Rabbit breeders, help identifing blue eyed rabbit

[feedstorechick]

If this were a Netherland Dwarf, I'd say it was a Vienna Marked. All it means is that, most likely, one parent was a blue eyed white. With one blue eyed white gene, the offspring will have the blue eyes and some white markings that fall in the area where a Dutch rabbit would have white. It can be as little as some white on the face or full dutch pattern type markings.

It should be interesting when you see the pedigree what color the parents were!

 

[Skyesrocket]

Yep, single maned lionhead. He is cute! I used to raise them. Never saw one with white markings though. He is cute and they make good little pets.

 

[mekasmom]

Quote:
4H doesn't disqualify any rabbit from any kid for any reason here. That's ridiculous. It's not a pedegree show, for heaven's sake. It's a kid's 4H project. Maybe in an adult competition in "real" rabbit show, but not in 4H. We even have "mutt" rabbits come into shows and get ribbons- not best in show of course- but they still get recognized because the kids care for them. We care more about the kids than the snobbery of rabbit pedigree.

It is a lovely rabbit. I'm sure your kids will have a wonderful learning experience showing it. Congratulations on getting such a lovely rabbit.

 

[EweSheep]

I've read somewhere in the Macon Co 4H pet projects that it can be of any breed and some can be broken down in classification or OPEN shows. Some of the OPEN classes are not breed specific or a very rare color or breed would be entered as such. As for the Lionheads, I have NO idea what their restriction on colors but it is a nice cross!

 

[gaited horse]

Quote:
No rabbit with a dq should be shown as a 4h project. Nor even given to a 4her like that. Not only is it disapionting for the kid when their animal is disqualified form the show, its also considered an unethical practice. So no, this bunny(nor the breed) would not make a good 4h project unless the fair makes exceptions. Most 4h shows also use the ARBA show rules. Which means the animal would be disqualified for having white on a solid colored body, and would not be able to compete for best in show.

Oh I thought it mainly for showmanship classes. I thought alot of our bunnies in the fair looks like mutt bunnies or some kind of hybrids.

At all 4-h shows there is a class for DQed animals.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Depends on the county really, as far as 4-H shows go. Our county has a class for mixed breeds, but nothing is ever disqualified. The judges are very good and usually just explain to the kid why their rabbit would be dq'd in a "real" show.

I don't understand how showing a mismarked animal is unethical. 4-H is mostly about showing and learning about backyard animals, not expensive purebred show animals. I learned what I know today from showing mismarked, misshaped, "ugly" backyard critters in 4-H. LOL

 

[RabbitMage]

Quote:
Most of our local 4-H groups show at the county fair-which is run on ARBA rules. You wouldn't believe how many 4-H kids are crying on show day because the beloved rabbit that they paid for and loved and looked after for months and months isn't showable and gets disqualified.

If someone sells the kid a rabbit and is sure to tell them it isn't showable, that's one thing, but I've seen so many people pawn off rabbits with DQs, or simply poor quality animals on kids. It's shameful. If you're selling (or giving) rabbits to youth showmen (and showwomen!), especially if they've shown long term interest and dedication, you should be giving them your best, not your culls.

*steps off soapbox*

Just to confirm: That's a vienna-marked single maned Lionhead. I think the color is Siamese Sable. Because of the Vienna markings I doubt she'd be showable even at an ARBA show that allows Lionheads.

 

[pamperedpoultry]

agrees single mane lionhead.. I need him sent to my house please lol. Lookin for a male myself for my female. He's Beautiful!!!

 

[chinbunny]

Quote:
4H doesn't disqualify any rabbit from any kid for any reason here. That's ridiculous. It's not a pedegree show, for heaven's sake. It's a kid's 4H project. Maybe in an adult competition in "real" rabbit show, but not in 4H. We even have "mutt" rabbits come into shows and get ribbons- not best in show of course- but they still get recognized because the kids care for them. We care more about the kids than the snobbery of rabbit pedigree.

It is a lovely rabbit. I'm sure your kids will have a wonderful learning experience showing it. Congratulations on getting such a lovely rabbit.

yes they do. A lot of them will do it. Our county fair does allow the judges to disqualify a rabbit. There is no mixed breed classes. everything is judged according to the ARBA standards and rules. The only exception they make is that they allow lionheads. But the breed must meet all aspects of the working standard in order to place well. This past year the judge was allowed to place all rabbits with a DQ. The kids were given C ribbons, and were the first off the table. I have seen in previous years where there were animals that were disqualified, and the kid went away from the show crying. Its because either someone sold them a mismarked animal, or it was a mixed breed. One of my cousins rabbits was dq'd last year for being a mixed breed. judge said she was beautiful, but could not give her a placing. Most 4h shows do operate like this. There is only one that I know of that allows a mixed breed class to show. The point of 4h is to teach kids how to properly care for their animals. And also proper animal husbandry. It also helps encourage kids to get involved with showing their animals in open class ARBA shows. Its considered an unethical practice because its just not right to pawn off a non showable rabbit on a child that is just learning about the project. It only discourages them from showing the following year. i would never do it as a breeder, nor would anyone else I know. And believe oyu me, there a lot of people out there that will do it in a heartbeat just to make money off the poor kid. When a kid approaches me about a rabbit i want them to have the best quality animal I can provide to them. something that has a chance of showing well, and is free from any dqs.

 

[chinbunny]

Quote:
Oh I thought it mainly for showmanship classes. I thought alot of our bunnies in the fair looks like mutt bunnies or some kind of hybrids.

At all 4-h shows there is a class for DQed animals.

nope. Not in the counties I have shown at there wasn't. There is only one that I know of that has a mixed breed pet rabbit class. Everybody else does things according to the latest ARBA standard of perfection.

Also its not pedigree snobbery. since these are operated like purebred animal shows. Its also a good teaching tool to teach the kids what to look for when it comes to keeping and breeding their own rabbits. The more experience you gain the more you learn what to look, and cull for within your breed/s. Including any disqualifications. A kid with a good breeding program will learn how to keep records, such as pedigrees, and breeding and market project books. They will also learn alot about rabbit shows too. Some fairs will also require that the kids present the pedigrees to the barn supers on entry. So they know they purchased a purebred animal. When I was in 4h i was required to show ourebred rabbits. They did not have to have pedigrees. However they did have to free from any disqualifications. The bunny in the picture is adorable, and pretty, but it would not do well in a 4h show.

As for showmanship, most fairs will not let you bring in an anaimal just for that. It has to be something that is entered into the show. Showmanship teaches the kids how to handle and judge their own animals. A method that is also used when breeding and showing purebred rabbits.