Obsidian
Rabbitry

One of my main goals when selling my rabbits is to consider precisely what a buyer is seeking. I strive to conform to my buyers' exact needs so that the rabbits they get will be the best suited to compliment and improve their herds. I select only the strongest in my stock to produce consistently high quality, healthy, and friendly rabbits. 

 

Because our rabbits are housed in a climate controlled building, we are able to breed year around. I welcome potential buyers to reserve or request certain kits at any time. I'm also more than happy to provide further information and photographs upon request for any sale rabbits.

 

Rabbits make absolutely amazing and fun pets. They provide a wonderful opportunity for children to learn responsibility and empathy. Rabbits are living beings, and require constant care and a lot of work to keep them thriving. A significant amount of pre-planning is required before getting a pet rabbit.

 

Please note, that I do not intentionally breed for pet rabbits. The purpose of my breeding program is to produce healthy, top quality show rabbits.  However, if you are looking for a pet rabbit, please let me know what you're looking for in particular, and I'll see if I can either find or hold onto something for you. Occasionally, I'll take in mini rex rescues and re-home them to pet homes. Please also keep in mind that I may deny a pet sale. 

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DISCLAIMER IN REGARDS TO PET SALES

And Reasons Why I May Deny Them

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Reason Number One:  My responsibility as breeder.  As a breeder, it is my responsibility to produce and maintain rabbits with superior structure/conformation. Correct structures means the rabbits are physically healthy and are able to extend their bodies with full movement and complete comfort. An animal with incorrect structure or color is termed as "pet quality". Animals with incorrect structure are more likely to experience health concerns, neurological issues, mobility restrictions, or bodily pain. Some examples of incorrect structure faults are:

-Narrow hips: This causes the body cavity to be too shallow, which in turn does not accommodate proper organ function. It also causes pregnancy and birthing complications.

-Poor/thin fur quality: This can result in the rabbit being unable to properly regulate its body temperature. It can also lead to sore hocks.

-Long Shoulders: May cause spinal issues because there is too much strain on the vertebrae.

-Poor chest angulation: If the chest is being more or less than a 45-degree angle, it will prevent the rabbit from being able to exercise or move its front end in complete correspondence with the back end. 

Faults in incorrect or poor structure can be and are often genetic. Breeding animals with poor structure is doing nothing to benefit the breed or the individual animal. 

It is unethical to keep a rabbit with disabling faults such as these. Furthermore, if I were to sell a rabbit with such faults, there would be the possibility of that rabbit being bred irresponsibly by the new owner. That would result in the release of those faults into the rabbit gene pool. That is not a risk I'm willing to take. That's like a dog breeder knowingly selling a dog with hip dyspepsia to a family.  Not only is that dog going to eventually have a life of painful suffering (with costly vet bills to boot), but that would be setting the family up for failure, disappointment, and heartache.  I only want happy, healthy, and comfortable rabbits out in the world. Likewise, I want my buyers to be satisfied with their purchases. If I choose to sell a rabbit as a pet, it's usually only because the rabbit will have a simple color fault.

 

Reason Number Two: Impulse and irresponsible buyers. Unfortunately, there is a lot of pseudoscience and incorrect "information" on the internet regarding rabbit care. And, for whatever reason, many new pet owners choose to take internet advice over the professional advice of ethical breeders and licensed veterinarians.  Other times, pet buyers don't bother to do any research whatsoever regarding rabbit care before purchasing. And as a result, it's sadly very, very common to see pet rabbits die or become severely ill shortly after living with their new owners. Diet changes, dangerous handling, irresponsible breeding, poor environment, and negligence towards even the most basic care practices are all causes for high mortality rates in pet rabbits. And for whatever reason, many pet owners also think it's a good idea to breed their rabbits; when they have little to no understanding for genetics, improvement, health, and with no idea as to what to do if there are birthing complications, etc. Then they end up with a bunch of babies that they ultimately dump off at a shelter (which only adds to overpopulation numbers and gives good breeders a bad name simply for the fact of breeding). It is also common for new pet owners to suddenly decide they no longer want their rabbit just after a few weeks of ownership due to a loss of interest and poor commitment. And instead of returning it to the breeder where it will have an appropriate and permanent home, they either abandon it out in the wild, dump it off at a shelter, or sell it to some Joe on Craigslist. This forced ignorance and irresponsible behavior is why so many responsible breeders are hesitant to sell to pet homes. 

 

These situations are not the case with ALL pet owners of course. I've encountered a hand full of extremely upstanding pet rabbit owners over the years. However, as a majority, irresponsible pet ownership is something that I and many other breeders have personally witnessed all too often. With this in mind, please understand that by selling to a pet home, I'm potentially taking a big risk for that rabbit's health and well being.  I'm more willing to sell rabbits to other breeders and 4-H/FFA kids than to pet homes. Why? Because when I sell to another responsible breeder, I know that rabbit is going to a home with someone who is more than prepared and educated in caring for it. I know I can rely on that breeder to stay in touch with me and provide me with updates of that rabbit over the course of it's life. I know that breeder will provide appropriate and correct medical, nutritional, and enrichment support for that rabbit. I know I'll be able to watch that rabbit grow up and progress when I see it being brought to local shows. Rarely, would I ever receive that kind of piece of mind and security selling to a pet home. So, in conclusion, if you want a pet rabbit from me, please be prepared to prove that you are willing, dedicated, and educated in the areas of proper rabbit ownership. Please be prepared to exhibit RESPONSIBLE practices. I only want what is best for my rabbits by ensuring they will be properly taken care of for the entirety of their lives. 

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Considering pet rabbits for children?

 

Cons:

• You can't rely on a child to notice when a rabbit is ill.

• Older children may lose interest in rabbits as they grow into teenagers - other peer pressure factors being more rewarding.

• Children will start high school, college or university and school work, socializing etc. will take priority. Since rabbits can leave to around 10 years, if you get a rabbit for your 8-year-old daughter, she may continue to own it into her 20's. Will she be in a different state of mind and housing situation by then?

• Lax or inconsistent parenting can lead children to not take their responsibilities seriously, thus causing the rabbit to be frequently neglected. You might be buying the rabbit for your child (who may be very good with animals), but please understand that ultimately the rabbit will be the ADULT's responsibility and will rely on YOU (not your children) to give them the 10+ years of love, space, and attention they require.

• Not all children are gentle, and can easily break a rabbit's back by picking it up incorrectly. Bunnies have fragile bodies and can easily be hurt or suffer from broken bones if mishandled or dropped. A bunny struggling to escape from a child's arms won't realize it may hurt itself by jumping. A quick nip indicates the desire to be put back on the ground - a child's reflex is to scream and drop the rabbit.

• They don't like noise, whether it be screaming, or children squealing with delight at their new pet, and will run off and hide. Children soon get bored with the pet that "doesn't want to play".

• Rabbits hate being chased or roughly handled and get stressed easily. This can cause them to bite, become withdrawn or aggressive, or become ill from high-stress levels.

• Rabbits HATE being picked up! They are prey animals so they like to have their feet firmly on the ground, 99% of rabbits will scratch and kick until they are put back down. They can easily draw blood through no fault or intention of their own.

Pros:

• A child often learns valuable lessons about responsibility.

• They develop compassion by caring and thinking about something other than themselves. A great lesson in benevolence!

• Children learn the value of hard work, especially when the cage needs to be cleaned

• They also appreciate that their actions are time sensitive; changing water containers and regular feeding times being especially important.