1. January - 31 kits from 19 does -1.6 kits per doe
2. February - 27 kits from 12 does -2.25 kits per doe
3. March - 44 kits from 29 does -1.5 kits per doe
4. April - 38 kits from 19 does -2.0 kits per doe
5. May - 25 kits from 16 does -1.6 kits per doe
6. June - 9 kits from 10 does -0.9 kits per doe
7. July - 43 kits from 18 does -2.4 kits per doe
8. August - 49 kits from 21 does -2.3 kits per doe
9. September - 10 kits from 11 does -0.9 kits per doe
10. October - 28 kits from 16 does -1.75 kits per doe
11. November - 23 kits from 11 does -2.1 kits per doe
12. December - 18 kits from 14 does - 0.9 kits per doe

Now I'll list my results from this year, with the number of kits from last year in parenthesis after:

1. January - 4 kits from 7 does (31)
2. February - 0 kits from 4 does (27)
3. March - 18 kits from 19 does (44)
4. April - 5 kits from 3 does (38)
5. May - 33 kits from 19 does (25)
6. June - 8 kits from 9 does (9)
7. July - 0 kits from 8 does (43)
8. August - 23 kits from 16 does (49)
9. September - 8 kits from 8 does (10)
10. October - 10 kits from 5 does (28)
11. November - Novembef 4 kits from 6 does (23)
12. December - 0 kits from 5 does (18)

Yikes! I wanted to reduce my production, but not nearly this much. During this whole year, I only had one good month and two decent months, production-wise. I got no kits twice and very few kits several times.

Currently, I allow myself 16 breeding does. I only have 14, so I need to fill two spots anyway. But I think that given these results, I will go back to 20 breeding does - ten brokens and ten solids.

I hope that Francesca will start producing kits soon. If so, she'll be my 9th solid doe. I have six broken junior does right now that I love. If all goes well with them, I'll keep any that grand for my breeding program.

Yes, it is lovely to have no overflow cages sitting around. It's nice to have an empty cage just waiting for Gypsy's kits next week. It's lovely not to have to worry about two show quality rabbits in one cage - ruining each other. But I miss the excitement of having dozens of kits. It's hard work, but it's a lot of fun, too.

Now comes the challenge - to balance my desire for two opposite outcomes!

Laurie

¶ 1:00 PM