Thursday, December 15, 2005
The Best Time Of The Year
I'm sitting at my computer, still in my pajamas, listening to the freezing rain drip outside. Andrew turned off my alarm this morning (because it was annoying him - somehow it never occurred to him to wake me up). Anyway, after getting to sleep late, it was hard to leave the warmth of a pile of blankets and a little dog curled up by my side. It will be even harder to trudge out into the icy yuck that awaits me on the trek out to the barn.
I know that the water system is still frozen from yesterday. That means more trips back and forth carrying water. That means crocks to unfreeze. That means not wanting to hang around in the barn any longer than I have to.
So, suffice it to say, winter is not the best time of the year to be a rabbit breeder. And hey, it's not even officially winter yet. January and February (and perhaps March) are much worse.
But I hate the heat of July and August, too. I'm not an early riser (unless there is a rabbit show to go to). But I try to beat the heat by spending time in the barn in the morning. When that doesn't work out as planned, it's miserably hot in the barn. Sure, there's no frozen water line to deal with, but there's ice to carry back and forth on the hottest of days and fans to tend to lest the barn catch fire. And there's always the fear of losing a really great rabbit to the heat. There are few shows and the does think it is too hot to breed.
So, suffice it to say, summer is not the best time of the year to be a rabbit breeder.
Then there's fall. The temperature in the barn is delightful. But in early fall, everyone is molting and there's scarcely a rabbit suitable for the show table. Does are missing because bucks went sterile in the August heat. Once the fur settles and Convention is over, then it's time to catch up on all of the chores caused by the flying fur, not to mention those I put off because of the summer heat.
So suffice it to say, fall is not the best time of the year to be a rabbit breeder.
Oh, but spring. Once the nights rise above freezing, then toting water is over for the year. Does are all extra fertile and cooperative, and we have Nationals to look forward to. But the mercurial weather is hard on the rabbits with the chilly nights and the really warm afternoons, so there are sick rabbits to tend to and those heart-wrenching rabbit deaths. And there are all of those chores to do that were delayed because of the winter ice, not to mention the swarm of pet customers who want an Easter bunny.
So suffice it to say, spring is not the best time of the year to be a rabbit breeder.
By my best calculations, there are about two weeks in late fall, before the weather turns freezing, and after the fur has molted, after Convention is over, and when the does are having babies still because it is not winter, and the bucks are producing because they are over summer sterility, and after the chores are caught up - that's when I think it is the best time of the year to be a rabbit breeder.
And that's over for another year.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 10:42 AM
I know that the water system is still frozen from yesterday. That means more trips back and forth carrying water. That means crocks to unfreeze. That means not wanting to hang around in the barn any longer than I have to.
So, suffice it to say, winter is not the best time of the year to be a rabbit breeder. And hey, it's not even officially winter yet. January and February (and perhaps March) are much worse.
But I hate the heat of July and August, too. I'm not an early riser (unless there is a rabbit show to go to). But I try to beat the heat by spending time in the barn in the morning. When that doesn't work out as planned, it's miserably hot in the barn. Sure, there's no frozen water line to deal with, but there's ice to carry back and forth on the hottest of days and fans to tend to lest the barn catch fire. And there's always the fear of losing a really great rabbit to the heat. There are few shows and the does think it is too hot to breed.
So, suffice it to say, summer is not the best time of the year to be a rabbit breeder.
Then there's fall. The temperature in the barn is delightful. But in early fall, everyone is molting and there's scarcely a rabbit suitable for the show table. Does are missing because bucks went sterile in the August heat. Once the fur settles and Convention is over, then it's time to catch up on all of the chores caused by the flying fur, not to mention those I put off because of the summer heat.
So suffice it to say, fall is not the best time of the year to be a rabbit breeder.
Oh, but spring. Once the nights rise above freezing, then toting water is over for the year. Does are all extra fertile and cooperative, and we have Nationals to look forward to. But the mercurial weather is hard on the rabbits with the chilly nights and the really warm afternoons, so there are sick rabbits to tend to and those heart-wrenching rabbit deaths. And there are all of those chores to do that were delayed because of the winter ice, not to mention the swarm of pet customers who want an Easter bunny.
So suffice it to say, spring is not the best time of the year to be a rabbit breeder.
By my best calculations, there are about two weeks in late fall, before the weather turns freezing, and after the fur has molted, after Convention is over, and when the does are having babies still because it is not winter, and the bucks are producing because they are over summer sterility, and after the chores are caught up - that's when I think it is the best time of the year to be a rabbit breeder.
And that's over for another year.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 10:42 AM
