HOW DO YOU PICK ONE FROM THE LITTER?
How do you know which one in the litter you want?
Stand back and watch them for a little while. See which are the most active. Is there one that sits off by himself? Stay clear of that one, he may be sick or just plain shy. Many people are fond of the runt of the litter. Again, this may or may not be the best choice.
Ask if you can open the cage (some does, or their breeders, can be real cranky about strangers around their babies) and see which one comes up to greet you. Look for bright eyes and healthy coat. The fur doesn't have to be shiny, just thick and resilient. If the fur is very dull and thin, the bunny may be sharing nourishment with a parasite, or simply got "hind teat" in a large litter!
Ask to see the teeth or check them yourself. They should close like people teeth, top over bottom.
Rub your hands all over the body and feel for any scabs. They may be from litter mates fighting and could abscess or the may be caused by fur mites.
Nicks in the ear may not be as serious if not weeping. Ears heal quickly and get groomed better than wounds buried in long fur on the body.
If you are looking for a show bunny be sure to tell the breeder so they can check for any disqualifications such as mismatched toenail color making certain all toes and nails are present. Rabbits have 4 toes on each foot plus a dew claw on each front foot. Look also for stray white hairs on solid colored rabbits, paying close attention to areas under front legs.
Sometimes buyers think they will get a better deal if they ask for a pet rabbit rather than a show bunny but that is not always the case and rabbits sold as pets may have minor flaws that would prevent them from being shown but would not alter the animals health or breeding capabilities.