Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Waverly family raises rabbits



Easter egg hunters might get a little more than they bargain
for if they search near the home of Dave and Donna DeLude, Waverly – they
might hit up on a dozen “Easter” bunnies.

The bunnies are actually prize-inning rabbits that are
bred for 4-H exhibition during the county fair.

Dave DeLude is one of the supervisors of the rabbit barn
during the fair, which will feature a newly built addition this year, capable
of holding 217 rabbit cages.

The DeLudes breed more than five different kinds of rabbits,
including Polish, English Lop, Mini Lop, French Angora, and English Angora,
the latter of which is a very unusual looking specimen that features very
long locks, and looks like a rock star (see picture).

Some breeds can actually be a little vicious and unpredictable,
such as the Britannia Petite, DeLude said.

Two 4-H members keep rabbits at the DeLude home – their
son, Joey DeLude, 13, and neighbor Tiffany Trulson, 12, daughter of Randy
and Fay.

Joey DeLude and Trulson plan to participate in a rabbit
knowledge bowl this weekend for 4-H.

Joey traditionally shows Polish rabbits and takes care
of four of them at home. Showing rabbits is his favorite 4-H activity, since
he’s done it for five years. He will also be showing a beef steer at the
fair this year.

Trulson shows and cares for one rabbit, a Mini Lop, and
also likes to be around the gentle critters.

The slow spring seems to be fooling the animals a bit this
year, since the DeLudes lost a litter of nine Polish rabbits already, due
to the cold.

Although the rabbits are enclosed in their own cages, the
rabbits’ behavior has been a little out of the ordinary and it was hard
to tell when the mother was ready. “Usually, they pull at their hair,”
Joey commented.

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