On May 26th, Keep's Cat Call gave me five beautiful babies! Cat Call is a sable point and the sire, Keep's Bump It Up, is a siamese sable. I'm thinking that four of the five a sable points! Eeeek! Cat Call did a fantastic job with her nest this time, I think she finally has it figured out.
Today, Sky's Eve kindled some lovely little Florida White babies. Eve is an excellent mother and I know she'll take great care of her babies. I was tickled that she had them on our anniversary!
The last new beginning at Keep's rabbitry comes for a little buckling. Coco Puff went to his new home today, where he will be living very happily with a little girl who has done her research and waited patiently for the perfect little bunny to come her way. Coco is going to be absolutely spoiled rotten.
It has been a day of new beginnings all around. More beautiful babies to enjoy and saying goodbye to one little guy who is starting his new life as a loved pet.
-Kristen
Monday, May 27, 2013
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Typing Juniors
I spent a pleasant hour after the single show I attended (well it was a double, I only stayed for Show A) going over the upcoming juniors in the barn. It's funny, I have a ton of little babies (still with mama) and quite a few almost-senior-juniors, but the inbetween age I only have a few.
First up was DayDreamer's litter- looks like two bucks and a doe. The tiniest buck is going to be a pet for a little girl who has been waiting patiently for one from me. Because he's so tiny, I think he will fit the bill perfectly! The other brother I plan to grow out- he has a beautiful body, but I'm not so sure about those ears. He's right in the uglies age, molt and all, so I am trying to ignore them for right now. When measured, they are still small! The only doe in the litter is going to be a big brood doe- figures! I'm not sure if I will keep her or not. Her mom is a brood doe, but I'm sorely lacking in does right now. We shall see how she develops.
I checked on Puzzle's foster baby, the broken black doeling out of Rumor Has it and Panda. Ouch. Talk about a disappointment. She is a rare doeling out of Panda. Maybe Panda is just a "buck-sire", because all his boys do pretty well on the table. This girl- very wide spread ears and a distinct lack of HQ. She's all 'tude too! Her full brother, different litter, just beat Panda for a BOG (as a junior) today and has shown very well so far- meanwhile this little girl is...meh at best. Since she is also heading in to uglies, I'll see what the next few weeks bring.
Snickers' doeling (Keep's Kit Kat)- the one that was sheared down by her Florida White foster siblings, is developing beautifully! Her topline is amazing and the density to her coat is just beautiful. Unfortunately, since she's still growing everything back, that's all I really know right now. I'd like to see a little more width, but hey, it could easily come in with time, especially since her parents are both nice animals. I can't wait to see her continue to bloom!
That's really about it. I've got my eye on a few upcoming babies, one or two in particular that I can't wait to evaluate. That is really what rabbit breeding is about, isn't it? Appreciate this generation, but always have your eye on the next one.
-Kristen
First up was DayDreamer's litter- looks like two bucks and a doe. The tiniest buck is going to be a pet for a little girl who has been waiting patiently for one from me. Because he's so tiny, I think he will fit the bill perfectly! The other brother I plan to grow out- he has a beautiful body, but I'm not so sure about those ears. He's right in the uglies age, molt and all, so I am trying to ignore them for right now. When measured, they are still small! The only doe in the litter is going to be a big brood doe- figures! I'm not sure if I will keep her or not. Her mom is a brood doe, but I'm sorely lacking in does right now. We shall see how she develops.
I checked on Puzzle's foster baby, the broken black doeling out of Rumor Has it and Panda. Ouch. Talk about a disappointment. She is a rare doeling out of Panda. Maybe Panda is just a "buck-sire", because all his boys do pretty well on the table. This girl- very wide spread ears and a distinct lack of HQ. She's all 'tude too! Her full brother, different litter, just beat Panda for a BOG (as a junior) today and has shown very well so far- meanwhile this little girl is...meh at best. Since she is also heading in to uglies, I'll see what the next few weeks bring.
Snickers' doeling (Keep's Kit Kat)- the one that was sheared down by her Florida White foster siblings, is developing beautifully! Her topline is amazing and the density to her coat is just beautiful. Unfortunately, since she's still growing everything back, that's all I really know right now. I'd like to see a little more width, but hey, it could easily come in with time, especially since her parents are both nice animals. I can't wait to see her continue to bloom!
That's really about it. I've got my eye on a few upcoming babies, one or two in particular that I can't wait to evaluate. That is really what rabbit breeding is about, isn't it? Appreciate this generation, but always have your eye on the next one.
-Kristen
Monday, May 13, 2013
Out of the comfort zone-
Joni at Lyle Creek Rabbitry did a blog recently where she spoke of how rabbits have helped her come out of her comfort zone.
I have to admit, this past weekend we both really took a flying leap out of those comfort zones!
We planned to go to the Knoxville, TN show. I was bummed about missing Nationals and it was the only show within a reasonable distance. I won't be able to make Columbia, SC next weekend, so I though, why not.
We planned to go with some other friends, but on Wednesday they had to cancel. While I totally understand why they canceled, Joni and I were a little disappointed to cancel our plans. Tim had a meeting and wouldn't be able to drive me to the show.
Then I had an idea. A bit of a scary idea, but hey- I figured why not throw it out there.
I would drive the 2 hours to Joni's house, then let her drive my car a bit over 2 hours towards Tennessee. As we got closer to the city, I would then take back over and do the city driving, since she hates that part.
Joni agreed and so we undertook the trip, driving a state away by ourselves. It doesn't seem like a big deal, but hey, we were pretty proud!
Keep's Knight and Keep's Merlin both took BOSBs. They are little black junior bucks, born a day apart to two different groups of parents- I don't think they are related in any way. I am pretty proud of the way they keep going back and forth on the tables.
-Kristen
I have to admit, this past weekend we both really took a flying leap out of those comfort zones!
We planned to go to the Knoxville, TN show. I was bummed about missing Nationals and it was the only show within a reasonable distance. I won't be able to make Columbia, SC next weekend, so I though, why not.
We planned to go with some other friends, but on Wednesday they had to cancel. While I totally understand why they canceled, Joni and I were a little disappointed to cancel our plans. Tim had a meeting and wouldn't be able to drive me to the show.
Then I had an idea. A bit of a scary idea, but hey- I figured why not throw it out there.
I would drive the 2 hours to Joni's house, then let her drive my car a bit over 2 hours towards Tennessee. As we got closer to the city, I would then take back over and do the city driving, since she hates that part.
Joni agreed and so we undertook the trip, driving a state away by ourselves. It doesn't seem like a big deal, but hey, we were pretty proud!
Keep's Knight and Keep's Merlin both took BOSBs. They are little black junior bucks, born a day apart to two different groups of parents- I don't think they are related in any way. I am pretty proud of the way they keep going back and forth on the tables.
-Kristen
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Rain, Rain, Go Away
The poor rabbits- they haven't seen sunshine in almost 2 weeks. While we are all enjoying the cooler temperatures this May, it would be so nice to get that beautiful sunshine out!
The cooler weather is keeping some funky coats on bunnies that very much need to molt. However, it is helping poor Panda put a coat back on! He started webbing as his dead coat was refusing to drop off, so he and I had an intense several grooming sessions. He's only now starting to not look like a poor little homeless ragamuffin.
Keep's Fiona kindled today. She was so overdue that when I entered the successful birth in to my pedigree software, it popped up saying "This is more than 5 days past the due date. Are you sure you entered it correctly?" I definitely did, and her one little baby is as large as those that were born on their correct due date. Gotta love the challenges of the bunnies.
I did some rebreeding recently. I am excited to see the new babies. Meanwhile the most recent weanings have left me with absolutely no cage space. Every time I move a rabbit out, it seems like a litter is being weaned! Accck!
I am hoping everyone else has had the kind of litter luck I have! Even though there were some dead babies, every doe bred gave me at least 1 live kit. I evaluate feed and the health of the herd based on conception rate and 100% definitely makes me happy. I also got a first time doe started and a doe who was having trouble conceiving started back up! Hooray!
So far, it has been a successful May :).
-Kristen
The cooler weather is keeping some funky coats on bunnies that very much need to molt. However, it is helping poor Panda put a coat back on! He started webbing as his dead coat was refusing to drop off, so he and I had an intense several grooming sessions. He's only now starting to not look like a poor little homeless ragamuffin.
Keep's Fiona kindled today. She was so overdue that when I entered the successful birth in to my pedigree software, it popped up saying "This is more than 5 days past the due date. Are you sure you entered it correctly?" I definitely did, and her one little baby is as large as those that were born on their correct due date. Gotta love the challenges of the bunnies.
I did some rebreeding recently. I am excited to see the new babies. Meanwhile the most recent weanings have left me with absolutely no cage space. Every time I move a rabbit out, it seems like a litter is being weaned! Accck!
I am hoping everyone else has had the kind of litter luck I have! Even though there were some dead babies, every doe bred gave me at least 1 live kit. I evaluate feed and the health of the herd based on conception rate and 100% definitely makes me happy. I also got a first time doe started and a doe who was having trouble conceiving started back up! Hooray!
So far, it has been a successful May :).
-Kristen
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Out with the old, in with the new-
I had a 100% conception rate this last breeding. Ok, so it was only a set of three does, but all of them kindled! I now have 7 new babies in the barn, with more on the way. This isn't including the three that are close to opening their eyes, or the ones still with their moms!
With all the juniors I am growing out and the new babies born, it occurs to me that it is time to do a herd reduction- if nothing else, so I have somewhere to put all these babies.
I'm happy that all of the Florida White babies will be gone in the next few days. This will be good timing, since the senior doe, Eve, has been rebred!
I dislike having to move out the senior animals- often I wish I could keep them "just for one more litter".
I find that right now, I have too many bucks. More importantly, too many half sibling bucks! It's time to make some decisions. I can't keep them all, after all.
Oh well, perhaps some day the sun will come back, the days will warm up (it is May, isn't it?) and I will get out there and finalize my sales list. Someday.
Until then- maybe there is time for just one more litter...
-Kristen
With all the juniors I am growing out and the new babies born, it occurs to me that it is time to do a herd reduction- if nothing else, so I have somewhere to put all these babies.
I'm happy that all of the Florida White babies will be gone in the next few days. This will be good timing, since the senior doe, Eve, has been rebred!
I dislike having to move out the senior animals- often I wish I could keep them "just for one more litter".
I find that right now, I have too many bucks. More importantly, too many half sibling bucks! It's time to make some decisions. I can't keep them all, after all.
Oh well, perhaps some day the sun will come back, the days will warm up (it is May, isn't it?) and I will get out there and finalize my sales list. Someday.
Until then- maybe there is time for just one more litter...
-Kristen
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