, a really nice rabbit is going to do well, no matter what breed it is. Also showmanship is all based on you and how you handle your rabbit and how much you know about rabbits, so it doesn't matter what breed you have for that.

Dwarf Hotot's are a pretty rare breed, but a very nice one. I think if you can get a nice one or a couple of nice ones, you would do well with them. Do some research, talk to some breeders and go for it!!

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Quote:
Thanks!!!

This is my first year soo................. I need to know how to care for them. Any tips?

 

[vicki2x2]

Each rabbit will need their own cage, they don't do well together, to much of a chance of fighting, or chewing on each others fur, which would not be good for showing. A good quality feed, not anything you can buy at walmart or a pet store with seeds or stuff in it, that stuff it first off, old, second, poor quality. Then they need hay to munch on, or another type of fiber that several rabbit breeders have recently told me they are using is plain cheerios. A handful a week or a few a day, my buns love them. They need protection for the weather, so where to get out of the wind, rain, snow and sun. So a roof and at least a couple of sides, or inside a building with good ventilation. Heat will kill a rabbit quicker than cold. So when it is hot, plenty of fresh water, even frozen water bottles will help.

To show, trim nails, make sure the inside of their ears are clean. Sometimes their need to be wiped down with a wet wipe for stray hairs or little stains. Cornstarch can help with small stains too. Holding them often and working the showmanship steps helps get used to being handled and makes it easier when you are showing them. Treats are fine, in moderation. Careful of diarrhea, it is deadly to bunnies. If they get it, stop whatever treat immediately, offer hay and oats to stop the diarrhea.

A great book to have is ARBA Standard of Perfection, this will really help with showmanship, as there is tons of info on different breeds, rabbits in general, health, the different types of fur, body types, eye colors, number of teeth, reproduction, etc. and this is the type of questions they will ask you in showmanship.