Keep's Rabbitry Blog

Barn and Babies

2012-01-28T18:26:00.002-05:00

Nova kindled two beautiful babies and a peanut. She had a gorgeous marked broken black and a solid black. I am hoping for does, but the way my luck has been running, these will both be bucks. I am still waiting on Snow, Bahama and Muse (Muse is now overdue and probably didn't take).

I have decided to completely rearrange my barn. I plan on permanently removing at least another two stackers (which will be for sale along with some single holes once I finally get pictures).

I've also decided on a few more rabbits that will be for sale, along with a "?" list where I need to commit to either keeping them or not. After Nationals, it's very definitely going to look a little bare in the barn!

Oh well, it just makes more room for new babies.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Waiting on babies

2012-01-26T09:49:00.000-05:00

I'm waiting on two does to give birth- they were marked as due yesterday, which means they could go any time. I'm hoping both took!

Keep's Bahama, my top producing shaded doe, is looking miserable. She is due on the 30th and for the past few days has been lying around looking like a swollen, fuzzy balloon. I'm very excited for this litter, the father is a gorgeous little buck with beautiful wool and these teensy little ears framing his huge head. Bahama produced Keep's Panda, the RIS buck- here is hoping for a few that look just like him!

I've been trying to get pictures of the rabbits I'll have for sale at Nationals- it's an ongoing process, which is why I start so early! It's looking like I won't have as many shaded bucks to go around as I have folks looking for them, but I guess that's a good problem to have!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

What to name it?

2012-01-21T10:59:00.003-05:00

Nope, this isn't about Fluffy or Sir Sprays a Lot the III- it's about what comes BEFORE the name of the rabbit- the Prefix!

Generally, it's not a big deal. I take my buck, my doe, breed them together and my litter gets the prefix Keep's.

Duh. :).

What happens when the situation is more complicated? What if I breed a doe you've bought from me (which I don't do, but we're going hypothetical here). Who gets the prefix?

What a sticky question. First of all, I highly recommend letting the person know beforehand your preference and only do it for folks you know well. I also recommend that if someone does this for you, to abide by their wishes.

Some breeders will want their prefix on the litter. After all, they own both parents and are doing you a favor.

Others don't want their name on it at all- they don't know how the babies will turn out and don't want people buying a "Keep's" rabbit as a show animal that might not make Keep's Show Animal Standards.

Still others are happy to do a split litter- I'll call my pick Keep's, and you can put your name on the rest.

There is still one more option. You can always do a split prefix- Keep's/Friend's Fred.

I want to stress, I do NOT feel that it is up to the buyer to choose which option is right. I think it should be the decision of the person who sold the bred doe and once it's decided, that's it. Sellers, you can't say "Oh no, name them your prefix" to your buyers and when the litter turns out to be gorgeous, suddenly want it only your name.

If you purchase a bred animal and the seller didn't state their wishes, just ask! It's much better than to have a misunderstanding arise and cause a strain in a friendship.

The same rules *basically* apply for borrowing a buck- some folks do it by whoever owns the buck. When my friend and I would trade off holland breedings, we played it by whoever owned the doe. It's really just up to you and the other person to decide what works best for you!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

When Does a Line Become Your Own?

2012-01-12T11:07:00.002-05:00

"When does a line become your own?" is a question a lot of breeders ask. Obviously, if you start out with a rabbit here, a rabbit there- then the mish-mashing of lines is uniquely yours.

I brought in most of my rabbits from one line- Wooligans. I think working with a solid foundation in that line has definitely helped me get my quality where it is today, though I have other friends who provided me with solid animals that really allowed me to build on that foundation.

However, my line is my own.

Why? Because it's several generations MINE now. I've added in a buck from here, a doe from there- I've made the decisions on who to keep and who to cull and who to breed to who.

I once heard someone describe lines this way:

Imagine you're making a cake, and you use someone's recipe. In my case, Wooligans. If I never make the cake any different, it's always Wooligans' recipe.

However, if I start playing with that recipe, adding a little of this, taking out a little of that, then what started out as the Wooligans recipe becomes Keep's recipe, with my own unique twist and flare.

I think that this is a very good description of what we as breeders do. We take the best parts of the "recipes" (or rabbits) we can get our hands on and we mix them together. We try a little of this, a little of that and sometimes we fail epically.

I'll never forget the first time someone described an animal as having "the Keep's look". It helps that it was a highly complimentary comment about the consistency and quality of my animals. It also made me realize that I had moved past being "that girl who has this line".

Now, I'm watching people take my recipe and start changing it and adapting it in their own way and developing their own lines. I'll never forget all the folks who helped me get started in the breed, but I'm proud to say I've made these woolies my own.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Hickory New Years Show

2012-01-08T10:12:00.000-05:00

I didn't do much at the show- I did grand out a bunny, took a few BOSGs and put a first leg on a junior. Not bad!

I also got to see Joni take BOSB with a 10 week old junior buck she took "just for comments"- which I was then able to tease her about the rest of the show. So. Much. Fun.

The BEST part for me actually came in the youth show. We have a new youth breeder that I really like named Sarah. She's 16ish and loves her new woolies to death. She purchased a REW junior doe from me at the last show (which turned in to the POL) and her mom contacted me about a buck for a surprise Christmas gift- so we agreed on her getting Keep's Tar Heel.

In the Youth show, Sarah showed both Keep's Nim (her REW) and Keep's Tar Heel- and took BOB with Tar Heel and BOSB with Nim! I was so happy for her.

The HUGE surprise came when Keep's Tar Heel took BIS in Youth.

You could have knocked us both over with a feather! I joked with Sarah that I had been trying for all these years for a BIS with a wooly and here she comes along, first show (after owning the rabbit just since Christmas) and takes it! It was a great day!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Winter is here

2012-01-03T18:29:00.000-05:00

It's freezing cold and the rabbitry is showing signs of it. I lost a little black bunny baby. I'm not really sure why, he was in with three other kits, they still have their nestbox and they still have plenty of wool. Since they are 2 1/2 weeks old, they should be able to handle this weather a little better, though the wild temperature swings surely aren't helping.

However, with perfect timing, my Sweeps Award for 2010-2011 arrived today!

It's a scarf! I love my name is on it though as a friend pointed out, it should have said "Keepee" hehe.

-Kristen

Keep's Rabbitry

Rabbitry Goals 2012

2011-12-31T09:57:00.003-05:00

Let's see- Rabbitry goals for 2012.

Keep the herd to no more than 35 animals. I have happily cut down on the size of the herd this year and I'm liking the smaller numbers. I don't want to go above 35 animals (although that number may fluctuate as litters are born).

Take a BIS. I finally got my Reserve in Show. I want to bump it up a notch and take a Best in Show in 2012. I feel like I have several animals that are deserving of that honor, it just all depends on what they look like on any given show day. Fingers crossed.

Keep the website updated. For this one to work, first I need to get the website updated. It's my goal to get new pictures of the rabbits up and keep them updated in 2012.

Take a Top 5 in Sweepstakes Points. This goal is going to be more difficult. I was so close in 2011 but close doesn't count. I'm hopeful, but at the end of the day, this is probably the least important of my goals.

I think rabbitry goals are important. Every year I sit down and think of where I have come from and where I am going. I was blessed this year to cross off everything on my list. It was a big year for rabbits and for me- I sent two rabbits overseas, took a class and opposite of group at Convention, won a BRIS with a homebred wooly, placed 6th in Sweeps and worked through a terrible tragedy, including the loss of my beloved Tryon. I hope that 2012 brings more joy and bigger accomplishments.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T12:19:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas from all of us at Keep's Rabbitry- including Keep's Sunset and her brand new litter of three! :)

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

What is your favorite memory?

2011-12-20T13:48:00.001-05:00

A friend of mine asked on facebook for a favorite memory from 2011.

Three stood out in my mind, but the one that meant the most to me happened almost a year ago.

In February I attended PaSRBA and I took Keep's Tryon with me . By the end of the second day, he was a mess, showing off, trying to climb judge Donyelle, jumping in and out of the coops- generally just showing his butt in the cutest way possible.

When he failed to win BOB or BOSB (it was oh-so-close), I picked him up. He squirmed until he was sitting on my hip just like a small child will do. I smiled down at him and I clicked and clucked to him, just to distract him from wanting to wiggle.

He looked at me, twitched an ear and then clicked back! He chattered his teeth lightly in the same rhythm I did it, talking back to me for several minutes. I've never felt closer to an animal than I did then.

I'm typing this trying desperately not to cry, but I have pretty much failed.

I still miss him so much.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Do it Anyway.

2011-12-17T20:52:00.000-05:00

This was posted on my friend Lindsey's blog. I just had to share.

The Paradoxical Commandments
... by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

2011 Goals- Revisited

2011-12-14T10:26:00.002-05:00

Every year I write my goals out. Every year I revisit the post and see what I wanted to accomplish and if I did. Below is my post from December- 2010.

Hmmm. It's that annual time of year where I sit down and think of what I'd like to accomplish this year. I always really enjoy this, but it's difficult sometimes to put what I want to do in words. After all, I can't exactly say I want to make the perfect rabbit because yes- that's what we are all trying to do! Every year, I up the ante just a little. If I don't hit these goals, it's ok, but I want to always push myself harder to reach the higher goals!

Top 20 in Sweeps- with reduced shows! I may be cutting down on the number of shows I go to, but I'd still like to secure a place in the Top 20. This year I placed 6th in Sweeps! What an incredible honor.

BIS/BRIS with a Homebred- You know the deal on this one :D. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride! I'm hoping for it in 2011! It finally happened! With just a month or so to spare in the year, Keep's Panda brought home a Reserve in Show to Keep's Rabbitry!

Win a class at Convention- I won a class and BOSG at Nationals, I'd really like to take the honor at Convention this year! Honestly, this was my dark-horse hope. I never dreamed this one would come true, but this year Keep's Puzzle brought home a 1st place in the Self Senior Doe class and went on to place BOSG!

I am so incredibly proud of what has been accomplished at Keep's Rabbitry this year. I never thought I'd have a list (even a short one) that was fully completed. I'll be getting to work on my new goals for next year and posting them soon!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Kind of quiet lately-

2011-11-29T13:40:00.000-05:00

The blog has been kind of quiet lately, I know.

The reason is- well honestly I've stopped and started dozens of posts. I've written quite a few that never get published. I know for a fact that there are people out there who read this blog to "spy" (hello.. this is a public blog. It's not spying if I am giving you the information lol!) or who read it just to find something to get upset or offended by. In fact, if you are reading this right now and are offended by that last sentence- it's you. You also need to work on your issues. Seriously.

Anyway, in the interest of creating a less drama filled world, I'm working, slowly, on decreasing internet presence. I still fully plan on blogging and posting pictures, updating the website, etc. I just highly doubt I will be blogging daily or every other day. No big shock there, huh?

So, now that I got that out of my system- I will see you local folks at shows (ooo see that spies? I'm going to local shows! Scandalous.). I will hopefully see you non-local folks at Nationals!

Thanks to everyone who has read the blog. I started it in July of 2007 just as a way to share ideas, goals and updates with some friends. I never dreamed I'd meet people and they'd say "Oh! I read your blog!" I surely never dreamed I'd be able to keep it going for so long! I hope you readers stay with me and read the updates, no matter how slowly they may come in!

This definitely isn't the end...just a semi-hibernation for a while :).

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Happy Early Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T09:48:00.000-05:00

Happy Early Thanksgiving!

There are a lot of things I'm thankful for this year rabbit-wise.

I'm thankful for the support I received when we had the terrible barn tragedy, even from strangers.

I'm thankful for the true friends I have who support me when other people are being horrible.

I'm thankful for the good winners and the good losers, the people that are there to have fun.

I'm thankful for the bunnies. It makes my day better when I remember coming home from long trips and seeing them all binky in their cages at the sound of my voice.

I am thank for the good buyers and good sellers I've encountered.

I'm thankful for the good things in this hobby. To the bad things out there- Pfft. You don't bother me. I've got too much good things to be thankful for, to waste my time on worrying about the bad!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Blast from the Past

2011-11-18T10:18:00.000-05:00

I have been lucky enough to have four bunnies I sold return to the barn recently! Two came home at Convention and then two came home as a result of their new owner's sell out.

The REW doe that just returned, Snow, may be pregnant by a broken chestnut buck out of Brian Caudill's lines. I had the opportunity to see the potential sire and he's a very good match up with Snow! My fingers are crossed that she kindles.

I also got back a blue otter buck named Ra. He is the full littermate to the buck I put in the Golden Fleece Auction, Keep's Bashful. I loved this buck a lot and had just made up my mind to jerk him off the sales list when I was contacted about him, so I let him go. I'm so grateful that his new owner let me know when she was selling out so I had first chance to buy him back.

I can't wait to pair Ra up with some of the ladies. I am hoping to get some nice selfs and shadeds out of him, so I'll probably be selling a fair number of tan patterns in the near future, it's not my goal to keep any of those colors.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Moving Out and Moving On

2011-11-15T13:29:00.000-05:00

The rabbitry is starting to look a bit empty. I have 13 cages standing empty right now- and for once, that includes all my juniors being separated!

I do have two rabbits coming home from a sell-out. I need to get out there and start selling off those excess cages before I fill them right back up.

I am planning on retiring Keep's Chapel Hill soon. She is still in production and is actually due to kindle this month. She's just getting older- it seems like just yesterday she was taking 2nd place junior doe at Nationals. Now I'm looking to find a good pet home to place her in.

As always, I'm looking to make more cuts to my shaded senior bucks. I was able to force myself to part with only one at Convention. I miss him very much, but he's in such a fantastic home I can't be too sad.

I have ideas on who I may let go next. Since all my shaded senior bucks are grand champions with the exception of one (poor guy, he's only been to one show as a senior and took 2nd both times behind the other shaded senior buck I took), it's not an easy decision. I think I'll first have to make a list of who definitely can't go anywhere, then move from there to the ones I will consider letting go. It's hard, the bucks are my favorites- especially the shadeds! However, I have to make room for upcoming bucklings and I can't do that if the cages are all filled.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Why you should always roll out of bed...

2011-11-13T15:08:00.000-05:00

The alarm went off at 6am and I groaned. Literally groaned out loud. While Tim was up getting dressed, I was huddled under the covers in an incredibly soft, warm bed, thinking about how badly I did not want to get up. I warred with myself for 5 minutes over the merits of getting up versus just going back to sleep.

Finally, getting up won. I got dressed and trudged out into the freezing cold to pack up my rabbits and head to Taylorsville for a show. I was expecting the venue to be freezing cold as usual, but when we arrived, the heat was on in the building and it was fairly comfortable! That helped my mood tremendously.

I took several rabbits, one just for opinions, one just to get her used to being shown because she's hell-on-wheels and a few to help "get in the mood". I wasn't expecting much from anyone, they are all pretty molty and losing condition right now.

In Show A, Keep's Panda took BOSB! I was blown away, I had been lamenting to Joni that I should have left him home because of his lack of condition. Keep's Bump It Up won the shaded buck class and took BOG, which should have granded him out.

In Show B, Bump again took BOG! Most of my placings were exactly the same, but one of my does was bottom of the senior doe class, which surprised me. Don't get me wrong, I completely didn't expect her to win, but it was a bit shocking that she was 7/8. She had been 3/9 in the first show. Panda won BOG and actually ended up taking BOB! My perpetual "BOSB" winner finally got his moment in the spotlight. I was thrilled.

I hadn't planned on staying for Best In Show, but since there was only the tail end of one last breed to place before it occurred, I said "what the heck" and we stayed. The judging tables were small, so we spread out across two and the BIS Judge, Sue Rice, went every quickly over all the animals. She pulled out Panda for a second look, which tickled me, but then she did a second look over 7 or 8 animals. Since they only place Best in Show and Best Reserve in Show, I wasn't optimistic.

Sue gave a quick list of who her favorite rabbits were, including "the Jersey Wooly" and I thought Awesome that's almost like an Honorable Mention. I felt good that she thought so highly of Panda- she was the one that gave him BOSB in the first show. Standing behind the opposite table from where Panda was, she announced that BIS went to a beautiful Florida White. Well, that's it. She's over on that other table where most of her mentions were.

Then she tossed out "And my Reserve in Show goes to the Jersey Wooly".

You could have knocked me over with a feather.

I have taken Best in Show with both Mini Lops and Holland Lops. I've taken Reserve in Show with Mini Lops- but I've never taken either with a Jersey Wooly, especially not a homebred!

This win and the Convention win put me over the moon! November is officially my favorite month ever now!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Rabbit Myth

2011-11-11T17:49:00.001-05:00

Everyone, say it with me. These are domestic rabbits.
They are 100% used to human scent.

If your domestic rabbit has a litter, you can touch them immediately after she gives birth. She will not eat them. She will not reject them. They will not die from contact with you. I get so tired of people telling me or my husband that if we touch our rabbit babies, the mothers will eat them, then arguing with me about it. Let's see- I've had Jersey Woolies for almost 6 years now. I had Holland Lops for years before the woolies. These people, on the other hand, heard the rabbit myth. Who is more qualified to speak on it? Hm?

Now, some does do cannibalize their kits. There are hundreds of reasons why they may do this. They may be lacking in nutrients, the baby may die and she may eat it to "protect" the others from predators. She may be a terrible mother. The point is, this is the exception, not the rule and a doe that cannibalizes her babies does it not because you touched the animal, but because of one of the reasons noted above.

I do not breed terrible mothers, nor do I sell them as breeding stock. If I have a first time doe that eats her litter, I may let it slide- terrible things happen during the first kindling sometimes, so they get a pass. If they do it a second time, that animal goes to a pet home or is otherwise culled.

Long post short- touching a domestic rabbit's babies will not cause her to eat them, kill them, or abandon them.
Rabbit Myth #1? Busted.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

One step forward, two steps back

2011-11-10T09:25:00.008-05:00

I've been going through my herd, looking to fix problems and strengthen strengths.

To me, the worst part of raising rabbits is to try to fix one nitpicky piece. Do you need more width? Be prepared to sacrifice shortness of body or quality of wool. Do you need thicker ears? Be prepared for more length to them or to lose some hindquarter! It's very rare that you are able to fix a problem area in your herd without losing something else!

It's also impossible to find a complete buck or doe. No one has a perfect rabbit and even if they did, they aren't going to sell it.

I've decided that instead of "fixing" my does with bucks, to go the opposite way and "fix" my bucks with does. To that end, I've brought in a few new does. Actually, one is a Keep's doe that I sold out to California a while back. The other is a cute little black doe who is very promising. I'm anticipate that her lines will mesh well with mine.

I can't wait to have my current round of juniors grow up. I'm really keeping an eye open for does this year- I don't need bucks right now, which means that of course all of my babies will end up boys! This round of babies was very "Panda"-heavy... by which I mean I bred Panda almost exclusively. I can't wait to take some of his daughters and breed them back to some of my other bucks.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Convention Tourism

2011-11-08T07:05:00.000-05:00

We met some new friends at the Speedway! They show Mini Lops.

One thing I do not do is spend 100% of my time at Convention! There is just too much to do in each city to do nothing but live and breathe rabbits for 5 days. I know, I know, I am there for a rabbit show- but still! What am I going to do on all those days? Look at the same rabbits in the same coops 8+ hours a day? No thank you :).

Tim loves the opportunity to look up places to eat and things to do, so I mostly leave him in charge of activities. When we went to Kentucky, we all knew we'd have to go see Churchill Downs. When we found out we'd be going to Indianapolis, we all knew we'd end up at the Raceway.

Oh no! The dinosaurs are breaking out of the Children's Museum!

We didn't get to do as much sight-seeing as we wanted to. Unfortunately, the Wooly SNAFU ate up a day and a half of our time. The museums in Indy are all closed on Monday as well, something we didn't realize.

Beautiful architecture in Indy!

Regardless, I had a fun time exploring Indianapolis. We were able to spend a day at the Children's Museum, which was incredible! We checked out the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, spent a few minutes before closing in the Art Museum, saw various war memorials and even drove out to Carmel so that Tim could do a food challenge.

Outside of the Art Museum

I can definitely say Indianapolis is somewhere I'd visit again!

-KristenKeep's Rabbitry

A judging hiccup at Convention

2011-11-06T18:06:00.000-05:00

Judging started on Sunday this year, which was new and different. Woolies were slated to go up at 8am, so we all made arrangements to get to the showroom about that time. Since I had no Agoutis or AOVs, I was able to shoot to arrive slightly later than some of the other folks.

I ran a brush through one of my woolies and then I was happily done grooming. I love easy care coats!

Around this time, it became obvious that no woolies were going on the tables! Unfortunately, though woolies had been scheduled to go up as one of the first breeds, we weren't assigned a table.   It reminded me strongly of the trouble the Hollands had in Minnesota the year before.

We waited around, twiddling our thumbs, unsure as to whether we would go up that day or if we would be bumped back to Monday.   We finally got word we'd have a table as soon as the fuzzy lop people were finished- which ended up being right at 3pm. Eurgh!

Our judges were troopers and judged as quickly as they could, but around 8pm they had to call it a night. After all, they had also been up early and had been on their feet all day, unlike those of us who were able to find chairs at various points through the day.

Our traveling buddy ended up having to write for Rhinelanders and while they had been tentatively scheduled to go up at noon, they also didn't actually hit the tables until 3pm. They did finish on Sunday night, but it wasn't until 10pm! The Rhinelanders had their own hiccups, which I won't go in to as I wasn't there and can't accurately relate what happened. I ended up helping write out the placement awards for the Rhinelanders, once the woolies were done.

We left the showroom late, as one of the last sets of people out the doors. Unfortunately, I had to return the next morning at 8am so woolies could finish up on the table. We were late getting to the showroom and my last class, Shaded Junior Does, was already up. I'm so thankful that a friend of mine, Cathie, was looking out for me and made sure my doe's cage tie was clipped and she was on the table. I would have been extremely upset if I had missed that class!   Keep's Muse, my little sable point, took 6th.

The self group had not yet had the group winners chosen, since one judge had to finish up self junior bucks the second day. I was dismayed to see that Puzzle, who had won the Self Senior Doe class, was blowing her woolcap! It really gave up between judging Sunday and Monday. However, she still took BOSG and nearly took BOSB as well.

It was a bit frustrating, knowing we had gotten up early and rushed to the showroom, only to spend 7 hours wandering around or twiddling our thumbs. It was even more frustrating knowing that this mistake meant there was no chance to catch up on sleep the next day and another 3 1/2 hours were going to be spent watching judging.

In the end, all the rabbits were judged though. I guess that's all that matters.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

I'm baaack!

2011-11-04T09:46:00.000-04:00

Well I was back yesterday, but I felt like I wanted to take a mental health day :).

If you haven't heard by now- Keep's Puzzle, self senior doe, took BOSG at Convention! It was incredible, I couldn't believe it. I was even more stunned when the judges kept pulling her out on the BOB/BOSB table and comparing her to the little chestnut doe who ultimately took the honor of BOSB. We were so close, but at the same time, this is farther than I've ever come before at Convention!

I was pleased, for the most part, with how my animals did. I took 9 rabbits (one of them being the Golden Fleece Auction buck) and 6 of them were Top 10 placements. I think one of the no places was just outside of the Top 10. Not bad, considering how molty he was!

Convention was stressful, as it always is and I have tons of stories and pictures I just don't feel up to sharing right now, but will be posting in the next few days.

Keep's Forest came back to the rabbitry from Pennsylvania and Keep's Sunset returns to us from California. I added in a cute little black junior doe as well- this was the extent of my shopping! All of the Golden Fleece rabbits went for incredibly high prices. I am proud to say that Wonder's Kiss Me, a shaded senior doe (BOG) who went for $950 in the auction is the daughter of Keep's KTLM! That was exciting for me as well as for her breeder Amber.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Do or Die Time!

2011-10-26T22:31:00.000-04:00

Well this is it! Coats are the best they are going to be for Convention. My shaded Junior doe has a ROCKING body, but she's giving me some attitude when it comes to posing- hussy! Sadly, she's got very, very short wool. It's long enough to show her, but ehh.

I took a look at the numbers- Self Group, Broken Group and Shaded Group are the biggest groups this year at Convention- and I'm entered exclusively in those three. We will have enough animals to leg out every class except AOV juniors, assuming there are enough exhibitors.

I may or may not have internet access this coming week. The best bet for updates is via my facebook page, I can at least text a friend to post on my wall should the stars align and I somehow win Best of Breed (LOL).

To everyone traveling to Indy, be safe and we'll see you there!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Convention Bound- Soon!

2011-10-23T20:31:00.001-04:00

We're down to "go time".

We will be leaving in four days.

One week from now, judging will be underway.

I'm freaking out- again.

There is a lot left to do. I have to finalize all the information for the transporting I'm doing. This involves spreadsheets. Lots and lots of spreadsheets! I want to make sure every bunny gets to their transporter or comes to me with the minimum amount of headache.

I need to get all the information for the sight-seeing we plan on doing. A big part of the Convention Experience for me and Tim (and anyone with us) is exploring the state we are in. I love rabbits but I am not spending almost a week doing nothing but eating, sleeping and looking at the same animals in the same coops.

I plan on clipping nails and doing all my tattoo touchups before we hit the road. I do NOT want to be clipping nails as the classes are called!

Luggage packing is definitely on the list, as well as packing for snacks. Since Jersey Woolies are one of the opening breeds at 8am, I am hoping we will be finished fairly "early" in the day. My friend has Rhinelanders and we aren't sure when they will be going up on the table, so it never hurts to be prepared.

I'm going to try to do a bit each day so I don't end up overwhelmed. Well, more overwhelmed.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Yet another Convention post

2011-10-18T13:59:00.000-04:00

We finalized entries last night- talk about nerve-wracking! One of the does I very much wanted to show is currently in a half & half molt. Half of her is beautiful and the other half...gag! One of the junior does is about to blow her coat, so I had to do two last minute substitutions.

I've got so much to get ready for the big show. Folks on Facebook are not helping with their statuses reminding me that the day of the show will be here all too soon. I guess I'd better get on buying those little extras, huh?

I have several rabbits leaving to go to their new homes across the United States. As of yesterday, I will also have two does leaving to begin new lives in Indonesia! I'm very excited to have an opportunity to send two lovely producers over to some new friends who are working towards their country's first ARBA show next year!

I'm bringing home two Keep's rabbits. One has been vacationing in Pennsylvania and the other was living out in California. I'll post pictures when the prodigal bunnies return.

Now that I am safely past the "Convention week due date" zone, I'm able to start rebreeding my does as well. I look forward to a baby boom in the month of November!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Hickory Show

2011-10-16T12:18:00.000-04:00

The Hickory Show as Saturday. For the first time ever, we a.) had it in Hickory, not in Taylorsville and b.) had it in a Tractor Supply.

Having it in the back storage room of the Tractor Supply was...interesting. I was expecting much more of a pet crowd to come in and browse around but they really didn't. I did pet out one of my unshowable brokens (no butterfly), but that was about it.

We had Bill Whaley in Show A. A lot of my animals placed well under him, but I was completely surprised when he chose BL's Isis as BOB and Keep's Tribute as BOSB.

In show B, Tribute again took BOSB and the judge told me that if he'd had a little more coat he would have taken BOB.

I was thrilled. Tribute is my last Tryon buck ever born, so he's extra special to me.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Convention Transportation

2011-10-13T17:38:00.000-04:00

This is just a quick reminder for folks- I have only a few spaces left for transportation back to the NC/VA area from Convention. I do still have spaces available for the trip to Convention.

Please contact me via facebook, or via email if you need transportation!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

JW Sweeps

2011-10-10T19:20:00.001-04:00

Jersey Wooly sweeps were finally updated. Unfortunately, the wrong report was uploaded for "Overall Open" Sweeps, so I don't know where I placed officially.

In District 9, the top five are all in NC or SC! There is some serious competition at my regular shows :). I placed #2 in the district.

I have my Convention entries in, though I'm considering adding one more rabbit to the lineup. I'm hoping to get them to grow their wool in more quickly, so I'm pulling out all the stops and trying some new things.

There is a show coming up in Hickory this weekend. I am not sure who I am going to show yet.

ETA: The report has been updated- I'm #6!

-Kristen

Updates

2011-10-06T11:54:00.000-04:00

I put off breeding the woolies for a while and now I have to wait until their due dates will be safely past Convention before I breed again. I do have two does due towards the end of October, but that's about it.

I have a good amount of empty cages in the barn right now- it makes me so happy. My goal is to move out my 6 hole stacker and at least one of the 3 holes. Then, after the Convention sales animals move to their new homes, I'll take out another 3-holer. I want to move my hay container into the rabbitry and get some shelves put up to house the nest boxes and other things.

I have managed to nail down 5 Convention entries. The rest I'm flipping back and forth on. Will they have wool? Won't they? I think I'm going to NOT enter my two sale bucks. Then, if any of my show team absolutely looks awful, I can substitute a sale animal instead.

I need to get my website updated badly. Most of the animals pictured on it I don't even have anymore! Yet another thing to add to my list of "find the time to do this".

I have two pet woolies available. One is a charlie mark and the other is missing it's butterfly. The "pet" tag in no way indicates their quality, I just don't mess with mismarks. They will be available at 8 weeks old.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Avoiding the Unavoidable

2011-10-03T21:34:00.000-04:00

I've been trying to avoid the unavoidable- deciding my entry list for Convention. It's due by October 11th though and my goal is to get it in by the 7th, in case I have problems with it.

Eurgh.

I decided to start out by just listing everyone that I think would have a good placement at Convention. My list is at 16 who are of a good age to show and have at least a fighting chance of having a coat on by then. Just a fighting chance, I'm not expecting all 16 to be primed, but a few of my juniors have too much wispy baby coat to warrant going to Convention.

16. At $14 an entry, that's not going to happen.

I'll probably go over the list more seriously tomorrow. Two of the animals will probably be sales bucks, but to be honest, I'm not sure how much I want to deal with sales animals once in the showroom. It can kind of be a huge pain in the butt.

A few of the animals on my list are in the same class. I try to avoid this as much as possible, showing no more than 2 per class at Convention. This will help me narrow my list, but first I have to decide who are my top choices in each class!

Ugh.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Fairview Show-

2011-10-02T20:48:00.000-04:00

I had such a fantastic day at the Fairview Show. Even though it's 3 hours away, this show is always so much fun and the trophies are FANTASTIC! Hand crafted pottery- love it!

Show A:

I had a great show in Show A. Keep's Bashful took BOG self, Keep's Puzzle took BOSG self, Keep's Little Comment took BOG shaded and Keep's Muse took BOSG shaded. The judge honored me by saying the best two rabbits on the table were the BOG Self and the BOG shaded. Keep's Little Comment ended up taking Best of Breed!

Show B didn't go quite as well, though Keep's Heart Throb took BOG shaded and Keep's Muse took BOSG and ended up winning BOSB!

There was a fair show in Winston Salem today, but I don't like showing two days in a row if I can avoid it. I like to sleep in and rest on the second day, especially since I have to go to work on Monday. I think I made the right decision- it was cold today! The rabbits seemed to appreciate hanging out and relaxing today as well.

The next show is in two weeks, then two weeks past then is Convention! EEK!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Putting the Wool in "woolies"

2011-09-27T19:36:00.000-04:00

Or rather... where is the "wool" in these so called "woolies"?

I am so frustrated. We've planned, we've saved and we're looking forward to Convention in Indianapolis.

What could go wrong?

Oh... yeah. The rabbits.

The buck I was most looking forward to showing is molting so badly he has bald spots. He's also the world's slowest wool grower. Great, that's a no go for him.

Everyone else is either naked, about to be naked, just barely starting to not be naked or a baby.

Yeah... a BOB winning Convention lineup, they are not based on wool right now.

It's very disappointing to breed hard, make beautiful animals and then have them not be primed for Convention, the biggest show, and able to show themselves off.

Eurgh.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

We say goodbye

2011-09-24T15:16:00.000-04:00

We said goobye to Velotta's Joe yesterday. He was a chinchilla mini lop buck who I purchased with 2 legs. By the time we sold out of mini lops, he had a total of 14 legs including 1 Reserve in Show. We decided when we sold out of mini lops that Joe would retire here with us.

He was a good natured buck who loved to be held and to get head rubs. Tim even used him in a sermon a time or two. You can imagine the preacher holding a rabbit like a baby really caught their attention.

However, as he aged, Joe began developing some issues. We long suspected he had diabetes or kidney failure. He would drink a 32 ounce bottle of water in no time and then look around for more. I often told Tim he'd drink himself to death given the opportunity. He was getting old and though we nearly lost him last winter, he pulled through for us. Even then we knew he was likely not to make it through the year.

I found that he had passed away sometime yesterday.

Rest In Peace Joe.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Silvering gene in Jersey Woolies

2011-09-21T09:53:00.000-04:00

Did you know there is a silvering gene in Jersey Woolies?

Neither did I, until Saturday.

I happened to think about a black junior doe I have while at the show on Greensboro. Since I was standing next to Ms. DQ Queen herself, Kitty Lynch, I described the doe and finished it off with "it almost looks like she's a silver fox."

"That's because she's silvered," Kitty said, nodding.

You could have knocked me over with a feather.

Apparently this is a product of an outcross I did a while back. The animal's granddaughter is this lovely little doe, Nova, who I nearly sold at a younger age. Now I'm glad I didn't, as I would have hated to unwittingly passed this on to someone!

I noticed that as a younger junior, Nova had an excess of scattered white hairs at the base of her ears. I thought it was just an unfortunate thing. I had planned to keep an eye on it and do a test breeding to a very clean buck.

As time went on, I noticed she was getting more and more scattered whites, until it began to appear that there was something very different going on here.

Note the white hairs distributed through her wool? The longer, wispy gray wool is her baby coat. I imagine that by the time she fully molts, her silvering will be even more pronounced.

The doe won't get to stay around, since unfortunately the silvering is undesirable.

-Kristen

Keep's Rabbitry

Greensboro NC Show Results

2011-09-17T19:52:00.000-04:00

We had the Greensboro show today! I am exhausted, but the show went really well! We managed to get a triple done by 3:30! WHOA! Way to go Sandhills, for an excellent show.

I didn't do much at this one- everyone is super molty or very young, but I did manage a few good placings.

Travis Finkle gave Keep's Little Comment (shaded sr. buck) his 3rd leg in Show A! Yay for the newest Keep's grand champion. Little Comment did really well, this is only his second show and he brought him his 4th leg!

Wade Burkhalter (one of my favorite judges, by the way, hehe) had us for Show B. My broken tort junior buck took 1/4, my black junior doe took 1/2, Keep's Heart Throb (shaded sr. buck) took BOG and Keep's Bee (self jr. doe) took 1/5 for her first leg in her first time out! Yay!

We had Owen Yates in the third show. I really enjoyed this judge, he was very easy going and fun to talk/joke with, though he kept the pace up as well. Under him, the broken tort junior buck took his class again and BOSG! My black junior doe won her class again, Keep's Little Comment got his 4th leg and my baby shaded junior doe took 1/2.

So yay! Several new legs, granding another buck and a wonderful day full of friends. I had friends come up from Oklahoma to visit/show and met some new wooly breeders.

Now I am exhausted and hoarse! Someone remind me NOT to talk so much...oh wait, that's pretty much "my thing".

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Not All that Glitters is Gold

2011-09-13T21:38:00.002-04:00

Fool's Gold sure is pretty.

You've heard the saying "Not all that glitters is gold".   If you haven't, this blog could be awkward.

In a nutshell (or in a concise statement), it means not everything that looks precious is precious. To put it in even plainer terms as they apply to rabbits- not every animal you produce is gold, nor is every animal you buy.

Some people put a lot of store in what a pedigree says. Who is the breeder? How many legs to the parents have? How many total legs are on all the rabbits on the pedigree? Even the top breeders produce pet quality. It happens, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Sometimes two rabbits don't mesh, no matter how beautiful they are individually. Sometimes in using "parts" animals, you don't get any of the parts you were trying for.

Not everything you produce is gold either. When you get some nice animals, it's tempting to assume that everything they produce is perfect. Ok, well maybe not perfect, but at least a very nice brood animal- right? No. Not right. Even the best buck, no matter how many legs, throws crap. It's super, super, incredibly, super, super (super super?) super rare that you will get animals that will throw you near perfect animals in every litter. By super rare I mean- that never happens. It doesn't. Oh, the really valuable bucks and the really valuable does will throw you great litters, I'm not saying they won't, but I don't know of a single doe or buck that has ever produced nothing but grand champions.

This means not everything you produce is worthy of being sold to a working herd.   Not every animal is "brood" or "show" quality just because it's your name on the pedigree or because of who the sire to the litter is.

While we're on the subject, a brood is not an animal "with long ears, a narrow head, narrow body, long in type, flat over the HQ and undercut". Folks, that's a pet quality animal. Stop right there- I don't care who it's daddy is. I don't care who it's GGrandsire was, or how many legs are on the total pedigree. It's a pet. Sell it as a pet.

Don't sell animals you aren't proud of just because "well it's better than what they have" or "they are lucky to get something with my name on it".   Hey, sometimes animals don't develop like we expect. It happens. However, to knowingly label something brood quality and sell it for a higher price when you know in your heart it's a pet quality animal? That's just wrong.

We all want to "make our money back" in our hobby. Some folks do it through pet sales, some do it through show or brood sales. Lots of us just don't ever make the money back. Just remember- not all that glitters is gold. Don't let the glitter and glamor of a beautifully printed pedigree fool you, whether you are buying or selling.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Missing a Show-

2011-09-10T21:06:00.000-04:00

I missed the Mountain State Fair this year. I usually like to get up there- we get ribbons for class wins lol! This year though, I was frustrated. We have to send in our entries almost a month in advance. If you saw my last post, everyone is molting like crazy and has been. Half of those I would have entered would have been bald by this show- such a waste of time and money.

So, I missed it. It's kind of sad, but at the same time, I was able to do other things this weekend, which was nice.

Greensboro comes up next weekend and while everyone is still molty, at least I can make good decisions about who I want to show there.

Keep's Sparta kindled 3 lovely babies on the wire. Thankfully, she pulled a LOT of wool and they all made it! We have a little rainbow litter, looks like a tort, a REW and...a black or a seal, I can't really tell right now.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

We have babies!

2011-09-07T11:48:00.001-04:00

Carson, a doe I have out of Hartzell lines, kindled six beautiful Panda babies for me on September 4th!

She had two REWs, a black, a tort (or sable point) and two broken blacks. One is beautifully marked and one is missing it's butterfly and will be for sale at 8 weeks old.

Carson has proven herself a wonderful mother and I'm very excited to watch her large litter grow. It will be the first time I get to see what she throws, she lost her first litter in the AC disaster and spent the last few months fostering another baby for me.

I'm waiting on a new lady to kindle, Keep's Sparta. She is absolutely beautiful but unfortunately hasn't been shown at all due to my limited show schedule so far and her odd molt schedule. I palpated her just a few days ago and felt a baby. Once I felt the first one, I stopped because I don't want to stress her out, but she's definitely pregnant. I believe I bred her to Panda as well. He's getting all the action lately.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Show season, but no show coats

2011-09-06T12:19:00.000-04:00

Show season is gearing up- it's starting to cool off a bit and the shows are eager to resume now that we're all going to be able to survive without getting heat stroke.

Everyone I talk to seems to be going through the same thing- bald rabbits!

I think this is my least favorite time of year, despite the shows. These animals go all summer without a hint they want to shed and then as soon as a show is on the horizon, they all immediately do their best to go completely naked. It makes it impossible to show them, hard to sell them and the real trouble makers shed in such a way as to make their cages a disaster every single day.

At this point, I don't even care about the local shows. I just want them to be ready for Convention. I'm not taking that many to show, but geez, it sure would be nice if the ones I am taking didn't look like they did last year- 90% bald.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Guest Post: For the love of rabbits.

2011-09-05T12:42:00.001-04:00

The following is a guest post by Julie Cahill of Oak Ridge Rabbits. It originally appeared on her blog "Oak Ridge Rabbitry's Blog".

Everyday when I log onto my rabbitry Facebook, I see one or more statuses ranting about rabbits. "I can't believe he did this!"..."I should've known better!"..."How could she do such a thing!"..."You know what I hate?"..."I don't understand why"..."Why do people have to"...and the list goes on. Always very intense, passive aggressive notes that probably don't belong on Facebook.

I have to agree that people, whether in rabbits or outside of rabbits, often disappoint. I have had rabbits bought out from under me. Someone has bought a rabbit from me and then turned around and sold it for twice what they paid. I have seen adult exhibitors show their rabbits through a youth. Undeserving rabbits have won a class simply because the exhibitor is close with the judge.

These things do happen. At the time, we get so frustrated with the situation that we often consider what it would be like to not have to deal with it. What if I sold out? I don't have to deal with all this, so why do I? And we question whether it is really worth it to get so bent out of shape about rabbits.

To me, it is.

Personally, I think this is a hobby worth fighting for and I feel lucky for having found a hobby that I'm so passionate about. I could just as easily take up metal detecting and go hunt for quarters in the park. I could collect spoons and spend my Saturday afternoons polishing them until I can make faces in the reflection. I could buy junk computer parts and miraculously construct a working operating system. All of those would be fun hobbies. They would keep me content, give me something to do. They'd be comfortable. But comfortable isn't quite what I'm looking for.

I'm in this hobby for the love of rabbits, for better or worse. It has brought me to some of my highest highs with unexpected show wins or some of my lowest lows with, you know...people. But it's all or nothing, and the intensity of my connection with this hobby is what makes it worth fighting for.

If you're still questioning whether it's worth it, maybe quarters and spoons are for you. As for me, I'll be at the show table.

Waiting on Babies-

2011-09-02T23:39:00.000-04:00

I'm waiting on a few does to kindle. There are more ladies I need to breed, but since Convention is coming up, I really need to think hard before I breed any does. If they kindle, I sure can't take them and show them! Especially since any babies born from these breedings will be less than 4 weeks old when Convention starts, I can't take the does and I sure can't take the babies!
I guess some of the Keep's does will get nice, long vacations.

Speaking of does, Keep's Fiona, who you may remember fought for her life earlier this summer, is doing very well. She is actually 100% recovered and I believe I may try to show her this Fall, for her last G.C. leg. I'd very much like to make her a champion.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Sell Down Update

2011-08-30T13:01:00.000-04:00

My sell-down is going very well! I have 6 animals that will be leaving at Convention time, all to really good homes, with folks who are excited about them. That makes me very happy, though it's hard to let these guys go.

I have a few more rabbits earmarked for the sales page very soon. They are so young, I want to get a good idea of what their type will be before I commit to selling them. I try to be very picky about what I sell. If I don't like it, you won't either!

I'm also selling a 6-hole stacker. It will open up a little extra space in the Rabbitry. I'm also sad to see it go, but since my plan is still to move down to 30 holes, there is no point in holding on to it and letting it get covered it dust and cobwebs. After the 6 holer goes, I'll have a few single hole cages to move out as well. I've just got to wait until I get my numbers down so I can open the cages up.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

I Still Miss You...

2011-08-28T19:30:00.001-04:00

I went outside to give the bunnies a treat- a few sprigs of cilantro to everyone over 3 months old.

I couldn't help myself- I thought "You will be SO excited for this. I bet you can't wait."

Then I remembered you're gone and it hurt all over again.

I find myself always turning towards your cage and it surprises me half the time to see someone else there. A memory will hit at the most inopportune time and I have to push it away for fear of crying.

Has it really been 2 months? It seems like it was just last week.

I still miss you Tryon.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Guest Post: Odds and Ends

2011-08-27T09:46:00.000-04:00

Today's blog comes from Melanie over at Lil' Bit Farms. She graciously allowed me to share this post with you. Visit Melanie's blog here.

I thought I'd write this blog to blow off some steam regarding some of the emails I receive.

Please remember that the rabbit hobby is probably not the only thing a breeder does or has going on. Some people work two or three jobs. Some breeders have spouses, kids, grand kids, nieces/nephews and other various family members that do require attention, grooming and feeding just like rabbits. Some breeders even have other hobbies - gasp! Mom and I have started couponing, not extreme, but every little bit helps. It takes a lot of time to do. Some breeders periodically face other life difficulties. Just this month my Mom was hit with a severe storm that required extensive repair and ongoing cleanup. She has been dealing with contractors on a daily basis. Please keep this in mind; a rabbit related email could be delayed a few days while life happens. I often hear, "so and so hasn't gotten back with me and it's been TWO DAYS". While I myself have had breeders never answer an email request, please be courteous and patient because not all breeders are that way.

Now to the odds:

I want a top show doe - slim to none

I want that same show doe, both to show and to produce the next generation of Lil' Bit Farms Hollands (TNG of LBF). I figure if I've taken the time and energy to selectively cull and breed to get that doe then I should have first dibs on her.

I wouldn't mind waiting for a proven show doe - medium to high

After a doe has had her show career, moved into breeding and successfully produced TNG of LBF, then we often sell that doe around 1 1/2 to 2 years old.

I want a show doe - medium

We may be working on fixing a certain fault in our herd and even though she is show quality she just doesn't fit into our breeding program at that time. I consider a doe 'show' if I would put her onto the table myself. I DO NOT consider a doe 'show' just because she is free of disqualifications.
I also cannot guarantee how well a Holland will show in any circumstance. Different areas, styles of Hollands and judges make this impossible to determine.

I'm looking for a brood doe - high to very high

For me to consider a Holland 'brood' it does have to have certain qualities to rate it as such; bone, butt, head, depth etc. and in some combination
One of our best does, Wynn, has not successfully raised a litter. Her big ugly sister had 7 (SEVEN) babies her first litter, raised them all and half were keepers. Show does are not always the best purchase.

I want a buck with thick bone, short shoulders and a nice head/ear/crown, the whole package - slim to none

Again, I want that same buck, both to show and produce TNG of LBF. I figure if I've taken the time and energy to selectively cull and breed to get that buck then...you should know the drill by now :-)

I want a buck with a nice butt but I can fix the head if he doesn't have it - medium to high

We just may have the piece you are looking for, it doesn't hurt to ask
The above is just an example, feel free to replace the underlined with another flaw/fault

I'm looking for a brood type buck - high to very high

For me to consider a Holland 'brood' it does have to have certain qualities to rate it as such; bone, butt, head, depth etc, in some combination
Zeke 2 has never shown well for us but he throws very nice kids, multiple winning BOB/BOS kids. Looks are not everything, even in a buck

The faults I'm currently culling out may be ones that you don't have. My herd strengths could play well into what you need and visa versa. Hollands are the piece-iest rabbit I've ever dealt with. Fix one thing and other fault works its way in. It never ends.

Now to the end.

I DO NOT KEEP A WAITING LIST. I have tried, very unsuccessfully. Life happens, I just couldn't manage it. I placed a 'notification email form' on our sales page. I try and only put sales stock there. If you sign up you get notified when that page is updated. Simple and easy.

I DO KEEP A DO NOT SELL TO LIST.

TGIF
Melanie

PS - a high vased posed-long legged Holland does not = good bone and chest

The worst thing-

2011-08-24T09:40:00.000-04:00

One of the worst things as a rabbit breeder is to find a large fault on a beautiful animal.

I have a black junior doe who is GORGEOUS in body type. She's DEEP, she's WIDE, she's got a beautiful topline and hindquarter and she has a very promising head and ear on her.

In short, I LOVE HER.

Unfortunately, as she molts I've noticed a significant number of white hairs on her ears and forehead. Since "excessive white hairs" is a fault and can lead to disqualifications, I definitely can't keep her. I also don't want to pass down a tendency towards scattered white hairs down through her offspring.

Ugh, sucks! This only happens on the beautiful animals.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Moved some rabbits out today!

2011-08-20T20:13:00.000-04:00

I moved 13 rabbits out today! Including one little charlie marked cutie who is going as a pet.

It feels GREAT to have some empty cage space! I'm going to be moving around a few to larger cages tomorrow, in preparation for selling one of my 6 hole stackers.

I have 4 animals presold for Convention and plan on putting up more- including a black otter buck, a siamese sable buck (or two) and a broken tort junior buck. I've just got to wait until they get some wool on them so I can take pictures!

The show season starts up in September. It seems everyone is going through show withdrawals, so I expect to see some fairly large entries. It will be good to see folks again and get back in the swing of shows.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

New Blog-

2011-08-19T11:12:00.000-04:00

I have a new blog out there in blog land and I wanted to share it with you guys. This one is NOT rabbit centric, it combines a personal blog with my Keep Saving blog.

Basically, you can expect everything from money saving tips to stories of what I had for lunch yesterday- along with recipes.

If anyone is interested, you can find that blog HERE HERE HERE! I hope you'll stay with me here on Keep's Rabbitry Blog as well. :)

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

I'm catching up with the times!

2011-08-18T12:03:00.001-04:00

Now when I make a post, you will see a string of icons at the bottom, allowing you to "+1" the post, share it to Facebook, tweet, whatever! Please feel free to use any or all of these methods to share a post you particularly enjoy!

Thanks!
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

"Oh, you don't love your animals".

2011-08-15T09:38:00.003-04:00

It seems a lot of the general public (and most especially the Animal Rights Activists, or ARAs...[I have less nice names for them]) think that we all believe our animals are nothing but "money making machines"...because yeah right, we make tons of money. 95% of us run in the red year after year after year, spending more money than I care to think about on the best food, the best hay, Air Conditioning, new cages, shavings for the pans, medicines and various supplies. In my own barn, the AC is often set lower for the bunnies than it is in the house! I go without tv and lights on in the living room during the day to keep our power bill lowered, but the radio in the rabbitry never goes off.

"I don't see how they can have that many and properly care for them." Oh really? By that argument, how can anyone have two children and love them both? How can they have three? Because surely three children need more time and attention than only 30 rabbits.

Come with me to my rabbitry. I can point at any cage and tell you the name, parents and approximate age of all of my animals. I can point out siblings, show wins, litter tragedies, tell you stories from their first weeks of life, first shows and personality traits.

Manage to get me talking about those who have passed on. I cry for them like I cried over the death of my first dog.

Yes, my home showcases ribbons and trophies. It showcases pictures as well.

Yes, I sell my animals based on reproduction, show results or just "not needing" them anymore for the herd. I selectively cull for looks.

I also cull for health and temperament. I screen homes, even other show homes. If I have heard bad things about your showing/breeding ethics, or the cleanliness of your barn, I will refuse a sale.

I do everything I can to ensure that my animals go to good homes and get the best care, whether they are in my care or someone else's. I care for every animal that passes through my barn, whether I bred it, bought it, or plan to sell it.

Don't tell me I can't love my animals. That they don't have enough room in their roomy cages, that they don't get toys or treats. You don't know me. You don't know my practices and you have no right to judge.

What about those pet owners who "love" their bunny in to an early grave? Those who feed them green only diets instead of horrible, nutritionally balanced pellets? Or who feed them so many treats the animal is morbidly obese and can barely walk? Why do I have 6 year old retired show rabbits in my barn, while Flufferdoodle the pet dies a horrible death at a year of age in the hands of the "Rabbit House Society" approved pet owner? Should we rescue their pet rabbits? Is ignorance hidden under the title "love" really love?

You know that beloved pet bunny you remember? The super sweet one that you loved forever? Where do you think it came from originally? A BREEDER. Don't blame us if you rescued it... we do our best to place them in good homes, but people lie. Our good home may have passed it on to a bad one. I can't control what people do once they have the animal, I have to rely on what they tell me and my instincts.

There are bad ARBA breeders out there. There are also backyard breeders. I even know a few in my area and I do my best to educate them on proper care. If they don't listen, I can't force them to do things my way.

In the future though, perhaps the ARAs should go from targeting the good breeders and look to "saving" the rabbits that really do live in filthy conditions with poor food and less water. Once all the rabbits are saved from the "bad guys", then worry about those of us who love... yes LOVE... our creatures and do more for them than we do for ourselves.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Thoughts on Breeding Rabbits

2011-08-13T21:24:00.004-04:00

I titled this post "Some thoughts on breeding rabbits". I feel like it really should be more like "do you ever think of anything except your rabbits?"

I find myself planning breedings on the car ride to work. I find myself considering sales lists at work. I think about ...

... sorry about that, I literally, in mid-sentence, thought about a doe who was set to kindle on August 11th, but hadn't yet, so I set off in to the dark, rainy night to go see if she had babies. Two! One broken black, beautifully marked, and a "pinky", which could really be anything at this point.

I digress, but this actually makes me point. A lot of my day is taken up with thinking of the bunnies or activities surrounding them. Show entries! Ack... I've got entries to get in.

Do you see my problem? I'm trying to blog about rabbits and even then, I can't get through a paragraph without being hit by some new thought, plan or idea.

Many of us find rabbits to be an all consuming passion. It becomes less of a hobby and more of a way of life. A friend of mine is all but selling out and I admire her strength in "escaping the habit".

As I was saying earlier, rabbits are usually the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thing I think about at night. On our recent anniversary trip, I checked in daily with the pet sitter, my friend Becca, to make sure everyone was okay.

I have been breeding rabbits for almost seven years. Sometimes, I rue the day I ever decided to get in to showing. Other days, I wonder how I would have gotten through some very hard times without them. Regardless, good days or bad days, they are never far from my mind.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Rabbits

2011-08-09T09:15:00.003-04:00

I have been in a deep depression over the rabbits recently. I made the decision to cull down to 30 holes, so I have a lot of nice looking brood and show animals available right now. I am willing to let some of the broods go cheap if they can be picked up relatively quickly- as in the next week or so. I'm struggling with the decision of whether to sell out or not. I've promised Tim I will wait until the show season starts back up, but it's so hard- it's hot and miserable, the woolies are blowing their coats, I'm still grieving Tryon and I get stressed when I sell animals, which perhaps makes it my least favorite part of raising rabbits.

I will have some stacker cages available for sale soon. I know I have earmarked 1 6-holer for sale already. Please do not contact me about them now, I'll be sure to post here when the cages are ready.

Jersey Wooly Sweeps came out- I placed 6th this year overall and 2nd in our district. That was a pleasant surprise, I've been trying not to follow sweeps this year and frankly, in all that had happened this summer I haven't even thought about them.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Evaluating Babies

2011-08-03T16:20:00.001-04:00

I was part of a discussion recently about when to evaluate juniors- and it surprised me, but a lot of folks mentioned evaluating their kits at 4 weeks. As in... "This 4 week old right here is my keeper. The end of discussion".

It happens that I have some 4 weekers out in the rabbitry right now. My plan is to evaluate them and keep a log of who I liked best and what faults are, then see how true that holds as they grow. Since I frequently hold on to a couple from each litter to grow out, it should be an interesting study.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Website Updated

2011-08-02T21:33:00.002-04:00

I finally got my sales page updated.

I need to get in there and update all the pictures of all the rabbits. I realized Panda's picture is still of him as a junior- and now HE has kids the same as he was in that picture! Ack.

It's been so hot though, I don't anticipate this happening for a good while. It's too hot to pull the rabbits out into the 99 degree days and make them pose.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

California SB 917 Passed- Terrible News!

2011-07-28T11:31:00.002-04:00

SB 917 passed last night and will go in to effect on January 1st, 2012. This is TERRIBLE news for everyone out there, not just the people in California.

On the surface, this bill is supposed to help stop puppy mills. Instead, it spells the beginning of the end for farmers, pet owners, responsible animal fanciers- and it may eventually spread it's taint to the other states.

Read more about SB 917 here or here!

We can still fight this, but we need to get on it NOW!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Summer of Hell

2011-07-27T12:37:00.002-04:00

I want to preface this by saying- before this summer, I went YEARS without losing a rabbit. The odd baby here or there, maybe, but very, very rarely did I ever lose a full grown rabbit.

Then came the incident. Which was my fault.

Then came the loss of several babies. Not my fault this time.

Then came the loss of more babies. Not my fault again.

Now this.
Picture is Keep's Juniper as a junior. Right before we went to Convention and she took 4th in her class.

It took me a long while to get Juniper to kindle. She had a dead litter on the wire- 6 babies.

I rebred her and just last week, she kindled one live baby. A day later she kindled three DOAs- she had trouble giving birth. I noticed she wasn't taking care of her kit, so I gave it to Flirt, who lost her entire litter because she gave birth prematurely.

A few days later, Juniper passed 3 more dead babies. One was very, very mangled, she had a lot of trouble with it.

Today- Juniper passed away :(. It was due to complications in the kindling, I know that. I don't know if she had another baby that she couldn't pass that became toxic, if she had an infection- I just don't know.

But the summer of absolute Hell continues.

Juniper was rotten- every day, she'd pick her wiffle ball up and toss it in her food dish. Every day, I'd pick it out and throw it back to her. She was always at the front of the cage being nosy.

It's a small comfort that I spent time with the juniors last night, but took some extra time to give her some head rubs. :(.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Playing with bunnies

2011-07-27T10:25:00.002-04:00

I spent about an hour last night outside grooming and playing with the juniors. I've realized I have chosen THE WORST time to try to sell some of these juniors, as a combination of early molts, summer ears and the uglies has conspired to make them look truly awful. Ahh well though, I always do my best to describe animals accurately and only sell the ones that I think will be helpful to someone's herd.

It was nice to be outside and playing with the babies. There are several I am really excited about, I hope they look nice around Convention time!

Keep's Calypso, my Opal doe, is due to kindle today. If she doesn't have a litter, she's going to be for sale immediately. I have to wait for my broken chestnut doe to raise her litter. She's got three adorable kits- a REW, a broken opal and a chestnut.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Officially-

2011-07-24T20:53:00.000-04:00

I'm going to be selling out of Agouti woolies and the tan patterns. I'll have a list in a bit of what is available and pictures, of course.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Heat

2011-07-24T12:13:00.001-04:00

Lots of folks are talking about the awful heat that is battering the East Coast. We're not slated to get any relief until sometime in early August- by relief, I mean it will be 85 instead of 95.

I've seen the death tolls growing- not just rabbits, but chickens as well. People are scrambling to keep horses, goats, pigs- any livestock or pets that live outdoors cool.

I'm happy to report that my rabbits are all doing well. I've turned the AC down cooler than my preference to help combat the high-90s temperatures.

We're making sure to keep water bottles full and both Tim and I are out checking on the bunnies every little bit. We have some frozen water bottles ready to go out as well, JUST in case anyone needs it.

I hope everyone out there is able to keep their animals doing well in this heat!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Litter Announcements

2011-07-23T11:48:00.002-04:00

Keep's Juniper, my tort doe who was 4th at Convention as a junior, kindled her first live baby! She didn't nest or pull wool, so I was lucky I found the baby in time!

WO's Flirt kindled prematurely and had 5 babies that weren't ready to be born. She's getting older, I think it's time to retire her. I only got one litter out of her (she's a fairly recent purchase), but I kept two junior does that are looking very nice.

I don't have any more litters due until August.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Selling Down Groups?

2011-07-20T11:08:00.002-04:00

I'm considering selling out of my agouti and tan pattern animals. Admittedly, I don't have many of either- a broken chestnut doe, an opal doe, a black otter doe, a REW hiding otter, a smoke pearl marten doe and a few assorted juniors that are either black otter or are REW and probably are hiding it...

It would open up more space for me. The main problem is I only have so many holes and shadeds and selfs take up the main part. However, I don't have an agouti herd buck OR a tan pattern herd buck. I can't use my broken self buck with my broken agouti doe and beyond him, I really only have two self herd bucks, one who is a blue and one that is a REW. Since the blue is the father of the opal and I see no benefit to breeding her back to him, that gives me only two bucks she can be used with and only two the broken chestnut can be used with. So...after two litters I have to repeat breedings or sell them anyway.

I have a tiny bit more flexibility with the tan patterns because shaded martens ARE showable in woolies. I am just not sure how much I want to mess with them.

Blah! How did I end up with so many freaking tan patterns in my barn?

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

A bit of good news-

2011-07-17T21:24:00.002-04:00

Keep's KTLM (Keep Tryin' Little Mama) won Best of Breed for her owner Amber out in California! I was thrilled to hear that. Her sister, Keep's Bahama, still lives here and produces beautiful babies for me.

Since KTLM is part of the start of Amber's shaded project, it's even more special that she did so well! She also took a BOG at the same show.

Keep's Chapel Hill gave birth today- she kindled one live baby and then had 4 dead ones :(. She is officially retired after this litter and will be looking for a good pet home.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

More Sad News

2011-07-16T20:07:00.002-04:00

My pet VM netherland dwarf died yesterday. In this case, I suspect it was seizures (which BEWs and VMs are prone to ).

It was tough to find him- Tim grabbed him and we raced him in to the house to try to work on him and it was too late- not more than two minutes inside, he seized for the last time in Tim's arms and passed away.

He's going to be greatly missed- and the terrible things that have happened to me this summer continue :(.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

More babies born

2011-07-14T07:52:00.002-04:00

The good luck of this breeding season continues.

BL's Jiggy kindle three babies yesterday! One looks like a peanut, but she's got two healthies. They are out of Keep's Panda, who is really making the rounds in the rabbitry. I think almost all the litters in the past two months are out of him!

It's been ridiculously hot recently, but the new AC is doing wonders to keep the rabbitry cool- I wonder that I don't start a storm cloud every time I open the door. :).

McKie's Lilly and Keep's Chapel Hill are due today. I think this will be Chapel Hill's last litter with me. :( It makes me sad to even think about, but I have to make some room for the upcoming babies.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Update on the feed

2011-07-13T11:56:00.000-04:00

Well, it's time to give an update on the feed. It's been almost a week now since I switched over to Pen Pals.

The feed is smaller than the Purina pellets and and it's not quite as green, however it is WAY less dusty.

We had a boycott of the food the first few nights- about half the rabbitry didn't mind the switch and the other half flat out refused to eat it. Now we just have a few hold outs, Panda being the most noticeable. He doesn't want to eat the new feed at all! I had the worst time with him eating on Purina too though.

Everyone that has switched over has done it very well- no loose stools or anything like that. So, I've got high hopes for this new feed! It's too soon to tell how their condition will be on it.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Taylorsville Night Show Results

2011-07-12T11:53:00.002-04:00

I went to a show this past Saturday. It was so great to see everyone but good lord it was HOT! So hot in fact that one of our exhibitors had to be taken by the EMTs to a local hospital. Not good!

Show A:

Keep's Panda- Broken Sr. Buck- BOSG
Keep's KS1- Broken Jr. Doe- 1/2
Keep's KS2- Self Jr. Doe- 1/3
Keep's KST- Shaded Jr. Buck- BOSG
Keep's KPO- Shaded Jr. Doe- BOG
Keep's Pakhet- Tan Jr. Doe- BOG

Show B:

Keep's Panda- BOSB
Keep's KS1- 1/2
Keep's Poplar (Self Sr. Buck)- BOSG
BL's Isis- (Self Sr. Doe)- BOG
Keep's KST- BOSG
Keep's Pakhet- BOG

I took 10 rabbits total to show, so I'm very pleased with how everyone did! This is Panda's second show as a senior and the second BOSB he brought home! Yayy Mr. Panda :).

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

An update

2011-07-07T11:00:00.002-04:00

I have been kind of quiet here on the blog lately, I know. I promise to try to pick things up again soon.

I'm doing all right- the bunnies are all doing great. Miss Fiona has become and absolute food hog. I think she would be fine to return to the barn outside (which is staying a nice temperature thanks to the new AC), but I will probably keep her in the house a little longer, earning me more dirty looks from Pants when I go outside to feed him and the others.

I'm having a hard time talking about what happened- my dad came over and saw Fiona and asked if "the other one" had died. I couldn't find words so I had to excuse myself from the room to go cry while Tim explained what happened. Even now, I am on the verge of tears just thinking about it.

We're heading out today to go pick up the new feed. I'm hoping things go well with it! If not, I can always mix it with Purina I guess and then eventually go back to Purina Show, but I really would prefer a better feed. I'll keep you updated on how everyone looks on it!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Big Changes

2011-06-29T13:38:00.002-04:00

Well- we went out last night and Michelle and her family were so sweet- they purchased a new AC for us! Tim and I are planning on installing it today. It was such an awful thunderstorm last night that we would have literally been risking our lives to try to do it then. As soon as I get home, we're going to run out to get braces for the AC and then get to work on the installation part.

I also have finally switched feeds. Before the incident, I had set in to motion a plan to join a group of breeders who are shipping down PenPals rabbit feed. The check is in the mail and the feed is coming in Tuesday or Wednesday of next week!

Acccck, I'm so nervous. I hate changes, but I'm sick to death of losing half my feed to fines and I know the condition on my animals is better than Purina is showing.

We'll see though- if PenPals doesn't work, it will ruin the herd for Convention AND JW Nationals (if we're still around then). However, Brenda of Narrow Gate Farms is using it and her Hollands look incredible. So fingers crossed for me everyone!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Updates

2011-06-28T10:17:00.002-04:00

It's been a hard week.

However, there have been a few glimmers of happiness in the rabbitry. Keep's Epiphany kindled two healthy, chubby babies. She was bred to Keep's Heart Throb and is one of my Tryon daughters.

Keep's Smoke is nesting. She's a Smoke Pearl Point that I believe was bred to Keep's Panda. She isn't due until tomorrow (Wednesday).

I've decided I'm staying in rabbits at least until Convention. I already have plans to go, the room is booked, dinner dates are made- so I'm going.

This also gives me a chance to go to a few local shows, have some litters and just see how I feel about everything. They say "Time heals all wounds" so we shall see.

Meanwhile, we're concentrating on battling the high temperatures and high humidity that has characterized this awful summer. My friend Michelle gave us a fan (fully enclosed motor) that I have running in conjunction with our AC. We're headed out today or tomorrow to get a larger, portable AC unit with a much higher BTU rating. Frozen water bottles are on standby in our chest freezer.

Fiona is doing very, very well. She still isn't eating pellets, but she's devouring her hay and has discovered a love of Cheerios. I think she's grown tired of baby carrots, so I'm about to start reintroducing some banana. She's moving around well and was even grooming her back foot yesterday.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Fiona Update

2011-06-26T10:15:00.002-04:00

Yesterday morning, I made the hard call to put Fiona down. The night before, she had been grinding her teeth in pain and she had continually refused to eat and was barely drinking. It seemed like the only humane decision to make, but it was hard.

I had decided to wait until that evening, so I could give her a little time out on the grass (in the cool air) before I said goodbye- and I'm SO glad I waited.

Any time Fiona makes a sound, I look at her to see what's happened. Most of the time, it's just moving around her cage, but yesterday, she finally picked up a piece of alfalfa and was munching it. Struck with sudden excitement, I sliced off a tiny piece of frozen banana- and she ate it! She refused more later, but at least I had hope again.

We've been doing a rotation system of foods. I dip a baby carrot in her pedialyte and she eats it. Then she may not eat the next carrot. That's ok- she's got two bowls of pellets at varying heights, alfalfa hay in one corner and timothy in another, even a sugary junk food treat in her cage, just in case she decides she wants IT. I routinely offering another carrot or piece of banana and today I'm going to add fresh grass and clover to the mix.

She also drank way more of her pedialyte last night than she has since the incident. I haven't heard her grind her teeth recently either, which was the biggest of my concerns.

I'm being cautiously optimistic about her recovery. She will be a loved pet here no matter what else happens.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

A Small Miracle

2011-06-23T08:18:00.001-04:00

My posts the past two days have been doom and gloom, but really, can you blame me?

To tell you this story though, I need to give you some background.

I bought a doe named Southlands Carson in Ohio. She's a huge, beautiful doe, solid black, who recently had her first litter- bred to Tryon. She kindled 3 pointeds and a black baby. She has pulled herself so bald she has only a "racing" stripe of wool along her spine. She is 100% bald on the rest of her body.

In the incident, when checking nestboxes, we found one of the pointeds and the black baby dead. One of the other pointeds was out in the cage and is fine. We never found the fourth baby and it was assumed that it had passed away before the incident and "disappeared" as sometimes happens.

I moved the pointed baby in with Keep's Bahama's litter, which is only a little younger and gave Carson a baby that was only a few days old. (That is a long story in and of itself).

Now, on to the miracle.

We were feeding and watering yesterday. Carson is in a bottom cage in the corner of the rabbitry. I squatted down to fill her J feeder when a tiny little head thrust itself out of the waste pan at me!

It was the fourth baby, the one presumed dead! It was hanging out in the tray under her water bottle. When I came over, it ran out to me. I picked it up and noticed that it has just opened it's eyes!

The poor little guy was chattering at me all the way to Bahama's cage to be reunited with it's sibling. I think it wanted me to know just what it went through.

I'm entirely shocked that it's still alive and in such good shape! It was hungry of course and a bit dehydrated, but otherwise- wow. I'm hoping it will make it, but it's definitely a fighter!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Trying to Heal

2011-06-22T11:07:00.002-04:00

Again, I want to thank everyone for the words of encouragement. I won't be able to thank you all individually, but every word means so much to me.

I'm doing a little better today. The tears still come, often at random times, but at least they aren't the gut-wrenching sobs from yesterday.

Fiona is doing better than she was yesterday. I'm still keeping a close eye on her and she's living in the house right now. She's drinking on her own- I have her bowl filled with homemade pedialyte. Apparently it tastes delicious, because I caught one of my cats dipping his paw in the bowl to get himself a taste.

My barn has AC. That's a misleading comment, because the AC is not there to get the rabbits cold. It's there to keep them alive. I kept it turned on to keep the temperature bearable in the hot summer months. On days in the spring, fall, and winter when it's cool outside, the AC went off and the windows were opened to allow the breeze to flow through the rabbitry.

The barn I have isn't my first option on how I'd like to keep the rabbits. Unfortunately, because Tim is a pastor, we move around a lot. There are certain standards I have to maintain in the barn- it's physical appearance for one and the ability to move it for another. The other option, building something cheap, usually violates the physical appearance rule. Our house is not our own.

Thus, this is why we have the barn we have and the AC to keep the temperature from being overwhelming. I was careful to stress to Tim I always wanted to make sure the rabbits didn't become too dependent on AC. I didn't want to worry about them not being able to handle the heat of a summer show and I didn't want them to have problems when they went to a new rabbitry. I could put at least another stacker and another row of cages on top of the existing stackers in the barn, but I haven't because I was worried that it would just contribute to the heat in the building. Not to mention warm air rises and sitting just under the rafters would be uncomfortable in all circumstances, but deadly in the summer particularly.

Unfortunately, I made a mistake with the AC that led to the death of the rabbits. I've always thought the way the dial is set on a lot of them was stupid. I was running late for work, I thought I clicked the dial to "high cool". Instead, it was on "low fan". That led to high temperatures in the rabbitry. Even without the AC, if both windows had been open, I think I would have lost some animals. It was a very hot day and the only shade for the rabbitry is what we've manufactured ourselves.

I'm at a loss now about what to do. I could find someone to cut and install more windows and try to completely move away from the AC, but there is still no shade. I could buy a bigger AC, but in the case of a power outage or human error, that's not a lot of help. I could sell out.

All my options are on the table right now. I've just got decide what to do and what we can afford to do.

I'm blessed in that there are so many Tryon offspring in my barn I can't name them all- I find myself looking with surprise at a pedigree and seeing his name yet again. I've got multiple G.C. bucks that are his sons and others that are his nephews. He can live on through them, but it's just not going to be the same. I can't even bring myself to close the door to his cage, but the sight of it sends me in to tears.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

If I Die Young...

2011-06-21T20:34:00.003-04:00

If I die young,
Bury me in satin,
Lay me down on a bed of roses,
Sink me in the river at dawn,
Send me away with the words of a love song.

Sometimes it feels like the world is screaming at you, but you don't know what it means. My favorite radio station played the above song "If I Die Young", a country song by The Band Perry 5, times from my 8:30am commute to work, until I arrived back home at 2:30.

At 4:30, I went outside to check on the rabbits and found a horror that I know is going to haunt me. I don't even want to describe it here. It's actually only in a lucid (I should say numb from the pain) moment that I'm even able to blog right now.

I had a massive heat-stroke outbreak in my barn. It claimed 13 lives, including Keep's Cupid and Keep's Tryon. I lost six Tryon babies, all nestbox age, along with various juniors of great promise and varying age. As I write this now, Keep's Fiona is struggling for her life.

I don't know what the future of Keep's Rabbitry will be. Tryon was the heart of it all. We buried him underneath our Willow tree, with four of his lost babies. I don't think he would have minded, he always loved his babies.

I clipped a lock of his wool and placed it in one of his BOB trophies- the one he's pictured with at the top of the post. It's a poor way to pay tribute to a little bunny that meant the world to me, but I couldn't bear to let him go without some physical reminder of him.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

I'm Out of Bubblegum

2011-06-21T08:30:00.000-04:00

There is a quote from the 1988 movie They Live. I'm going to edit it a slight bit for language, but it goes something like this: "I'm here to kick butt and chew bubblegum...and I'm all out of bubblegum."

The hardest thing for people outside of the rabbit show world to understand is I do not breed for profit. I do not breed to sell rabbits. I breed to "kick butt". I breed my animals to conform as closely to the ARBA Standard of Perfection as I can get.

Sometimes, I get animals that are of pet temperament and do not conform closely enough to the standard that I care to sell them pedigreed, or the animals have the misfortune of being of brood and show quality in a time of no shows or no transport. In that case, other arrangements are made to move out the excess stock.

In short- I'm breeding to kick butt. I'm not breeding to supply the pet owner population, or to stock someone else's barn. Do I always kick butt? No. Do I often sell nice stock to outside barns? Of course! It's just that MY grand plan is to have kick butt rabbits. Everything else is incidental.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Weaning Day

2011-06-19T20:03:00.003-04:00

After having moved out five rabbits, I've got SIX empty cages (I already had one)! Well you know how I am- empty cages are just a challenge!

I weaned three litters. I also moved my tort doe back in to the rabbitry. She has a prime spot right next to the air conditioner, so hopefully she won't have any more problems with the heat.

I sexed all the kits, since I did the weaning. I've got a black doe and broken black doe in one litter, a tort doe and a siamese sable doe in the second and a sable point doe and a siamese sable buck in another- actually, it's funny, I just realized I have TWO litters that fell out that way, both in color and genders!

Keep's Encore kindled today. She had three babies, but only one made it. It figures that it's going to be a POINTED! ARGH! I moved it in to Bahama's litter. I'll give Encore another week to rest up and she'll be rebred. Now that I finally have her going, I don't want to give her a chance to be difficult again! She'll get a nice long break after this next breeding.

I've still got a few litters to wean coming up. Then it will be time to choose my keepers out of the older litters. It's a never ending cycle of weaning days, but it makes me so happy. I don't think I'll ever forget the tough time I had getting babies from my hollands, so I try not to complain about my very fertile woolies! :D

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Might As Well Breed...

2011-06-15T12:32:00.003-04:00

The temperatures have been ridiculous so far this summer. Happily, we've hit a patch of normal temps and it is beautiful outside!

I've got several does that need to be bred or rebred. I fear that the heat will have made my bucks sterile, but since the weather has been nice a few days, I decided to go on and give them a try. I might as well, right? The worst that can happen is that they don't take and I'm in exactly the same situation as if I had waited to breed them.

I suspect I do have at least one pregnant doe though- I had forgotten I bred her and tried to rebreed- she was NOT happy and was very vocally protesting. I pulled her out and rechecked my calendar and DUH- right there it was, plain as day. She's due at the end of the month. Luckily, the second buck didn't catch her.

The rabbits have been loving this cooler weather. I'm able to turn their AC off at night and leave the windows open. It serves a duel purpose- it helps keep my power bill a little lower and it circulates fresh cool air through the building. I think they appreciate that!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

It worked!

2011-06-12T15:10:00.001-04:00

Forcing Bahama to deal with TWO nestboxes has worked! She finally chose the right-hand side one and has pulled half her wool out. Now I'm just waiting on babies.

We had a mess this morning. I woke up around 6:00am to find the power wasn't working. It didn't come back on until 9:30 and there is no telling how long it was out before I woke. Luckily, I had turned off the rabbitry AC and opened the window last night so they could take advantage of the cool air after the thunderstorm. It was warm in there by the time the power came back on, but nothing they couldn't handle- and it was much better than it would have been if that window had been shut!

I rebred a doe yesterday. I'm not holding my breath that it will take, since it's been SO hot lately, but I'm hopeful. I chose the buck closest to the AC, so he has the best chance of not being heat sterile.

I have a black tort junior doe and a black junior doe (littermates) that are 9 weeks old available. I have FIVE does in that litter, so I am trying to pick just three to grow out. I hate doing this, because it's an absolute crapshoot- there is no telling what the girls will grow up to look like. They are out of W.O.'s Flirt and Keep's Tryon. I'm advertising them as pets, but will also let them go with pedigrees as a "take a chance" purchase. They must be picked up quickly though, I can't hold them until the next show, otherwise I'd just grow them out myself!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

More Babies!

2011-06-10T18:42:00.002-04:00

After several not viable litters, Southland's Carson kindled 4 babies this morning! She's a first time doe that I bred at 5 1/2 months old. So far, she's doing a great job! She made a beautiful nest for her kits and seems to be taking good care of them.

I'm still fighting Bahama. She doesn't want to put her nest in a nestbox. I solved that problem by moving her to a 18 x 24 cage and putting TWO nestboxes in the back, side by side. Now she literally has no choice but to build her nest in one of them. As soon as she kindles, I'll remove the other box and put her back into a larger cage.

I've decided to permanently cut down the number of holes I have. This means in the near future I'll have some cages and some animals for sale. I also have a ton of babies that I'm going to have to sell earlier than I like to! I just can't keep them all to grow out, blah!

I'm really, really pleased with some of my juniors that are coming up. I look forward to being able to put them on the table, because WOW!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Feels like the first time...

2011-06-08T10:45:00.003-04:00

I was on the verge of running late for work this morning, but something told me to swing by the rabbit barn. One thing I've learned over the years is that when the little voice screams at you, you need to listen.

It's a good thing I did.

Keep's Cupid kindled two babies. One was in a poorly made nest, where she had dug through the hay until she hit the wooden floor. There he was, none too warm, but alive. The more pressing concern to me was his sibling. It was lying on the FLOOR of the rabbitry. My first thought was "Oh no...".

I was sure he was dead.

I reached down to pick up the little corpse and it wiggled a little as I approached it. When my hand touched it, it jerked it's head up and started nosing me. Anyone that has had baby bunnies knows exactly what I'm talking about. "You're not mom, but maybe you're going to feed me anyway?"

I rebuilt the nest and put the pair together. Cupid jumped in to investigate the new nest immediately. I hope she doesn't undo my handiwork! However, with temps slated to hit 95 again today, even if she does they will hopefully be fine until I get home and can check on them. I cleaned up a stray piece of placenta in the cage and went to check the other ladies.

BL's Jiggy had one DOA baby. She's finally settled, I've been trying for quite a while to get a litter out of her. She goes back to Keep's Durham, so she should mesh very easily in to my lines. Now that she's kindled once, I'm hoping the next time for a nice fat litter.

Keep's Bahama, the rotten girl, has pulled all her hay out of her nestbox and built a ridiculously thick nest on the wire in the opposite corner. Siiiigh. I removed it, restuffed her box and moved it to her preferred corner. Hopefully she gets things right! She's usually a great mom (and throws super cute kits).

No one else has kindled yet.

I swear, each litter feels just like the very first one. I'm always sad to see peanuts, I hate to see DOAs and I'm thrilled to death with each new baby. Even in a situation where I'm overflowing with healthy, beautiful litters, it never gets old! I still absolutely love the first time the babies run to the cage door to great you. I love posing up a 4 month old and your jaw dropping because the ugly duckling exceeded your wildest hopes. I love turning to Tim and showing him a 2 week old, exclaiming "We've got eyeballs!"

Each litter reminds me of that first one- a little blue Holland Lop baby named Solitaire.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Pets

2011-06-04T23:53:00.002-04:00

I have the sweetest black otter buck ever. He's a brood quality, but I am hoping I'll be able to place him in a pet home. He is the most gentle, lovey little creature ever.

It's hard not to get attached to the "pet personality" rabbits. Why is it that it seems the show bunnies are never fall-all-over-themselves-lovey, but the brood or pet quality can't get enough of you?

Before anyone emails me saying "oh but my buck with 165 legs is the sweetest animal..." yeah- I know it happens. I'm just saying.

One of the biggest obstacles for me, as a breeder, is that it's hard to not be able to keep a rabbit just because I want to. It has to be able to contribute to the herd, or I can't justify the feed and cage space it takes up. That being said, I do have three pets, all of other breeders (a mini lop, a neutered mix breed and a netherland dwarf). However, the nethie lives in the house, Tim retired the mini lop and put him under his "protection" (aka, I am not allowed to rehome him) and I kind of owe it to the mix breed, since he started my rabbit obsession as an adult.

With three pets already, I can't let myself keep a black otter (I'm not wanting to get bogged down in otters) of my only competition breed. Sigh.

Anyone want a sweet pet? He'll charm your socks off in 30 seconds flat, or feel free to return him :).

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

National Doughnut Day!

2011-06-02T09:36:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow, Friday June 3rd, is National Dougnut Day!

You can go to participating Krispy Kreme locations and get a FREE doughnut! No purchase is necessary!

-Kristen