New Years Rabbitry Resolutions

Let's see-

Make a Final Decision on the Hollands
Grand a Keep's Doe.
Top 20 in JW Sweeps
BIS or BRIS with a Homebred


I'm giving the hollands one more year. One more year to rekindle my love with them, or I'm out. It's official, write it down and take it to the bank.

So close to Granding a Keep's Doe, I need to STOP taking them home and breeding immediately at 6 months. Keep's Epiphany is the latest in the long line of "sitting at 2 legs and likely to stay that way because I want babies" does. Ahh well :).

Top 20 in JW Sweeps- I did well last year, I want to up the ante this year!

BIS or BRIS with a Homebred- pretty self explanatory. I have taken 3 BIS and a BRIS with animals I've purchased. I picked most of them as babies, put 95% of the legs on all 4 animals. Now it's time to get one of my Homebreds up there! So, so close. :).

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

It's almost Christmas!

Almost Christmas Time!!

Unfortunately, we have too many bunnies to give the specialized treats and presents treatment.

As I sitting here typing this, I realize I have lost the puppy...excuse me.

I forget we have one (I found her, by the way). She's the last puppy from our AKC Mini Dachshund litter- a little short haired reverse red dapple.

If you're in love, you should be! She's available, if anyone is interested in a beautiful little puppy!


Anyway, I've got some exciting news! I'm entering a Holland Co-op!! More information on that soon, but I'm going down to just a couple animals, so even MORE are going to be available right after the turn of the year. I'm also letting some of my foundation stock in the Jersey Woolies go! Keep an eye out for that.

Merry Christmas guys!!
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Snow Bunnies

We've got 15 inches of snow here in Western NC, with more on the way tonight!

I'm loving the snow, but I know the bunnies sure aren't! It's times like this that I'm very glad we have such a sturdy rabbitry.

Last night, Tim shoveled a path from the back door out to the rabbitry. Unfortunately, the persnickety little dogs have been using it as their private poop path, so we're having to dodge land mines.

I've put out MORE poison, we saw a huge rat try to escape the snow by heading in to the rabbitry! OH NO!

We've got the lights running 24/7, hoping that it will help knock at least a little of the chill off the air in there.

So much for rebreeding all those does that missed! :(


-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Sigh Sigh Sigh

My wooly doe Sunset had a live peanut and a DOA for her first litter. :( Ahh well, she made a nice nest and pulled some wool, so at least she's showing promise as a Mama!

Today is cage cleaning day. It's not going to be fun, but since the temps are in the 50s today, we have to take advantage of it! With all the litters born lately, hay is everywhere on the floors of the cages, which means they've been pooping on hay, which means- icky cages!

I'm hoping the warmer days today and yesterday will jump start the libido on the does! I really want some more juniors to choose from.

Speaking of- one of my wooly juniors has a hunk out of an ear. OH NO :(. The poor thing is definitely rendered unshowable. *sigh* So disappointed. :(

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

BRRR

Winter is definitely here.

The outside spigot was too frozen to give Tim water, so he's hoofing it in to fill up a 1 gallon jug from the kitchen sink.

OH joy. My hands are FREEZING cold from feeding!

I think it's time to break out the gloves and hand warmers!! I'm hoping to find a nice little cheap, enclosed heater than we can use to knock just enough of the chill off to keep the water bottles from freezing- more about that as I do my research.

Just had to share the misery!!!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Rest in Peace

Poor Wooligans Little Mama.

We found her dead in her cage today. She was due to kindle on the 15th and obviously had some kind of trouble, judging by her appearance when I found her. I believe she had a prolapsed uterus.

This is a blow to my heart and my herd. She was a very sweet doe, I wish I'd spent a little more time on head rubs lately.

Thankfully, I do still have two little doelings out of her. One was nearly sold at the show this past weekend, but I forgot to pack her. Maybe it was meant to be that she stayed.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Show Update

We traveled to the Columbia, South Carolina show this past Saturday. Well, it would be more accurate to say we went Friday night. We shared a room with Fayth and Lisa Young at Sugarplum Bunnies- it was so much fun! I love when I get an excuse to spend more time with my friends :D.

The hotel was actually pretty nice, it was the Riverside Inn located in Caycee- I would recommend it, it was inexpensive and clean- and SAFE! No drug deals in the parking lot, which always earns a 5 star rating in my book :).


The show started out promising- Tryon picked up another leg, even half in a molt and though Forest took 3rd of..9? I think, the judge said were he to pick a rabbit to breed to in the extremely strong self class, it would have been to the 3rd place animal. Awww!!! :) Thanks Deidre for repeating that comment to me, I sure wouldn't have wanted to miss it!

Rory took a thrilling 5/17 under Allan Ormond. I really like him as a judge, even though he wasn't a fan of my two young junior animals. You never feel like he's stretching or making up things to say about the animals- and NO ONE can ever accuse him of being color blind! A lovely blue otter and chestnut got rave reviews under him!

I think some day, I'll learn not to take molty rabbits or babies to shows. But every once in a while they surprise me- my little shaded junior buck, who has the most cottony coat right now thanks to being a baby, won his class in the second show! Wow :).

The show dragged on forever. It was 6:30 when we left, and there were still breeds being shown. In fact, hollands had just started broken senior bucks when I announced we were scratching our broken junior doe and hitting the road.

I enjoyed showing in a new area though- I met some great new folks who I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing again! Thankfully everyone I ran in to, at the tables or otherwise, were just SO friendly! I also found good homes for all the sales rabbits I took, except one little holland buck. I had originally decided to pet him out, but you know, he's REALLY shaping up to look like some kind of nice brood buck, so maybe I should hold on to him and try a breeding before I let him out the door.

OH! I got to see a squirrel wooly and a CHOCOLATE wooly! I don't see a lot of the fun colors in person and had never seen a chocolate, EVER. That was completely awesome.

Overall, I'd say it was a successful day, though we didn't bring home any of the top honors :).

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

New Show!

I'm heading out to the Columbia, SC show on Saturday! I'm excited, I've only been to this show once and it's been YEARS! It's a double open with a wooly specialty.. YAY!

Unfortunately, everyone has chosen this time to blow their coats completely. I've got a few juniors in slap uglies, a few that are too young to compete... and then I've got a couple I'm bringing anyway :). All the does of breeding age are pregnant or on litters. I'm trying out a new buck or two-

It should be interesting to see how everyone does. I may make a few last minute scratches based on coats...it's hard to know really.

Hopefully I'll be able to move out my last few sales animals as well! With winter coming up, I don't want to hold on to anyone that's not going to be a productive part of my herd.

That reminds me- need to print out pedigrees. Unfortunately, I'm having printer issues. It won't recognize my Evans software for printing, so I have to retype EVERYTHING out in Excel- which makes an ugly but function pedigree :(.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Not Bunny Related-

Let me take an aside to post a quick little blurb here-

Give more for the holidays! I am donating my entire commission for the month of December to the Haywood Christian Emergency Shelter. So buy with the link below and know that 30% of your purchase is going to help those in need have a safe, warm, dry place to spend the night this Christmas Season.

Click here to make your purchase!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

I was out of town, hope Thanksgiving was excellent for you American readers :).

Where to start-

The herd reduction is going well! Two rabbits delivered, two spoken for and interest in others. :)

Unfortunately, while I was gone two does had litters. One could have definitely been saved if the caretaker had followed my instructions- the other possibly could have been saved, but we'll never know now. *sigh*

So, not the best to come back to. I do have a doe still nesting and the other bunnies are all fine, so that's something to be happy about!

Cold has started to settle here in the mountains, so I think I'm definitely going to have to make one last push to get anyone I want bred. The does may not be receptive much longer!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Addition to the Sales List:

Sugar's BaeBae- SSB (HL) SOLD

He wouldn't go going anywhere if I wasn't cutting down- he produced a REALLY, REALLY cute, nice little buck that I am completely in love with. So, Bae Bae is going. He's a small guy but SO typey and throws beautiful babies. I apologize for the pictures, he's not much on posing and I haven't had him long enough to work him. He is an absolute lover boy.

I'm willing to consider *reasonable* offers on the rabbits for sale.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

HUGE Holland Lop, Jersey Wooly Sale

BUCKS

*may have another buck added, need to talk to the original breeder first*



Keep's Zoidberg- Siamese Sable Sr. Buck (HL)
Lyle Creek's Friesian x Lil Bit Farms Zapp
Beautiful color, just about to start popping his head (his crown is totally molted out right now, except right in the middle). Very nice type on him, would like to see a heavier bone. I apologize for the overposed picture above, he's a table hugger that wants to be loved on, this was the best Joni could wrestle him in to lol. He's not yet 5 months old.


G.C. Keep's Forest- Self Senior Buck (JW) SOLD
Wooligans Aspen x Keep's Elm

I dunno what to say about this rabbit. 4th place Self Sr. Buck at 2008 Convention. Registered and Granded, he has 14 legs to his credit (that I can find). A little more upright than some judges like, his flashy-ness has earned him many legs. He has some attitude in his cage but produces friendly, sweet offspring. He's made his replacement for me, it's time to let him go. Is a REW masking agouti and carrying self.

-picture coming soon-
Keep's Poplar- Self Junior Buck (JW)
Keep's Angel x Keep's Forest

I'll regret this. He's a very promising junior buck that likes to push when being posed. I wish his ears were a little shorter, but he's at an age where he's kind of looking funny. I don't mind holding on to him . He just can't beat his half brother to stay.



Does



Lyle Creek's Friesian- Black Sr. Doe (HL)
Available AFTER litter

This does is just a big ball of chunk. Her last litter she threw 8 babies. 3 blacks, 3 sable points and 2 black torts. She also produced siamese sable when bred to a sable point. If you want color and mass, this is your girl. She's outproduced herself for Joni and I currently have some very promising babies that are not yet weaned out of her (they are fostered). It's so hard to take pictures of a black brood doe. She's got nice type on her, she's a bigger lady though.



Keep's Barbi- Broken Sable Point Sr. Doe (HL) SOLD
The Nature Trail's Miss Muffet x Lil Bit Farms Zapp
Available AFTER Litter

She's too light and clean in her color to show. I love this doe, she's an EXCELLENT mother and has thrown better than herself. I'd like to see more bone on her. She's got a NICE head that doesn't translate to pictures. She's happily settled in to baby making body (she's lengthened a bit in body and shoulders as she's aged), so while you could show her, she would be happiest staying home and making you babies. Remind me to show you pictures of her kids and grandkids to see what she throws.



Keep's Zyra- Blue Tort Jr. Doe (HL) SOLD
Lil Bit Farms Zora x Lil Bit Farms Rory

I like this doe! I wish she had a more massive head, but it's not bad. She's a chunky little girl. She does have a slipped crown, I love her nice wide chest. She's a must see. She's not yet 4 months old.


-picture coming-
Keep's Maiden- AOV Jr Doe (JW)
Wooligans Leesa x Keep's Tryon

*sigh* She's an AOV. Disappointing. She's a nice animal and got good comments at the show last Saturday. I wish her ears were a tad bit thicker, love the size and shape! She's a nice animal. I have had the hardest time choosing between her and her sister, but I'm doing a major herd reduction and have too many Leesa babies.


Keep's Relief- Shaded Jr. Doe (JW)
Wooligans Leesa x Keep's Tryon

I wish her ears were a tad bit shorter. I really like her body, she'd be a nice addition to a herd. Right now her wool is choppy as she flips over to her adult coat. She's still got some maturing to do, but her lines are excellent and she's got such a great start.



-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Rabbit and Cavy Directory!

Check out the new Rabbit and Cavy Breeder Directory, created by my friend Whitney at Imagination Acres!


She's looking for some pictures and breed descriptions still, so if you have a chance, try to help out a little!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Hanging Out in the House

I brought in a little blue junior buck. He's living in the house because of a severe loss of condition- I think he was targeted for harassment by the vermin population. I know I often found his food spoiled, and had tried to give him small amounts throughout the day that he could eat more quickly.


Instead, he started not eating and he withdrew to the back of his cage, only running forward when I had the door open. Otherwise, he looked scared to death. SO, Tar Heel got to come inside for a while.


He loves his play pen and the cats love having him in it- they are so nosy! Most of my pictures feature this little guy running around beside of one of the cats who've crawled in with him.

I'm happy to report that he's got his appetite back after two days of living inside, and it looks like he's going to make a full recovery.

So far, confirmed body count outside is 15 mice and 1 shrew. We seem to be ahead of the rush right now, but with the weather turning cold and rainy, it will be time to add more poison.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Herd Reduction

I'm about to do a huge herd reduction.

I've found myself growing increasingly frustrated with the hollands. I like what I have! Other people like what I have! Animals I've sold out of state are doing very well! Locally however, it's just not going well. Believe me when I say, it's not all about winning- but it is nice to have a few decent placings occasionally to keep ya feeling good.


Regardless, I've decided to sell Lil Bit Farms Rory and Lil Bit Farms Zora. This pair of blue torts is GORGEOUS. Rory is my favorite holland in the barn, end of story. He just is. The decision to let these two crucial pieces of the herd go has spurred me to the decision to reduce my holland numbers in general. Unfortunately, I believe most of my does happen to be pregnant at the moment. However, I will be pre-selling them, to be available for pick up after litters.

While I'm selling down the hollands, I need to let go some of the Jersey Woolies as well. I get entirely too caught up in who someone is out of- even to the point I've got several full siblings in the rabbitry.

Thankfully, my friend Joni is coming to visit on Monday (HOORAY!!!) She's already been warned that we are going through the ENTIRE barn. I'm hoping she can help me decide who to let go.

I plan on attending the December 5th show in South Carolina :). Anything that appears on the sales list can be brought there, but let me know if you're interested in something, if space is limited, not everyone will come!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Taylorsville Show

We had the Taylorsville Show yesterday. I guess I did pretty well considering the coats on the bunnies- my little chestnut junior buck won group in show A (he's still a baby) and my junior doe Sunset took BOSG. That was really about it for me. I just have to remind myself that I need to stop showing animals with no coats or that are in a molt LOL! There were some really nice animals on the table, I'm so proud of our showing area. It's nice to see a very competitive class pretty much EVERY time! :).

My little junior HL buck's highest placement was 4/8 in Show B and a junior doe I own took 2/5.

Mostly, it was just SO NICE to see my friends!! Kelsey came down from Maryland, Whitney came down from Virginia and the usual suspects were all there as well! Both Belgian Hare boys found great homes, one with Whitney and one with Billi. All the woolies I had for sale are now gone, so I've got extra space! WOO HOO. Nothing for Sale means it's time to go out and cull again (lol).

My next show will be in December, more than likely. I'm hoping by then the coats will have recovered a bit lol. Why is it the rabbits always look the best when there are no shows around?!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabitry

Sudden Bunny Death

There is nothing worse that going out to the rabbitry and finding a perfectly healthy bunny dead in it's cage. Nothing makes me sicker and it's especially bad when it's an animal you're proud of and you feel like is a big step in the right direction.

The reason these animals die can be so many things- some internal birth defect you have no way of knowing about- a sudden startlement that caused them to jump or hit their cage funny. It could be seizures that you didn't know ran in the line, unless you happen to be lucky enough to witness it (as happened to a friend of mine).

I'm not sure where this post is going- I think I just wanted to share my frustration of seeing perfectly healthy animals dead for no reason.

*sigh*

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Oh Constant Comment.

I dunno what Constant Comment's deal is this month. She's usually a great mom, builds great nests, etc. Maybe it's cause she's a California doe and is just ditzy .

She was due yesterday. I came out this morning to see this.

That's where her box started out!! Then she was nesting in the left corner, so I moved it. Then she started nesting in the middle of the cage. So we moved the nest back to the box. Then she ate all the hay out of the box.

Her nestbox that was stuffed FULL of fresh hay last night when I fed?

Oh...and what's this?

She was squatting over top of the other one lol.

Checking out the Keepee made nest.

She knew this was an important and unrepeatable breeding and she was trying to tank it for me lol.

Thankfully, she's a good mama and pulled a LOT of fur for her babies. We did lose one, but it was a peanut anyway. I'm so excited, this litter is the first of my Nationals babies born!

-Kristen

Woolies for Sale!

As always, I invite anyone to come actually put their HANDS on these animals, the pictures do NOT do justice to their bodies.

Everyone is molting and is 2 1/2 months old, so they are at an awkward stage lol. These babies are out of G.C. Keep's Tryon x Wooligans Little Mama


AOV B1- Jr Buck
This guy has thin ears and light point color. He's got NICE width and NICE HQ, he's a very promising buck. He's one of my favorites in the litter.


AOV B2- Jr. Buck
This guys has thin ears and light points, He's a bit lower in his shoulder and is a bit smaller than B1. He's got NICE HQ and a very promising head coming in.


AOV D1- Jr. Doe

BROOD!! BROOD BROOD BROOD BROOD BROOD. That being said, she's a pretty nice brood. She's the biggest in the litter. Light in her points and long in her ear to balance right now, her ears are still within the show range. She's got NICE HQ, a bit low in her shoulders, but a very solid doe. Worth a shot for her lines and siblings.


AOV D2- Jr. Doe

A nice, small doe. She's light on her points and small. A promising little doe.

-Not Pictured-
Siamese Sable Jr. Doe

Very nice, small doe. Nice HQ, thin ears. Would like to see more depth of body, nice width. Overall, a VERY promising doe.


Keep's Godzilla- Smoke Pearl Sr. Doe- PROVEN.
G.C. Hare's Mystic Moon x Wooligans Leesa
Godzilla is just off a litter. She's got a VERY nice shape when posed up. I'd like to see thicker ears on her. She's a quality brood, could probably be shown, I'd just have to check the weight on her beforehand. Was an excellent mother.


-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Exciting!

Well, Convention is over! Now it's time to start planning for Breed Nationals and NEXT year's Convention in Minnesota.

Just a small, exciting piece of news from my rabbitry- Katie of Kagee Rabbitry, located in California, recently purchased a shipment of rabbits from us. From these guys, she chose to show one Keep's junior buck at Convention- and he took 5th Self Jr. Buck! HOORAY! :) We're so happy for her and very pleased at his placement!

*happy happy dance*

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Variety/Breed Presentations

Broken New Zealands- PASSED!!! I believe this is their final showing, they are an official variety now! Congratulations! :)

Velveteens- FAILED

Lionheads- FAILED. It's for real this time. One siamese sable was actually a seal, a REW was missing it's mane and the sable point had mismatched toenails-the others had type issues.

Black Mini Satin- FAILED
Blue Mini Satin- FAILED due to type and fur
Californian Mini Satin- PASSED 1st Showing.
Chinchilla Mini Satin- PASSED
Copper Mini Satin- FAILED due to a broken tooth. Since it occurred AT convention, they are being revisited and may pass- will update!
Opal Mini Satin- PASSED
Red Mini Satin- PASSED
Siamese Sable Mini Satin- PASSED

Otter American Fuzzy Lop- FAILED

Blue Tort Netherland-PASSED 2nd showing.

Lilac Polish- FAILED

Broken English Angora- PASSED 1st showing.

Chinchilla Dutch- PASSED

Orange Jersey Wooly- PASSED

Lilac Satin- FAILED

Blue Dwarf Hotot- FAILED

Siamese Sable Mini Rex- FAILED
Silver Marten Mini Rex- PASSED
Smoke Pearl Mini Rex- FAILED

Blue Rhinelander- FAILED

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Convention Results!

Please forgive any typos in spelling or placements. Without official lists to go by, this is done by word of mouth as best as we can figure it out :). Thanks! -K

Open- Best In Show goes to the Mini Rex, owned by Doug King
Youth- Best in Show goes to the Holland Lop, owned by Aislin Hall

2011 ARBA CONVENTION is being held in INDIANAPOLIS, IN !

Youth

American Chinchilla: Logan VanAllen- BOB
Alexis Cano- BOSB

American Fuzzy Lop: Jennifer Henderson- BOB & BOSB

Dwarf Hotot: Reni Lucido -BOB & BOSB

Himalayan: Erin Grabe- BOB

Holland Lop- Aislin Hall- BOB
Kelly Pedrotti- BOSB

Jersey Wooly: Kelsey Deling- BOB
Amy McBirney- BOSB

Rhinelander: Nicola Falk- BOB
Jacquie Peterson- BOSB

Silver Marten: Katie Bettincourt - BOB
Kara Clarke- BOSB

Open

American (White): Barbara Culberston - BOB
Chris Hemp BOSB

American Chinchilla: William Bryan- BOB
Crystal ? - BOSB

American Fuzzy Lop: Brian Hartzell (RIP)- BOB

American Sable: Bill Mairs- BOB
Donna Williams- BOSB

Belgian Hare: Shannon Kelly- BOB & BOSB

Beveren: Kim Calloway- BOB

English Lop: Juan Salas- BOB
Tami Shaw- BOSB

Flemish: Kathy Rynard and Joanne Walker- BOB

Holland Lop: Jenny Poprawski - BOB
Linda Jinings - BOSB

Florida White: Maryann Preston- BOB

Giant Chinchilla: Lawrence Coats- BOB
Anita Trautwein-BOSB

Harlequin: Angel Medina- BOB

Jersey Wooly: Laurie Owen- BOB
The Uptagraffs- BOSB

Lilac: Marian Spotswood- BOSB

Mini Lop: Jody Rosnik-BOB
Noel Laberge- BOSB

Mini Rex: Doug King- BOB & BOSB

Mini Satin: Melissa Magee- BOB
Todd Naragon- BOSB

Netherland Dwarf: Joanie Zier - BOB
Coin/Nelson - BOSB

Polish: April Wright- BOB

Rhinelander: Lorena Ferchaud- BOB
Kam Padlina- BOSB

Satin: Wampners- BOB
Grossmans - BOSB

Silver Fox: Lynn Fischbeck- BOB
Dale Boroff - BOSB

Silver Marten: Tex Thomas- BOB
Sharon Webb- BOSB

Thrianta: Dera Oldefredi- BOB




-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Convention

I hope everyone had a good Halloween!


Convention officially starts today out in California!! I'll be updating the blog with results as soon as I find out. I'll also report which varieties pass and fail.

Very exciting! I wish we could be there, but we're planning our trip to MN in 2010 and to KY for JW Nationals :)

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Halloween

It's almost Halloween! I just wanted to take this opportunity to say- lock your animals up good!

I think Halloween is especially important to take extra precautions. I LOVE the Holiday, don't get me wrong, but the animal shelters around here won't even let you adopt black animals in the month of October.

There are BAD people out there- bad people that do bad things and unfortunately, animal murder, sacrifice or just torture can be part of some people's "festivities". So remember to lock up the rabbitry good, make sure all the outdoor animals are inside or in a safe place and enjoy your holday!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Learning New Things

This is a very old blog I started and never finished---- I thought I'd post it now anyway, just because it's a good reminder to me that I don't know as much as I think I do sometimes :).

I'm always learning new things- and I love it! It helps keep my ego in check :P.

Some of the things I've learned recently about rabbits-

English Spots can have solid babies, marked babies (what you're hoping for) and charlies! I had no idea!

English Angoras are shown in "Colored" and "White". Not to mention, "white" encompasses REW, BEW and pointed!

If you use a blower on your wooled breeds- this weird white powder comes out- even if you only miss 1 day of blowing!

Belgian Hares come in Black, Black & Tan and White, as well as Red! You just may have to go overseas to find them!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Little Bunny Foo-Foo

There is a great rhyme for children that goes "Little Bunny Foo-Foo, I don't wanna see you, scooping up the field mice and bopping them on the head."

Right now I'd give a lot of money to have my own little bunny Foo-Foo to go around scooping up these field mice and popping them a good one. In fact, that service might be worth a carrot or two.

This year, we've got a new variable in the rabbitry- Patience. She's an older holland lop doe who runs loose. Most days she hangs out in the rabbitry, going out to lay in the sun or graze in the yard.

Because of Patience, I can't put down poison. I don't like poison anyway, I don't want these little devils getting in to unreachable places and dying, rotting away a little at a time. I don't want them dying in trays or in food dishes.

But I sure don't want them eating and spoiling the food that belongs to my bunnies!

We've started an aggressive program of little furry mouse death. I purchased 4 snap traps, to be loaded with cheese and put in areas that Patience can't reach. I've also got 4 glue traps. These guys are going in the storage room where the mice can get to them but Patience can't. The good news with the glue trap is that even if she manages to get on it, vegetable oil will turn her loose. These traps are actually what I had the best luck with last year.

I like to keep the traps varied though. The first generation of mice will get nearly wiped out by the snap traps. The survivors learn to avoid them, which is when we swoop in with the glue traps.

I also need to catch the outdoor cat. She's being fed by someone up the road (SIGH, why can't people mind their own business SIGH) and doesn't come home very often anymore. I need her back to lock up in the rabbitry at night, so she can do her job. Thankfully, she doesn't mess with the rabbits- she knows they are mine, though I did see the gift of a full grown wild bunny she brought us.

So yeah, that's about it- snap traps alternated with a vicious mouser and glue traps. Hopefully we can keep the mice at bay!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

PUPPIES!

I know we usually talk about kits here but-

Yesterday we had 4 AKC mini dachshund puppies born!


Meet the pups!

The black and tan is a female that Tim calls "Wrongway" (she was a breach)
The red dapple is "Camo", a male.
The 3rd pup is called "Stretch" because he was very stretched out when born. We're torn as to his color, he looks awful like a chocolate and tan sometimes, and others he just looks like an odd red.
The last pup, the reverse red dapple is a little female that Tim calls "Wrinkles". Can't imagine why?

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Just a little update

I'm doing a quick update via my laptop in sunny Nashville TN! I'm out here with my sister in law, who is at a conference. I'm just bumming along to keep her from being lonely or otherwise overly stressed out.

So far, Nashville reminds me a lot of Louisville KY, where Convention was held in 2008. I expect to see signs for the Derby Museum, or to meet up with Katie & Susie at any given point in time. It's a bit of disappointment to think it'll be over a year until I can attend the next Convention.

At home, I've got two does due- Pokey, my first breeding age Barbi baby, and Arabella, one of my Wooligans does. I'm hoping Arabella gives me a nice big litter this go round, it will probably be her last litter here with me.

I updated my sales page, though I have others that need to be moved out. I need to make my final decision on Barbi's youngest litter. I also need to get down to the nitty gritty on Little Mama's litter. SEVEN babies I have to choose from and I know I can't keep them all!

So that's really all that's going on with me. We're starting to see the field mice because of the low temperatures, so it's time to get aggressive with them- I'll tell you about that later!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

COLD

Oh man, it's getting cold here! I feel bad for the poor half naked woolies like Forest- it's 43 degrees here, with a windchill of 37. The weather forecast is calling for snow in higher elevations- yet he is sporting a newly molted and yet to start growing back coat. BRR.

It seems like we've skipped fall this year. Fall and Spring are my favorite times to have bunnies- you don't have to worry as much about high temps or young babies in the freezing cold. Water bottles don't freeze either. You can pick up leaves for munchy toys, or fresh greens for the bunnies.

The winter though- fresh greens have to be purchased at outrageous prices. Water bottles get frozen, babies have higher chances of ending up as "kitcicles"... it can be a really miserable experience getting out there to feed and water.

*sigh*

Oh well, the seasons aren't going to stop changing just for us bunny breeders!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Shipping Out

I had an interesting experience yesterday! We got up at 3:45am to head to the airport to ship out some bunnies to California!

Yep, Keep's bunnies are now officially coast to coast hehe.

It was a huge mess, the airport didn't do the paperwork and didn't have a knowledgeable person checking in the cargo. In the end though, after an hour and a half of waiting and fussing, we got them ready to get on the plane- with a whole 19 minutes to spare!

After getting them on the plane, Tim and I came home to crash for a little while. Then came the next scary part- hoping everyone made it safely! They did though, and the new owner seems to be pleased with her shipment!

I hope they do really well for you Katie!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Busy Busy Busy

I spent a good part of yesterday letting several does play in the grass with each other. Randomly, one lady would disappear out of the pen (to be bred), but the girls never seemed to care unless it was their turn to be kidnapped. I happily have 4 does in this round bred, and another 3 does just a few days ahead of them.


This morning Friesian, a black holland lop doe from Joni, had EIGHT Rory babies for me!! EEK!! I'm also waiting on a doe from my friend Melanie to kindle- she's pulled a ton of fur and made a nice nest. I'm keep an extra close eye on her, these babies are going to be very special.


So far though, with the two does that HAVE kindled, I've got 9 babies! I'm so, so thrilled to be getting so many babies this year- each new litter is so awesome, especially after that baby drought.

I'm keeping up an aggressive breeding program even through the winter, in hopes of keeping the animals producing!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Tractor Supply and Purina

I had printed my Purina coupon and drove up to the nearest TSC to get myself a few discounted bags of rabbit feed.

When we got there, much to my surprise, there was ONLY Purina "Green Bag"- the pet feed. After a 10 minute wait for an associate (I hate TSC so much, you'd think they could bother to employ people who GAVE A CRAP about their jobs...), we find out that Green Bag is the only thing they carry. Not only that, they have no idea if they will ever carry any of the other feed. Gee, that's helpful.

So, it was a wasted trip up there, a waste of printer ink to print the coupon, and a waste of my time thinking TSC could be anything more than useless.

I'm a little irritated. I don't understand the rational- they carry Manna Pro show feeds. Why not carry Purina too? Obviously they know about the Show Breeder Market.

Ugh.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Terrible News

We will NOT be attending Convention as planned. There has been an unavoidable schedule conflict that popped up at the last moment, and I can NOT fly alone due to a crippling hatred of airplanes lol.

I'm so, so, so sad.

We will be attending Jersey Wooly Nationals in April in Kentucky.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Coupon For Purina Feed!

Billi, a friend and fellow RH'er, posted the following coupon recently!

Tractor Supply Company is letting you print out a $2 off coupon for any Purina or Nutrena feed! This is only good until the 13th of October, so get on out there!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

California, here we come!

We're OFFICIALLY HEADED TO CONVENTION! I'm so excited. We're offering transport to and from Convention- $25 a hole per way. This holds true for dwarf breeds, I don't have the carriers for larger breeds. I *can* adjust the hole size, but this will result in larger fees.

I'm so thrilled and so unprepared. We've got to book flights, a hotel, figure out who to enter and figure out how we're going to ship the animals.........not to mention the packing!

I can't wait though. We've decided we will attend JW Nationals in Kentucky, but will probably end up missing the Minnesota Convention- that is, unless we hit the lottery.

I'll probably end up picking up a few extra days at work now and again to help finance the trip- it's going to be VERY expensive, but well worth it in the end.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

So hard to get good pictures

I tried to take some pictures today, to put on the website. It's so hard to get good shots of Woolies.



This is Keep's Epiphany. She's a beautiful, sweet little doe that has the instincts of a total ham.

She's VERY quick to move as the camera is taking shots. She's got her own idea of her good side, and what people want to see in photos.



For some reason, standing up right as the photo snaps equals 100 points in the bunny game of "Ruin the Picture!" I don't know WHY they think this is a good look. It could have possibly been that the dogs were playing in the distance and she was fascinated. Could have been she was enjoying the wind blowing in her face. No telling.

Finally, after 15 other pictures that look like those others, we get this one- a POSED SHOT! I'm thrilled, my hand isn't even in it.

But wait...she's a junior. I'm just going to have to repeat this ALL over again soon to get an adult picture.

JOY JOY JOY JOY.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Wooly Sweeps!

I joined the National Jersey Wooly Rabbit Club after Convention this year. Stupidly after Convention, because those result points didn't count, and it gave me only a half year worth of points.

Regardless...

The Final Results are out- I placed 26th Nationally!! I'm very pleased with that result. I can't wait to see how things go this coming year! :D

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Website Changes

Well, I'm severely overdue on my promise to update the pictures on my website. *sigh* The rain is back, joy of all joys.

If you've been to the website today, you should notice there is one addition- WATERMARKS. I've gone through and watermarked a good deal of the pictures on there and will continue to do so.

Having recently come in to contact with someone who thinks a person should be FLATTERED to have their property stolen and used without permission, it really drove home to me that I should get on the ball with that. Couple that thought with the discovery of picnik.com, a FREE photo editing service online (thanks folks on RH!) and a rainy day- well voila! An updated website.

I also finally got up the nestbox page! Sadly, it's been almost a year since I had updated it, and the page didn't even make it over until last night, from the switch from geocities. Oops.

I think I may do away with the Results page. I just don't care to keep updating it- I have lately been posting results here on the blog, with top honors going on the front page of the website. I think that's sufficient, so expect to see that link disappear soon :).

I'll continue to work on updates, but I'm limited. I've been hoping to get beautiful, semi-uniform pictures outside of the bunnies, but we may have to settle for somewhat dim ones in the rabbitry, if things don't clear up soon!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Flystrike and Fly Control

It's rained here nearly every day this month- hard, daily long, downpours. There is fungus growing in nearly every yard.

So what's happening? The flies are breeding at a dismaying rate. The trays are dirtier than usual because it's hard to clean them in the pelting rain, when the yard is half flooded.

Consequently, I've lost two baby rabbits in two days. Both got severe diarrhea for no reason (they were given hay and had no food changes. The food has been kept clean and dry, and siblings were fine).

I discovered the first animal with fly eggs on her bottom. I did the best I could to wash her off and pick off the eggs, but I could feel she was already fading fast, whether from dehydration, enteritis, or from effects from the fly.

Today, while I was at work, Tim found another baby, different age, different litter, with a poopy butt- also with what he believed to be fly eggs on her bottom. She was in a completely clean cage- it had been dumped and cleaned yesterday. He followed my idea from the day before and put Ivomec directly on the bottom, hoping to destroy the eggs. She also passed away.

I was talking to Joni from Lyle Creek Rabbitry about it and she suggested something I hadn't considered- Sevin dust. A powder used to keep bugs off plants and to kill fleas on larger animals, what if it WOULD work to help with fly strike?

Better yet, what if a thin dusting on a slightly dirty pan would help kill the flies?

I'm definitely running out to the store tomorrow to get some of it and try spreading it around. This abnormally wet year (both spring and summer wise....fall isn't shaping up any better either) is not working wonders for the herd. All we can do is keep on trying and hope we can find something to help us destroy the plague.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Wow it's been a while

It's been a while since I've posted!

We headed down to the Greensboro Triple Show this past weekend. It was great, because I'd talked my friends Melanie and LeAnne in to coming from Oklahoma and Kelsey came down from Maryland. Plus, the usual suspects were there as well.

We had a GREAT show, with Mel and LeAnne picking up a BOSB in hollands against amazingly tough competition. Pete and Brandi took BOB and BOSB in the first show in woolies, while Joni took BOSB in the second and I took BOB- with another BOB in the third show (yay Tryon!). I was pretty pleased with my results, considering the coat conditions were awful! I hope they get better by October's show, but with the constant rain, I'm doubting it! >.<

Melanie and LeAnne came back to the house with us and put up with a whirlwind day and a half, being dragged all over the mountains to look at rocks and caves :D. They've just headed home recently- I'm gonna miss them :(.


My idea is- all my bunny friends should move nearby. NC/ northern SC/ southern VA/ Eastern TN.............it'd be great :D. So get to packing folks.

I picked up several animals for a friend who is wanting to ship some out to California. I've got to head outside in a bit and see what woolies I've got available, several folks are wanting to take a look in honor of the shipment. :) Exciting!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Goals

I really, really want to win a BIS or BRIS with a homebred animal.

Really, really bad.

I've taken RIS with a mini lop I traded for, BIS with a doe I picked out at 8 weeks old (she was a senior when she won), BIS with a mini lop I got as a young junior and BIS recently with Rory, the Holland Lop I purchased from Melanie because she loves me.

I've done my fair share of winning "the big prize". Never with a homebred, though I'm getting closer, I think.

I'd also really like to take BOB with a homebred doe. I think I tend to retire my girls too quickly once they hit senior. I'm of the opinion that I'd rather have babies than wins, but I've got a really promising little girl out there now...if things fall right, maybe I'll hold off on breeding her immediately and see how she does as a primed senior on the table.

I'm so thrilled with my current herd- the woolies are all looking great, the holland juniors are making me excited for the breed again, and I can't wait to see how the belgian babies shape up!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Fletcher NC Results

Jersey Woolies- Show A

Keep's Forest Self Sr. Buck- 4/4
Keep's Spazzoid Self Jr. Buck- 1/3
Keep's On A Lark- Self Jr. Doe- 2/2

Keep's Tryon- Shaded Sr. Buck- 1/1 BOG
Keep's Cairo- Shaded Jr. Buck- 1/2
Keep's Epiphany- Shaded Jr. Doe- 2/6


Hollands:

Lil Bit Farm's Rory- 1/2, BOV, BOB, BIS!


Show B:
Keep's Forest Self Sr. Buck- 1/4, BOG, BOB
Keep's Spazzoid Self Jr. Buck- 2/3
Keep's On A Lark- Self Jr. Doe- 1/2, BOSG

Keep's Tryon- Shaded Sr. Buck- 1/1, BOG
Keep's Cairo- Shaded Jr. Buck- 1/2
Keep's Epiphany- Shaded Jr. Doe- 2/5


Hollands:

Lil Bit Farm's Rory- 1/6, BOV, BOB


I was teasing Tresia in Show A that we'd let her BOB wooly take BRIS, and I'd take BIS- then we'd switch for the next show. It's something we do just to be goobers. Imagine our surprise when her wooly DID take BRIS! We were tickled to death.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Drenched

We're drenched. After repeated assurances that there would be no rain today, guess what happened? All five belgians were outside, along with 7 woolies, while their cages were being scrubbed when the pitter patter started. Several cages were dry, but most are sopping wet, which means the woolies are in some kind of odd contrivance.

Meanwhile, thanks to the constant rain the past 2 weeks, some dirty cages are staying very dirty. We did manage to scrape a stacker in the pouring rain, but that's just not going to work for the rest of the cages. If it stops, maybe we can at least get the last 3 of the dirtiest ones scraped and cleaned. I hope so anyway.

The good news is I also sterilized another cage, so I've got just a little more room :).

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Rain Rain go away!

How exactly can I clean cages like I want to, when it is thunderstorming every day?! HOW I ask you, HOW?

*sigh*

A friend of mine asked if I had a wooly junior I could possibly donate to her organization putting on a fair. The purpose is to have a raffle with some nice animals, in hopes of promoting the bunny habit while making a little cash for the group.

I'm excited about this! I've got plenty of juniors with a ton of promise. I'll just have to decide which one will have the most "cute appeal", while doing well enough to hopefully hook a new breeder in! I actually have 2 bucks in mind.

I think it's important in situations like this to pick at least a DECENT animal. I've seen folks "donate" animals (this isn't locally, by the way) that were crap. Honest to goodness crap. Considering the quality of the animals the person shows, it was surprising. I can understand not wanting to donate your absolute best, but c'mon now, let's do a little better than a pet quality animal! You won't hook someone who's animal ends up dead last every time.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Talking to the bunnies?

On Rabbit Habbit, an interesting topic came up-

One of the members admitted that she spoke to her bunnies, talking about anything on her mind from politics to the weather.

The interesting thing was she realized that she speaks to each bunny in a distinctive voice- some get baby talk, some get "valley girl accents" and others get something entirely different.

It got me (and other members) thinking- and I realized I do it too!

Barbi gets called by her nickname "Barbi Girl" and is spoken to in what can only be described as a coo.

Rory gets an exasperated but loving voice- he freaks out over getting constant head rubs and tries to leap out of the cage.

The babies all tend to get the same drawling "Heeeey bay-beees" speech.

It's there though- I never really noticed it, but I can recall a rabbit and instantly think of how I speak to him or her.

Devon was wondering if she speaks to her rabbits based on their personalities, certain physical features, etc. I know I speak to mine based on those great (and very diverse) personalities.

Aren't rabbits amazing? They can make otherwise sane people break out the baby talk.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Moving on out

My sale animals are slowly moving on out!

I've got several senior and junior animals leaving on the 19th, and three that are definitely leaving by the 12th! HOORAY! More cage space :).

I've got so much grooming I need to catch up on. Several of my junior woolies are in between coats, which kills me. OF COURSE they are looking funky with the shows about to start! SIGH

I need to make final decision on a couple of animals I have. I could always use the space, but I hate to let anything go. I always see a lot of "what ifs" in my mind- what if I should have kept her and bred her to x. What if x. What if, what if, what if. One doe in particular has given me a proven female replacement for her, and I'm keeping another daughter out of her. How many do I REALLY need? That's what I keep telling myself, but there is always the "what if I sell her and didn't breed her to x buck and that would have been the perfect match?" Maybe I'll breed her one more time then sell her (LOL)

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Buyers

I'm up entirely too early for a bunny sale.

Ok, ok, so the poor guy coming to pick up the bunny is also a non-morning person. I've also only been up since 8:15, he had to get up much early then that. Still, I can grump if I wanna, it's my blog.

One of Rory's sons is going to a new home today. He's a well put together little thing. I can see a LOT of potential in him, but I can see a few worries too. He's a little big and his ears are a little long. Then again, with a dad who tops the scales under 3 lbs and a mom who isn't much over it, he's going to be a genetic freak of nature if he goes overweight.

Anyway, it's just a pre-sale "mind ramble" of mine. No matter how nice an animal is (remember Keep's Zephrim? He took a BOB recently), I always worry about disappointing the buyer.

I know others feel this way too, because we've talked about it (:D).

So, this is what I do- 100% honesty about the animal. I think EVERYONE should be this way anyway, but I tend to go above and beyond. I've had folks tell me NOT to list every fault the animal has "because it's the buyer's responsibility to ask."

Nope, not with me. If I think they need more HQ, I'm gonna tell you. If the ears are long for my taste, that comes out too. If I don't tell you about something, it's because I truly didn't notice it, or it's a recent development (like ears growing overnight...I swear it happens! Curse you uglies).

Ahh well, I'd rather be too honest and have it cut in to my sales, than to not be honest enough and have to live with that guilt (not to mention reputation!)

By the way- the new owner seems thrilled with his bunny :)

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Hellooo September

With September comes the beginning of show season! HOORAY! I can't wait, it's been so long and we start off with two fun ones back to back! :D HOORAY!


Keep's Godzilla, a smoke pearl wooly, had FIVE babies in her first litter! O-M-G. I spent all winter complaining about no babies, and now I'm getting litters of 7 out of dwarf breeds! WHAT?

I've kept up breeding because I don't want the does to settle back in to their no baby mode. It's a never ending cycle! However, thankfully I'm able to keep my lines going, I was seriously starting to worry (last winter) I'd never get babies ever again!

We lost TB's Fluffy yesterday. She was a cute black doe who didn't kindle her first breeding. I rebred her and I do think she was pregnant this time, but passed away very quickly for no apparent reason. I begin to think perhaps she retained kits last time and that led to her quick death. She had been fine while I was out grooming and within 30 minutes, Tim found her dead.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

So much to do

I had a holland lop leave today! YAY one less rabbit around lol.

There is so much to be done. Above everything else, I really need to get out there and groom some of the juniors and reevaluate some of my keepers. It's about time to make a second cut to the juniors and see where we've gone from when they were babies.

The Fletcher show is creeping ever closer and right on it's heels is Greensboro, perhaps my favorite show! This year some friends are coming from out of state and I am thrilled to death.

A recently purchased doe, Wooligans Little Mama, had SEVEN beautiful babies. Four will be AOVs and three are "coloreds".

I know they are AOVs because the mom is a REW and thus contributed a c. The dad is a siamese sable that carries for AOV, so the full colors are colored babies that carry REW, while the pinkies are AOVs that carry REW, since he had to have given them the himi gene.

Hope that wasn't too confusing. :)

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Move it or Lose it

Some fun news first of all- I came home to find one of my does had escaped her cage and was running loose in the rabbitry. However, her cage wasn't empty- the resident barn doe had hopped in there. She was apparently hoping I wouldn't notice that the fat blue tort holland in the cage was not the petite siamese sable that was supposed to be there.

Good Times.

In not so good news, I had two of my very young wooly babies die. I hate the time where they are first starting on pellets. It seems like the most dangerous time in a baby rabbit's life. Not even hay and oats could save these little guys. I wonder if the mother stomped them. She had 5 running around in there with her, so it's entirely possible, although she should have been able to easily avoid them. Hmm.


In other news, stay tuned for a very large herd reduction. I've decided some folks have got to move on, or else I'm not going to be able to stay in the hobby. My stress levels are already out of this world just with the babies I've got right now- and more due soon.

Just off hand, expect to see several proven brood does. I'm also flirting with the idea of selling Keep's Durham, a much loved black buck out of my darling Keep's Burlington, full brother to Keep's Tryon ( what a mouth full)- and by flirting with the idea, I've pretty much decided he will be available. I've got a ton of offspring out of this buck and even discovered the little booger carries DILUTE!


-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Keep's News

What a day.

To begin with we lost the Belgian Hare runt. I hate it, we tried to save her, but Tim seems to think she was just determined to die.

We spent a good deal of time out in Conover today- we got to eat dinner with Joni which is always fun. I took Wooligans Aspen back to her, and picked up my three foster babies. What cuties!

I've got some does that will need nestboxes soon! SQUEE! Though, if they kindle I have NO idea where I'm gonna put the eventual babies. I definitely need to do a larger herd reduction than I'm doing now.

However, I am picking up a 6 hole stacker soon (I know, I know, I didn't want the rabbitry to grow! But what can ya do when you don't wanna cull right now? LOL).

Still working on getting new pictures. It'll take me longer to update the website because I'll have to watermark every picture- I had a picture of Lil Bit Farm's Zapp STOLEN from my website and used in a banner- FOR A MINI LOP BREEDER. What the crap? Gonna nip that in the bud by watermarking. I've tried contacting the breeder and freewebs where the site is being hosted and have so far had no luck.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Juniors are so Frustrating!

I went outside to tattoo the sale juniors today. I had previously marked their ears with sharpie, but was ready to do something a little more permanent.

Locker was no trouble at all. Such a sweet buck! He let me tattoo him, snuggled a bit and happily went back to his cage.

Rayne and Ranger were demon children. They twitched and showed their butts so badly that their ears just ended up solid black. I have no idea how the tatts are going to come out. NO IDEA. I got so frustrated with them >.< They are normally pretty sweet little bunnies, but not today!

Ryder gave me a little trouble, but he at least has a passable tattoo! I worked backwards on him, so he even has a funky looking "3" in there. But hey, you can READ IT at least.

At this point, I put up my kit and left the rabbitry. My frustration was translating to the rabbits, the dogs were acting like fools (no little contributor to my irritation) and nothing good was going to come out of continuing to mess with the rabbits.

*sigh* That means I'll have to tattoo the others later. Oh..joy.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

BL's Bunny Barn Sell Out

My friend Brandi is selling out :( *sigh*


Jersey Woolies
14 does (REWs, chestnut, shaded, 1 AOV, blacks) most of these girls are proven and have been shown---some are reg. and GC. Asking $300.00 for all of them.
7 of these does are bred!
7 bucks (blacks, chestnut and shaded, 1 AOV) a couple of these have been shown and have legs. Most are proven. Asking $150.00 for all of them.

9 Thriantas-4 bucks, 5 does ( some of them have been shown) Asking $175.00 for all of them.

1 6 hole stacker $75.00
9 nestboxes (may have a couple more) $35.00
4 carriers (good conditon) $40.00
19 cages with pans ( I think they are 24 X 24 , but will double check to be sure) $200.00 for all of them. (I may have a couple more)
I will also have around 20 water bottles and some crocks.

If you buy everything, you get it for $850.00

I can not ship any of these items. I do plan on going to the Fletcher show in september.

I need to move this stuff as soon as possible, so if anyone is interested, please e-mail me. I may not have the internet after the 28th of this month.


You can contact her at brokeponies@adelphia.net


*On a somewhat related note, I've just updated my Sales List*

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

How to be a GOOD buyer!

I've had a lot of rabbit requests lately and certain things are really popping out at me. I think we would all do well to realize what it takes to be a GOOD rabbit buyer.

1.) Tell me what you want!

I get a lot of "I might want a buck or a doe......." or "I want this breed, that breed, or this other breed." No. Please tell me what you want. Are you looking for a Wooly doe out of Tryon? Are you looking specifically for a sable point holland? This will save us both a TON of time!

2.) Realize my bunnies are not made to order.

Don't get mad at me because I don't have a broken sable point jersey wooly doe out of Tryon x ____ with perfect everything. They aren't made to order. I take what I can get just like everyone else, and if they don't throw the color you want, you're more than welcome to keep waiting. If they DO throw exactly what you want, it's my herd. I have first pick of all litters, non-negotiable :).

3.) Make sure you WANT IT!

Please, before you email about an animal, make sure you're actually interested. Don't ask about a holland if you really want a flemish giant. Don't ask about a wooly if an Angora is what your heart is set on. I don't really appreciate spending three days answering a thousand questions to find out you were really only mildly curious. Changing your mind on an animal is fine- it happens, but if I hear "oh... I was just wondering" again, I may kill someone.

4.) Be Reasonable

I don't mind taking pictures for you. I don't mind taking more pictures if there was something that wasn't clear or you'd like to see it from some other angle. I DO mind being asked for 400 pictures of the same rabbit, without knowing if you're seriously interested. The animal is not going to change significantly from today to tomorrow.

Likewise, please, please let me know if you're interested or not. Stringing me along for 2 weeks then asking me to hold it for an unspecified amount of time= not cool. Likewise, don't get mad if I don't hear from you and then sell the animal to someone else.

5.) Be Polite!

Your reputation is built on how you buy just as much as what you sell or how you show at the tables. A friend of mine had someone inquire about an animal then basically email back later and say "Oh, I decided to buy some from a local show instead- I think what I got is way better." Surprisingly enough, she wasn't thrilled to get other inquiries from the buyer. Rabbit folks talk and share info! It's harder to rebuild a reputation than to just start out with a good one! This goes for PET buyers too. A nicer response is "She's not what I'm looking for right now." or "I think I found a better fit for my herd- thanks for your time!"

6.) I don't haggle and I don't do free breedings.

I've worked very hard for my animals. I sell them significantly under value as it is. No, I don't do discount for 4-H, youth, senior citizen, new breeders, old breeders, show acquiantances, etc. etc. I'm sorry, I don't. Sob stories won't change that. Threats won't change that.

I DON'T do free breedings. My bucks are my bucks. I don't want to see a doe's babies up for sale for 4 times what I'd sell them for, so you can make quick money. There is nothing on Earth that will make me let you use my best bucks, for free (or stud fee). If you want to get babies out of Rory, you'll have to either purchase his offspring and make your own, or pray some day I sell him.


I realize some of this stuff sounds witchy, but really folks, be decent to sellers! You aren't doing us a favor and we don't make millions selling these animals.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Oops

I forgot to mention I was going to be gone a while! Sorry guys.

All my bunny babies are looking GREAT! Almost everyone is out of the nestbox (until this next round is born) and I've got some REAL cuties coming up. The best part is- some of the older pre juniors are ready for their official evaluations!

I'm still working on that website overhaul- by which I mean I'll be starting it soon!

YAY! It's great to be back, my bunny sitter did a great job of taking care of everyone for me :)

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Dog Tired

Man, I'm exhausted!

We're going to be away for a bit, so Tim and I had to make sure all the cages are nice and clean to prevent a poo build up while we're gone.

MAN, that took forever! The cages with babies in them are especially poop-tacular. I'm finding it hard to do anything I had hoped to do thanks to the cage cleaning.


Keep's Chapel Hill had her first litter yesterday! Two healthy, happy babies, two DOAs. Not bad, and she seems to be very devoted to her little ones!

The other babies are getting older and that means selective moving around. I've got to decide who needs to go to a cage away from Mama and who needs to stay a little longer. We've also got babies popping out of the nestbox!

I've been so, so happy with all the babies this year. It really makes me feel good, even when I'm having to make some tough culling decisions.

I think I may have to move out Keep's Durham soon. He's a beautiful black buck with 1 leg who has been helping to make tons of babies lately. I've got so many of his offspring coming up, I don't know WHAT I'm going to do!

Ahh well, I'm too tired to worry about it right now! I've got to head back out soon and feed and water!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry