So we plan to show our newest kits in March. Do you need to do anything different if they are housed in a colony. Do I need to put them on wire for a bit before the show (like at 8 weeks)? Has anyone shown rabbits from a colony and what do you do?

I don't show rabbits, but my biggest concern for colony rabbits would be stress. Rabbits raised in groups with the freedom to hop around and socialize are initially quite nervous when removed to cages. Especially young rabbits.

My buck handles the transition with no more than a bit of sulking, but he's been in and out of the colony since he was born. Some youngsters I brought into the house to treat for nest box eye were very frightened for the first couple of days.

I would think removing your show rabbits to cages well in advance of the show so they have time to adjust would be a good idea. Shows in themselves are stressful for rabbits and taking them straight from the colony would have to be worse.

So I might go ahead and move them at 8 weeks then. I am not too worried about stress, these guys are handled a lot (I have 5 children still at home). When they come in, they find a comfy spot on one of the kids and go to sleep, sometimes including chilling on their back while their tummy gets rubbed.

I'm gonna interject a thought here... After the show You might want to wait a while Before returning the rabbits to the colony. There is the chance, however slight, that the show bunnies could pick up something not so nice... and one would not want to harm the rest of the colony.
Also... would the rabbits removed from the colony be able to Re-intigrate Back into the colony ?? Wouldn't they be considered 'out siders' and / or 'new comers' to the established colony ??
And One More thought... in a colony setting wouldn't it be difficult to give them individual feed stuffs to prime them for a show ?? Just asking here... i have No experience with colony rabbits .

They are good thoughts, Random Rabbit. I think you would have to take them out well in advance, groom and feed them up, and keep them in cages for awhile after the show as a form of quarantine. Just to be safe. As for reintegaration... It depends on the colony dynamics. At the very least I think one would want to put their cages into the colony so they could get reacquainted safely before releasing them.

Is it prudent to quarantine all rabbits returning from a show, even if they are cage raised? No idea how I'll manage that if I show!

Unle-e-ss...Hubs? Can I buy more cages, pretty please???

I was thinking the same thing as Maggie,about putting a pen in the colony, it would depend on the size of the area the colony is in and such, but possibley if you could section off a corner in the area with wire, and put the rabbit in their for its "special feeding" and such. The bun would still apart of the colony, but they are separated. But that probably wouldnt work if you where wanting to quarantine them.

Some people keep their show rabbits entirely separate from their others. Other people trust to strong immune systems and good luck. Others quarantine short term after a show. You have to go with what you feel comfortable doing.

My bunny hutches have wooden sides to keep the bunnies separate from each other especially show bunnies, as long as your could arrange a solid divider between you cages Mama you should be fine most nasty things are air born as in cough or saliva or contact as in mite etc or poop spread and solid dividers seem to keep them away from each other.

Bramble,

I love the idea of temporary dividers! But... but... but... does this mean I can't get more cages?

Oh there is ALWAYS room for more bunnies