Breeding & Showing- Bunny Trail Farm

Breeding and showing rabbits is a huge task and it would take much
more information than that which is presented here. Included on this
page is some basic information on the subject.

Breeding Holland Lop Rabbits:

Breeding Holland Lop DWARF rabbits is a difficult task. There are
genetic problems that arise such as peanut kits, giants, and runts. All
rabbits may scatter their kits on the wire which causes the kits to die from
exposure. You also may have problems such as a doe or buck that does
not produce young (sterile) or does that retain kits. Any rabbit may eat
her young leaving body parts in their cage. It is not recommended that
young children under the age of twelve breed rabbits.

You will NOT make money raising rabbits. Raising rabbits is a hobby. No
matter how it may at first seem when you see prices of Holland Lop
rabbits on the internet that there is money to be made, it is simply not so.
You need to have proper knowledge and experience in order for the
public to trust you and purchase your rabbits. You should never sell
diseased or unsocialized rabbits. Breeding rabbits takes a lot of time and
effort and is more than just putting two rabbits together. You will want to
breed rabbits that are as close to the breed standard as possible. If you
work with color projects you will have to travel to different states to obtain
your stock.

It is recommended that you join American Rabbit Breeders Association
and breed specialty clubs. Attend a few shows and talk with other
breeders. Do your homework and be as knowledgeable as you can.

You will need to purchase good healthy rabbits in a pair or trio to start.
This can be expensive since you want to purchase the best stock you
can afford. Don't get a few rabbits and then give up on breeding or
showing and let your stock to die from lack of care. This happens more
often than people think. Even good breeders often get out of breeding
or showing dwarf Holland Lops because of what is involved.

You will also need quite a bit of expensive equipment such as wire cages
that are stacked or hung. Wire cages are best for breeding. You will
also need to have a place to keep these cages which protects the rabbits
from the weather and allows for sunlight.

Rabbits will not breed in hot weather of 80 degrees and higher which
causes the bucks become sterile. You will also find you will not get
rabbits to breed in the darker winter months as this is an instinct in
rabbits.

You will need to make or purchase nest boxes for the babies to be
kindled in. Keeping good records of breedings is essential. You will
need to cull rabbits that do not produce, are aggressive, or does with
birthing problems. Does have a 31 day gestation period. Babies must
stay with their mother until they are 6-8 weeks old. The babies need to
be held from birth in order to properly socialize them. Once you have
babies you will find it difficult to sell your rabbits if you don't have a
reputation of proper knowledge to offer customers. You will be
considered a back-yard breeder to other rabbit breeders as well as to
the public. A good reputation takes time, money, and effort to develop.

You will need to advertise your rabbits for sale. It is also important to
give each rabbit customer a small bag of feed to mix with the feed the
customer has purchased. You will want to provide a care sheet and a
pedigree if you are selling breeding and show stock. Do not sell stock for
breeding or show that has D.Q's (disqualifications. You will need to be
familiar with the breed standards if you plan to sell stock for show or
breeding. You can sell larger does for breeding. You want to sell nice
foundation bucks for breeding to does. A doe or buck adult that is sold
as proven means the rabbit has successfully produced a litter.

It may seem like fun to have rabbits to breed to show the kids cute little
babies but when you consider all that is required to breed and sell
rabbits it is simply not worth breeding rabbits for that purpose. Also
going out to the barn or shed is not much fun to do in cold winter months.
You will need to supply the proper conditions to keep rabbits from
freezing or suffering heat stroke. Rabbits must be checked on daily.
Cleaning is difficult enough in nice weather but a real chore when
everything is frozen.

We do not sell rabbits for the intention of breeding unless the customer is
knowledgeable in rabbit husbandry. If you sell rabbits with pedigrees and
do not supply the proper information you will mess up all the records kept
by other breeders and the ARBA.

All the information needed in breeding Holland Lop or any other breed of
rabbit is not mentioned here. There is much to know so PLEASE do your
homework and be a responsible breeder.

Breeding And Showing
Rabbits

Showing Holland Lop Rabbits:

Holland Lops are VERY competitive in show. You will really need to do
your homework when you are breeding to show standard. If your child is
in 4-H it is imperative that your advisor gives you the proper information
in what you need to know to purchase a rabbit to show. Rabbits of color
which are not Tortoise or broken Tortoise do not usually win in club
shows. Your 4-H show may be different but your advisor needs to tell
you what you should purchase.

Registration is different for rabbits than dogs. You don't even need a
pedigree to show, however you will have to show in grade class without
one. Rabbits shown must have a tattoo in their left ear to show.
Registration papers are not the same as a pedigree.

If you want to win at show you should purchase a rabbit that has already
earned some legs. A senior rabbit over 6 months is also what you want
to purchase rather than a junior or baby rabbit. This way you will know
that the rabbit has already shown successfully. Whether or not you win
at show depends on the show type and the competition.

We do not sell rabbits for show as we sell babies and we are not show
breeders ourselves which means we do not have the knowledge to know
whether or not the bunny has disqualifications or D.Q's. It is very difficult
to tell showing ability in a baby or Jr. rabbit under 6 months of age. If you
plan to show your baby rabbits you will need to teach your baby rabbits
how to pose properly for the judges. Rabbits are placed at club shows in
cages on the show table and then the judge will begin checking over all
of the rabbits and then the judge begins to mention the qualities of the
rabbit whether good or bad. Rabbits age left in cages for 4-H shows for
the judge to look over. There is an entry fee for every rabbit shown in
club shows. You will be up against breeders who have many rabbits to
exhibit and the club shows are very hard to win at.

Holland Lop breed club links can be found on our links page.

The following books are recommended reading for show and raising
rabbits:

Standard of Perfection; published by the ARBA and can be purchased at
shows.

HLRSC Official Guidebook; published by the Holland Lop Rabbit
Specialty Club.

Storey's Guide to Raising Rabbits; by Bob Bennett

Doe Kindling