A new guide to rabbits

I have planning on writing a rabbit guide for years. Now I think I shall finally sit down and do it.

I am starting to outlines sections
So what do ya'll think I missed?

introduction
-dual purpose of rabbits & pet/livestock legislation
-history & domestication of rabbits
-wild rabbit life & types & genetics of wild rabbits
-resources
-rabbits in culture
-rabbit clubs/ARBA
meat
-comparison to others
-selection of meat rabbits
-weighing rabbits
-weaning & growing out
-dress out & growth rates (breed specifics)
-butchering & dressing
-finding a processor
-meat pens & other meat classes
-pelts & tanning
-rabbit feet
-history of fur rabbits
-compost & redworms
-food safety & biosecurity
-legislation about selling rabbit meat
-recipes
-raw feeding pets
-storing meat
-keeping up production for commercial purposes
-selling meat breeding stock
-history of meat rabbits
wool
-choosing a wool rabbit
-first coat vs later
-grooming a wool rabbit
-shearing/plucking a wool rabbit
-wool block (myth or not)
-spinning
-mixing angora with other wool
-uses for angora wool & comparison
-selling angoras
-angoras a pets
-the debate of ethics in chinese angoras
-dyeing wool
-selling wool
-keeping for wool vs keeping for show
-history of wool rabbits
feeding
-fodder
-supplements
-feed percentages
-mill location & choosing a brand
-feeding sick rabbits
-medication in feed
-hay in feed
-treats (& recipes)
-transitioning feed
-feeding greens
-the debate on greens vs pellets
-J feeders & dishes – what to do with a rabbit that digs feed
-automatic feeding systems
-feed amounts (summer vs winter too)
-waterers
-transitioning water (actual water)
-history of rabbit feeding
wild rabbits
-rabbits, hares & pikas
-non-domestic rabbits
-the evolution of the European rabbit
-classification of rabbits, hares & pikas
-senses
-albinism
-social structure of wild rabbits
-habitat of wild rabbits
-predators of wild rabbits
-feral populations of domestic rabbits
-breeding cycles of wild rabbits
-about hares
-about pikas
selling pet rabbits
-contracts
-transporters
-pet stores & third parties
-pricing
-screening
-care sheets
-choosing a breed
-ethics
-PETA & HRS
-rabbit rescues
-neutering
-the debate on “rehoming” vs selling
-legal issues
housing
-traditional wire cages
-urine guards, baby saver wire, & plastic mats
-building cages
-finding a cage supplier & transport
-duratrays vs metal trays
-flush keen cages
-hanging cages
-hutches
-plastic cages
-flooring
-heating & cooling a rabbitry
-keeping ammonia down
-pest management
-colony kept rabbits
-built in nest boxes
-ventilation
-choosing a rabbitry
-keeping rabbits indoors
-rabbit-proofing
-zoning laws & breed specific bans
training
-commands
-posing
-rabbit hopping
-agility
-litterbox training
-handling
-working with youth
-therapy rabbits
keeping rabbits as pets
-choosing where to keep a rabbit
-breeder or rescue
-what to look for in a pet
-bonding rabbits
-moving with rabbits
-where to get supplies in small quantities
-finding a rabbit vet or expert
-learning to handle a pet rabbit
-rabbits & other pets
-dealing with poor behavior (aggression/spraying)
-rabbit behavior & communication
-rehoming a rabbit
-dealing with the loss of a pet rabbit
regular care
-grooming (molting, etc)
-nail trimming
-checking over rabbit
-handling (different ways)
-deworming
-vaccinations
-exercising a rabbit
-cleaning cages & dishes
-dealing with weather & temperature
treatments & medical problems
-anatomical structures of the rabbit
-injuries
-bacterial illnesses (symptoms, treatment, cause)
-parasites
-viruses
-other illnesses
-behavioral illnesses
-vitamins in a rabbit
-surgery in a rabbit
-normal rabbit vitals & how to check them
-how to give medicine to a rabbit
-restraining a rabbit for medical purposes
-dosages for medicine
-how to interpret dosages for medicine
-euthanizing a rabbit (not for meat)
-orphaned kits – bottle raising
-antibiotics & probiotics
-medications & withdrawal information
-quarantine
showing
-how to get into rabbit showing
-finding resources
-finding clubs
-4-H/FFA
-interpreting show rules
-how to put on a show
-pedigrees
-tattooing
-how to select stock (outside of just the standard)
-buying & selling rabbits
-contracts (for selling)
-registration & grand championship
-points & legs
-sanctions & sweepstakes
-finding a show near you
-entries & show catalogs
-showmanship
-what to do at a rabbit show
-ethics of rabbit showing
-travelling to rabbit shows
-pricing show rabbits
-pet, brood, show quality
-the dwarf gene in show rabbits
-common disqualifications
-when not to show a rabbit
-ARBA nationals
-judges & registrars
-finding a breeder as a mentor
-ARBA rabbit showing outside the US
-BRC rabbit showing
-at the showing table
-importing show rabbits
-flying with rabbits
-youth royalty
-how does a rabbit advance in the shows?
-common showing terms
-grooming a rabbit for showing
-showing equipment
-judging coops & travel cages
-showing etiquette
-history of rabbit showing & ARBA
-young kids & rabbit shows
evaluating standards
-standard terms
-color guide (ARBA & BRC)
-description of standard for each breed
-how standards evolve over time
breeding
-choosing when to breed
-breeding chart
-interpreting a breeding chart
-table breeding & cage breeding
-moon breeding
-test breeding & palpating
-nest boxes
-bedding in nest boxes
-dystocia
-when kits fail to thrive
-peanuts & birth defects
-litter sizes
-infertility
-faders
-weaning
-handling young rabbits
-when to rebreed the doe
-fostering
-shelving
-orphaned kits/hand raising
-record keeping
-sexing kits
-breeding in poor weather
-inbreeding, outcrossing, line breeding
-artificial insemination
-breeding in a colony
-can rabbit breed with wild rabbits?
-care of pregnant doe
different breeds
-history
-specific care
-uses
-popularity
-color mixing in breed
-temperament
genetics
-basics of genetics
-Punnett squares
-breeding charts & crossing rules
-notes about specifics for certain breeds
-newborn, kit & adult color comparisons
-A series
-B series
-C series
-D series
-E series
-white patterns: English spotting, Vienna mark, white spotting, dutch
-wideband & other similar genes
-rare genes – lutino, white ear broken
-coat genetics
-modifiers
-eye color genetics
-origin of each gene
-genetic health conditions
-snowballs & other oddities
-linkage in color genes
-about color calculators
Rabbit Trivia

Uh.. wow. I think you've got it all! o_o Just looking through that made ME exhausted just thinking about someone else writing a book about all of that! I would be highly interested in it when you're finished... in 7 years.

Holy cow :lol: I think I went through evey category I think :lol: and the only thing that you might add is different ways to dispatch and culling. Sorry if they were listed and missed them. I'd name that book the Rabbit Bible. Good luck!

Yup, what they said! :yeahthat:

This is going to be an incredible piece of work... I love it!


:gettowork:

WOW! I've been writing a guide to sell with my rabbits, but nothing compared to your guide! Looks like you've got about everything! I would totally read that book.

a very ambitious project...

I was just thinking of my time starting out with livestock (chickens) all the books I looked at and read.

You might want to write this with thoughts towards 2 or three books.
All three would have the common standards, but maybe one geared towards "meat" breeders, "Show" breeders, "pet" breeders, "pet" owners.

A "pet" only person would be offended or at least turned off with information on processing.
A "back yard meat" person wouldn't necessarily care about ARBA standards or genetics.
A "show" person would want it all and would be willing to pay for a larger book.
ETC....

I am just thinking... looks like a bit TOO much reading for the average enthusiast.