Monday, October 10, 2005
Hard Advice to Take
This weekend in Georgia, Ray Brewer was one of the judges which meant that Margie was there showing her Hollands. As we chatted, she gave me the advice we've all heard and seen many times: cull, cull, cull.
But it's so hard! Sure, there are some obvious choices. That's not the problem. The problem is when you have so much potential and nice things that are going in so many different directions. How can I give up working on something that is going so well?
Her advice was timely, though. I have been thinking hard about culling hard. So hard that it hurts. I'm already mourning the loss of some of the rabbits I'm thinking about selling. I love many of these rabbits. In the end, I may have to keep two or three just for love's sake. But I know I need to make an intelligent, non-emotional decision on many more.
I suppose the good part is that I'm very clear in my mind about the ones I really do like best. Nine broken does and seven solid does were quickly jotted down on my "keep" list. Four bucks were very easy to select to keep. The rest are just hard to part with.
But I know that I've had my time to dabble in different lines, to see what I like best, to experience good crosses and poor ones. Now is the time for me to fall back a bit, tighten up the gene pool, and then move forward to create a line that produces consistent results. I'm ready for the next step in the evolution of my barn.
But I'm scared. Having lots of different nice bunnies has been my security blanket. If something wasn't working over there, then it was probably working over here. Now my eggs will be - not in one basket - but in far fewer baskets. Yikes!
I've already sent a long list of sale bunnies to my friend Alison, who is getting back into Hollands. I promised her when she got out that I would help her get back in, if she ever decided to. I'm thrilled she will be rejoining us!
After that, I will work my waiting list. But you can be on the lookout for a huge herd reduction sale after that.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
"Holland Lops Of Distinction"
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/blog/BLOG.html
¶ 9:35 AM
But it's so hard! Sure, there are some obvious choices. That's not the problem. The problem is when you have so much potential and nice things that are going in so many different directions. How can I give up working on something that is going so well?
Her advice was timely, though. I have been thinking hard about culling hard. So hard that it hurts. I'm already mourning the loss of some of the rabbits I'm thinking about selling. I love many of these rabbits. In the end, I may have to keep two or three just for love's sake. But I know I need to make an intelligent, non-emotional decision on many more.
I suppose the good part is that I'm very clear in my mind about the ones I really do like best. Nine broken does and seven solid does were quickly jotted down on my "keep" list. Four bucks were very easy to select to keep. The rest are just hard to part with.
But I know that I've had my time to dabble in different lines, to see what I like best, to experience good crosses and poor ones. Now is the time for me to fall back a bit, tighten up the gene pool, and then move forward to create a line that produces consistent results. I'm ready for the next step in the evolution of my barn.
But I'm scared. Having lots of different nice bunnies has been my security blanket. If something wasn't working over there, then it was probably working over here. Now my eggs will be - not in one basket - but in far fewer baskets. Yikes!
I've already sent a long list of sale bunnies to my friend Alison, who is getting back into Hollands. I promised her when she got out that I would help her get back in, if she ever decided to. I'm thrilled she will be rejoining us!
After that, I will work my waiting list. But you can be on the lookout for a huge herd reduction sale after that.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
"Holland Lops Of Distinction"
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/blog/BLOG.html
¶ 9:35 AM
