American Chinchilla Rabbit Breeders Association

When starting new there are a lot of questions to ask yourself. First and foremost is housing. It's our responsibility to keep our rabbits safe and well cared for. Different locations and situations call for different equipment.

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First, you'll need to consider housing. Most rabbit breeders prefer the bottom left cage set up called a stacker. These cages are usually wire bottomed with a pan. This makes it easy for keeping your show rabbit's feet clean. These cages require protection from weather and can usually be found inside a barn or garage. The indoor cages (white and red in the photo) are used in multiple settings. The setback to this style is that the rabbit sits in its bedding which will usually lead to discolored fur on their feet. The other option posted here is a hutch. This system is made to be outdoors and is protected from the weather. It usually has strong material surrounding the outside, so the rabbits are protected from any weather your location may experience. You usually see these sitting alongside the outside of a barn or hutch.

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Feeding and watering set ups are also something to consider. Over the years the water and feed systems keep developing. A simple bowl for water and another bowl for feed will work. However, we know our furry friends like to play and throw things and it's hard when fluffy throws your expensive feed across the cage and loses it. A lot of new feeders will secure themselves to a cage wall like the coop cup (light blue) or a J feeder (not pictured). some people use the coop cup for feed or water; others like to use the water bottle system. The newer water system is connected with tubing and water nipples; it connects all of yours rabbits' water together. This system works best in warmer climates and has potential to spread sickness.

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Making sure your rabbit feels safe and secure is crucial to success in rabbit breeding.  Resting matts (multi color grid) help provide a comfy spot to relax but also allows the waste to fall through and not make a dirty rabbit. Toys may also be of consideration. Talk to your local rabbit breeders to see what they use for stimulation. A toy can be as simple as a toilet paper roll stuffed with hay!