Breeders and Easter

[MsBinky]

So I was thinking...

What do you breeders do at Easter? I mean... I know that many people like to buy bunnies at Easter, but I also know that many of you don't like the idea of bunnies being sold and then ending up in shelters or abandonned.

So, how do you go about it?

Oh and this is a sincere question, not a question to start up anything.

 

[polly]

I don't let any of my bunnies go at easter to a pet shop or anything and the only way one would be sold by me from my home is if they had been waiting for one from a litter!! But i don't think its as big an issue over here as it is in the states. Most pet shops don't have any out at easter or christmas.

 

[pamnock]

Many of the bigger show breeders don't breed for Easter bunnies. I don't sell any.

Pam

 

[RAL Rabbitry]

I don't breed for Easter. I breed for the show seasons which are spring

and fall for me. I don't show much in the summer anymore. Too hot! The rabbits

pretty much take the summer off from breeding and showing.

If I do get someone that wants a pet I will usually make them wait until

after the holiday.

Roger

 

[BlueGiants]

I don't breed for and won't sell for Easter either. They have to be willing to wait 3-4 weeks afterwards, and I have to really be convinced that they are sincere. (I've gone so far as to make them bring over a cage or a reciept for a cage to prove they will care for it.) I also won't sell to anyone that is giving the rabbit as a gift.

 

[ZakuraRabbit]

I don't think that the Eeaster-bunny-tradition is very wide-spread in Norway, at least I haven't heard of it...reasons for that might be that it's hard to breed rabbits mid-winter as many breeders keep their animals outdoors, also in Norwegian tradition the Easter Bunny is a hare, not a rabbit Although I have been asked by some kids if Zakura is a hare:biggrin2:

I wouldn't sell to anyone unless I am certain they will look after the rabbit for years go come, and explain to them that these are living creatures, not something you can throw away after a week, regardless of season.
Now I haven't had my first litter yet, but I have alreade my mind up that I will never sell to a pet shop (I don't like to support the sale of animals in stores AT ALL) or someone I don't trust will look well after the bun.

 

[Jenson]

I don't think Easter bunnies are a big deal here in Wales either, I've never known anyone get a bunny for Easter. All the same, if I've got any rabbits for sale I hold onto them until a few weeks after just in case. And I ask a lot of questions the few weeks after Easter just in case they are looking to replace a rabbit that died soon after it was bought!

I probably put people off with my questioning, but it's stopped me from selling rabbits to unsuitable people before so I always do it. I had one person want a rabbit from me, she told me her old rabbit died when it was a year old...of Chicken Pox! :shock:

 

[CorkysMom]

This is a busy 4h time around here, people wanting them for that big time. I do ask tons of questions etc, I have yet to have anyone ask me for an 'easter bunny'. If they did, they wouldn't get one..lol I usually talk to folks for a good week or more before they get one of my kids!

 

[MsBinky]

Cool!

Thank you everyone for the input. I was wondering if you guyswent with extra tough screening or if you held them off completely for a few weeks. Thank you for the info :biggrin2:

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

I usually just breed for show and 4-H seasons, whichmeansSpring and late winter litters, but I never sell bunnies to those looking for them as easter presents or any presents for that matter. If it's a present going to a 4-her and they are very-well educated and have proven that to me, then I think about it.

Emily

 

[gentle giants]

When I was breeding, I usually tried to avoid having any bunnies of weaning age in the barn. If I had a litter that was four-five weeks and the person was willing to wait until they were eight weeks, then that was acceptable.

 

[MsBinky]

I wish all breeders thought like you guys :heartsI was asking because I had contacted a breeder a while back to find out if there were ever any frosted pearl lops around and the breeder told me to check back at Easter as he would have a "ton" of rabbits... :nerves1I don't think that is a breeder I would purchase from... That and the fact that he got the color wrong too... He told me he had but it was a sable... :headsmack

 

[Starlight Rabbitry]

pamnock wrote:

Many of the bigger show breeders don't breed for Easter bunnies. I don't sell any.

Pam

I don't either. People only buy rabbits at easter because they think that their children really would like one. Thetruth is that these rabbits will eventually be forgotten out in a cage with only the parents coming by to feed it. I don't sell during holidays. If someone really wants a rabbit, I ask them about their setup and then proceed to tell them that I am busy till the weekend after Easter. This way if they are serious about wanting one of my babies, they will be willing to wait.

Sharon