This is going to be a busy week for me- I am going to build several 4-hole transport cages so I can bring lots of rabbits to the show. I also have two 2-hole cages from Bass.

I have several questions, so please feel free to answer one or all (or none!) as you will.

Firstly, where are the rabbits kept when waiting for their turn on the table? (This is not a benched show.) Does each exhibitor just stake out a claim to an area as close to where their rabbits are going to be judged as possible and wait their turn?

If I only have a couple to show in a given class, should I transfer them to the two hole carriers, or drag my crate cart over and take them out of my 4-hole carriers so I don't have to play "musical holes"?

What about water? I don't have a zillion water bottles (plus they hate them- they are used to the valves on the auto system), but I was planning on taking what I do have and also making a couple more with some extra valves I have and offering them in rotation. I'm not worried about them dehydrating, but being in CA, land of the ARA's, I am worried about charges of animal cruelty.

In another thread on showing, someone mentioned being asked to stop taking photographs as it indicated ownership of the rabbits being judged. Is this a typical "rule" at shows? I want pictures to study after the fact, and not just of any rabbits, but mine and their competition!

The rules on the entry form state that tattoos must be clear and legible. Since I use a clamp, mine are legible, but some are all but invisible. Should I add re-doing tattoos to my to-do list?

I haven't registered a rabbitry name with ARBA- I have some ideas for names for my rabbitry, but am undecided as yet. I'm not sure what to do on the pedigrees because of that oversight. I am hoping to sell some of my bucks at the show. I will bring pedigrees, but shouldn't I also have a sales contract? If so, what is a typical contract for rabbits?

Thanks for any input!

You pretty much just stake a claim. Find a spot and set up there.

You can do what ever you feel most comfortable doing whether you play musical bunnies or just carry them one by one to the judging table. Depending on space it may be more polite to carry the rabbits without the carrier.

For water even if you just give them a few plastic crocks. Or even plastic drink cups cut in half will do. Not everyone brings water bottles or water for their rabbits. Since I use water bottles I take the bottle of the rabbit I've entered to the show with me and I don't give it to them until after they're done being shown or they'll somehow decide to soak themselves. If their class isn't until the very end then I'll offer them a "supervised" drink.

You don't want to indicate ownership but there is no rule about not taking photographs. You can take all the pictures you like.

I would add redoing tattoos to your list if the judge can't read them he can't place them and they'll be DQ'd

I've never actually bought a rabbit on a contract usually it's a polite if you ever sell the rabbit can I have first refusal? for pedigrees It's best if you have a prefix that will be the same on every pedigree using a temp fill in prefix can be confusing to some because they could buy more than one rabbit from you of your breeding but say a month or so apart and they have different prefixes and it comes confusing as to whether you want the ones with the temp prefix changed to the new one or whether they keep the temp prefix.

Thanks, Devon.

My tattoos are buck's initial, doe's initial, month, last digit of year, and then number of rabbit. So my prefixes differ depending on parentage. Example: BP815 B = Black Floyd, P = Poppy, 81 = August 2011, 5th rabbit marked in the litter.

I wanted to be able to look at the tattoo and know the individual's age, sire and dam, in case all other records were lost. I figure that by the time I make it through the alphabet the original carrier of that initial will be retired.

As for a contract, I was thinking more along the lines of "This rabbit was deemed healthy at time of sale, and buyer assumes responsibility for future health. If sold as a show or breeding rabbit, it is free of disqualifying faults. If you can no longer care for the rabbit, breeder will accept the animal back with a cage provided, to be put to best use at the breeders discretion. No refunds will be given on returned rabbits."

These are what I use primarily for food and water at shows. They work particularly well, as they lock onto the wire. Item # JP60 is my personal favorite:

http://klubertanz.com/images/Klubertanz_Pg27.pdf

Trust me when I tell you that your rabbits are going to appreciate having water to drink during the day. Think of it this way. How many times during the day at the show do you think you'll take a break to get something to drink? Rabbits routinely need to rehydrate at least twice that often.

Get there early, stake a claim, carry each breed in a carrier to the show table. At least that's what we do since we have several that will be showing in a breed. You'll see different eople do it a lot of ways from bringing one rabbit at a time to pulling what looks to us like a semi right up to the show table and blocking everyone.

As far as being asked to quit taking pics I guess that could be seen as showing ownership. We have taken pics of our rabbits and never been asked to stop. We put our rabbits up and step back but we've seen a little of everything especially when our G-Daughter is showing in youth, kids talking about the rabbit being there, leaning on the table talking to the rabbit etc. I really don't know that it matters in the shows we have been to since most of the time the judge is standing there watching as the rabbits are put in for the classes....

I'm definitely bringing my own water (we have a well, and I'm sure they will do better on ours than a municipal source), as well as bottles- my concern was more that I don't have enough bottles for every rabbit to have constant access. From Devon's comments on rabbits soaking themselves with water, that may be a good thing!

Bill, I have 2 Senior bucks, 5 Jr bucks, and 2 Jr does- so I guess I'll end up doing a little of both when bringing them to the table... but I promise I wont park my "semi" in the way!

As for taking pics, hopefully if my classes are later in the schedule, I can wander about like a tourist photographing other rabbits first... I can study those later as well.

Regarding showing ownership, if the judges see the ear tattoos, wont they know whose rabbits most of them are in any case, since most breeders have a prefix of their own and have likely shown under that judge before?

If its a coop show, it won't matter if you put the bottles up right away.. however when its a carry-cage show the rabbit doesn't have much room to avoid knocking into the bottle when they shift around thus soaking themselves! If you have Rex, that's a big problem for their fur.. perhaps water doesn't ruin a Satin's coat like it does a Rex? Another reason might be stress; some rabbits may stress a bit and produce a bit of a messy butt especially if they are over hydrated! We tend to not show or breed a rabbit that turns out like that, but there is always that first time! A dirty rabbit can and will be thrown off the table. I think we had one Jersey Wooly that did that everytime, although she did manage a best in show despite it lol.

About the tattoo's yes some judges "might" recognize a prefix, however because prefixes are not assigned and are not set in stone, then it may also be possible that the rabbit is someone else's. Also a lot of breeders don't have a prefix thats automatically in each of their rabbits ears as it just adds to the length of the tattoo. Some just put the rabbit's name in the ear or the first part anyways.

Please MSS... please would You post a 'Review' of Your experience at Your First show ? With perhaps some thoughts that we did not happen to touch on with our suggestions ?? I realise that a lot of it will be a blurrrrrr but i would be very interested in Your thoughts.

This way we can hone our list for the next victim, errrr... new exhibitor ...

Mamasheepsheep?



I most certainly will! Hopefully it will go well so I don't scare off the other potential victims.

Mamasheepsheep?



Whoops... fingers moving faster than brain..... MSD. There got it right.... i think

Thank You

Baa!