Thursday, September 20, 2007
Realistic Expectations When Buying Rabbits
It's that time of year when I receive telephone calls frequently and my email is filled with requests for rabbits. I dread it.
First of all, selling rabbits is not my favorite activity. I am first and foremost a breeder.
Oh, I love it when I can share a very nice rabbit with a friend or help someone get started off on a good foot. But let's face it, it's really rare when you can let a grand champion go (I've sold a total of 15 grand champions in my career) or have the perfect trio on hand and ready to go just when someone wants to start out in Hollands.
What I really dislike is the unrealistic expectations.
I had an established breeder call me once and talk for quite some time. As we talked, I began to feel that what she wanted was Java or May or Padme. Let me be clear about something: if I get a rabbit like Java or May or Padme again, I'm keeping it. That's why I breed. To produce rabbits for me to show.
Folks also want to buy a rabbit from me that will place in the top ten at Convention. Again, if I produce a rabbit that I think can do that, he or she is staying in my herd.
There seems to be a pervasive feeling that if an exhibitor does well on the tables, especially at a national show, then all of the rabbits by that exhibitor are of the same quality. I doubt that is true. Those rabbits on the table are the cream of the crop.
I would say that if an exhibitor does well consistently and the pedigrees show tight breeding, then you may be able to get some pieces from that exhibitor that are worth working with. That's a more realistic expectation.
Sure, breeders do sell rabbits that win Best In Show for other people. Folks have sold rabbits that turned out to be top lops. Perhaps they knew what they were selling at the time, but I expect they were just sleepers, surprising the seller and buyer alike.
I expect that a lot of rabbit buyers are like speculators - looking for that vein of gold that will help them strike it rich. That strategy is expensive and not guaranteed to work.
I got a call from a breeder re-entering Hollands after a number of years. He's having a hard time getting his hands on really good stock to start with. For the most part, you can't just knock on a top breeder's door and purchase their top quality stock, especially around Convention time.
You might be able to make an appointment to go to their barns in the summer, when sales are generally slow and barns are more full. That's a great strategy.
But don't be surprised that top breeders have a long list of friends and colleagues who get first pick of their best rabbits. And, of course, don't be surprised if a top breeder won't sell their best sale rabbits to folks in their own area. I do, but I figure that if I can't stay one step ahead of the folks I sell to, then I'm doing something wrong and need to make an adjustment. I like helping to raise the general quality of Hollands in my area anyway.
I've written about this before, but let me repeat again that the rabbits that have helped my barn the most cost between $75 and $150. It's not always the $300 rabbit that is the best addition to your barn, especially if you are more interested in producing rabbits of your own than showing someone else's bunnies.
Shopping for pieces, parts, and complementary rabbits is a great strategy. Buying a good bunny that has the part you need is often better than buying a great bunny with the same fault you already struggle with.
When folks ask me whether they should buy this bunny or that, I always ask the same question. What do you need in your barn?
I was asked to evaluate a rabbit for a breeder who was thinking of buying from a judge who breeds Hollands. I asked to evaluate the rabbit out of the presence of the seller, which is always a good practice. There's no sense in giving your opinion if you can't be frank. I looked very briefly at the rabbit but asked the question, "What do you need in your barn?"
To me, if you don't know the answer to that question, you don't need to be shopping for rabbits. Perhaps you are hoping to luck up and get Mr. or Ms. Perfect. I hope you get it, but I don't think that's a realistic expectation.
So, I bet you can guess which kinds of customers I like the best. Yes, it's the ones who write and say, "I'm trying to shorten up shoulders," or "I need more texture to the ears." I don't mind those who are looking for a well-matched trio. Those customers, I might be able to help.
But please don't write me and ask for a rabbit like Rio. That rabbit is not for sale.
Laurie ¶ 7:21 AM
First of all, selling rabbits is not my favorite activity. I am first and foremost a breeder.
Oh, I love it when I can share a very nice rabbit with a friend or help someone get started off on a good foot. But let's face it, it's really rare when you can let a grand champion go (I've sold a total of 15 grand champions in my career) or have the perfect trio on hand and ready to go just when someone wants to start out in Hollands.
What I really dislike is the unrealistic expectations.
I had an established breeder call me once and talk for quite some time. As we talked, I began to feel that what she wanted was Java or May or Padme. Let me be clear about something: if I get a rabbit like Java or May or Padme again, I'm keeping it. That's why I breed. To produce rabbits for me to show.
Folks also want to buy a rabbit from me that will place in the top ten at Convention. Again, if I produce a rabbit that I think can do that, he or she is staying in my herd.
There seems to be a pervasive feeling that if an exhibitor does well on the tables, especially at a national show, then all of the rabbits by that exhibitor are of the same quality. I doubt that is true. Those rabbits on the table are the cream of the crop.
I would say that if an exhibitor does well consistently and the pedigrees show tight breeding, then you may be able to get some pieces from that exhibitor that are worth working with. That's a more realistic expectation.
Sure, breeders do sell rabbits that win Best In Show for other people. Folks have sold rabbits that turned out to be top lops. Perhaps they knew what they were selling at the time, but I expect they were just sleepers, surprising the seller and buyer alike.
I expect that a lot of rabbit buyers are like speculators - looking for that vein of gold that will help them strike it rich. That strategy is expensive and not guaranteed to work.
I got a call from a breeder re-entering Hollands after a number of years. He's having a hard time getting his hands on really good stock to start with. For the most part, you can't just knock on a top breeder's door and purchase their top quality stock, especially around Convention time.
You might be able to make an appointment to go to their barns in the summer, when sales are generally slow and barns are more full. That's a great strategy.
But don't be surprised that top breeders have a long list of friends and colleagues who get first pick of their best rabbits. And, of course, don't be surprised if a top breeder won't sell their best sale rabbits to folks in their own area. I do, but I figure that if I can't stay one step ahead of the folks I sell to, then I'm doing something wrong and need to make an adjustment. I like helping to raise the general quality of Hollands in my area anyway.
I've written about this before, but let me repeat again that the rabbits that have helped my barn the most cost between $75 and $150. It's not always the $300 rabbit that is the best addition to your barn, especially if you are more interested in producing rabbits of your own than showing someone else's bunnies.
Shopping for pieces, parts, and complementary rabbits is a great strategy. Buying a good bunny that has the part you need is often better than buying a great bunny with the same fault you already struggle with.
When folks ask me whether they should buy this bunny or that, I always ask the same question. What do you need in your barn?
I was asked to evaluate a rabbit for a breeder who was thinking of buying from a judge who breeds Hollands. I asked to evaluate the rabbit out of the presence of the seller, which is always a good practice. There's no sense in giving your opinion if you can't be frank. I looked very briefly at the rabbit but asked the question, "What do you need in your barn?"
To me, if you don't know the answer to that question, you don't need to be shopping for rabbits. Perhaps you are hoping to luck up and get Mr. or Ms. Perfect. I hope you get it, but I don't think that's a realistic expectation.
So, I bet you can guess which kinds of customers I like the best. Yes, it's the ones who write and say, "I'm trying to shorten up shoulders," or "I need more texture to the ears." I don't mind those who are looking for a well-matched trio. Those customers, I might be able to help.
But please don't write me and ask for a rabbit like Rio. That rabbit is not for sale.
Laurie ¶ 7:21 AM
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I Would caution you to claim to be one of the nations top breeders. Yes, you have been at the top of the points charts a few times, but I have to say, those times you showed almost more then any other exhibitor. I also find it amusing that you hold Rio in such high regard. While I have not seen him in person, from pictures I can plainly see his extreme length of body and finer limb. Yes he has placed 1st at a national show, but that does not mean anything. My only rabbit to place first at a convention was my least favorite entree.
# posted by 
: 2:14 PM
: 2:14 PM
You have misunderstood me. I did not claim to be one of the nation's top breeders. In fact, in the next paragraph, I plainly say knock on "their" door - not "my" door.
I'm not sure why you want to write to criticize one of my rabbits. I never said that Rio was perfect. But he does have 27 legs including 13 BOBs, 3 BIS, and 3 BRIS and several people DO hold him in high regard. He's not my favorite rabbit. But he does have some delicious parts - including huge bone, fat cheeks, and a nice head.
If placing well at national shows doesn't mean anything, why do we go? I don't think it is kind to try to take away someone's accomplishments, such as they are.
As for my placing near the top of the sweeps points, I don't remember claiming that it was some great accomplishment. In fact, I've pointed out myself that I've shown way too much. However, I would challenge you to try to get 33 different rabbits to win BOB or BOS in an 18-month period with unlimited tries. It's pretty difficult to do.
Once again let me say that if you find my BLOG offensive in any way, please don't read it. There's no sense in taking your time to read something that you want to find fault with.
Laurie
I'm not sure why you want to write to criticize one of my rabbits. I never said that Rio was perfect. But he does have 27 legs including 13 BOBs, 3 BIS, and 3 BRIS and several people DO hold him in high regard. He's not my favorite rabbit. But he does have some delicious parts - including huge bone, fat cheeks, and a nice head.
If placing well at national shows doesn't mean anything, why do we go? I don't think it is kind to try to take away someone's accomplishments, such as they are.
As for my placing near the top of the sweeps points, I don't remember claiming that it was some great accomplishment. In fact, I've pointed out myself that I've shown way too much. However, I would challenge you to try to get 33 different rabbits to win BOB or BOS in an 18-month period with unlimited tries. It's pretty difficult to do.
Once again let me say that if you find my BLOG offensive in any way, please don't read it. There's no sense in taking your time to read something that you want to find fault with.
Laurie
Laurie,
I find your blog to be very interesting and enjoy reading it. As for your rabbits and what you have accomplished I would take my hat off to you. You have made such major progress in the Holland Breed; it is not many people that have the depth in their herds with GC. There are some people that just keep showing the same winning rabbit year after year after year. Haven’t they heard of a breeding program..? There are some breeders that just keep showing that same SSB and winning but you have to consider the zone they show in. Is there competition to show against or not? That I will answer for you NO THERE ISN'T. So they just keep racking up those Q points to put themselves right up there in quality points. And I find these breeders are the ones that bring way to many rabbits to convention and then expect everyone else to put rabbits on the table and they do not lift a finger to help, in fact they stand in your way with their finger up their (well forget the rest of that comment you get my drift), they are to busy acting like they are important and selling rabbits at high prices just because they think they are TOP BREEDERS. Thank God for normal breeders like yourself.
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I find your blog to be very interesting and enjoy reading it. As for your rabbits and what you have accomplished I would take my hat off to you. You have made such major progress in the Holland Breed; it is not many people that have the depth in their herds with GC. There are some people that just keep showing the same winning rabbit year after year after year. Haven’t they heard of a breeding program..? There are some breeders that just keep showing that same SSB and winning but you have to consider the zone they show in. Is there competition to show against or not? That I will answer for you NO THERE ISN'T. So they just keep racking up those Q points to put themselves right up there in quality points. And I find these breeders are the ones that bring way to many rabbits to convention and then expect everyone else to put rabbits on the table and they do not lift a finger to help, in fact they stand in your way with their finger up their (well forget the rest of that comment you get my drift), they are to busy acting like they are important and selling rabbits at high prices just because they think they are TOP BREEDERS. Thank God for normal breeders like yourself.
# posted by : 12:01 AM
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