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
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
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
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
Friday, August 21, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
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
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
Monday, August 17, 2009
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
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
Saturday, August 15, 2009
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
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
Saturday, August 8, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Website Overhaul
I'll be doing a complete overhaul on my website very, very soon!
I feel like the pictures don't accurately reflect the quality of the herd and after all- this is why the website is out there.
So, be prepared to start seeing some much updated pictures :D.
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
I feel like the pictures don't accurately reflect the quality of the herd and after all- this is why the website is out there.
So, be prepared to start seeing some much updated pictures :D.
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
Monday, August 3, 2009
This should go without saying...
*sigh*
"All pictures and materials, be it graphics, banners, logos, photographs, articles or other information that appear on www.keepsrabbitry.com or www.geocities.com/keepsbuns OR on Keep's Rabbitry Blog are intellectual and personal property of Kristen Drum and Keep's Rabbitry. Removing any of these materials or others not stated that could possibly be found will result in one very, very upset and angry Kristen. Steps will be taken at that time to have the offending person drawn and quartered, hanged by the neck til dead, crucified and otherwise painfully tortured."
I'm not kidding.
I really, really shouldn't have to say this, but PLEASE...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not steal my content. I'm a generally reasonable person, I like to think, but nothing makes me angrier than to have someone email me and let me know that one of my rabbits is making a guest appearance on someone else's website, or a blog post has been stolen and reposted as the work of someone else.
Let's keep it simple. If it's not yours, don't use it.
Ugh!
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
"All pictures and materials, be it graphics, banners, logos, photographs, articles or other information that appear on www.keepsrabbitry.com or www.geocities.com/keepsbuns OR on Keep's Rabbitry Blog are intellectual and personal property of Kristen Drum and Keep's Rabbitry. Removing any of these materials or others not stated that could possibly be found will result in one very, very upset and angry Kristen. Steps will be taken at that time to have the offending person drawn and quartered, hanged by the neck til dead, crucified and otherwise painfully tortured."
I'm not kidding.
I really, really shouldn't have to say this, but PLEASE...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not steal my content. I'm a generally reasonable person, I like to think, but nothing makes me angrier than to have someone email me and let me know that one of my rabbits is making a guest appearance on someone else's website, or a blog post has been stolen and reposted as the work of someone else.
Let's keep it simple. If it's not yours, don't use it.
Ugh!
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Early Weaning
My preference is to wean babies at 8 weeks old. However, I wean early in several circumstances.
I currently have a mom with a litter of 7. SEVEN!! I'm going to definitely take at least the biggest 3-4 away from her at 6 weeks to reduce the strain on her. I also want to give the smaller babies a chance to have some alone time with mom and more of a chance at the feed bowl.
I'm also about to wean a litter of five babies early. Quite simply, one normally sized wooly doe and five normal sized 6-week old wooly babies is entirely too much bunny for the cage! Since I've had multiple LARGE litters, the biggest cages are taken up, and some of these big bunny families are having to make due with a 24x24.
When I wean early, I make sure to double the amount of oats mixed in with the food, as well as upping the amount of hay for both mom and her babies. I also keep an extra close eye on the babies for the first few days. I've never had a problem with weaning earlier than my preference, but you can never tell when something bad WILL happen. Rabbits are such delicate little animals.
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
I currently have a mom with a litter of 7. SEVEN!! I'm going to definitely take at least the biggest 3-4 away from her at 6 weeks to reduce the strain on her. I also want to give the smaller babies a chance to have some alone time with mom and more of a chance at the feed bowl.
I'm also about to wean a litter of five babies early. Quite simply, one normally sized wooly doe and five normal sized 6-week old wooly babies is entirely too much bunny for the cage! Since I've had multiple LARGE litters, the biggest cages are taken up, and some of these big bunny families are having to make due with a 24x24.
When I wean early, I make sure to double the amount of oats mixed in with the food, as well as upping the amount of hay for both mom and her babies. I also keep an extra close eye on the babies for the first few days. I've never had a problem with weaning earlier than my preference, but you can never tell when something bad WILL happen. Rabbits are such delicate little animals.
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
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