Texas 4-H and Youth Development

The following topics will be discussed:
• General Information
• Selection
• Validation
• Facilities and Equipment
• Feeding
• Health
Texas 4-H and Youth Development

• Rabbits typically shown as meat pens and fryers
• Consult rules to see if meat pens can be purchased from breeder or must be raised by individual.
• If ordering rabbits purchase four in case one gets sick or dies.
• Contact breeder at least four to five months before the show.
Texas 4-H and Youth Development

• Commercial breeds work better for meat pens.
• Medium in length with depth equaling width, showing roundness of body and firmness of flesh.
• Most common used:
– Champagne d’ Argent
– Satin
– Palomino
– New Zealand (most popular)
– Californian (most popular)
Texas 4-H and Youth Development

• Pens must be same breed, but do not need to be same sex
• Must be mirror images of each other in appearance and weight
• Weight is one of the most important things to consider
• Must be balanced.
• Most shows have 5lb. per rabbit weight limit
• Most shows have age limits for meat pen
(60 – 90 days)
Texas 4-H and Youth Development

• No state validation for rabbit projects
• See county rules for validation dates
• If showing meat pens at Houston there is a validation date and exhibitors must own parents of pen.
Texas 4-H and Youth Development

Facilities and Equipment
• Hutches must be protected from the elements.
• Each rabbit requires its own hutch
• Meat pens require two to four cages
– Allows you to more closely monitor feeding
• Meat pen sized rabbits needs a 24 in. X 24 in. wire mesh cage.
• Commercial breeders need 24 in. X 30 in. wire mesh cage.
• Does and bucks need 24 in. X 24 in. wire mesh cages
Texas 4-H and Youth Development

Facilities and Equipment
• Sides should be made out of 2 in. X 1 in. wire mesh and the bottoms should be made of ½ X
1 in. wire mesh.
• All hutches should be under roof
• Side walls will be needed in most rabbitries
• Not as important to keep rabbits warm as it is to keep them dry and out of wind
• Must keep them well ventilated and clean
Texas 4-H and Youth Development

Facilities and Equipment
Texas 4-H and Youth Development

• Many feeds to choose from
• Recommended to use a 16% protein feed.
• Works well for all stages of development.
• When feeding meat pens start out by feeding as much as they can eat and adjust their feed as they get close to the show.
• Chart weight gain
• Can use steamed rolled oats or steamed rolled barley as filler when adjusting feed
• Also do a good job of hardening muscle on rabbits.
• Most important thing to remember when feeding rabbits is have fresh water
Texas 4-H and Youth Development

• Most important thing to keep rabbits healthy is provide clean environment with plenty of food and water.
• No vaccinations needed
• Consult local veterinarian if health problem does come up.
Texas 4-H and Youth Development

• All aspects of the selection process should be understood.
• Proper facilities should be available.
• Proper diets and nutritional information about feeding rabbits should be identified.
• Vaccinations are not necessary when raising rabbits.
• Identify what breeds are used in raising rabbits.
Texas 4-H and Youth Development