HELPING KIDS GET STARTED IN RABBITS

Camping out at the show

Best of Breed

Showing rabbits is a wonderful and educational hobby for kids.  Because they require so little space to stay happy and healthy, rabbits provide an opportunity for many kids who do not live on a farm to exhibit in a “livestock” project in the 4-H program.  At open rabbit shows around the country, the numbers of youth showing often outweigh the numbers of adult exhibitors.  I know that has certainly been the case in our region, and in the Jersey Wooly breed in particular.  Woolies are being recognized for their docile disposition, small size, and “cuddly” appearance as an excellent breed for kids and are becoming very popular. 

So many things can be learned by working with rabbits.  Responsibility, of course, for all the feeding and cleaning.  Development of the “work ethic”, as we learn that getting down to business and getting it done is, in the end, much less of an ordeal than dragging it out by dawdling.  They learn how to be a good loser, and learn to win graciously.  And they learn that they can’t win all the time, and to try again.  They see first hand the “circle of life” in action:  birth, growth, and death as well, for sadly we can’t save every baby that is accidentally born on the cage floor or every old friend whose years are drawing to a close.  They learn record-keeping and even business basics when they are ready to start selling some of their stock.  And more than a few kids have taken the experiences in animal husbandry, knowledge of diseases and health maintenance, and understanding of genetics and gone on to enter the veterinary or medical fields.

So how can we, as parents, help our kids get started and support them in this venture?  Well, first and foremost is to purchase good stock for them to start off with.  I don’t mean you need to forego a car payment to buy a national champion, just to go to a reputable breeder and find healthy stock that are good representatives of the breed.  Yes, they’ll cost a little more than the “generic” bunnies you could easily find, but when your child goes to their first shows they won’t be disappointed and hurt when they are the first ones off the table.  That’s very discouraging for anyone.  As your child becomes more proficient at showing, consider letting them earn or save money to purchase some of their own stock.  This gives them the feeling that it really does belong to them, and they can take some personal pride in it.  (Anna has purchased some of her best stock with money that she saved for years to buy a horse, then made the decision to invest in her rabbitry instead.)

Showing requires some pretty big commitments of time, money, and gas.  In February and March we have a rabbit show every weekend, with most of them being at least two to three hours away.  We usually pack the bunnies up and leave around 3:30 to 5:00 a.m., with Anna asleep in the back of the van and me with a large thermos of coffee.  Sometimes we get a hotel room and stay over the night before a show, but of course it costs more in time, money, and stress on the bunnies.  Most shows will run until 5:00 p.m. or so (if you’re lucky you can leave earlier!) then the long drive home.  Of course, nothing says that you have to show to any degree, but we love our “girls’ day out” in spite of how tired we are when we get back.

When you are at the show, there are a few Do’s and Don’ts.  Do dress for the weather.  Spring and fall shows can be very drafty and cold, and summer shows can be hot.  Likewise think of your bunnies in relation to the weather – take towels to throw over the carrying cages in cold weather and ice bottles to cool them when it’s hot.

Take along a stool or box of some sort for your child to stand on while showing their bunny.  The show table can be quite tall and children can’t see or hear the judge.  Also bring along snacks, a cooler of drinks, chairs to sit on, a blanket to curl up in, and maybe some games, books, or paper and crayons.  (Most of a rabbit show is spent just sitting and waiting.)  Also bring a carpet remnant to set your bunny on while you groom it (it can set on top of a carrying cage) and any grooming tools you’ll need.  Bring food, hay and water for the bunnies.

Help your child get their bunny ready, but let them do as much of it themselves as possible.  Very small children need lots of help, as a startled bunny could kick and overpower them.  But as they get older they should take over the grooming and care.  They can learn to fill out their own entry forms and pay for their entries.  They can even learn to handle the sales of their own rabbits to prospective buyers.  They need you to be looking over their shoulders once in awhile, keeping them on track and reminding them to listen for classes or care for rabbits, but if you don’t step back and let them try to do it on their own then they won’t learn as much.