4H

[KittyKatMe]

I am curious about the different project ideas. I have seen beginner, intermediate, advanced, care, breeder, and commercial. I want to raise Britannia Petites, so obviously commercial is out. I would like some more information about all, and which one is best for me.

 

[Kipcha]

Personally, I would go with the rabbit agility project It was virtually unheard of here in Canada before a friend and I started it and now it's gaining some popularity through Canada and the States.

Here's the club that branched out from the 4-H club to give some starter pointers,

http://canadianrabbithoppingclub.com/

I think Brittania Petites would make awesome hoppers!

 

[bhoffman]

My son is going into 4H this year.. and we already have some rabbits.. He will be going with care first. Although he has already learned some stuff.

I tried checking out the Canadian Hopping Club, but I dont think they have any groups or anything like htat in Sask.

 

[KittyKatMe]

I don't think they have hopping in SD, otherwise I would have mentioned it.

 

[bunnychild]

I think beginner is 7-10yrs intermediate is 11-13 yrs and senior is 14 and up. I have never heard of care or breeder being part of rabbit projects and as far as I know commercial is meat pens.

 

[Kipcha]

bunnychild wrote:

I think beginner is 7-10yrs intermediate is 11-13 yrs and senior is 14 and up.

You're right, senior, intermediate and junior are age levels, they have nothing to do with the project itself. For instance, you could be a senior member, but if you are new to horses, you would still go to level one.

As far as there currently being no clubs, why not get a leader who is willing to give it a go and start one yourself? That's what we did.

 

[KittyKatMe]

Hmm. That's actually a great idea. But does anyone know what care and breeder is?

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

I'd assume care is more about pet rabbits and how to care for them properly. Breeding would be breeding to ARBA standards and probably showing as well.

If you wanted to do an agility or rabbit hopping project, then try to start one. There are many clubs that are dong them now, so it is starting to be more of an option. It is a good project for someone who can only have 1 or 2 rabbits, already had a rabbit that might not be show or breeding quality or wants more than just caring for their rabbit. The project can also teach care and other things so members can learn about rabbit care while training them.

 

[KittyKatMe]

I actuallly did want to do showing, but I don't think I want to breed. Now I am really confused.

 

[Kipcha]

You can show rabbits without breeding them, they just cannot be fixed to be in an ARBA sanctioned show.

 

[MyBabyHasPaws]

should I just go to the ARBA website to learn about this more?
wonder if they have this in my area...

 

[woahlookitsme]

In the US you should be able to go to your counties Ag Extension Website or Call their office and they should have more information about the local 4H groups in your area.

Edit: Heres for San Diego
http://www.ca4h.org/Join/County/index.cfm

Heres for Florida
http://florida4h.org/getinvolved/index.shtml

Just search for [state name] Ag extension and they should have a 4H Youth Development link

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

For 4-H in the US, at least in my state/county, the rabbit project is not separated into those categories as you stated above.

You have to show your rabbit at county fair no matter what "cateogory" you choose. I just did "4-H rabbits" it was no specific category or anything. I bred and raised my own rabbits so I did do the Breeders Class a few years in a row. Commercial is a type of rabbit - that doesn't mean you absolutely have to do a meat pen project.

You can show mixed bred rabbits in the pet class - most 4-H fairs should have that class, as well as local 4-H shows.

Care is a silly category to me, as all rabbit owners/breeders have to care for their animals, so it just doesn't really make sense for a separate category to focus on just that, when that is really a HUGE part of the entire project.

Emily

 

[KittyKatMe]

Thank you. I want to do showing but not breed. I also found out that in advanced that you create and manage a rabbitry, and in intermediate that you learn to judge a rabbit and start breeding. At least in my area. I am doing 4H in Poway, because it is closer to me. But I don't want to breed, so I am really confused.

 

[wendymac]

That's how our county is, too. You just show in your age category for Showmanship. You could enter up to 2 meat pens, and then all your rabbits were shown in the youth and open divisions. You show them in the youth, runners show them in the open. And you can just show your one rabbit in its breed class here.

 

[KittyKatMe]

Well hopefully my county is like that too! *fingers crossed*.

 

[wendymac]

It should be the same. After all, the purpose of being in 4-H is to learn about rabbits...all aspects of them, not just one particular category. Let us know what you find out.