07/11/2022
Breeding show rabbits. It’s a wonderful and fulfilling hobby, and sometimes a heart wrenching one too. It’s full of bringing in new life, making wonderful friends, and sometimes upsetting days in the barn.
Those of us who last in this hobby jokingly call it the “3 year hobby” as it seems most new breeders only last 3 years. The first year is fun, the second year you’re all in, and come year 3 when challenges arise they sell out.
Most of us started out as pet breeders. With no goal in mind but breeding to sell pets, maybe for profit but mostly for joy. We ran through all different breeds and colors until we found what we loved. Decided to settle on that. Decided to dedicate our free time to preserving and bettering that breed. To improve or introduce new colors, and to further this wonderful hobby.
But now there’s a new threat on the horizon. Covid caused an influx of pet sales. Everyone wanted a new pet bunny. Everyone wanted to breed bunnies. At first our hobby welcomed this. We excitedly helped people start out, offering advice and good hearty breeding stock. But with the large growth in rabbit breeders comes a large influx of baby bunnies.
With show rabbits not all babies out of 2 show parents are going to be show quality. We get lots of bunnies that don’t make the cut. Some breeders especially with commercial breeds like New Zealand’s will simply eat the “culls”. But most of us with our lops and dwarf breeds relied on the pet market to find good homes for them.
Here’s where things have gotten crazy. The pet market is so overly saturated with rabbits right now. Especially Holland lops and mixed breeds. Every day I see new posts of rabbits available. Many are discounted. Some even free. Us show breeders don’t even stand a chance of finding our babies homes.
Now I’m seeing long standing respectable breeders considering selling out. And some who already have. The combination of not being able to home our rabbits and seeing the breeds we’ve worked so hard to improve and better so quickly decline in the hands of breeders who either don’t care or don’t know better is more than most of us can take.
So I urge any breeder reading this to please think to yourself. “Am I breeding for a purpose? Am I bettering this breed?” If the answer is no then make a change. I know many of you love rabbits as much as I do, and if this flooded market driven by pet craze continues then the rabbits you know and love will deteriorate. And for any rabbit pet owners or those looking to get one. Please ask yourselves “Is this breeder responsible? Do they have what’s best in mind for rabbit health, structure, and longevity” and if the answer is no then try to find another breeder. Thank you for those who took the time to read this.
Sincerely,
A Dying Hobby
