Gridley Show--11 October 2014

There were a lot less people than we expected at a double triple show (triple youth show and triple open show).  It was a smaller building, so we were all very cozy.  Strangely enough, this triple show went faster than any double show we’ve ever been to.  We were done by 3:00.  It was indoors, unlike the last Stockton show, and probably the nicest place we’ve shown—the AC was going for the rabbits, there was a large grassy parking area for letting rabbits out (and parking), and it was right outside the building.  All the angora judging tables were right next to each other, making it so much easier for us to find them.  We were so used to long shows and always being last that we didn’t have all our rabbits groomed when it was time to go to table.  That did cost Duchess a leg, but it was ok since Becky’s other doe, Honey, got the leg.  They switched up the order, which we had never seen done before, so the youth French angora went up sooner.  

 

If we had to choose between going to Gridley or Stockton, we would choose Gridley any day. 

We had our best friends who are also raising some nice French angoras with us, so it was lots of fun.  At the show, we met some other French angora youth.  They had a beautifully colored buck—a self-chocolate, but he had a lot of reddish tint.  My mom is still drooling over him.  It was really fun to meet them, and we hope to see them at other shows.

Tootsie was way overweight, and Muddy just turned senior and was underweight.  I didn’t want to spend money to enter them—even though they both had nice coats—and risk getting DQ’d.  So I took Ninja who had very uneven coat, just so we’d have the numbers for getting two legs per show.  Two significant things I learned this time—1.  If rabbits are DQ’d for weight, it doesn’t take away from the count for legs, so I should have taken Muddy and Tootsie, because the judges sometimes don’t even notice the weight;  2.  Senior does usually win best of breed.

Weighing Rabbits

We weigh all of our rabbits because it is part of a health check and to keep good records.  A weight loss would suggest they either need more feed or they are sick.  Weight gain is good, but we don’t want them to gain too much.  We monitor them to make sure they meet minimum weights for their class.  If rabbits weigh too much or too little, the judge can disqualify them.  We saw that happen at the West Coast Classic in May. 

Maple at his weekly weighing

We weigh our rabbits every Wednesday.  We stop weighing pregnant does one week before they are due to kindle.  We weigh rabbit kits every day after they’re a week old.  We carefully carry our rabbits over to the scale.  Our scale is accurate to tenths of ounces.  This is an important advantage.  Something that many people don’t realize is that in the rabbit world when weight is recorded, the number after the pound number indicates the number of ounces, not the fraction of a pound.  For example, 9. 5. 5 is read nine pounds, five and one-half ounces, not nine pounds, eight and one-half ounces.  

We always on a solid surface like a table or hard floor, not on carpet or cages or the results may not be accurate.  I learned this by experience.  We all learn from our mistakes.  We record each rabbit’s weight each week so that we can compare their progress. 

Stockton Show Report

My mom, Becky, Lydia, and I left at 7AM the day of the show with Muddy Buddy, Honey, Duchess, Stanley, Bubbles, Maple, and a friend’s rabbit.  We couldn’t have them in the bed of the truck.  It would be too windy and it would stress them.  So we put them in the cab with us.  We arrived at 8AM and looked for the other angora breeders.  We were right in the middle of all the angora commotion—blowers, grooming tables, yarns and hats and mittens for sale, and some beautiful angoras. 

Judging for Show B

There were over 70 angora rabbits there, six entered in the youth class.  We entered five.  None of ours had any disqualifications, and we asked one of the judges about Bubbles.  He said she would not be DQ’d for color, her color was just fine.  Unfortunately, we did not ask about Stanley, who is a little different on the back, but otherwise identical to Bubbles.  Muddy Buddy won best of breed in show A, and Honey took best opposite.  In show B Honey took best of breed, and Muddy Buddy took best opposite.  Unfortunately, Muddy Buddy could not compete in best of show for show A, because the judging for show B was going on at the exact same time!   

Honey, Best of Breed in Show B, and Becky

Outdoor Play Time

By Lydia

Even if you do have a big cage for your rabbit, it is always nice to let them out to run around.  The rabbits always have a lot of fun with play time.  Every day we need to get our rabbits out so that they can get exercise and so you can enjoy them.   Something that we like doing, either while we are doing our schoolwork, or while my mom is spinning, we get a bunny out to run around.  Rabbits need play time.  If you don’t get them out enough, they will be difficult to handle.  If you try to get them out every day or several times a week, you rabbit will be very good about handling.  When your rabbit is running around, it may stop, grunt a little, and like Ninja, it may like digging at things.  Naturally, you do not let them do this right before a show. 

We usually set up a fenced area or baby gates to keep them away from places we don’t want them to go and to keep them safe.   We have to watch carefully to make sure the cat doesn’t attack them.  He has never attacked our rabbits, but he has killed jackrabbits and cottontails around our property.  Our very large black lab mix never bothers them.  Before the sprinklers come on, or after the grass has dried, we let them run around on the grass and eat it.  We don’t put any fertilizers or other chemicals on our grass.  We don’t put them on wet grass, because they could catch pneumonia.  And even if they don’t get sick, their wool will get badly matted.  If they can’t be on the grass because it is wet or sunny, we put them on our covered deck.  That way they can still run around.  

 

Maple getting his morning exercise

Angora rabbits have a lot of limitations when it comes to the sun.  They cannot be placed in warm sun.  They already have a very heavy coat on.  Ruby-eyed whites should not ever be in the sun—it can damage their eyes.  Also, self-blacks should never be in the sun, but for a totally different reason.  If self-blacks are exposed to too much sun, their wool will turn a rusty color, and they will be disqualified for show.