12/11/2025
🔥 Learning Before Breeding: One of the Best Things You Can Do for Your Herd 🐇
Something I’ve been thinking about lately is how important it is to really understand what you’re looking at before you start planning breeding pairs. Evaluating things like type, depth, HQ width, peak placement, fur quality, and overall balance takes time — none of us learned it overnight.
When I place rabbits with youth and 4-H kids, I almost always place juniors. Not because they aren’t finished, but because juniors give them the chance to:
• learn the breed
• get to know their individual animals
• build a bond
• and understand the standard before taking on the responsibility of breeding
And truly — it’s easiest to know what kind of quality you should be looking for when you know what quality feels like. Putting hands on well-built rabbits teaches you more than pictures or words ever could.
This is why having a mentor is so valuable. Someone who will let you handle their top animals helps you learn what to keep from your own litters… and what may be headed to Camp Kenmore. 😉
It’s also why shows matter. They’re not just about ribbons — they’re where you meet people, handle great rabbits, ask questions, and build the confidence to evaluate your own herd accurately.
If you want to improve your herd, set yourself up for success: take your time, learn the standard, handle quality animals, and make thoughtful breeding decisions based off of the qualities you need in your herd.
Better breeding always starts with better education. 🐇✨