A good scientist must be curious and ask lots of questions about the current understandings of the field of study. Read studies, books, magazine articles and websites about rabbits. Talk to rabbit experts and veterinarians. Identify a question that you want to explore to learn more about rabbits. For example, "Can I accurately predict the color patterns of offspring by controlling the breeding pairs?", "Is my rabbit's activity pattern related to the night and day cycle?" or "Does age or breed affect a rabbit's daily food consumption?"
Based on the research you have collected, make an educated guess or hypothesis about the answer to the question you have posed. For example, predict "Using Punnett squares, I will be able to accurately predict the the colors of the offspring for a breeding pair." Or, "Rabbits are more active during daylight hours than at night." Or, "Young rabbits will eat more than rabbits over two years old."
Reliable scientific testing tests for only one variable at a time to isolate the effects of that one factor. Take pictures or videos of the rabbits and the tests as you work through the testing process. Select rabbits of the same breed unless you are comparing the results from different breeds. To test for activity levels, observe the rabbits and record their behavior for 10 minutes out of every two hours around the clock for at least three days; or set up a video camera with a time and date stamp for later review; or place an odometer on the exercise wheel and record the distance traveled every few hours. For daily food consumption studies, isolate rabbits in separate pens and weigh the rabbit food before placing it in each pen. Weigh any leftover before each feeding to determine how much the rabbit has eaten. Keep track of how much is added at each feeding to keep accurate calculations of food intake. To test predictions of desired genetic traits, try breeding parents of different coat colors and patterns and tracking the colors and patterns of the offspring. Compare the actual results with the theoretical probabilities shown by a Punnett square. Collect breeding data from rabbitries to compare results over time with a larger population.
Good science requires the scientist to communicate the results to other professionals and the public for the benefit of others. Write a summary of the research question, hypothesis, testing procedure and results. Explain whether your rabbit study proved or disproved your hypothesis and why. Create graphs and charts of your numerical data. Arrange the pieces neatly in chronological order, interspersed with pictures of the rabbits and the testing, on a tri-fold science fair display board. If you made a video of the rabbits, play it at your table during the science fair. Be prepared to clearly explain to the judges what you learned about rabbits through your investigation.