Rabbit Breeding

Many rabbit lovers decide at some point they would like to show rabbits. You certainly do not make a great deal of money in this pursuit but it is a lot of fun and nice way to interact with other rabbit owners. The standards for a show rabbit are quite high, so those new to the rabbit show world might wonder where they can buy a bunny who will maybe grow up to be a ribbon winner. Here are a few tips that should help you find a suitable show rabbit;

Start Slowly-One Breed at a Time – There are many different breeds that are accepted by ARBA for showing. Almost all bunnies are cute to look at but some are easier to show than others. Trying to raise and show too many different breeds at once makes it hard to have success at the judging table with any of them. The ABRA book “The Standard of Perfection” is used by almost all rabbit show judges to rank rabbits and award prizes so having a copy can be almost invaluable when purchasing a bunny for showing purposes. The publication is available at the ARBA website as well as in many pet stores.

The Best Show Rabbits for Sale are found..at Shows – A rabbit show is the best place to find a potential show winning bunny for sale. Admission to these shows is usually free and many of the exhibitors will have stock for sale. Most rabbit sellers will be happy to answer your questions and will likely be very helpful. Do not expect them to sell you a “flawless” rabbit however, they are show people after all, and just as interested as you in winning. There are rabbit flaws that are considered very minor however and do not affect a bunny’s show potential. Use your “The Standard of Perfection” to help you pick a great bunny from the bunch. Make sure you tell the merchant that you want a rabbit to show or you may end up with breeding stock instead.

How Much Does a Show Rabbit Cost – The price of a good show rabbit will vary from breed to breed and in many cases by geographical location. The prices at national or breed specific shows can sometimes be double those found at smaller local shows. A “top of the line” specimen of a popular breed may cost as much as $100, but most go for between $20 and $50. A high price is no guarantee of quality however, so let your new knowledge and instincts be your guide, not the bunny’s “sticker price”.

According to the rules of any ARBA show, a rabbit is required to have an identifying tattoo clearly visible in its’ left ear. Those new to showing rabbits may be nervous about doing this, but with care and practice it is possible to do this yourself. Many people ask if it hurts the animal. The answer is yes, but only for a few seconds. Just like when a human gets their ears pierced. 

Rabbit Tattoo pliers are readily available in most pet supply stores, and are fairly easy to use. Here are a few tips that may be helpful:

• Practice with the pliers before you begin. Place the numbers or letters into the pliers then clamp down on a piece of paper or cardboard. It is easy to end up with 13 when you really wanted 31. Checking this way avoids mistakes later

• Wipe your rabbit’s ear with rubbing alcohol to clean the surface of oils. This helps the ink adhere to the skin.

• Examine the ear. You should not place a tattoo near any of the larger blood vessels. There will almost always be some bleeding involved, but applying gentle but direct pressure to the area should stop it quickly. 

• Get help. Ideally rabbit tattooing should be a two person job. Wrap your bunny in a towel, so that just his face and ears are showing, then have a friends hold and talk to him to keep him as calm as possible.

• Actually clamping down is always the hardest part. No one wants to think that they are inflicting pain on their furry friend. Try to focus on completing the task as quickly and efficiently as possible. Release the pliers immediately after clamping down and the hardest part is over. 

• After you have given your rabbit a few seconds to calm down check his ear. The tattoo should look like a series of little dots.

• When applying the tattoo ink you can use something as simple as a toothbrush or a Q Tip. Fortunately most rabbits don’t mind this part of the procedure.

If you are very nervous, have a vet of breeder help you through the first tattoo session. But with a little practice you should be just fine.