Rabbit Information

Like all animals, rabbits need to be fed on a daily basis and any uneaten food should be checked to see that it doesn't become moldy. Fresh water should be given daily too. They play well outside of a cage in the house or in the yard. If you purchase your rabbit young enough and handle him often he will not be afraid of humans, won't panic easily and won't run off and hide. Best of all, they can be housebroken.
The American Rabbit Breeders Association located at Box 426, Bloomington, Illinois, 61701, can tell you where to find a rabbit show in your area. You will be able to see all the varieties such as the Angora, Belgian hare, and the French lop-eared rabbit.
When choosing your rabbit make sure it has thick and somewhat glossy fur. It should feel solid in your hands, not skinny. Lift its tail to make sure there is no mess indicating diarrhea and also that its eyes and nose are not runny. If one of the babies seems calmer than the others it will probably make a good apartment pet.
Make sure your rabbit diet includes good quality rabbit pellets, which are available at your local pet shop. Also include fresh hay which can be alfalfa, timothy or oat, water from a water bottle hung in his cage, and fresh vegetables. Any other treats should be given in limited quantities. Don't purchase your pellets in more than a six-week quantity or they will spoil. They should be available 24 hours a day until they grow older. In adult rabbits, (7 months-l year) pellets should be decreased to 1/2 cup per 6 pounds of body weight. When you decrease the pellets you need to compensate for the reduction in nutritional value. Therefore, increase the vegetables you give your rabbit.

A rabbit's home is called a hutch and can be purchased at any pet shop. It is usually made of wire or wire and wood about 2' by 3' for the smaller breeds. If you keep your hutch outside make sure it is protected from rain and hot sun, placing it under at porch is ideal. If necessary cover the hutch with plastic sheeting if it is windy or very cold. Newspapers work well for the indoor hutch to catch droppings and urine.
Spaying and neutering are necessary for your rabbits. Females who are unspayed have an 85% mortality rate due to reproductive cancer. Males benefit from neutering by eliminating spraying and hormone-related aggression. Check with your veterinarian.

Terminology of rabbit words

Balance; shape-conformation-type the arrangement of the rabbit’s physical attributes.
Banding; the arrangement of color on the fur shaft of an agouti.
Belly color; the color underneath a rabbit extending from the between the rear legs to the fore legs.
Blaze; markings on a Dutch rabbits face.
Buck; a male rabbit.
Butterfly; facial markings of an English marked rabbit.
Carriage; the style or pose of a rabbit.
Cheeks; the colored head markings on a Dutch.
Choppy; back and loin cut off too soon.
Cobby; a body type that is very compact, short and stocky.
Compatible; eye color that matches the body color.
Cow hocked; hind feet turning out.
Density; the quality or thickness of a coat.
Dewclaw; the extra toe on the inside of the forelegs.
Dewlap; large fold of skin under chin of doe.
Doe; female rabbit.
Drags; color going into the white portion of a marked rabbit e.g. a Dutch.
Ear lacings; colored fur that out lines the ears.
Extension; depth of color on a fur shaft.
Fine coat; a coat lacking body, guard hairs.
Flyback; a coat which flies back in to position when stroked in the opposite direction.
Foreign color; any fur, nails eye color (e.g. walleye) that differs from the standard for a chosen breed.
Guard hairs; longer stiffer hairs on a rabbit a fault in rex.
Herringbone; stripe down the spine of an English marked rabbit.
Hocks; bottom of a rabbits foot.
U/5; a rabbit under five months or a junior.
Kindling; giving birth.
Lap spots; the colored area in the groin of tan patterned and agouti rabbits.
Litter; newborn baby rabbits.
Mealy; a coat giving the appearance of being sprinkled with meal.
Molt; when a rabbit grows in a new coat.
Open coat; coat lacking density unable to return to its natural position.
Pen shows; a show where pens are supplied by the club.
Plush; fine hair that has a very dense soft feel.
Points; the markings on a Himalayan or Californian.
Prime; ideal conditioning.
Prime line; the line of fur down the middle of the back and rump indicating a good coat.
Ring; the metal band that identifies a BRC show rabbit
Saddle; the marking on the upper portion of Dutch rabbits back separating the white from the colored portion.
Screw tail; tail that dose not sit correctly (turns to one side)
Silvering; a coat having the appearance of a silvery gloss, caused by the amount of silver or silver tipped guard hairs.
Solid; a rabbit that is all one color.
Stops; the white portion of Dutch rabbits feet.
Surface color; the color of the fur when it is lying in its natural position.
Table shows; a show where the exhibitors travel carrier is used the exhibitor stewards his/her own rabbits.
Tattoo; the marking of ARBA identified show rabbit.
Ticking; hairs that are longer and of a different color to the coat.
Triangle; the markings on the neck of agoutis and tan patterned rabbits.
Strain; a line of rabbits that are all related.
Under color; color at the base of the fur shaft.
Undercut; belly markings on a Dutch rabbit.
Variety; a breed or group of rabbits.
Wolf teeth; crooked teeth or teeth that grow not aligned.
Wry neck; neck and head turned to one side usually caused by pasturella