Rabbit-raising for the LCYLS

BJHS’ Hannah Laningham freshens the water in her rabbits’ crib. Van’Go’photo Continuing with our interviews with area 4H and FFA students preparing for the Leon County Youth Livestock Show, this week we visited with the Laningham kids of Buffalo who are raising rabbits.

BHS sophomore Dylan and his sisters Hannah and Hailey, eighth graders at BJHS, are all first-time rabbit exhibitors. Several weeks ago the kids each bought a pen of four white California rabbits from Buffalo’s acknowledged bunny guru, Tommy Snow. They also got a large four-pen crib from Snow and they finished it out to house their warren, which must share the back yard with several dogs. The raised pens were framed in with plywood to keep the dogs out from beneath, so that the bunnies will be protected from nibbles and to lower their stress level. The rabbits are not entirely isolated, though. Exposure to some noise and activity now should help prevent the Laninghams’ rabbits from stressing out at the show barn.

Dylan, Hailey and Hannah Laningham spend a little of their Spring Break handling their rabbits in preparation for the upcoming Leon County Youth Livestock Show. Van’Go’photo The rookies are leaning heavily on Snow and Dylan’s FFA advisor, Brad Gonce, for advise.

Rabbits are one of the easier project animals, according to the Laningham threesome, who have also exhibited pigs in the past. Feed costs are minimal, and the bunnies don’t require too much care. After acquiring rabbits several weeks ago, the kids’ investment of time has been to check on the warren several times a day, providing feed and fresh water, and handling the rabbits some to get them used to being held and their fur fluffed. “You don’t want to hold them by their ears or pick them up by the nape of the neck -- it pulls the meat away from the skin,” Dylan explained. It was also suggested that you not handle the rabbits TOO much, making them completely tame. It is best if they have a little tension when the judge handles them.

In the rabbit show, each competitor submits a pen of three animals, and the goal is to have healthy animals with soft, fluffy fur and the three animals as nearly identical as possible. All of the Laningham’s rabbits have the same ear notch (identifying tattoo), so when it is closer to showtime the kids will weigh the bunnies and re-pen them to best match up their rabbits.

Their parents put up the initial investment for the project animals, and the kids’ dad, Melvin, pointed out that if any of the Laninghams’ rabbits make the sale, the first portion of the money will be put back for next year’s initial investment for all three kids.

The Market Rabbit Show begins at 5:00 on Wednesday, March 31, and the Breeding Rabbit Show will follow. The Premium Sale for the LCYLS will be Friday evening, April 2, beginning at 6:00 p.m.