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.
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!
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!
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Lights
I bought some supplementary lights for the rabbitry! Yay! I'm excited to get them put up, some of the corners of the rabbitry get kind of dark.
The first show of the New Year is coming up and I can't wait! I've got several rabbits to move out no matter what! When I get home, at least it will mean I've got some cage space! I need to decide who my show team is going to be. While several have chewed up their wool because of a feed issue, I've got some that are looking mighty good! I'll get out there tomorrow and brush everyone and make my final decisions.
I got a power washer and a wet/dry shop vac for Christmas. Bunny cage cleaning is going to be a BREEZE from here on out! I can't wait to get in there and give it a good scrub down.
Come this spring, I'm going to do a permanent reduction down to 40 rabbits. That means at least 5 adults are going to have to go and I'm going to be probably selling the cages so I don't fill them up again immediately. Tim will be thrilled for me to get the overflow out of the garage, so he can actually park the car in there!
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
The first show of the New Year is coming up and I can't wait! I've got several rabbits to move out no matter what! When I get home, at least it will mean I've got some cage space! I need to decide who my show team is going to be. While several have chewed up their wool because of a feed issue, I've got some that are looking mighty good! I'll get out there tomorrow and brush everyone and make my final decisions.
I got a power washer and a wet/dry shop vac for Christmas. Bunny cage cleaning is going to be a BREEZE from here on out! I can't wait to get in there and give it a good scrub down.
Come this spring, I'm going to do a permanent reduction down to 40 rabbits. That means at least 5 adults are going to have to go and I'm going to be probably selling the cages so I don't fill them up again immediately. Tim will be thrilled for me to get the overflow out of the garage, so he can actually park the car in there!
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Looking Back at 2010's Resolutions
I'm revisiting my 2010 Rabbitry Resolutions today, so that I can concentrate on looking forward and making new ones before January 1!
In 2010 I wanted to:
Make a Final Decision on the Hollands-accomplished
Grand a Keep's Doe.- accomplished
Top 20 in JW Sweeps- accomplished
BIS or BRIS with a Homebred- failed
Read the whole post here.
Wow, I am surprised to see I didn't have "Win a class at nationals" on that list- I was second for SO LONG and this year I finally did win a class, and actually went on to take BOSG! HUGE thrill, by the way.
I did make a final decision on the hollands- unfortunately, that was to sell them all out to concentrate on the woolies. I don't regret it at all, but I do miss a few of them.
Grand a Keep's Doe! I did this several times, but I got cheated out of one of the legs when the show secretary decided to not send out ANY legs, ANY reports, etc. Yeahhhhhh. BUT, the mission was accomplished by several ladies. So yay!
Top 20 in Sweeps- I was blown away when I placed 10th. BLOWN-AWAY. It made me so happy, because we're a small rabbitry and I don't do a ton of shows.
BIS or BRIS with a homebred- Haven't made this one yet! I've had some looks. I've beaten rabbits in one show that take BIS in the next... but the stars just haven't aligned yet! We have such a beautiful set of rabbits down here all across the breeds that competition is always stiff- it'll happen one day though, I hope anyway!
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
In 2010 I wanted to:
Make a Final Decision on the Hollands-accomplished
Grand a Keep's Doe.- accomplished
Top 20 in JW Sweeps- accomplished
BIS or BRIS with a Homebred- failed
Read the whole post here.
Wow, I am surprised to see I didn't have "Win a class at nationals" on that list- I was second for SO LONG and this year I finally did win a class, and actually went on to take BOSG! HUGE thrill, by the way.
I did make a final decision on the hollands- unfortunately, that was to sell them all out to concentrate on the woolies. I don't regret it at all, but I do miss a few of them.
Grand a Keep's Doe! I did this several times, but I got cheated out of one of the legs when the show secretary decided to not send out ANY legs, ANY reports, etc. Yeahhhhhh. BUT, the mission was accomplished by several ladies. So yay!
Top 20 in Sweeps- I was blown away when I placed 10th. BLOWN-AWAY. It made me so happy, because we're a small rabbitry and I don't do a ton of shows.
BIS or BRIS with a homebred- Haven't made this one yet! I've had some looks. I've beaten rabbits in one show that take BIS in the next... but the stars just haven't aligned yet! We have such a beautiful set of rabbits down here all across the breeds that competition is always stiff- it'll happen one day though, I hope anyway!
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Finally making some progress!
I've finally made some progress! Though, I'm suspecting you've guessed that by the title.
I've finally made a few more cuts to the herd!
WWR's Rice Ball- Broken Opal Sr. doe
Keep's Sumac- REW Jr. buck
Keep's ?- Seal Jr. buck
BL's ?- Black Sr. buck
Keep's Cart Wheel- Black Otter Sr. doe
I still need to go through and find a few more animals to let go. I'm wanting to reduce my numbers farther. In fact, I'll have to if I ever want babies born in my rabbitry again! I've got no where to put them as it is lol.
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
I've finally made a few more cuts to the herd!
WWR's Rice Ball- Broken Opal Sr. doe
Keep's Sumac- REW Jr. buck
Keep's ?- Seal Jr. buck
BL's ?- Black Sr. buck
Keep's Cart Wheel- Black Otter Sr. doe
I still need to go through and find a few more animals to let go. I'm wanting to reduce my numbers farther. In fact, I'll have to if I ever want babies born in my rabbitry again! I've got no where to put them as it is lol.
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Misused Terminology
I've seen some terminology that is being misused, so I wanted to take a quick minute and do some general explanations.
Sell Out: This means you are selling out of x breed, x color, whatever. Selling them all. Not keeping a few for breeding purposes, not keeping over half of them, etc. If you plan to keep some or half, use the term "Herd Reduction".
Herd Reduction: Herd Reduction indicates you are selling more than just a few animals and is generally used to indicate a large cut in your overall numbers in the breed, color or general herd.
Carries: This is genes that the animal is proven to carry and produce. An animal can not carry for Agouti. It can not carry shaded and REW and pointed. Every color in the animal's background are simply "background colors", not an indication that the animal does, in fact, carry all those colors.
These are just a quick three I've been seeing a lot. Hope it's helpful to some folks.
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
Sell Out: This means you are selling out of x breed, x color, whatever. Selling them all. Not keeping a few for breeding purposes, not keeping over half of them, etc. If you plan to keep some or half, use the term "Herd Reduction".
Herd Reduction: Herd Reduction indicates you are selling more than just a few animals and is generally used to indicate a large cut in your overall numbers in the breed, color or general herd.
Carries: This is genes that the animal is proven to carry and produce. An animal can not carry for Agouti. It can not carry shaded and REW and pointed. Every color in the animal's background are simply "background colors", not an indication that the animal does, in fact, carry all those colors.
These are just a quick three I've been seeing a lot. Hope it's helpful to some folks.
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Breeding isn't going so well
Ugh, the breeding side of things isn't going so well!
Dream I think I told you guys about- she's the one that ate all the hay out of her nestbox and was found eating one of the babies. Joy.
Flirt, a doe I brought home from Minnesota, decided to tank her litter in a big way. She pulled her belly BALD and built a beautiful nest- just beside her nestbox. She also kindled (early), in her fantastic nest, two beautiful little babies. When I walked outside, her two babies had frozen and she was snuggled up in the box giving me the evil eye.
So far my other two does haven't kindled. They are a day late. I have three more does due on the 18th. I'm hoping for SOME babies!
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
Dream I think I told you guys about- she's the one that ate all the hay out of her nestbox and was found eating one of the babies. Joy.
Flirt, a doe I brought home from Minnesota, decided to tank her litter in a big way. She pulled her belly BALD and built a beautiful nest- just beside her nestbox. She also kindled (early), in her fantastic nest, two beautiful little babies. When I walked outside, her two babies had frozen and she was snuggled up in the box giving me the evil eye.
So far my other two does haven't kindled. They are a day late. I have three more does due on the 18th. I'm hoping for SOME babies!
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry
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