I'm 14yrs. old and thinking of joining 4-H,and doing rabbits.I have no experiance with rabbits and was wondering how I would decide what what breed would be good to start with.I would welcome any suggestions! Thanks! Lauren

-- Lauren Phelps (Lauren149_@excite.com), July 31, 2000

Answers

Lauren:

Go to your local library and check out every book they have on rabbits. Most cover the breeds, cages, care, etc.

-- Ken S. (scharabo@aol.com), July 31, 2000.

Lauren, are you going to show your breeding stock or meat pens? Perhaps visit with other rabbit raisers in your 4H group. Kind of lonely to be in breeding stock all by yourself!! If you are choosing breeding stock, purchase with all the information you can get, perhaps even going to an open show at a fair. Don't pick a long hair, or plush breed if you live in the south like me, unless you have air conditioning for it. If you are going to raise meat pens than whatever the other kids are buying is the best way to go wether it is New Zealands or Califonians, then you could have extra bunnies to sell to kids who just purchase meat pens to show. Your 4H leader or extension agent should be able to answer your questions for you. Good luck with your project!! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 31, 2000.

Good advice, Vicki.

I sell my rabbits to a pet store. The customers all want small rabbits. Dwarfs sell well but are sometimes nasty. MiniLops are sweet but people don't like that they are so "big". I found MiniRexes to be a good all around sellable rabbit. They are soft and there are usually a number of colors in one litter.

Again, it depends on what you want to do. 4H fair is the best to look and talk to other kids about their breeds.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), July 31, 2000.