Canterbury Tails
Winter 2023
Dates to remember
August Saturday 5 Hopping practise
September Saturday 2 Spring Show
RCNZ & Support Show
October Saturday 28 CDRA Championship Show –RCNZ South Island Nationals
Sunday 29 Hopping Competition North & South Island (TBC)
December Saturday 2 Christmas Show
All shows held at Burwood Scout Den Hall, 16 Travis Road Christchurch.
If there are changes to the venue or date you will be notified via the schedule and Facebook page.
Contact us: c.d.r.a.inc@gmail.com
Club magazine – Canterbury Tails Editors: cdra.tails@gmail.com
Things to remember
The new Show Rules will be on FaceBook under files so you can refer back to them if you need to.
There is a new Stewarding book to follow to help you if you don’t feel confident handling rabbits at the table. The booklet can be referred to plus there’s an option to be graded.
Meet the committee
President
Trophy Steward
Show Secretary
Chief Steward
Catherine Hannagan
Vice-President
Raffle and Assistant
Show Manager
Secretary Treasurer
Committee
Wayne Edmond
Lynette Peebles Sitereh Schouten
Show Manager
Jonathan Parker First Aid Responder
Saleme Roberts Junior and Showmanship Supervisor
Janine Hutton Editor
Kathleen Brinsdon
Melissa Stark
Danielle Thomson
Committee meetings are held in February, June and September each year. All members are welcome.
Member profile
Natalie Willis
How old were you when you got your first rabbit?
I was 10 years old when I got a black butterfly Mini Lop. I was 14 when I got into breeding. I had a pair of Mini Lops; a butterfly agouti doe and a butterfly chinchilla buck. My next choice was a pair of Jersey Wooly rabbits; a black otter doe and a smoke pearl buck.
What rabbit breed is your favourite and why?
My favourite is the Jersey Wooly. They’re so chill and friendly natured. And just so delicate and beautiful.
How many rabbits do you own?
I currently have 21 rabbits.
What is the best and naughtiest thing your rabbit can do?
Best – I love that my favourite buck buzzes at me every time he sees me. Naughtiest is another buck who sprays whenever I open the hutch door.
Do you have any plans or projects for yourself, or your rabbit?
Yes, my ultimate goal is to breed quality type butterfly orange Jersey Woolies. Also I would love a rabbitry full of chunky-headed butterfly Mini Lops and cashmere Mini Lops too.
Difficult weather: Protecting your rabbits Cold and wet weather
We have had a lot of unpredictable weather and it’s easy to get caught out when the weather changes quickly. A few simple precautions can make it a lot easier to maintain a healthy environment for your rabbit.
Raise off the ground – If possible have a raised area in your rabbit’s run where your rabbit can get off the ground if it becomes wet. This can be as simple as a large
block of wood to sit on or even lift part of the run onto an old pallet or something similar and staple some chicken wire onto it so bunny’s feet can’t fall between
pallet boards. If you live in a flood prone area, make sure hutch is positioned somewhere suitably safe or rabbit can be brought indoors into a temporary indoor hutch if you are worried about heavy rain forecast.
Cover hutch – Rabbits don’t mind a little bit of rain but they must always have access to dry shelter. Facing your hutch away from where heavy rain is most likely to come from and having a cover of some sort that is easy to move makes this less of chore if you have to quickly cover up in bad weather. There’s many types of ready-made hutch covers available but it’s simple to make your own using a tarp or plastic sheeting.
Dry bedding – Replace any bedding that has become wet or soiled with fresh dry straw so your rabbit has somewhere warm to sleep and is not exposed to prolonged cold and damp conditions.
Keep food dry – Make sure pellets are placed somewhere easy for bunny to get to but won’t get wet in bad weather.
Pellets in containers – Keeping your rabbits food clean and dry is also very important. Damp pellets
can lead to health issues and mouldy pellets should never be fed to your pet. Keeping your pellets in a drum or container with secure lid will also stop rodents from getting to it.
Weigh down hutch in wind – If your hutch is in an exposed area of your property make sure it not likely to blow over or lose its roof in strong winds. If you use tie down such as bungee cords to hold roof in place check regularly that bunny is not able to chew the cords/ropes as not only will this mean they will break easily and be useless but it is not good for rabbits to ingest these materials.
Hay off the ground – Raise your hay off the ground on an old pallet or similar to stop it becoming damp and make sure it is protected from the weather.
Water – Rabbits drink a surprising amount of water in cold weather so it is important that it is easy for them to access. Water bottles can easily freeze as they are positioned on the outside of the hutch so often bowls are a safer choice but must be cleaned much more regularly as they easily get contaminated with sawdust and hay from the rabbit moving around.
Breed in the spotlight
Jersey Wooly
Cute, easy care and coming in all colours. Sometimes judges refer to this breed as a long coated Netherland dwarf. But remember, they have a weight difference. This is a small compact breed.
You are looking for a coat no shorter than 1.5 inches long, with longer with thicker guard hairs. The longer the coat the better it drapes over the body, giving a flowing appearance. If you have the correct amount of guard hairs in the coat, it will be easy care, meaning very little knotting & brushing is minimal.
A JW with little short ears and no tassels on them is what you need to aim for.
Their broad round head with a bold eye sounds odd, but it’s unique to the Jersey Wooly and Netherland Dwarf breed. This breed looks good showing the large eye.
Adult weight 1.36kg – 1.587kg
Under 5 months 1.3kg
Colour time
Preparation tricks for shows
A tip for stained feet or tails
Here are a few tips that are not harmful to your rabbit if you need to remove stains. Sometimes warm soapy water isn’t enough. The very best option is to regularly clean the cage of your show rabbit more often than normal before a show.
Cornflour Paste
Mix cornflour to a paste (not runny) and place onto the stained area.
Leave as long as possible until it dries.
Remove with a brush or hands. The stain will look lighter than before, or will be gone.
Repeat as you need to.
Tooth Paste
Use a toothbrush and white tooth paste only
Less time in the garden before a show is another option. After a while you do work out the best method for you to keep fur, feet and tails looking their best. Good luck, and have a go with these tips you may be surprised at the results.
(no stripes, as the colour will satin the fur). Brush paste (no water added) onto the stained fur, feet or tail area.
Leave on as long as possible. If the rabbit eats it that’s ok – they may even get minty breath.
Wash off the paste and repeat if you need to. It’s all about catching the stain before it really sets in.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Canterbury Domestic Rabbit Association Inc. Which disclaims any responsibility or liability for the contents of this magazine.
