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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Babies!

Keep's Bee surprised me yesterday when she pulled a ton of wool.  After a bit of a fuss in which she learned we nest in the nestbox and after I compromised and moved her box to the other side of her cage, I crossed my fingers and hoped that this first timer would get it right.

I ran out to the barn to check on her as I was leaving for work this morning- two beautiful babies, in the nestbox! They were on top of the wool instead of under it, but hey, close enough.  I pushed the babies in to the back of the box and gave them a blanket of Mama's wool.  A quick look makes me suspect they are both black.  It figures.  Bee carries shaded and tort, while the father to the litter, Keep's Tribute is a seal.  Yet I get black.

Ahhh well, it looks like the selfs are slowly taking over the barn- the only other "babies" I have are a black and a broken black- both bucks.  These two little guys are definitely old enough to show, so I guess I shouldn't call them babies anymore.  They are young men at this point!

I'm going to rebreed all the girls who missed and I will try to palpate the ones due in April.  I always forget to palpate them- it will save me a lot of frustration if I can go on and figure out they aren't pregnant now.
Edit:  When I got home from work, Keep's Epiphany had given me four Panda babies! Eeek!


-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Changes

I have decided to officially get rid of my website.  I will be adding pages to this blog and you will still be able to come here via the www.keepsrabbitry.com link.  I will no longer be maintaining a separate website, since maintaining has become exactly the problem!

I am excited to get the blog updated to include the new pages. I will definitely be keeping the "Bucks", "Does", "Sales", "Links" and "Pet FAQ" page.  I may add an "About Us" page and perhaps a show results page- I am just not sure about that yet.

These changes will be occurring in the next few weeks, so if you try to come to the blog one day and it tries to redirect you to keepsrabbitry.com, don't be surprised!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Hay time!

I bought the most beautiful bale of hay from TSC yesterday.  It's green and absolutely gorgeous...and the smell! Oh the smell...

It was a warm day and we left the hay in the car while we ran in to another store.  We came back and jumped in the car and it was filled with this glorious fresh-hay smell...it reminded me very strongly of green tea.

The rabbits are going to go nuts for this stuff! I always celebrate a new bale of hay by giving out a handful to everyone. It doesn't hurt that I usually have a little more than I can conveniently store.

Indiana hasn't had babies for me. I'm not completely counting her out yet, but I am definitely not expecting a litter anymore.  The new bale of hay comes just in time to fill up nestboxes for the other girls.  Hopefully I have better luck with them!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Waiting on babies.

Erb's Indiana is due tomorrow! This is her first litter with me, I purchased her as a junior from Convention and I'm very pleased with her type and personality!  She earned two legs as a junior but has gone a little overweight, so I am doubting I'll ever get the opportunity to grand her, which is a shame.  However, I'd much prefer a good producing doe than a dozen champions that don't take care of their litters.

I'm out of regular hay, so Indiana is nesting in alfalfa.  Hopefully she's nesting in it, anyway.  I know it's going to be a very tempting snack, but hopefully she controls herself!

The next round of girls are due just five days after Indiana, then we have quite a break until April when the next round should be ready.  Pretty much every lady of age in the barn is bred.

The few juniors I have are looking good. I am very pleased with what I'm producing right now- if only the girls will give me more babies! My litter numbers have been low recently- I don't know if I should chalk that up to the fact it's "winter" or it's just bad luck.

I am thinking Panda will be given a break as "Top Stud" in the barn.  I have an unrelated shaded buck that I purchased at Nationals- I am definitely wanting to get plenty of offspring out of him to spread out mine lines a little before I start folding them back in to the tighter "Keep's" lines.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Monday, March 12, 2012

Nationals has come and gone!

Oh gosh- well after two months of nothing but Nationals-centric posts, it's come and gone!

I miss everyone already- I really do.  I went out to dinner Sunday night with a group of 9 other people and we ended up sitting in the restaurant for nearly 3 hours, talking, laughing and just enjoying each others company.  Luckily the restaurant wasn't busy, so we weren't hurting the waitress's income!

I met so many new people this year and got to enjoy renewing friendships with those that I barely get to see.  I really do miss you guys already! Please come back soon :).

I also learned that I need to come with a disclaimer, since my sense of humor comes off strangely sometimes and I have to explain to folks I'm kidding.  My In-laws still don't have a full handle on it, so I guess I can't expect strangers to pick it up instantly either.

Amber at Wonder Woolies in California & Joni spent the night at at the house this weekend- too much fun, though we exhausted each other with our constant talking! I wish we had had more time to hang out and had been less tired!

All my sales rabbits went to great new homes and everyone seems happy with their purchases, so I'm thrilled! I also managed to sell the 9 excess chicks I still had- so I am down to just one cage with 9 chicks that I plan to grow out a little longer.

So- on to the results!  I was very pleased for the most part, considering the lack of coats and condition.


Nationals

Panda- 2/11- So close!
Zumba- 3/7
Poplar- 5/21
Tribute- 4/15
Heart Throb- 5/15
Epiphany- 5/13

Not too bad :).  Poor Panda placed 2nd in 3 shows and took BOSG in two!  His son  Zumba took 2nd in two shows, 3rd in two shows and won his class once!

Poplar is my big winner, he took BOSB in Show B on Nationals Day!

Keep's Epiphany did very well- she is almost 3 and was tearing up the table with her top 5s- including BOSG and BOG the Day after Nationals!

Tribute's placements were very good- Top 5 in four shows (twice he was 2nd! SO close!) and then one judge placed him fairly low in the class.

All in all, a very good set of placements against some very beautiful animals.

Pictures to come soon!

-Kristen

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Almost Go Time!

It's almost that time! Then you won't have to hear about Nationals for a while.

My entries are in for all the shows.  Man, it was difficult to decide who to take, I know the competition is going to be tough!  It sounds like everyone is in the same boat as far as condition and coats go though- this funky winter weather has thrown all the bunnies for a loop!

Joni is so excited she is coming to my house Friday morning around 11am! I told her I might be showered by then!  Amber Henderson from California is also coming to stay with us, so it will be a fun couple of days!

Kitty Lynch volunteered me and Joni to help set up the Jersey Wooly booth and to help put together the welcome bags for the Wooly people! I am looking forward to it, Kitty is too much fun.  I am also looking forward to seeing the welcome bags- I know a lot of work has gone in to them and there is at least one fun surprise in there!

I hope that everyone coming is safe in their travels, all your bunnies arrive safely (and moltier than mine, hehe!) and we'll see you all this weekend!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry