Yay for getting stuff done

YAY for getting stuff done today!

Even though the weather was clear, it was a chilly 35 degrees with a nice brisk wind. ICK! Is it spring time yet?

We got several empty cages scrubbed out and I was finally able to separate two litters. I've left the juniors together much longer than usual because it's been SO COLD, I wanted the babies to be able to snuggle together for warmth. It's worked, I haven't lost any rabbits to the cold.

However, all that snuggling has left my juniors with some chewed coats and mats!

So, while Tim dumped pans, I set to work detangling some junior coats. Thankfully most weren't too bad, though I made some enemies in the barn today. :( Ahh well, they'll survive lol. I try to end grooming sessions with snuggling and a treat- like some hay or a few oats. Kind of a "I know it wasn't fun, but don't hate me forever" bribe.

I also started taking pictures of my Nationals sales animals and I resexed a set of juniors- what I had thought was a buck and a doe turned out to be two does- THANKFULLY, because I do not need to deal with more bucks right now! It's easier to choose between two does.

I seem to have lost my tattooer. BOOOO. I'm not pleased right now. I just ordered a touch up pen and hopefully that will work to do some permanent tats until I can either find the MIA tool or purchase a new one.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Sometimes- it's you.

I can't write a happy post today. I just deleted one because it was unworthy of being posted. It's been hard to concentrate, hard to form a happy topic- three posts have gone by the wayside since last night.

My favorite rabbit forum is on hard times. There has had to be a WEEK LONG shut down while things get sorted out, because people can't be mature.

There I go again- focusing on the not happy things.

It's snowed again- also an unhappy topic. I want just a few days of nice weather to do a total barn cleaning.

I guess if it isn't TOO freezing, I can get pictures of the rabbits to update the website. I'll be coming up with my nationals sales list in the next week or so.

We're waiting on babies to be born and the first doe is already overdue- I'm hoping some nice, fat, large litters will make me happy again.

Oh, the weird topic title? Didn't feel like changing it from the last post scrapped. It was about drama and why it follows some people around. Not worth talking about really, most folks know what I'd have said and the ones that don't are the ones that will never learn.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Holland Help Guide.

Julie at Oak Ridge Rabbitry has created a Holland Lop Guide to help folks learn the ins and outs of what can be a challenging breed. Though she is still tweaking and working on it, it's a helpful resource whether you are just curious about the Hollands or are looking to enjoy the breed more fully!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Windy!

Wow it's incredibly windy here today. One gust picked up our gas grill on the front porch and slammed it back down. Talk about freaking out!

I'm so glad the bunnies are in a sturdy building. Trees around a rabbitry can help provide shaded, but on days like this, I'm glad there is only one small tree near mine- and even were it to blow over, it would blow away from the rabbitry.


I had some chores I wanted to complete today- tattooing some juniors, getting cages cleaned (that's definitely NOT going to happen), grooming and evaluating. I guess I can still do most of the indoor things, but it figures the most important, cage cleaning, is going to have to wait!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Jersey Wooly Nationals Sales Notification-

I'm doing something I don't normally do...

I've had a fair number of folks emailing me, asking about stock for sale at JW Nationals and to be kept in mind for this, that and the other...

So for the first time, I'm going to be keeping... not really a waiting list, but more of a first notification list. Notification list folks get the first info on the sales animals, before they are posted on the blog and on my website.

It will be first come, first serve though, everyone on the notification list will get the info at the same time.

Please email me at enslavedbybunnies @ hotmail.com (remove the spaces before and after the @) and let me know if you'd like to be on the notification list.

Thanks!
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

My PaSRBA Experience

I had a good time- I ended up going up there with Pete, Brandi and Trace from BL's Bunny Barn. Due to the bad weather, we left on Thursday. Thankfully, my boss is extremely great and allowed me to leave a half day early!

I got to see a ton of people from my favorite online forum- and I got to meet folks I've heard of or have friended on facebook, but never really met in person. I think there was a lot of amusement on both ends at accents :).

It started snowing Friday around noon, but didn't really start sticking until around 5pm or so- by Saturday, we had a delay to the start of the show and 2 feet of snow on the ground.

On to the results!


Let's see-

In the first show I took a bunch of seconds, which was expected- the poor bunnies were losing condition because they'd been in carriers and on the road since 1pm THURSDAY.

Keep's Poplar did take 1/5 in the self jr. buck class.
Keep's KTA (now known as Triton) took 1/4 in the shaded jr. buck class
Keep's Cairo (shaded sr. buck)- 2/5

Those were really the tops.

Specialty wise-

Keep's Cairo- 1/7
Keep's Epiphany (shaded sr. doe)- 2/7
Keep's Triton- 1/1- BOSG
Keep's KSA (shaded jr. doe)- 1/3- BOG
Keep's Poplar- 1/2

Is there such thing as an honorable mention for BOB? Because both my juniors got it. A little more coat and a little more flesh on them and who knows what would have happened? Maybe I flatter myself though hehe.

Sunday I only ended up showing 3- Cairo managed a miraculous 2/5ish and the two babies both got second. I was honestly shocked because at this point, they were SO out of condition. The judge mentioned the lack of flesh condition a lot. Thursday-Sunday is kind of rough on the bunnies. So, I enjoyed the PaSRBA, but I think it will be my one and only, it's just too hard on the buns.

Overall though, I'm pleased with my placings.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

PaSRBA

Wow, so the weather has been CRAZY lately.

It would figure, the year I try to go to PaSRBA, it would be all screwy!

Anyway, yep, you heard it right- Keep's Rabbitry is heading up to Pennsylvania to give it our best shot!

If only someone had told the bunnies that the best shot is kind of required- most are molting right now, ergh.

I will have a Belgian Hare Doe available- she is proven, I'm keeping a daughter out of her. She threw some beautiful babies. She is still young and has many years of baby making ahead of her.

I've got a pair of woolies to deliver- two hollands went on ahead to Maryland and are going to their new owners from there. I wasn't sure at the time if I'd be able to make it, it's nice it's going to work out!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry