Critique Rabbits ANOTHER RABBIT ADDED

[Heartlandrabbitry]

I think you need to get the ARBA Standard of Perfection book, it has all the breeds in it with the standards to each breed. If you are going to be in 4-H you need to learn about the breeds and what you are looking for.

 

[vicki2x2]

You also need to check the toenails for correct color, check the teeth, etc. It would be best to have someone familiar with ND to help you pick one out if you want one for showing, or talk to several breeders and hopefully find one that is honest and will take you under their wing and sell you a nice one for a decent price. The doe's ears look a little long for a ND, but I will be honest, the are not my breed, so I don't know that much about them.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Toby, please take this in the least aggressive way possible:

SLOW DOWN.

You MUST do your research or you're going to be taken advantage of. Get the book if you are SERIOUS about showing and breeding QUALITY rabbits. If you are not, please don't even bother getting an unaltered rabbit. There are thousands of unwanted rabbits out there already because someone thought they were cute and couldn't cull their "babies" without you adding to the mix.

Learn the genetics behind coat colors, learn the genetics of what you are looking for in a show rabbit. LEARN it. Not just listen to it and forget it 10 minutes later. It costs just as much to feed a poor rabbit that will never win as it does to feed a rabbit that will win and earn you a good reputation in the rabbit show world.

 

[RabbitMage]

My advice to you is to keep reading, Toby. Get the ARBA Standard of Perfection-but wait a week or two, I believe the new one is coming out after Convention. READ IT. A LOT. How many points is the head on a ND worth? The hindquarters? Ears? Fur? What are the disqualifications?

Have you read up about peanuts? Max factor kits? Are you sure you can handle those situations?

Read about color genetics. Again. A LOT. What color do you want to specialize in? More than one? Are the colors genetically compatible? Many are not.

GO TO A SHOW. Watch the breed you want being judged. Listen to the judge's comments, look at the animals and how the judge is placing them.

When you buy a rabbit, arrange to meet the breeder at the show. Have the breeder show you a rabbit, have them tell you about the good and bad points. Before the show officially starts or during the lunch break, approach one of the judges and tell them you're new, and you'd like their opinion on a rabbit you're thinking of buying. Usually they're happy to look at a rabbit for you. They might be more realistic about the quality of the animals and it's prospects as a show/breeding animal.

Now, if you want a critique... I'd say none of them for the simple fact they all look like young juniors. I know baby rabbits are ADORABLE, but they can grow up to be less that stellar animals. I'd rather see you looking at some rabbits in the 5-7 month range, older juniors or young seniors. I am also leery about buying rabbits from someone I don't know without putting my hands on them first. There is a lot about a rabbit you can only tell from feel, or seeing it up close. From these pictures alone, this is my opinion:

#1: In order to properly judge type, I need a profile view. From here I can only kind of judge the head and ears. Ears look okay, head not so much; it appears to be long and narrow. Even in a young buck you want a round massive head.

#2: This buck looks to have a nicer head, but the ears seem pointed and long compared to the rest of him. His body looks...okay. Not terrible, not great.

#3: Absolutely not. She has a narrow head, pointed nose, and those ears are going to get he disqualified. I can almost promise you she's going to be at least three pounds full grown, too big to show.

#4: This buck looks like the best of the ones you posted. Again, I really can't tell much about his type but he seems to have a decent head and thick, short, round ears. He appears to have a lot of scattered white hairs in his colored areas, but I'm not sure how heavily they are faulting that in the brokens.

These are a few pics of some nice looking NDs I found, this is more what you want to shoot for. Note none of them are perfect, but they are closer to the ideal:

 

[Heartlandrabbitry]

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[RabbitMage]

Also, Toby, I just noticed you're in Wisconsin. How close are you to Minneapolis, and how serious are you about this?

The 2010 ARBA National Convention is going on November 7th-10th in Minneapolis. Breeders are coming from all over (and even outside) the country to show their best rabbits. If you can spend even a day there you will probably see and learn more than you could any other way.

Here's the website with some info: http://web.mac.com/arba.2010/Minneapolis_Convention_Center/ARBA2010.html

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Quote:
We are super close, but we cant get them until spring...

 

[TLWR]

You should still try to go anyway. You can see and learn quite a bit just by walking around there. Ask questions of people. Talk to the judges. Might even be able to find a breeder you can get one from in the spring when you are ready.

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Quote:
Thanks!!!

What do you think he would place if he was in a show?

 

[RabbitMage]

Quote:
Thanks!!!

What do you think he would place if he was in a show?

Toby, are you even reading our replies?