Hi kid show magishes,

Are those of you who used to produce live rabbits (say 5 or 10 years ago), still doing it? Or has the post-COVID cleanliness trend or the animal rights movement, or some other factor, made it harder to use live rabbits?

Thanks for any advice. I would like to get back to using my rabbit production boxes, but it will take an investment in a fox-proof hutch under the deck, and I have heard some resistance to live animals at birthday shows lately.

Cheers.

Todd/Mumblemore

I have had absolutely no resistance, or any complaints about using a rabbit in my act for about 10 years. In my 35 years of using a rabbit, I can count the number of objections (I wouldn't call them complaints) on one hand. Quite the contrary. Its the highlight of the show.

Thanks. Good to know.

I used one around 25 years ago for a short time. I always felt like it was more trouble than it's worth. I switched to adding puppets with ventriloquism about 15 years ago, the kids love it, I enjoy doing it, and I don't have to take care of them and worry about their well being.

I used a live rabbet for a while - then found a rabbet puppet called a 'kicker Rabbet' - that kicked when holding it. - years ago. wonder if still available

I've been using a rabbit in my shows from 1975 and bever had a complaint or any negative remarks from any of my customers.
Every bunny I had was treated as one of with care and respect. Each one has their own personality and if you are gentle with them, you can teach them tricks. The children and parents love to see them act up.
Knowing that that people always remember my bunny if I give it a well known name (Pop Culture), years ago when Robert Redford was a big name, my first bunny name was (Rabbit Redford)-and the next one (Peanuts)-(Tina Tuna like Turner)-(Lucy Lue)- my black bunny(Beyonce) and my recent (Lady Gaga).

I just used my rabbit in 2 shows this month and everyone loved him! Always a highlight in the show.

I remember the Kicker Rabbits. I started to make one years ago but never finished. Here's a thread:
https://themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=283167

I always use a live rabbit in my kids shows and it is one of the reasons that I get well booked, a long way in advance. The children and adults absolutely adore a live rabbit and he is the highlight of the show and has brought smiles and joy to lots of children over the years.

I use a rabbit, a parrot, a bearded dragon, a snake, and a Tarantula. People love animals.

That said, living in a hutch under someone's deck is not much of a life. Also rabbits are very susceptible to heat. I keep all my animals indoors with me with large play areas.

How do you know it's not the Taj Mahal under the deck? Seems pretty judgy not knowing the person or what they provide for their animals. As a farm kid I can tell you most animals do just find outside when adjusted to it (e.g. I wouldn't put a rabbit from an airconditioned house outside in 90-degree heat)

Have you ever seen an outside rabbit hutch that is the Taj Mahal? Neither have I.

1) They inevitably do not give rabbits much room to play and are the made of mesh that is hard on their feet.

2) There is also little stimulation - like a jail cell. People quickly lose interest in them and they just sit in their cell.

3) Preditors can try to eat them. They MAY be stopped by the hutch, but they certainly will get scared. How would you like a 20-foot coyote to try to eat you, and you are only protected by chicken wire with no place to run?

4) Rabbits do not do well in the heat. I know breeders who will not sell rabbits who will keep the hutch outside.

Many in the pet rabbit community, including myself, find it unethical, much like keeping a dog chained up outside.

How would you like to be couped up in a hutch under a porch?

Rabbits are living creatures with unique personalities. They are not some magic tool to be stored in the shed out back and only taken out on weekends. They need attention DAILY, and they 99% of the time they won't get that under the porch in a box made of chickenwire.

Am I "judgy" over this? Hell yea.

Yes I have seen some spectacular outdoor enclosures, you have no idea what the op has intended and if it’s not against the law, it’s none of your business. Clearly you have never seen a coyote, they are about the size of a medium dog not 20 foot….lol. If you were correct, rabbits would have died out long before people could even afford to keep them inside (which I’m not against), it has only been in the last 100 years or so the average person could even live up to your ridiculous standards. You can do as you please but you should learn some respect and common sense.

Hack,

Your aggression suggests that you may be neglecting animals or at least are okay with it. Stop feeling guilty and treat your animals ethically.

"Yes I have seen some spectacular outdoor enclosures,"

I SERIOUSLY doubt it, but I will give it to you. Who knows what you call a "Taj Mahal"??? I am sure there are a few. The vast majority are certainly not even your "Taj Mahals." Very few have ANY exercise space.


"it’s not against the law"

If something is legal, it does not mean it is ethical. Just because something is illegal does not make it unethical. Only an unethical person would think that. Somehow, you don't seem to care about laws much anyway.


"Clearly, you have never seen a coyote. They are about the size of a medium dog, not 20 feet….lol."

Imagination is a sign of intelligence. Sorry, you did not understand what I wrote. A coyote to a bunny is roughly in the same ratio as a 20-foot coyote to a man. No, there are no 20-foot coyotes (duh). You believing ANYONE could think that there are 20-foot coyotes says a lot more about you than anything else.

As for experience with coyotes, I am sure I have much more experience than you since I am an Alaska Native and USED to hunt and trap them. I am having a hard time hearing you laugh from where your head is stuck.


"If you were correct, rabbits would have died out long before people could even afford to keep them inside (which I’m not against),"

Rabbits survive because they multiply like rabbits (duh). It is extremely rare for one to die of old age in the wild. The vast majority get eaten by predators. Producing a ton of offspring is a survival mechanism MANY animals use. Turtles lay a ton of eggs, but only a small fraction live long enough to breed - which is why they produce so many eggs. It is the same with rabbits' offspring. Learn a little biology, you sound a bit ignorant.

As for keeping rabbits as pets inside, it's pretty recent. In the past, they were kept for their meat and pelts, not pets.


"it has only been in the last 100 years or so the average person could even live up to your ridiculous standards. You can do as you please but you should learn some respect and common sense."

My standards are for 2024. Are yours 100 years old?

What does this have to do with anything? Just because we could not be as caring in the past as we are now does not mean we shouldn't care now. You sound very unethical. Most humans are evolving materially and ethically. By your reasoning, we should still have slaves.

As for respect, no, I don't respect you. How can I? You don't even know basic high school biology and philosophy, and you talk about common sense like you actually have some. You call yourself a "hack", but I call you a troll with only 22 posts. Go troll elsewhere. *L*

I've used a dove and rabbit in all my kid shows for over 30 yrs. Only complaint I get is when I turn the dove into the rabbit they are wanting to know is the dove ok. Drives me nuts.

My rabbit died a couple of months ago but I still use it.

Well, it is Halloween season, so a zombie bunny does fit the spooky theme.

Still have rabbet and it died 2 months ago, good thing this forum doesn't emit smells.