Starting with Rabbits...Lionheads. First show this weekend!

[Sachasmom]

Quote:
I did kinda go on, didn't I? LOL I have 24x24 for some of my Silver Fox buck cages, and those double nicely as Lionhead brood cages. For a doe with litter I have 24x36 and 30x36, I can't reach the back of the deeper cages though.

Do you have your cages set up already? I'd wait to get bunnies until you get them up at least. Are you building cages or buying them? (Or did you already have cages?) Since you're in an area that gets pretty hot all summer, you'll want to pick an area that shaded for most of the hot part of the day. A friend of mine in VA put up carports with the blue insulation boards in the ceiling to help keep the heat down, some people run fans or swamp coolers for theirs. Or they freeze ice water bottles for them.

I'm in NY so it doesn't get crazy hot here, I usually just turn a few fans on for mine in the garage and hoop house, the overflow in the outside cages get enough of a breeze. I cover their cages with shade cloth for the summer to keep the sun out. If its really really hot I check on mine a couple times a day and wet down their ears to keep them cool.

If you're thinking of showing, they need to be out of direct light because it will make most colors a lovely shade of rust, bleh.

 

[gaited horse]

I breed American Sables they are calm and grow well.. My cages are all 30"x30" wire floored.

 

[NellaBean]

Alright well, show didn't quite go as expected lol. Lots of flemish giants.....including Gott Flemish, selling absolutelt gorgeous BLUE flemish giants younguns. For $125 each. Yikes. I'm just not ready to put that kind of investment into aomething brand new to me.

I saw a few other breeds I like. Holland lops were cute, mini lops were cute, english lops and their giant ears were hilarious. Not a big fan of the netherland dwarfs, jersey wooly or the BIG lops. There was a guy selling some young lionheads and I have to say, I couldn't resist. I got 3, 2 bucks (brothers) and 1 doe. I should be getting another doe soon, just waiting to work out the details.

Going to try breeding a litter or two for pets and see how I like bunny keeping on a larger scale. If all else fails they will be pets. They are very sweet and friendly. And darn cute.

Buck #2 blue with white boots

Buck #1 blue and white with blue eyes

Buck #1 again

Doe #1

Doe #1 again

 

[NellaBean]

As far as the cgae issue, I do have temporay cages available. I plan to build a large panel of hutches, but was hesitant to do so without knowing how big to build them. I have two 2x4 cages available now, plus two 4x6 chicken brooders that would work. So more than enough room temporarily until I get the real cages built.

 

[gaited horse]

Quote:
For a Lionhead you can go any where from 18"x24"-24"x24" per rabbit.

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

Cute Lionheads. Bunnies w/blue eyes always get my attention.

I think you have gotten super advice from everyone. I also think you are smart to start with a breed more for fun at this time and see how you like all of it.

Go to more shows if you can.They can be a lot of fun and you can meet a lot of ppl.

One thing I will add about showing rare breeds. Unless I'm wrong it takes a certain number of a breed in a breed class to get a grand championship leg. In rare breeds it makes it hard to have the competition needed.

Good luck with your bunnies!

 

[gaited horse]

Quote:
You are correct on the problem showing rare breeds, I have the American Sables and not only is it hard to grand them but it's hard to sell if you are the only breeder in that area.

 

[NellaBean]

Yes, I considered going with lops.....they had some english lops that were absolutely adorable with their big ol ears. But I just LOVE the lionheads, so I am going to start with them and see how I like bunny keeping on a slightly larger scale. Seemed dumb to pay a ton of money on something that I still didn't like anywhere near as much as the lionheads. I was tempted to buy them all! LOL. There is just something about them.

Planning on building tomorrow assuming weather holds......Going to make a large panel of cages. 2.5 ft deep. 3 rows that are 8 feet long. Divided into 2 permanent sections and with removable dividers to make 4 sections per level. Basically it will create 12 cages that are 24" x 30". with the option of pulling the removable dividers which will bump it to 6 cages that are 48" x 30". The two bottom rows will be 18" tall and the top row will be 24" tall. I think that will give me some good options for singles, brood cages and the possibility of going to a larger breed later on with the taller cages that can be 48" x 30".

Thanks for all the information and feedback!

 

[gaited horse]

Quote:
Please post pictures.

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

Quote:
I would like to add a suggestion about your cages.

Unless your arms are very long, I think you will be happier with the cages 24" deep.Little baby bunnies can be the dickens to catch and if the cages are very deep it is very hard.

When I built my cages a few centuries ago (LOL) I only made them 24" deep and have been very satisfied. You are smart to build your own cages so their sizes will be custom to your breed and space. And I agree...must have pics.

Another thing I would like to add is to be sure the rabbits are secure in that dogs cannot get under the cages in any way at all. The pictures are still graphic in my mind of what happened with mine over 20 yrs. ago.Some one here said to another member that dogs can get under the cages and bite their toes off but I that is nothing. I won't say here what the dogs did to mine but it was the worst thing I've seen done to animals in my life.