09/04/2026
I wanted to share the father to the kits I posted the other day. We had some comments about how "rough" I was with them. Truly, I wasn't. They're wiggly babies that aren't used to being asked to pose. They're acting exactly as they should for their age. But they are looking very nice thus far, they may grow up to be show rabbits so they have to learn how to pose for judging.
Shockingly, rabbits are not born knowing how to do this. 🫣 It would be amazing if they were, but alas, some human has to teach them.
Dad here was a show bun. Someone had to teach him to sit nicely while being evaluated. Now he is retired and gets to just be a bunny, but he is still able to be handled and posed as he was taught to do this when he was little.
He is molting, and isn't in the best position here, but I wanted all things to be equal as it was to the kits. So he's on the same cart in the same place on the farm with the same animals around at about the same time of day.
I don't feel the need to defend my actions, but wanted to help educate. Showing rabbits is new to us, we are learning as we go, and it does feel unnatural at times. But I also know that show rabbits are well loved and cared for. Even if the kits wash as show buns, to be a good pet they need to have been handled and asked to do things that may initially make them uncomfortable. I'd much rather do that here with for a few seconds then give them back to momma than for them to have that first confusing experience elsewhere.
