BREEDING RABBITS IS A GREAT HOBBY THE EMPHASIS IS ON THE WORD HOBBY. YOU CAN NOT JUST DECIDE THAT YOU WANT TO BREED RABBITS YOU NEED TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK. AND IF YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN MAKE A QUICK BUCK THINK AGAIN YOU ARE ON A FAST TRACK TO DISAPPOINTMENT AND IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS YOU WILL BE TRYING TO SALE YOUR STOCK. IF YOU DO MAKE ANY MONEY YOU NEED TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A GOOD LOOK AT WHERE YOU ARE GOING WRONG A GOOD BET WOULD BE THAT YOU ARE NOT CARING FOR YOUR RABBITS CORRECTLY. IF YOU ASK ANY GENUINE BREEDER IF THEY PROFIT FROM THEIR RABBITS YOU WILL HEAR A RESOUNDING NO! OK SO FIRST THINGS FIRST HAVE YOU THOUGHT THINGS THROUGH?
ARE YOU AWARE OF THE CURRENT LEGISLATION?
THERE IS A LAW THAT STATES IF YOU BREED YOU REQUIRE A LICENCE AS YOU ARE SUPPLYING THE PET TRADE. BRC EXHIBITORS ATTENDING AT LEAST 10 SHOWS PER YEAR ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS LEGISLATION BUT NOBODY ELSE IS!!!
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BREED AND WHY?
IS THIS A VENTURE YOU CAN DO LONG TERM OR IS THEIR GOING TO BE WORK COMMITMENTS, ADDITION TO THE FAMILY (CHILD OR ANIMAL), OR SOME OTHER REASON WHY YOU NEED TO GIVE UP? YES OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING'S ARE UNEXPECTED
DO YOU HAVE THE TIME REQUIRED IN EACH DAY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUR STOCK, BABIES AND FOR ANY VIEWINGS YOU MAY GET?
DO YOU HAVE THE TIME FOR THE WATER CHECKS, FEEDING, FRUIT AND VEG PREPARATION, AND CLEANING OUT THAT IS REQUIRED DAILY?
CAN YOU AFFORD IT? YOU WILL REQUIRE SPECIALIST HUTCHES OF AN ADEQUATE SIZE, EXERCISE AREAS, RABBITS, SHAVINGS (IN ENORMOUS QUANTITIES OUR SHAVINGS BILL ALONE IS £44 A WEEK), HAY (AGAIN IN VAST AMOUNTS OUR HAY BILL IS ON AVERAGE £24 A WEEK WE USE WRAPPED HAY NOT FRESH HAY AS THIS CAN CONTAIN MITES), FOOD (OUR FOOD BILL TOTALS JUST UNDER £60 A WEEK, MORE WHEN WE HAVE BABIES AS THERE ARE EXTRA MOUTHS TO FEED AND ALSO THE SUPPLY OF CHANGEOVER FEED TO GO TO THE NEW HOMES WITH), FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, VACCINATIONS (YOU ARE LOOKING LITTLE UNDER £40 PER RABBIT AND VACCINES ARE REQUIRED TWICE A YEAR), ANY VET CARE YOU MAY REQUIRE (£25 CONSULTATION FEE BEFORE YOU START). YOUR HUTCHES ETC ALSO NEED TO BE MAINTAINED. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS NOT ONLY IS THERE A LOT TO CONSIDER THERE ARE NO MARGINS FOR PROFIT.
DO YOU HAVE GUARANTEED HOMES FOR YOUR OFF-SPRING? IF NOT DO YOU HAVE ROOM TO ACCOMMODATE THE SURPLUS? NO? THEN WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO DO WITH THEM?
ARE YOU PREPARED TO PUT YOUR TIME INTO THEM?
WHAT ARE YOUR REASONS FOR WANTING BREED? WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL?
THIS LIST IS EXHAUSTIVE WE ARE JUST GIVING A FEW POINTS TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU JUMP STRAIGHT IN, RESEARCH IS REALLY THE KEY AS IS PLANNING.
SO YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED IN BREEDING? FIRSTLY WE ADVISE THAT YOU DO YOU RESEARCH. WE STARTED OUT BACK IN 2008 WITH A DOUBLEMANED LIONHEAD AND SOME CROSS-BRED RABBITS, IN TIME WE GOT SOME MORE LIONHEADS. SHE WAS A GOOD MUM AND STILL LIVED WITH US UNTIL SHE SADLY PASSED AWAY IN OCTOBER OF 2011. ANY WAY THESE RABBITS TAUGHT US ALL WE NEEDED TO KNOW, THESE HAVE SINCE RE-LOCATED TO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE THAT WANTED TO START OUT IN MUCH THE SAME WAY AS WE DID. THIS WAS A BIG LEARNING CURVE AND WE ARE SO GLAD THAT WE LEARNT OUR LESSONS FROM THEM BEFORE WE GOT TOO FAR ALONG IN OUR PLANS.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OF ALL IT IS A GOOD IDEA IF YOU ACTUALLY KNOW YOUR BREEDS A LIONHEAD LOOKS NOTHING LIKE A MINI LOP THE BRC WEBSITE HAS THE BREED STANDARDS AVAILABLE TO VIEW AND IF YOU TYPE THE BREED YOU ARE INTERESTED IN INTO THE SEARCH ENGINE YOU CAN GET ALL THE INFORMATION AND IMAGES YOU WILL NEED
WE ARE HONEST AND ASK THAT WE ARE GIVEN THE SAME COURTESY FROM YOU. IT IS PARAMOUNT THAT AS RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS WE ENSURE THAT OUR RABBITS ARE GOING TO THE RIGHT HOMES
BREEDING IS GREAT OUR WHOLE FAMILY ENJOY IT BUT IT IS A HOBBY NOT A BUSINESS AND SHOULD BE DONE RESPONSIBLY WITH AS MUCH THOUGHT AS POSSIBLE, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP ANYBODY GET STARTED BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE SERIOUS, HAVE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK AND THAT YOU ARE PREPARED FOR THE HARD WORK THAT IS INVOLVED IN REARING BABIES. WE ADVISE THAT YOU START SMALL THE MOST VALUABLE PART OF ANY STUD IS THE BUCK SO PURCHASING 1 OR 2 GOOD QUALITY BUCKS IS A GOOD START AND THEN 2/3 GOOD QUALITY DOES THAT WOULD PROVIDE YOU WITH YOUR FOUNDATION STOCK, YOU NEED TO KNOW THE LINEAGE FOR EACH RABBIT THE KEY TO BREEDING IS KNOWING YOUR STOCK, THEIR HISTORY, WHAT COLOURS THEY CARRY (SO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY THROW UP IN LITTERS ESPECIALLY IF INTRODUCING INTO VIENNA LINES), AGES, ETC. YOU THEN CAREFULLY SELECT YOUR ADDITIONAL STOCK FROM YOUR BABIES AS YOU GET THEM, YOU OBVIOUSLY THEN NEED TO ADD NEW BLOOD INTO YOUR LINES ON OCCASIONS. THE IDEA IS TO CREATE AS NEAR TO BREED PERFECTION AS POSSIBLE SO YOU BREED OUT THE BAD POINTS OF YOUR RABBIT WHILE BREEDING IN THE GOOD POINTS THAT YOU NEED THEREFORE IMPROVING YOUR LINES. ALSO REMEMBER THAT YOUR STOCK WILL NEED CONSTANT MONITORING, YOU CAN'T KEEP EVERYTHING AND YOU WILL NEED TO RE HOME TO KEEP YOUR SHED RUNNING IN ORDER. THE OTHER IMPORTANT THING IS TO HAVE NO MORE THAN YOU CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF QUALITY IS BETTER THAN QUANTITY, SO YOU ARE FAR BETTER TO HAVE 5/6 REALLY GOOD QUALITY RABBITS THAN YOU ARE 40 SUB STANDARD THAT ALL NEED WORK THIS MEANS YOU CAN APPLY YOURSELF TO THE TASK IN HAND GIVING 100% OF YOURSELF TO YOUR SELECT FEW WHICH MAKES FOR BETTER ADULTS AND BABIES.
ARE YOU AWARE OF THE CURRENT LEGISLATION?
THERE IS A LAW THAT STATES IF YOU BREED YOU REQUIRE A LICENCE AS YOU ARE SUPPLYING THE PET TRADE. BRC EXHIBITORS ATTENDING AT LEAST 10 SHOWS PER YEAR ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS LEGISLATION BUT NOBODY ELSE IS!!!
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BREED AND WHY?
IS THIS A VENTURE YOU CAN DO LONG TERM OR IS THEIR GOING TO BE WORK COMMITMENTS, ADDITION TO THE FAMILY (CHILD OR ANIMAL), OR SOME OTHER REASON WHY YOU NEED TO GIVE UP? YES OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING'S ARE UNEXPECTED
DO YOU HAVE THE TIME REQUIRED IN EACH DAY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUR STOCK, BABIES AND FOR ANY VIEWINGS YOU MAY GET?
DO YOU HAVE THE TIME FOR THE WATER CHECKS, FEEDING, FRUIT AND VEG PREPARATION, AND CLEANING OUT THAT IS REQUIRED DAILY?
CAN YOU AFFORD IT? YOU WILL REQUIRE SPECIALIST HUTCHES OF AN ADEQUATE SIZE, EXERCISE AREAS, RABBITS, SHAVINGS (IN ENORMOUS QUANTITIES OUR SHAVINGS BILL ALONE IS £44 A WEEK), HAY (AGAIN IN VAST AMOUNTS OUR HAY BILL IS ON AVERAGE £24 A WEEK WE USE WRAPPED HAY NOT FRESH HAY AS THIS CAN CONTAIN MITES), FOOD (OUR FOOD BILL TOTALS JUST UNDER £60 A WEEK, MORE WHEN WE HAVE BABIES AS THERE ARE EXTRA MOUTHS TO FEED AND ALSO THE SUPPLY OF CHANGEOVER FEED TO GO TO THE NEW HOMES WITH), FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, VACCINATIONS (YOU ARE LOOKING LITTLE UNDER £40 PER RABBIT AND VACCINES ARE REQUIRED TWICE A YEAR), ANY VET CARE YOU MAY REQUIRE (£25 CONSULTATION FEE BEFORE YOU START). YOUR HUTCHES ETC ALSO NEED TO BE MAINTAINED. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS NOT ONLY IS THERE A LOT TO CONSIDER THERE ARE NO MARGINS FOR PROFIT.
DO YOU HAVE GUARANTEED HOMES FOR YOUR OFF-SPRING? IF NOT DO YOU HAVE ROOM TO ACCOMMODATE THE SURPLUS? NO? THEN WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO DO WITH THEM?
ARE YOU PREPARED TO PUT YOUR TIME INTO THEM?
WHAT ARE YOUR REASONS FOR WANTING BREED? WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL?
THIS LIST IS EXHAUSTIVE WE ARE JUST GIVING A FEW POINTS TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU JUMP STRAIGHT IN, RESEARCH IS REALLY THE KEY AS IS PLANNING.
SO YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED IN BREEDING? FIRSTLY WE ADVISE THAT YOU DO YOU RESEARCH. WE STARTED OUT BACK IN 2008 WITH A DOUBLEMANED LIONHEAD AND SOME CROSS-BRED RABBITS, IN TIME WE GOT SOME MORE LIONHEADS. SHE WAS A GOOD MUM AND STILL LIVED WITH US UNTIL SHE SADLY PASSED AWAY IN OCTOBER OF 2011. ANY WAY THESE RABBITS TAUGHT US ALL WE NEEDED TO KNOW, THESE HAVE SINCE RE-LOCATED TO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE THAT WANTED TO START OUT IN MUCH THE SAME WAY AS WE DID. THIS WAS A BIG LEARNING CURVE AND WE ARE SO GLAD THAT WE LEARNT OUR LESSONS FROM THEM BEFORE WE GOT TOO FAR ALONG IN OUR PLANS.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OF ALL IT IS A GOOD IDEA IF YOU ACTUALLY KNOW YOUR BREEDS A LIONHEAD LOOKS NOTHING LIKE A MINI LOP THE BRC WEBSITE HAS THE BREED STANDARDS AVAILABLE TO VIEW AND IF YOU TYPE THE BREED YOU ARE INTERESTED IN INTO THE SEARCH ENGINE YOU CAN GET ALL THE INFORMATION AND IMAGES YOU WILL NEED
WE ARE HONEST AND ASK THAT WE ARE GIVEN THE SAME COURTESY FROM YOU. IT IS PARAMOUNT THAT AS RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS WE ENSURE THAT OUR RABBITS ARE GOING TO THE RIGHT HOMES
BREEDING IS GREAT OUR WHOLE FAMILY ENJOY IT BUT IT IS A HOBBY NOT A BUSINESS AND SHOULD BE DONE RESPONSIBLY WITH AS MUCH THOUGHT AS POSSIBLE, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP ANYBODY GET STARTED BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE SERIOUS, HAVE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK AND THAT YOU ARE PREPARED FOR THE HARD WORK THAT IS INVOLVED IN REARING BABIES. WE ADVISE THAT YOU START SMALL THE MOST VALUABLE PART OF ANY STUD IS THE BUCK SO PURCHASING 1 OR 2 GOOD QUALITY BUCKS IS A GOOD START AND THEN 2/3 GOOD QUALITY DOES THAT WOULD PROVIDE YOU WITH YOUR FOUNDATION STOCK, YOU NEED TO KNOW THE LINEAGE FOR EACH RABBIT THE KEY TO BREEDING IS KNOWING YOUR STOCK, THEIR HISTORY, WHAT COLOURS THEY CARRY (SO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY THROW UP IN LITTERS ESPECIALLY IF INTRODUCING INTO VIENNA LINES), AGES, ETC. YOU THEN CAREFULLY SELECT YOUR ADDITIONAL STOCK FROM YOUR BABIES AS YOU GET THEM, YOU OBVIOUSLY THEN NEED TO ADD NEW BLOOD INTO YOUR LINES ON OCCASIONS. THE IDEA IS TO CREATE AS NEAR TO BREED PERFECTION AS POSSIBLE SO YOU BREED OUT THE BAD POINTS OF YOUR RABBIT WHILE BREEDING IN THE GOOD POINTS THAT YOU NEED THEREFORE IMPROVING YOUR LINES. ALSO REMEMBER THAT YOUR STOCK WILL NEED CONSTANT MONITORING, YOU CAN'T KEEP EVERYTHING AND YOU WILL NEED TO RE HOME TO KEEP YOUR SHED RUNNING IN ORDER. THE OTHER IMPORTANT THING IS TO HAVE NO MORE THAN YOU CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF QUALITY IS BETTER THAN QUANTITY, SO YOU ARE FAR BETTER TO HAVE 5/6 REALLY GOOD QUALITY RABBITS THAN YOU ARE 40 SUB STANDARD THAT ALL NEED WORK THIS MEANS YOU CAN APPLY YOURSELF TO THE TASK IN HAND GIVING 100% OF YOURSELF TO YOUR SELECT FEW WHICH MAKES FOR BETTER ADULTS AND BABIES.