Also- Explain this breeding practice

[weedflemishgiants]

Another friend of mine called and said he was timing his breedings so that his juniors would all be five months and three weeks at the time of Nationals.

I assume the purpose of that is to have the biggest Flemish junior on the table.

Is it the common practice for Flemish Giant breeders to breed according to the size they want at a particular show?

That is sort of backwards to how I do it. I breed my rabbits and then I find a show I like and sort them out according to age rather than aging them for the show.

Maybe that is why my bunnies are smaller than everyone else's at the show until they hit senior and all of a sudden mine are bigger LOL

Which is the more preferred practice?

 

[lilangelhotots]

I'm not sure if it is a common practice or not, but I do know several breeders in my areawho breed for a certain show to have juniors. Especially the larger shows such as a breed's nationals or the ARBA convention. I have never doneit,but suppose it is really personal preference of wether you want mature, filled out juniors for the show table.

 

[BlueGiants]

A lot ofBreeders (not just Flemish) will pick a large show (like the ARBA Convention or a Flemish National) and count backwards to time their breeding. Considering you can put anyFlemish over6.5 lbs. on the table as a Junior, and the larger, more mature rabbit will usually show better. Most Flemish are 7 lbs.by 3 months, so it makes sense that putting a 5 month-3 week old Junior on the table gives you a better chance of winning (at least that class). With Flemish being a 6 class rabbit, and because they grow so much between 5 and 8 months, the same applies for Intermediate classes too. A 7 3/4 month old will usually show better than a 6 month old.

As far as what is prefered, it depends on what you are breeding for. If your really concerned with showing (especially at certain shows), timing is everything. Breeders use this practice to get rabbits for certain seasons (Easter). Because s rabbits gestation is pretty dependable, it's easy to do.

 

[weedflemishgiants]

Ah. That is how they are doing it. Sometimes I put my little three month old in the show and it looks like he is next to a bunch of seniors.

So, then, what I need to do is see what show is coming up in my area for Flemish where I know there will be a lot, and start counting on the calendar.

Well, I got lucky with my little singleton then. He will be exactly 5 months two weeks when it is time for the Christmas Jubilee out here. LOL Plus he ought to be ginormous since he is the only one in the litter. But he is the only one.

I get it now. I see how that works.

 

[TinysMom]

A large number of lionhead breeders will plan their breedings along the two major shows - ARBA Nationals and the National Lionhead show. So this is a pretty common practice!

 

[GoinBackToCali]

I plan for shows...For our October show.. I will breed Mid July.. you count back to make sure your at optimum weight and size and fur texture..

Cali's blow their coats at a certain age... they have a *frost* on their ears..so I try to breed for them to be shown right before the age that happens..

 

[weedflemishgiants]

Okay I'm learning a lot today. Brain overload.