When I
learned what 4-H was, I thought it would be smart to join to learn about the
rabbit I was raising. Joining turned out
to be a great idea.
Why?
First, I had
no idea how to actually handle my rabbit.
I obviously did not want to hurt my rabbit, and I didn’t want to scare
him, either. I learned how to support
his body properly, how to check for ear mites, and how to check his teeth.
 |
| My first rabbit, Indy. My sweetest rabbit unfortunately had a heart condition. He passed away in June. |
Because he
was a French angora, I learned about wool block and how to treat it. At one of the 4-H shows, I learned I was
feeding him and my other rabbit the wrong feed.
Contrary to what a 4-H member told us, French angoras actually need a
lower protein feed, about 15-16%, rather than the 18% I was feeding them.
I also
learned that I was over-plucking my rabbits.
 |
| Ninja joined the rabbitry in November 2013, two days before Thanksgiving. |
There are
great opportunities for leadership, though I have not yet run for office. I probably will next time elections are held.
In
showmanship, which I was really afraid of, I learned how to show my rabbit
properly and that it was really a lot of fun.
It is actually a health check that also helps me to identify better
rabbits.
Finally, I
also really learn a lot at shows. I get
advice on feed and care. If I have a new
rabbit, I can take it and ask a 4-H leader to judge it, which has been really
successful.
