The Nature Trail Rabbitry BLOG
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
PA Convention
I will be attending my second Pennsylvania State Convention this coming weekend. It's a huge show with a double day-of-entry show sponsored by the PaSRBA, plus two different specialty shows for Holland lops. There are many other specialty shows as well, but I haven't kept up with all of that.
I had a delightful show last year. It was wonderful to see so many Holland breeders in one place, especially those I don't often get to see. I'm really looking forward to that this year. And I love the quality Holland judges they provide.
Last year was my friend Dani Cole's very first show. She will be celebrating her first anniversary as a rabbit exhibitor this weekend. Last year, she showed a buck that I had sold her. He came in 16th out of 52 and was a very young senior at the time. We were both very pleased with that. I had known she was showing the buck, but did not realize she was also showing a doe that I sold her. I was writing for Todd Naragon at the time when the NT58 ear number came up. I knew I had not brought any seniors. I was so confused, standing there, staring at Dani, trying to figure it out. I just wasn't used to anyone but me showing my bunnies back then. I'm a little more used to it now, but I still try to take the wrong rabbits from the table sometimes.
One of the things I hate about the convention is the judging coops. They had no doors on them, so exhibitors had to hold the rabbits in. Two got into a nasty fight right in front of my good friend Lisa Young. She's barely taller than the youth she was trying to help out, standing on tip toes with hands trying to separate rabbits. The rabbit fight was so violent that is pretty much stopped the 1/3 of the show nearest to it. She was pretty shaken by the whole thing.
While writing for Todd, I got sprayed by a buck at the end of the table. Everyone, but me, thought it was so funny. Then it happened again a few minutes later. Todd had to NP a bunch of bunnies, so he removed the offender. But a few minutes later, I got sprayed again! We finally figured out that the bucks were sitting in a puddle of urine. They weren't spraying me but picking up their soaked front feet and shaking them at me. I noticed that the coops had to be removed and mopped up between classes because so much urine and waste accumulated. I'll keep my eyes open for that this year, you can be sure.
I had taken labels to put on my comment cards, but being my first day-of-show entry, I hadn't realized that I needed two labels per card. Luckily, I had printed extras just in case. I think I only entered about four rabbits last year, all broken juniors. If my memory serves me, they were Bear, Mercedes, Honey Bun, and perhaps Malone. Maybe there were more, but I do know they were all juniors. I suppose it would not have been horrible to have to write all of that information. But I really wouldn't want to have to do that.
This time last year, I had never won a Best of Breed with a homegrown rabbit. And I had only the week before won my first Best of Breed ever (with BBF's Yankee Doodle Dandy). With such competition, I didn't expect to place at all. But as it turned out, Bear earned three legs and came in second for the other show. Mercedes came in second in at least one show. I remember because Honey Bun beat her and went on to a BOSG. And, of course, my big news of the weekend was that Bear was the BOB under Paul Kyle. It was my first one and I could have been knocked over with a feather. What a great place to have a first BOB!
Now I'm looking ahead to this year's show. I know the competition will be tougher than ever. I have my attitude in the right place, though. I'm looking forward to having a great time with friends. I'm also looking forward to delivering ten of my sale bunnies and hopefully selling eight others (including a couple of pets). Won't it be delicious to have a few free cages when I get home? I intend to remove all of my overflow cages and shrink back into my original barn design. What would it be like to walk through the aisles, not having to dodge cages that really aren't supposed to be there? Heaven, I suppose.
I'm also looking forward to spending a lot of time with my friends Linda Norris and Dani Cole. Linda and I are traveling together and rooming with Dani. We also plan to spend Sunday night at Dani's house in northern Virginia. They are both such great companions.
I will miss some of my friends who attended last year, but won't be there this year. Lisa and Fayth decided to sit this one out (could it be the nasty rabbit fight?). Paul and PJ won't be there like last year (PJ - do you remember last year when you were about to tattoo my rabbit - she jumped headlong into a cement wall - ouch! - I thought she would have brain damage for certain). I am sure I will look around for others and find them missing as well.
I know that the show will be an exhausting one, especially if the entries are as large as expected. There's the inevitable letdown after so much excitement. But there's also the satisfaction of getting back home after a trip. This time, I will have something more to look forward to. Some friends will be coming by to pick up their rabbits that I am bringing home for them. Some have been here before. But the couple who got me started in rabbits has never been here. So I'm looking forward to their visit to my barn. They can see the granddaughters and great granddaughters of one of my original bunnies I got from their barn.
Well, I'd better wrap this up and head to the barn. There's so much to do to prepare for a 4-day weekend of bunnies.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 8:55 AM 0 comments links to this post
I had a delightful show last year. It was wonderful to see so many Holland breeders in one place, especially those I don't often get to see. I'm really looking forward to that this year. And I love the quality Holland judges they provide.
Last year was my friend Dani Cole's very first show. She will be celebrating her first anniversary as a rabbit exhibitor this weekend. Last year, she showed a buck that I had sold her. He came in 16th out of 52 and was a very young senior at the time. We were both very pleased with that. I had known she was showing the buck, but did not realize she was also showing a doe that I sold her. I was writing for Todd Naragon at the time when the NT58 ear number came up. I knew I had not brought any seniors. I was so confused, standing there, staring at Dani, trying to figure it out. I just wasn't used to anyone but me showing my bunnies back then. I'm a little more used to it now, but I still try to take the wrong rabbits from the table sometimes.
One of the things I hate about the convention is the judging coops. They had no doors on them, so exhibitors had to hold the rabbits in. Two got into a nasty fight right in front of my good friend Lisa Young. She's barely taller than the youth she was trying to help out, standing on tip toes with hands trying to separate rabbits. The rabbit fight was so violent that is pretty much stopped the 1/3 of the show nearest to it. She was pretty shaken by the whole thing.
While writing for Todd, I got sprayed by a buck at the end of the table. Everyone, but me, thought it was so funny. Then it happened again a few minutes later. Todd had to NP a bunch of bunnies, so he removed the offender. But a few minutes later, I got sprayed again! We finally figured out that the bucks were sitting in a puddle of urine. They weren't spraying me but picking up their soaked front feet and shaking them at me. I noticed that the coops had to be removed and mopped up between classes because so much urine and waste accumulated. I'll keep my eyes open for that this year, you can be sure.
I had taken labels to put on my comment cards, but being my first day-of-show entry, I hadn't realized that I needed two labels per card. Luckily, I had printed extras just in case. I think I only entered about four rabbits last year, all broken juniors. If my memory serves me, they were Bear, Mercedes, Honey Bun, and perhaps Malone. Maybe there were more, but I do know they were all juniors. I suppose it would not have been horrible to have to write all of that information. But I really wouldn't want to have to do that.
This time last year, I had never won a Best of Breed with a homegrown rabbit. And I had only the week before won my first Best of Breed ever (with BBF's Yankee Doodle Dandy). With such competition, I didn't expect to place at all. But as it turned out, Bear earned three legs and came in second for the other show. Mercedes came in second in at least one show. I remember because Honey Bun beat her and went on to a BOSG. And, of course, my big news of the weekend was that Bear was the BOB under Paul Kyle. It was my first one and I could have been knocked over with a feather. What a great place to have a first BOB!
Now I'm looking ahead to this year's show. I know the competition will be tougher than ever. I have my attitude in the right place, though. I'm looking forward to having a great time with friends. I'm also looking forward to delivering ten of my sale bunnies and hopefully selling eight others (including a couple of pets). Won't it be delicious to have a few free cages when I get home? I intend to remove all of my overflow cages and shrink back into my original barn design. What would it be like to walk through the aisles, not having to dodge cages that really aren't supposed to be there? Heaven, I suppose.
I'm also looking forward to spending a lot of time with my friends Linda Norris and Dani Cole. Linda and I are traveling together and rooming with Dani. We also plan to spend Sunday night at Dani's house in northern Virginia. They are both such great companions.
I will miss some of my friends who attended last year, but won't be there this year. Lisa and Fayth decided to sit this one out (could it be the nasty rabbit fight?). Paul and PJ won't be there like last year (PJ - do you remember last year when you were about to tattoo my rabbit - she jumped headlong into a cement wall - ouch! - I thought she would have brain damage for certain). I am sure I will look around for others and find them missing as well.
I know that the show will be an exhausting one, especially if the entries are as large as expected. There's the inevitable letdown after so much excitement. But there's also the satisfaction of getting back home after a trip. This time, I will have something more to look forward to. Some friends will be coming by to pick up their rabbits that I am bringing home for them. Some have been here before. But the couple who got me started in rabbits has never been here. So I'm looking forward to their visit to my barn. They can see the granddaughters and great granddaughters of one of my original bunnies I got from their barn.
Well, I'd better wrap this up and head to the barn. There's so much to do to prepare for a 4-day weekend of bunnies.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 8:55 AM 0 comments links to this post
Monday, January 30, 2006
Pruning
I have a few grape vines growing on the fence around my now-neglected herb garden. (I'm sure you can guess the cause of the neglect - it starts with the letter R.) I've never been very successful with my grapevines and I think the main reason is that I don't prune them well. I've seen well-pruned vines and I can tell the difference in an instant. And I understand pruning conceptually.
At first, you allow the grapevine to grow a bit. Then you choose two main branches to grow, chopping off all of the rest. The next year, you select two additional branches to grow at the next level and remove the rest. Now you have four main branches. If your support allows it, you can select two more the following year, but most grapevines I've seen just have about four main branches.
Everything else is removed except these strong vine branches. That's the key.
Then, those branches are allowed to grow and bear fruit. If a particular branch doesn't bare good fruit, then it is pruned away. Perhaps another main branch is allowed to grow, or maybe the remaining branches just take up the available space. If the entire vine doesn't produce, then it's removed and a grapevine from better stock takes its place.
And we should do the exact same thing with our rabbits.
When you get started, you buy the best stock available to you and produce rabbits, observing the offspring to get to know what you are working with (that means growing them out, not selling them as babies). Then after awhile, you select a few main rabbits to be your foundation. It is time to get rid of the rest.
A long-time breeder once told me that everyone gets into rabbits awhile and then gets rid of everything and starts over. I think that's just the way things have to go. You have to have some experience to start out with the right foundation stock. Most people can't just walk right into that.
In any case, those main rabbits are bred and you check to see that you are beginning to get some nice bunnies out of them. If you run into problems, perhaps a strong genetic fault, then you remove that entire line from your program and work with the other lines or replace it with a stronger line.
I think that too many rabbitries flounder by not wanting to cut off the miscellaneous lines in their rabbitries. They fear giving up a genetic pool because it MIGHT produce something nice down the road. Those rabbits are like the tiny side branches that suck away strength from the main branch but rarely produce the fruit you are expecting.
Sure, they might. And if you've got the cage space to keep all of the rabbits that might, then go for it. But I think it is better to lop them off and stick with a few main lines (one or two for a small to medium rabbitry). And if they work well together, you've really got something!
You can tell when I've got my rabbit pruners out. All of a sudden a lot of nice bunnies will hit my for sale page at once. It's hard to let them go and trust that the ones I've decided to keep are truly part of the main branches. Sometimes I revert and take those rabbits back off of the for sale page, in fact. It's really that hard to do sometimes.
A friend of mine commented this week that it seemed that all of my litters seem to work out well. Of course that's just perception. I don't talk about the ones that don't work out as much as I talk about the ones I'm pleased with. But, the percentage of litters that are successful is increasing; that, I'm sure of.
I believe that it is all due to culling very, very hard. And not just keeping the nicest and selling the rest. You could keep the nicest bunnies you create and end up with a genetic hodgepodge to try to create your next generation with. I'm keeping the nicest within a limited gene pool and selling genetic outliers, even if they are every nice (starting a new main branch is not an option for me since I have decided not to enlarge my barn again). I'm trying to determine which rabbits and lines can be main "branches" and which are very cute, nice side shoots (which might, by the way, become a main line in someone else's barn).
So, when you want to say, "Why is she selling that very nice rabbit?" you will now be able to guess that it is not part of my long-term plan. I have a very cute junior buck out of BBF's Yankee Doodle Dandy (my last Dandy baby, I think). I'm going to keep him and show him through his junior career. But I know there is a 100% chance that I will sell him, no matter how well he develops. That's because I made the very difficult decision to remove that entire branch from my barn due to space limitations. He is now a genetic outlier and he has to go.
You may have guessed that I just picked some rabbits to let go of. And I have. I will be taking them to PA with me this weekend to sell. If I get the time to photograph them before I go, I will post them. But this will be a crazy week and I probably won't get the time.
But I have to sell them before I change my mind!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 9:38 AM 1 comments links to this post
At first, you allow the grapevine to grow a bit. Then you choose two main branches to grow, chopping off all of the rest. The next year, you select two additional branches to grow at the next level and remove the rest. Now you have four main branches. If your support allows it, you can select two more the following year, but most grapevines I've seen just have about four main branches.
Everything else is removed except these strong vine branches. That's the key.
Then, those branches are allowed to grow and bear fruit. If a particular branch doesn't bare good fruit, then it is pruned away. Perhaps another main branch is allowed to grow, or maybe the remaining branches just take up the available space. If the entire vine doesn't produce, then it's removed and a grapevine from better stock takes its place.
And we should do the exact same thing with our rabbits.
When you get started, you buy the best stock available to you and produce rabbits, observing the offspring to get to know what you are working with (that means growing them out, not selling them as babies). Then after awhile, you select a few main rabbits to be your foundation. It is time to get rid of the rest.
A long-time breeder once told me that everyone gets into rabbits awhile and then gets rid of everything and starts over. I think that's just the way things have to go. You have to have some experience to start out with the right foundation stock. Most people can't just walk right into that.
In any case, those main rabbits are bred and you check to see that you are beginning to get some nice bunnies out of them. If you run into problems, perhaps a strong genetic fault, then you remove that entire line from your program and work with the other lines or replace it with a stronger line.
I think that too many rabbitries flounder by not wanting to cut off the miscellaneous lines in their rabbitries. They fear giving up a genetic pool because it MIGHT produce something nice down the road. Those rabbits are like the tiny side branches that suck away strength from the main branch but rarely produce the fruit you are expecting.
Sure, they might. And if you've got the cage space to keep all of the rabbits that might, then go for it. But I think it is better to lop them off and stick with a few main lines (one or two for a small to medium rabbitry). And if they work well together, you've really got something!
You can tell when I've got my rabbit pruners out. All of a sudden a lot of nice bunnies will hit my for sale page at once. It's hard to let them go and trust that the ones I've decided to keep are truly part of the main branches. Sometimes I revert and take those rabbits back off of the for sale page, in fact. It's really that hard to do sometimes.
A friend of mine commented this week that it seemed that all of my litters seem to work out well. Of course that's just perception. I don't talk about the ones that don't work out as much as I talk about the ones I'm pleased with. But, the percentage of litters that are successful is increasing; that, I'm sure of.
I believe that it is all due to culling very, very hard. And not just keeping the nicest and selling the rest. You could keep the nicest bunnies you create and end up with a genetic hodgepodge to try to create your next generation with. I'm keeping the nicest within a limited gene pool and selling genetic outliers, even if they are every nice (starting a new main branch is not an option for me since I have decided not to enlarge my barn again). I'm trying to determine which rabbits and lines can be main "branches" and which are very cute, nice side shoots (which might, by the way, become a main line in someone else's barn).
So, when you want to say, "Why is she selling that very nice rabbit?" you will now be able to guess that it is not part of my long-term plan. I have a very cute junior buck out of BBF's Yankee Doodle Dandy (my last Dandy baby, I think). I'm going to keep him and show him through his junior career. But I know there is a 100% chance that I will sell him, no matter how well he develops. That's because I made the very difficult decision to remove that entire branch from my barn due to space limitations. He is now a genetic outlier and he has to go.
You may have guessed that I just picked some rabbits to let go of. And I have. I will be taking them to PA with me this weekend to sell. If I get the time to photograph them before I go, I will post them. But this will be a crazy week and I probably won't get the time.
But I have to sell them before I change my mind!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 9:38 AM 1 comments links to this post
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Crossing The Line
I heard a very interesting story the other day from a fellow breeder. Years ago, he had a friend who had a lovely rabbit with a single white toenail. So he decided to paint the nail in order to avoid having the rabbit be disqualified. As you might expect, the judge could tell that the nail had been altered (perhaps the paint on the fur gave him away!) and not only was the rabbit disqualified, but the breeder's entire entry was removed.
The exhibitor was mortified, needless to say, and quite disappointed with himself. He went to talk to his friend, who years later related the conversation to me. Although the breeder did not tell me who the exhibitor is, he did convey to me the wonderful advice he gave him. And I want to share it with you. He told him that he had let his competitiveness get the best of him and that he had stepped over the line. All he need do was step back over.
Just step back over.
That great advice reminds me of the counsel John the Baptist gave over 2000 years ago. Repent. (Repent: To make a change for the better because of remorse.) I can still hear the pastor who taught my confirmation classes lo these many years ago explaining that repenting isn't just being sorry. It's turning around and going back in the other direction.
Apparently the breeder decided to do just that, and continued breeding and exhibiting. Since no one listening to the story could identify the main character, I am going to assume that this breeder has been able to overcome the lapse in judgment and recover by staying on the proper side of the line.
I know there are times that I have crossed the line. Whenever I become aware of doing that, I do try to apologize and consciously make an effort not to cross that line again. I've hurt people's feelings, I know. I've had lapses in judgment, I'm sure. No one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. I hope people will allow me to go back to the other side of the line again. And I want to allow others who step back over, the same privilege.
I heard a disturbing report this weekend from one of the judges at the show. He said that a breeder became angered over the placement of her rabbits. The breeder then reached over the judging coops and tried to take a swing at an elderly judge. Talk about literally crossing the line!
I cannot imagine what it will take for that breeder to rehabilitate herself. Not only does she need to apologize and quickly go back to the other side of the line, she will have to stay there for a very long time to regain trust. I hope she will choose to do that.
And if she does make a good faith effort to do so, I hope that we will all let her. Remember the exhibitor in the first story? Few people today even remember the story of the painted nail. His identity is not even associated with the tale anymore. I promise you that if he had stayed across the line, every breeder in the area would know the story and the identity by heart. It is only by going back across the line - and staying there - that such a lapse can be forgiven and forgotten.
Have you crossed the line?
Just step back over.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 8:41 AM 1 comments links to this post
The exhibitor was mortified, needless to say, and quite disappointed with himself. He went to talk to his friend, who years later related the conversation to me. Although the breeder did not tell me who the exhibitor is, he did convey to me the wonderful advice he gave him. And I want to share it with you. He told him that he had let his competitiveness get the best of him and that he had stepped over the line. All he need do was step back over.
Just step back over.
That great advice reminds me of the counsel John the Baptist gave over 2000 years ago. Repent. (Repent: To make a change for the better because of remorse.) I can still hear the pastor who taught my confirmation classes lo these many years ago explaining that repenting isn't just being sorry. It's turning around and going back in the other direction.
Apparently the breeder decided to do just that, and continued breeding and exhibiting. Since no one listening to the story could identify the main character, I am going to assume that this breeder has been able to overcome the lapse in judgment and recover by staying on the proper side of the line.
I know there are times that I have crossed the line. Whenever I become aware of doing that, I do try to apologize and consciously make an effort not to cross that line again. I've hurt people's feelings, I know. I've had lapses in judgment, I'm sure. No one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. I hope people will allow me to go back to the other side of the line again. And I want to allow others who step back over, the same privilege.
I heard a disturbing report this weekend from one of the judges at the show. He said that a breeder became angered over the placement of her rabbits. The breeder then reached over the judging coops and tried to take a swing at an elderly judge. Talk about literally crossing the line!
I cannot imagine what it will take for that breeder to rehabilitate herself. Not only does she need to apologize and quickly go back to the other side of the line, she will have to stay there for a very long time to regain trust. I hope she will choose to do that.
And if she does make a good faith effort to do so, I hope that we will all let her. Remember the exhibitor in the first story? Few people today even remember the story of the painted nail. His identity is not even associated with the tale anymore. I promise you that if he had stayed across the line, every breeder in the area would know the story and the identity by heart. It is only by going back across the line - and staying there - that such a lapse can be forgiven and forgotten.
Have you crossed the line?
Just step back over.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 8:41 AM 1 comments links to this post
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Triple Crown in Spartanburg, SC
The big news is that I granded two does! Yeah! I just have one more to go and I'll be caught up - at least until some other does turn senior. Lexus just turned senior earlier this month, so she granded very quickly like her mom, GC The Nature Trail's Mercedes, 14 legs. Unlike her mom, she will be going into production with just 4 legs. But she has one thing her mom does not have - a BEST OF BREED! I'd say that's a pretty nice way to end your show career, granding with a Best of Breed.
It is possible that Lexus will return to the show table in the future, of course, but it will not be her main job. Her job now is to produce a fourth generation of The Nature Trail's rabbits, and, hopefully, a third generation of grand champions.
[By the way, Lexus is out of the buck I purchased at the auction at Nationals last year - Audrey's MAC.]
The Nature Trail's Jo-Jo ended her string of second places with a BOG and a BOB. She will also become semi-retired to breeding with four legs, also including a BOSG and a BOS - a full set with one of each!
GC The Nature Trail's Rio earned another couple of legs bringing him to 10. One leg was a BOSG and the other was a BOG. Rio will now become semi-retired. In the future, I will probably only show him if he happens to look good and be 4.00 or under when I'm deciding who to take to shows.
I'm not going to keep him on a diet long-term in order to keep showing him. If he's happiest at 4.02, so be it. He dropped down to 3.10 this week and you can really tell it. I don't like to see him like that. His best weight really is 4.00.
Apparently I only figured out how to keep his weight between 3.14 and 4.00 without factoring in the effect of traveling. He does go off feed in the car. I just realized that today. I always think of him as a buck that will eat anytime, anywhere, and that's apparently not true.
So, he'll be giving up the double cage to The Nature Trail's Bear. Bear has 8 juniors legs and a string of second places to Rio. He's up to 4.02, so I'll put him in the exercise cage to see if that helps him burn off those extra two ounces. I won't put him on a diet like I did Rio because he's got all of the time in the world to drop those two ounces. I'm in no hurry. I don't want to see what Bear looks like at 3.10!
Now for the report on the juniors. I showed The Nature Trail's Navaro for the first time and he was BOS under Doug Sprague! Yeah! I was really, really excited about showing this little buck. I've had my eye on him waiting for him to get old enough to even try to show him. He's just 3 1/2 months old. He placed 3rd out of 11 for Owen Yates, which is also very good for such a young fellow. Navaro is a linebreeding to GC Camelot's Merlin. He's a product of Spice, a Merlin daughter, and Merlin himself. Oh, and Navaro was named the Best Junior by Judge Doug Sprague.
The Nature Trail's Latifa got a leg her first time out, too. She didn't get beyond that point, but that's not a bad way to start a career. Latifa is out of GC The Nature Trail's LaForge and Mtn's Daphne, 2 legs. Alison, would you please get Daphne granded? I know she can do it. That would really help me on my all-grand champion pedigree project!!!
The Nature Trail's Baron got two legs. He's got a really promising head coming in and he's just 4 months old. Last week was his first show. He came in second place then. I am certain his head has grown just since last week! Baron was also named the best broken junior by Owen Yates.
All told, my bunnies earned ten legs. Congratulations to Gary & Susan Smith for earning a BOS and Best Junior award under Owen Yates with their otter. I always enjoy seeing friends win and I always love to see an otter do well on the table.
The show was a small one - we missed a lot of breeders from the region. I hope you'll all plan to make it next year. It's such a fun show because it's just Netherlands and Hollands.
I had a lot of help getting my rabbits on and off of the table. Thank you to everyone who helped keep me straight and out of trouble!!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 8:47 PM 0 comments links to this post
It is possible that Lexus will return to the show table in the future, of course, but it will not be her main job. Her job now is to produce a fourth generation of The Nature Trail's rabbits, and, hopefully, a third generation of grand champions.
[By the way, Lexus is out of the buck I purchased at the auction at Nationals last year - Audrey's MAC.]
The Nature Trail's Jo-Jo ended her string of second places with a BOG and a BOB. She will also become semi-retired to breeding with four legs, also including a BOSG and a BOS - a full set with one of each!
GC The Nature Trail's Rio earned another couple of legs bringing him to 10. One leg was a BOSG and the other was a BOG. Rio will now become semi-retired. In the future, I will probably only show him if he happens to look good and be 4.00 or under when I'm deciding who to take to shows.
I'm not going to keep him on a diet long-term in order to keep showing him. If he's happiest at 4.02, so be it. He dropped down to 3.10 this week and you can really tell it. I don't like to see him like that. His best weight really is 4.00.
Apparently I only figured out how to keep his weight between 3.14 and 4.00 without factoring in the effect of traveling. He does go off feed in the car. I just realized that today. I always think of him as a buck that will eat anytime, anywhere, and that's apparently not true.
So, he'll be giving up the double cage to The Nature Trail's Bear. Bear has 8 juniors legs and a string of second places to Rio. He's up to 4.02, so I'll put him in the exercise cage to see if that helps him burn off those extra two ounces. I won't put him on a diet like I did Rio because he's got all of the time in the world to drop those two ounces. I'm in no hurry. I don't want to see what Bear looks like at 3.10!
Now for the report on the juniors. I showed The Nature Trail's Navaro for the first time and he was BOS under Doug Sprague! Yeah! I was really, really excited about showing this little buck. I've had my eye on him waiting for him to get old enough to even try to show him. He's just 3 1/2 months old. He placed 3rd out of 11 for Owen Yates, which is also very good for such a young fellow. Navaro is a linebreeding to GC Camelot's Merlin. He's a product of Spice, a Merlin daughter, and Merlin himself. Oh, and Navaro was named the Best Junior by Judge Doug Sprague.
The Nature Trail's Latifa got a leg her first time out, too. She didn't get beyond that point, but that's not a bad way to start a career. Latifa is out of GC The Nature Trail's LaForge and Mtn's Daphne, 2 legs. Alison, would you please get Daphne granded? I know she can do it. That would really help me on my all-grand champion pedigree project!!!
The Nature Trail's Baron got two legs. He's got a really promising head coming in and he's just 4 months old. Last week was his first show. He came in second place then. I am certain his head has grown just since last week! Baron was also named the best broken junior by Owen Yates.
All told, my bunnies earned ten legs. Congratulations to Gary & Susan Smith for earning a BOS and Best Junior award under Owen Yates with their otter. I always enjoy seeing friends win and I always love to see an otter do well on the table.
The show was a small one - we missed a lot of breeders from the region. I hope you'll all plan to make it next year. It's such a fun show because it's just Netherlands and Hollands.
I had a lot of help getting my rabbits on and off of the table. Thank you to everyone who helped keep me straight and out of trouble!!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 8:47 PM 0 comments links to this post
Friday, January 27, 2006
Day Before The Show
I already know that my day will not go as planned. It's the day before a show and I had hoped to do all of these wonderful things to get ready. But, I got an unexpected call from someone wanting to pick out a pet rabbit around noon. Then I found out my grandfather is having surgery today (a pacemaker is being put in). Now my sister, a brilliant math teacher, is coming home from school not feeling well. She's not only my sister, but also my neighbor, so I will want to check on her, too.
Here's what I wanted to do. First, I was going to do my regular barn chores. But in addition, I have nest boxes to put in for my January 30 babies. Then, I was going to groom every rabbit entered tomorrow, including clipping nails and giving them a last minute check. I planned to tattoo the three that are being shown for the first time, too.
I have a bunch of bunny dishes in the house and I had planned to get them washed first thing this morning. Andrew is going to pressure wash my carriers, but I had hoped to get them all put together later this afternoon. Of course, I just noted that I am out of extra large puppy pads, so I've got to add a trip to town in my schedule as well.
In my mind's eye, I could see all of my tattooed, groomed, thoroughly checked over rabbits in their cages awaiting the hour of departure. All of my carriers lined up, with food and water, puppy pads and labels, ready to receive them. My aprons are washed (note to self - put aprons in the washing machine as soon as you finish this BLOG), my miscellaneous items are packed. My directions are printed and I'm ready to go.
Luckily, I did print out my carrier tags, a list of bunnies to pack, and a form that I keep up with results on all earlier this week. But other than that, I don't think much of my plan will happen. I must get the dishes washed and put the carriers together, whether with or without the extra large puppy pads (I do have some regular-sized ones). And, those nest boxes have to go in today.
I will be grooming bunnies and tattooing at the show in the morning, I'm sure. And I will have a lot more sympathy for anyone who puts a rabbit on the table not fully groomed, with a DQ they didn't catch, or even with an unretouched tattoo. Perhaps their day before the show was much like my own.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 10:02 AM 0 comments links to this post
Here's what I wanted to do. First, I was going to do my regular barn chores. But in addition, I have nest boxes to put in for my January 30 babies. Then, I was going to groom every rabbit entered tomorrow, including clipping nails and giving them a last minute check. I planned to tattoo the three that are being shown for the first time, too.
I have a bunch of bunny dishes in the house and I had planned to get them washed first thing this morning. Andrew is going to pressure wash my carriers, but I had hoped to get them all put together later this afternoon. Of course, I just noted that I am out of extra large puppy pads, so I've got to add a trip to town in my schedule as well.
In my mind's eye, I could see all of my tattooed, groomed, thoroughly checked over rabbits in their cages awaiting the hour of departure. All of my carriers lined up, with food and water, puppy pads and labels, ready to receive them. My aprons are washed (note to self - put aprons in the washing machine as soon as you finish this BLOG), my miscellaneous items are packed. My directions are printed and I'm ready to go.
Luckily, I did print out my carrier tags, a list of bunnies to pack, and a form that I keep up with results on all earlier this week. But other than that, I don't think much of my plan will happen. I must get the dishes washed and put the carriers together, whether with or without the extra large puppy pads (I do have some regular-sized ones). And, those nest boxes have to go in today.
I will be grooming bunnies and tattooing at the show in the morning, I'm sure. And I will have a lot more sympathy for anyone who puts a rabbit on the table not fully groomed, with a DQ they didn't catch, or even with an unretouched tattoo. Perhaps their day before the show was much like my own.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 10:02 AM 0 comments links to this post
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Enthusiasm
I am working on a new website for a couple of breeders in West Virginia. It's a mixed relationship: she's Hollands and he's mini rex. But I think they will find a way to make their relationship work despite this huge difference. Just kidding. What I love about them is their enthusiasm and excitement over their bunnies and their new website.
Enthusiasm is like rocket fuel; it helps get you moving in the right direction before you hit outer space where it takes less fuel to keep the ship on course. It's a wonderful feeling - a high like being in love. And it's a good thing to have in the beginning when you have so much to figure out about your new hobby.
It looks like her enthusiasm has sustained her until she started seeing some success on the show table with her Hollands, too. It's a great thing that it has worked out so well for her. I fear it doesn't always, though.
Lots of people start out in rabbit breeding with enthusiasm. Some make it in the long run, but others run out of rocket fuel before they hit their orbit. Those people quit, vastly scale down their rabbitries, or change breeds (or even species).
There are different reasons why some people's enthusiasm will not sustain them until they begin to have success on the judging table (or whatever measure of success they value). I think one reason is that people spend their energies in a misguided direction. They spent a lot of time and energy, and covered a lot of ground, but they are only 15 feet in the air! Maybe they run into unethical breeders who took advantage of their lack of knowledge. Perhaps they had unrealistic expectations of the time and energy it takes to become a rabbit breeder. Maybe the "in" group had trouble finding room for one more. I couldn't possibly list all of the reasons.
Other people use their enthusiasm, hard work, and persistence to get their rockets into orbit. But for some reason, they lose their enthusiasm and allow their bunny rocket to fall to the ground. Perhaps they accomplished all they wanted to (spending time with their children who now have other interests, for example). Perhaps their circle of friends has moved on. Perhaps their life has called their energies elsewhere, or maybe they failed to set new goals to help keep their enthusiasm up.
It's not reasonable to expect to feel the same level of enthusiasm as you did when you first started in rabbits. That feeling will burn you out very quickly. But at the same time, you want to feel that enthusiasm bubbling up from time to time to keep you going. And, you want a more sustainable, lowered keyed enthusiasm to be there - under the surface perhaps - but always nearby to help you enjoy your hobby.
When I feel my enthusiasm lag, I re-evaluate my goals and think about where I'm putting my energies. Re-focusing almost always brings my enthusiasm back up to help sustain me for the long-term. And the long-term is where I will accomplish my most important goals.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 10:43 AM 0 comments links to this post
Enthusiasm is like rocket fuel; it helps get you moving in the right direction before you hit outer space where it takes less fuel to keep the ship on course. It's a wonderful feeling - a high like being in love. And it's a good thing to have in the beginning when you have so much to figure out about your new hobby.
It looks like her enthusiasm has sustained her until she started seeing some success on the show table with her Hollands, too. It's a great thing that it has worked out so well for her. I fear it doesn't always, though.
Lots of people start out in rabbit breeding with enthusiasm. Some make it in the long run, but others run out of rocket fuel before they hit their orbit. Those people quit, vastly scale down their rabbitries, or change breeds (or even species).
There are different reasons why some people's enthusiasm will not sustain them until they begin to have success on the judging table (or whatever measure of success they value). I think one reason is that people spend their energies in a misguided direction. They spent a lot of time and energy, and covered a lot of ground, but they are only 15 feet in the air! Maybe they run into unethical breeders who took advantage of their lack of knowledge. Perhaps they had unrealistic expectations of the time and energy it takes to become a rabbit breeder. Maybe the "in" group had trouble finding room for one more. I couldn't possibly list all of the reasons.
Other people use their enthusiasm, hard work, and persistence to get their rockets into orbit. But for some reason, they lose their enthusiasm and allow their bunny rocket to fall to the ground. Perhaps they accomplished all they wanted to (spending time with their children who now have other interests, for example). Perhaps their circle of friends has moved on. Perhaps their life has called their energies elsewhere, or maybe they failed to set new goals to help keep their enthusiasm up.
It's not reasonable to expect to feel the same level of enthusiasm as you did when you first started in rabbits. That feeling will burn you out very quickly. But at the same time, you want to feel that enthusiasm bubbling up from time to time to keep you going. And, you want a more sustainable, lowered keyed enthusiasm to be there - under the surface perhaps - but always nearby to help you enjoy your hobby.
When I feel my enthusiasm lag, I re-evaluate my goals and think about where I'm putting my energies. Re-focusing almost always brings my enthusiasm back up to help sustain me for the long-term. And the long-term is where I will accomplish my most important goals.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 10:43 AM 0 comments links to this post
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Auctions & Raffles
What is the purpose of an auction or a raffle at a rabbit show? To make money for a club or organization.
What do people who purchase rabbits at auctions or raffles hope to get? A good bunny.
What are auctions and raffles often used for? A means to get rid of rabbits that don't sell.
Hmmmmm. Something in the formula doesn't add up.
I bought a rabbit when I first got into bunnies for $85. She was a grand champion. I was so excited. The person misrepresented her age (I should have looked on the pedigree and noticed the extra year) and misrepresented the productive life of a doe (I didn't know!). She also failed to mention that she no longer produced live babies. I spent months trying to get babies from her and then gave her away as a pet.
I later found out from the original breeder that she had been put into the raffle after she quit producing. She had been placed in the raffle with her pedigree. I believe there were two problems here. First, a rabbit that has stopped producing should not be placed into the raffle. I suppose she might have gone to a show-only home, but if there was a note to that effect, it wasn't mentioned. I think permanently putting that note on the pedigree might have worked, but perhaps not even that would have helped.
The other problem was the choices the new owner made. The things that were unethical are too numerous to list, but I'm sure you get the gist of it.
I cannot tell you that I never put a rabbit into the raffle that I wouldn't breed myself. It's simply not true. When I look back at rabbits I put in the raffle when I first got started, I cringe. Today, many of those rabbits would go to the processor. I hate the thought that someone is breeding them, especially with my name on them. But it was a learning process. When I first got started, I asked what I could do with rabbits I didn't want and couldn't sell, and the raffle was suggested. It seemed like a solution to my problem and I, in all honesty, did not think further than that.
Today, if I put a rabbit into a raffle, he or she has some redeeming requalities that, when bred with the right mate, could produce some nice offspring. No, they are not likely to grand a rabbit they get for a quarter! If I do not think that it has a reasonable chance of producing nice offspring, then I may put it in as a pet with no pedigree (some raffles do not allow pets, so be sure to ask). I do not put animals in the raffle as pets if they do not have a pet personality, however. I do not put in bad teeth, poor health, or other serious problems. And I especially do not put in does that will not have live babies unless that is clearly disclosed.
Auctions are very similar except that I know whoever buys an auction animal will pay more than $1 for it. It's possible that I may get 50% back as well. And the time and talent that it takes to put on an auction means that the club or organization is looking to raise some serious money on the rabbits, often for a good cause I can get behind.
Back when I was even newer at rabbits than I am now, I bought some rabbits at auction. I had a great time until I got home and found that one had butting teeth. I didn't notice them right away, but when they started to grow a bit, it became obvious.
(If you are thinking by now that I am gullible and made every mistake in the book, you may be right!)
Do I really have to say that an auction is also not a good place to dump unworthy animals? A rabbit with butting teeth that do not grow out of control may be petted out (though this rabbit was a doe, so that was two strikes against her in my book). She should not have been sold as a pedigreed rabbit.
If all breeders would view raffles and auctions as a chance to contribute to the organizations we all benefit from, I think that things would go better for everyone. Making such a donation should pinch just a little - you should be giving up something that you could possibly benefit from yourself if you wanted to put the time and effort into selling or breeding the rabbit.
Those of us planning to attend Holland Lop Nationals in Perry, GA, in April will have the opportunity to contribute rabbits to an auction. I believe the proceeds go to the club sponsoring the next Nationals. If you are going, please begin thinking now about a worthy rabbit you can contribute. There have been some lovely rabbits in the past, so I know that many, many of you already believe in donating rabbits with value.
I have already decided to part with my most productive brood doe at Nationals. It makes my arms go weak to even type the words. But I have gotten 8 show rabbits, including 3 that have granded already and others that should, plus a young litter too small to evaluate, plus babies in the nest box plus I hope to breed her one last time before Nationals. So it is time for me to move on down to working with the next generation.
She'll just have turned 2 years old by Nationals! Additionally, I will be breeding her to GC LL Brendan (out of GC Tunes Adrian 55 legs & FRR Carly). That combination has produced 5 show rabbits in 2 litters. I cannot guarantee babies, but I will breed her two weeks before nationals and palpate. If she's negative, I will breed her again just before I bring her. Most of her litters have produced 6 kits.
Get your checkbooks out.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 9:36 AM 0 comments links to this post
What do people who purchase rabbits at auctions or raffles hope to get? A good bunny.
What are auctions and raffles often used for? A means to get rid of rabbits that don't sell.
Hmmmmm. Something in the formula doesn't add up.
I bought a rabbit when I first got into bunnies for $85. She was a grand champion. I was so excited. The person misrepresented her age (I should have looked on the pedigree and noticed the extra year) and misrepresented the productive life of a doe (I didn't know!). She also failed to mention that she no longer produced live babies. I spent months trying to get babies from her and then gave her away as a pet.
I later found out from the original breeder that she had been put into the raffle after she quit producing. She had been placed in the raffle with her pedigree. I believe there were two problems here. First, a rabbit that has stopped producing should not be placed into the raffle. I suppose she might have gone to a show-only home, but if there was a note to that effect, it wasn't mentioned. I think permanently putting that note on the pedigree might have worked, but perhaps not even that would have helped.
The other problem was the choices the new owner made. The things that were unethical are too numerous to list, but I'm sure you get the gist of it.
I cannot tell you that I never put a rabbit into the raffle that I wouldn't breed myself. It's simply not true. When I look back at rabbits I put in the raffle when I first got started, I cringe. Today, many of those rabbits would go to the processor. I hate the thought that someone is breeding them, especially with my name on them. But it was a learning process. When I first got started, I asked what I could do with rabbits I didn't want and couldn't sell, and the raffle was suggested. It seemed like a solution to my problem and I, in all honesty, did not think further than that.
Today, if I put a rabbit into a raffle, he or she has some redeeming requalities that, when bred with the right mate, could produce some nice offspring. No, they are not likely to grand a rabbit they get for a quarter! If I do not think that it has a reasonable chance of producing nice offspring, then I may put it in as a pet with no pedigree (some raffles do not allow pets, so be sure to ask). I do not put animals in the raffle as pets if they do not have a pet personality, however. I do not put in bad teeth, poor health, or other serious problems. And I especially do not put in does that will not have live babies unless that is clearly disclosed.
Auctions are very similar except that I know whoever buys an auction animal will pay more than $1 for it. It's possible that I may get 50% back as well. And the time and talent that it takes to put on an auction means that the club or organization is looking to raise some serious money on the rabbits, often for a good cause I can get behind.
Back when I was even newer at rabbits than I am now, I bought some rabbits at auction. I had a great time until I got home and found that one had butting teeth. I didn't notice them right away, but when they started to grow a bit, it became obvious.
(If you are thinking by now that I am gullible and made every mistake in the book, you may be right!)
Do I really have to say that an auction is also not a good place to dump unworthy animals? A rabbit with butting teeth that do not grow out of control may be petted out (though this rabbit was a doe, so that was two strikes against her in my book). She should not have been sold as a pedigreed rabbit.
If all breeders would view raffles and auctions as a chance to contribute to the organizations we all benefit from, I think that things would go better for everyone. Making such a donation should pinch just a little - you should be giving up something that you could possibly benefit from yourself if you wanted to put the time and effort into selling or breeding the rabbit.
Those of us planning to attend Holland Lop Nationals in Perry, GA, in April will have the opportunity to contribute rabbits to an auction. I believe the proceeds go to the club sponsoring the next Nationals. If you are going, please begin thinking now about a worthy rabbit you can contribute. There have been some lovely rabbits in the past, so I know that many, many of you already believe in donating rabbits with value.
I have already decided to part with my most productive brood doe at Nationals. It makes my arms go weak to even type the words. But I have gotten 8 show rabbits, including 3 that have granded already and others that should, plus a young litter too small to evaluate, plus babies in the nest box plus I hope to breed her one last time before Nationals. So it is time for me to move on down to working with the next generation.
She'll just have turned 2 years old by Nationals! Additionally, I will be breeding her to GC LL Brendan (out of GC Tunes Adrian 55 legs & FRR Carly). That combination has produced 5 show rabbits in 2 litters. I cannot guarantee babies, but I will breed her two weeks before nationals and palpate. If she's negative, I will breed her again just before I bring her. Most of her litters have produced 6 kits.
Get your checkbooks out.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 9:36 AM 0 comments links to this post
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Treating Rabbits
Other breeders are a wonderful source of information and misinformation about how to treat rabbits for illness and parasites. So how do you tell the difference between sound advice and a common misperception? I wish I knew the whole answer to that question, but here are some ideas.
First, when you post a question on a rabbit group, do not take the first answer you get. Wait until others have had a chance to reply to the answer. You may find that your first responder is in the minority with the suggested treatment. I often see responses that I feel are in conflict with published veterinary information. But someone pipes up with a correction by the next day.
Never take the advice of just one breeder on anything. Even the best breeders in the nation may have holes in their knowledge. Or, their herds may have been bred over time to tolerate the treatment of their breeder (after all, the ones who could not tolerate it died off over time or were not bred because they weren't seen as being hardy enough). What works for them may not work for anyone else.
I heard a story of a breeder who sprayed his rabbits' feet with Lysol after shows to reduce infection. He apparently could do that with his herd and get away with it. Yet somehow, I don't think that advice would work with everyone.
Be sure to read directions carefully. Did the advice say to use a 1% solution or a 5% solution? Was it Pen G or Pen B? Was that an oral administration or an injection? Was the injection intramuscular or subcutaneous? Was it 1 cc or 0.1 cc? And was that per rabbit or per pound?
You might ask anyone giving advice whether they have used the treatment themselves or whether they just heard about the treatment. Bad advice can be passed along as quickly as good advice, especially if no one has had the need to actually use it.
Check the advice you receive against The Merck Veterinary Manual - 8th Edition Online. Besides information on drugs and anti-parasitic treatments, the manual contains more general articles on rabbit breeding and care.
Also, you can check the Drug Dosage Calculator For Rabbits to see if the recommendations you are getting make sense. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to convert the dosage to something practical (0.5 mg means what in cc's?). But by comparing the information on the treatment package, you may be able to figure it out.
One common piece of information that I see conflict on is ivermectin. I've seen 0.1 cc per pound recommended. I personally believe that the dosage is 0.027 cc per pound, or 0.81 for a 3 lb. rabbit and just over 1/10 of a cc for a 4 lb. rabbit (0.108). [Remember, I am not a vet.] I have an acquaintance who is a Holland breeder and a vet. His wife and I were talking one day and she said that he gives 1/10 cc per rabbit. I asked twice, because I had always heard it was per pound. But she was very clear that it was per rabbit (referring to our Holland lops, of course, I'm sure the dose would be different for a Flemish Giant!).
I give my ivermectin orally. I have dropped it on the fur, but my rabbits almost always lose a patch of fur around the drops (even rabbits that had no signs of fur mites).
Another area that I see a lot of conflicting information on is vent disease. There are numerous ideas on how to identify vent disease. I recently saw a photograph of vent disease that looked nothing like any other example I'd been shown. I feel that any difference seen in the vent area is often called vent disease when it may be in reality hutch burn or a simpler irritation. I'm not qualified to say for certain, however.
Treatment for vent disease varies as well. I do not believe that topical penicillin preparations are sufficient to treat true vent disease (but may be sufficient for minor irritations). I think that Pen B, not Pen G, is the way to go. But I would advise anyone who thinks they may need to treat for vent disease to research it thoroughly first.
I will say that I've had a couple of does to stop producing. I thought perhaps they had asymptomatic vent disease, so I treated them (and their partners) with Pen B. They did start producing again. It may be that my guess was correct. But my more recent research suggests a low grade infection might have actually been the cause and the Pen G corrected it. It's certainly a topic where the more I learn, the more I find I do not know.
Considering that I don't have access to a really good rabbit-savvy vet in our small town, other breeders and information published on the web, along with culling, are my best tools for dealing with rabbit disease and injury. As long as I am a careful consumer of the information available to me, I think most things will work out just fine.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 10:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
First, when you post a question on a rabbit group, do not take the first answer you get. Wait until others have had a chance to reply to the answer. You may find that your first responder is in the minority with the suggested treatment. I often see responses that I feel are in conflict with published veterinary information. But someone pipes up with a correction by the next day.
Never take the advice of just one breeder on anything. Even the best breeders in the nation may have holes in their knowledge. Or, their herds may have been bred over time to tolerate the treatment of their breeder (after all, the ones who could not tolerate it died off over time or were not bred because they weren't seen as being hardy enough). What works for them may not work for anyone else.
I heard a story of a breeder who sprayed his rabbits' feet with Lysol after shows to reduce infection. He apparently could do that with his herd and get away with it. Yet somehow, I don't think that advice would work with everyone.
Be sure to read directions carefully. Did the advice say to use a 1% solution or a 5% solution? Was it Pen G or Pen B? Was that an oral administration or an injection? Was the injection intramuscular or subcutaneous? Was it 1 cc or 0.1 cc? And was that per rabbit or per pound?
You might ask anyone giving advice whether they have used the treatment themselves or whether they just heard about the treatment. Bad advice can be passed along as quickly as good advice, especially if no one has had the need to actually use it.
Check the advice you receive against The Merck Veterinary Manual - 8th Edition Online. Besides information on drugs and anti-parasitic treatments, the manual contains more general articles on rabbit breeding and care.
Also, you can check the Drug Dosage Calculator For Rabbits to see if the recommendations you are getting make sense. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to convert the dosage to something practical (0.5 mg means what in cc's?). But by comparing the information on the treatment package, you may be able to figure it out.
One common piece of information that I see conflict on is ivermectin. I've seen 0.1 cc per pound recommended. I personally believe that the dosage is 0.027 cc per pound, or 0.81 for a 3 lb. rabbit and just over 1/10 of a cc for a 4 lb. rabbit (0.108). [Remember, I am not a vet.] I have an acquaintance who is a Holland breeder and a vet. His wife and I were talking one day and she said that he gives 1/10 cc per rabbit. I asked twice, because I had always heard it was per pound. But she was very clear that it was per rabbit (referring to our Holland lops, of course, I'm sure the dose would be different for a Flemish Giant!).
I give my ivermectin orally. I have dropped it on the fur, but my rabbits almost always lose a patch of fur around the drops (even rabbits that had no signs of fur mites).
Another area that I see a lot of conflicting information on is vent disease. There are numerous ideas on how to identify vent disease. I recently saw a photograph of vent disease that looked nothing like any other example I'd been shown. I feel that any difference seen in the vent area is often called vent disease when it may be in reality hutch burn or a simpler irritation. I'm not qualified to say for certain, however.
Treatment for vent disease varies as well. I do not believe that topical penicillin preparations are sufficient to treat true vent disease (but may be sufficient for minor irritations). I think that Pen B, not Pen G, is the way to go. But I would advise anyone who thinks they may need to treat for vent disease to research it thoroughly first.
I will say that I've had a couple of does to stop producing. I thought perhaps they had asymptomatic vent disease, so I treated them (and their partners) with Pen B. They did start producing again. It may be that my guess was correct. But my more recent research suggests a low grade infection might have actually been the cause and the Pen G corrected it. It's certainly a topic where the more I learn, the more I find I do not know.
Considering that I don't have access to a really good rabbit-savvy vet in our small town, other breeders and information published on the web, along with culling, are my best tools for dealing with rabbit disease and injury. As long as I am a careful consumer of the information available to me, I think most things will work out just fine.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 10:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Monday, January 23, 2006
Nurturing The Breed
Several months ago, I heard a story of a breeder that disturbed me. I no longer remember the breed nor the man's name, but the gist of the story sticks with me.
He has nice bunnies that totally dominate in his area. He wins BIS from time to time (more than the average) and generally takes most of the classes and all of the BOBs. When he does lose on the rare occasion, he is a poor loser. At any given time, there may be a couple of other breeders showing that breed, but time and time again, they try for awhile, get discouraged, and give up. In the long run, he hurts himself because it is harder to earn legs with little or no competition.
It is my belief that this breeder is not nurturing his breed in his area.
I know another breeder, who also shows in a different breed, who is dominant in his breed, not just locally, but nationally. He told me that he takes into consideration the competition at a show when he decides what to show. He doesn't want to whomp the competition time and time again because he knows it will cause people to become discouraged. He's highly competitive by his own admission, but he still maintains a concern for the breed in his area.
It is my belief that this breeder is more nurturing of his breed in his region.
I once read about a rabbit with well over 100 legs. When I saw that, I didn't think, "what a wonderful rabbit!" I thought, "I bet the folks in his area are sick to death of that rabbit." I felt that it must have a depressing effect on showing in that breed in that region. How could exhibitors developing promising herds continue to go to shows week after week, knowing that in all likelihood the BOB was already spoken for?
To make matters worse, in my mind at least, that rabbit had already won top honors in its respective breed. What else did that rabbit or that exhibitor have to prove? I can see showing a rabbit extensively for a year to win a year-long contest. But after that, it seems to me a huge sign that reads, "I am afraid to put my trust in my other rabbits."
There are other things that breeders can do to encourage their breed in their region besides showing with consideration for other exhibitors. Here's a short list:
He has nice bunnies that totally dominate in his area. He wins BIS from time to time (more than the average) and generally takes most of the classes and all of the BOBs. When he does lose on the rare occasion, he is a poor loser. At any given time, there may be a couple of other breeders showing that breed, but time and time again, they try for awhile, get discouraged, and give up. In the long run, he hurts himself because it is harder to earn legs with little or no competition.
It is my belief that this breeder is not nurturing his breed in his area.
I know another breeder, who also shows in a different breed, who is dominant in his breed, not just locally, but nationally. He told me that he takes into consideration the competition at a show when he decides what to show. He doesn't want to whomp the competition time and time again because he knows it will cause people to become discouraged. He's highly competitive by his own admission, but he still maintains a concern for the breed in his area.
It is my belief that this breeder is more nurturing of his breed in his region.
I once read about a rabbit with well over 100 legs. When I saw that, I didn't think, "what a wonderful rabbit!" I thought, "I bet the folks in his area are sick to death of that rabbit." I felt that it must have a depressing effect on showing in that breed in that region. How could exhibitors developing promising herds continue to go to shows week after week, knowing that in all likelihood the BOB was already spoken for?
To make matters worse, in my mind at least, that rabbit had already won top honors in its respective breed. What else did that rabbit or that exhibitor have to prove? I can see showing a rabbit extensively for a year to win a year-long contest. But after that, it seems to me a huge sign that reads, "I am afraid to put my trust in my other rabbits."
There are other things that breeders can do to encourage their breed in their region besides showing with consideration for other exhibitors. Here's a short list:
- sell good rabbits to exhibitors near by without showing restrictions
- sell well matched trios to those starting out in the breed - they will get a jump start by working with rabbits that are compatible rather than the patchwork barn that many breeders start with
- share information freely and give good advice
- celebrate success with other breeders when they win or accomplish a goal
- mention exhibiting rabbits to your pet customers - some will decide to get into exhibiting
- sell bred does (I admit, I rarely do that anymore because I get too anxious if they don't get babies, but I'm a sucker for someone just getting started)
- participate in public education projects, such as displays at fairs
I talked with a breeder recently who does extremely well in her breed. But another breeder also does well in their show area. You might expect fierce competition and an "us against them" mentality.
Instead, they have worked back and forth with each other so that her friend's winning rabbit has her stock as ancestors (and vice versa). Her philosophy: "I can't lose. Either my rabbit wins or a rabbit out of my rabbits wins."
I know she has bred her champion bucks to does for several different people just getting started so there is more than one person out there showing stock out of her stock. I'm sure that taking that attitude has helped that breeder nurture her breed, has made her positively invested in the breeders in her area, has improved the quality of her breed in her region, and has given her more ways to enjoy breeding and exhibiting her bunnies.
It all boils down to whether you want to make decisions based on what is best for you alone or what is best for the hobby in general. I predict that those who choose the latter will be happier in the long run. No one can escape this truism: what goes around, comes around.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Mocksville Show
As predicted, dinner after the show was the highlight of my day. I and five other women plus seven children spent a couple of hours at the local Wendy's. We talked about bunnies from every different angle you can imagine. I learned a technique for getting testicles to descend. I haven't tried it. I'll let you know if I have success with it (I'll have to wait until I get a case to work on first, though). It sounds like it would be hysterical to watch, though.
[I did learn during the show that junior bucks can either have neither testicle or both testicles descended, but not just one. That was a new one for me.]
I haven't laughed so much in a very long time. It was really what I needed.
The second best thing to happen at the show was that Purdy finally granded. She's had so many first places with four rabbits on the table (which is not enough for a leg), so many second place awards, and even a misrecorded win. Even after raising a litter, she was able to come back to the table to grand and I'm proud of her.
When she was young, I thought of her as the ugly sister. Her sister May (5 legs including 2 BOS, 1 BOB/BIS, and 7th place at Convention) was the shining star. I figured Purdy would be the brood doe sister. But she was only 3.00 when I registered her, so I started thinking of her differently. She's done well on the table and surprised me by granding before her other sister Hilary (18th place at Convention, 1 BOSG, and several second places). Now I can concentrate on granding Hilary and getting all three girls back into full-time production. You can be sure that, if she's willing, Purdy will be bred before tomorrow!
In the first show, Tracy & Jenna took seven of the eight classes. It's too bad Jenna couldn't be there to enjoy the wins. I'm sure that was gratifying for their team. I took only one class, but I did it in a big way. My broken senior bucks were 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th out of 10! I expected Tracy's 5th place broken senior buck to come back and haunt me in the second show, but she decided to scratch him. Rio went on to get a BOSG. The judge said it came down to condition for the BOS and that's when I knew that Rio did not get it. He had lost 3 oz. last weekend while traveling to Augusta. He's pretty rough right now.
In the second show, Tracy & Jenna took six of the eight classes. This time, it was Camelot's Merlin who took the broken senior buck class for me with Rio second. And of course it was Purdy who took the broken senior doe class (with sister Hilary in 2nd place and sister May, who has had 16 kits since September, in 4th).
I had a combined total of nine second place rabbits from both shows. It almost became a joke. When Jo-Jo came in 3rd after 4 straight second places, I teased that the judge had ruined her streak! I just wish it had been "ruined" in the other direction. She's another I'm dying to breed but want to grand first.
My daughter Anna had the time of her life playing with the children at the show. It was worth going just for that. I love to see her so delighted.
The worst part of the show came on the way home. Anna realized that she had left Dancing Green Leaf, her sister's beloved green unicorn stuffed animal at the show. She was incredibly sad and afraid to tell her sister what she had done. I really felt awful that we had both been so distracted at the end of the show that we didn't remember Dancing Green Leaf. Luckily Lydia forgave Anna and the show superintendent found Dancing Green Leaf. So all will be well eventually.
So, now it's time to readjust my expectations. Next week's show will be totally different. There will be no youth shows, lunch will be the highlight of the day (the show breaks between a Netherland Dwarf Triple and a Holland Lop Double). And the competition will be stiff once again.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 11:53 AM 0 comments links to this post
[I did learn during the show that junior bucks can either have neither testicle or both testicles descended, but not just one. That was a new one for me.]
I haven't laughed so much in a very long time. It was really what I needed.
The second best thing to happen at the show was that Purdy finally granded. She's had so many first places with four rabbits on the table (which is not enough for a leg), so many second place awards, and even a misrecorded win. Even after raising a litter, she was able to come back to the table to grand and I'm proud of her.
When she was young, I thought of her as the ugly sister. Her sister May (5 legs including 2 BOS, 1 BOB/BIS, and 7th place at Convention) was the shining star. I figured Purdy would be the brood doe sister. But she was only 3.00 when I registered her, so I started thinking of her differently. She's done well on the table and surprised me by granding before her other sister Hilary (18th place at Convention, 1 BOSG, and several second places). Now I can concentrate on granding Hilary and getting all three girls back into full-time production. You can be sure that, if she's willing, Purdy will be bred before tomorrow!
In the first show, Tracy & Jenna took seven of the eight classes. It's too bad Jenna couldn't be there to enjoy the wins. I'm sure that was gratifying for their team. I took only one class, but I did it in a big way. My broken senior bucks were 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th out of 10! I expected Tracy's 5th place broken senior buck to come back and haunt me in the second show, but she decided to scratch him. Rio went on to get a BOSG. The judge said it came down to condition for the BOS and that's when I knew that Rio did not get it. He had lost 3 oz. last weekend while traveling to Augusta. He's pretty rough right now.
In the second show, Tracy & Jenna took six of the eight classes. This time, it was Camelot's Merlin who took the broken senior buck class for me with Rio second. And of course it was Purdy who took the broken senior doe class (with sister Hilary in 2nd place and sister May, who has had 16 kits since September, in 4th).
I had a combined total of nine second place rabbits from both shows. It almost became a joke. When Jo-Jo came in 3rd after 4 straight second places, I teased that the judge had ruined her streak! I just wish it had been "ruined" in the other direction. She's another I'm dying to breed but want to grand first.
My daughter Anna had the time of her life playing with the children at the show. It was worth going just for that. I love to see her so delighted.
The worst part of the show came on the way home. Anna realized that she had left Dancing Green Leaf, her sister's beloved green unicorn stuffed animal at the show. She was incredibly sad and afraid to tell her sister what she had done. I really felt awful that we had both been so distracted at the end of the show that we didn't remember Dancing Green Leaf. Luckily Lydia forgave Anna and the show superintendent found Dancing Green Leaf. So all will be well eventually.
So, now it's time to readjust my expectations. Next week's show will be totally different. There will be no youth shows, lunch will be the highlight of the day (the show breaks between a Netherland Dwarf Triple and a Holland Lop Double). And the competition will be stiff once again.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 11:53 AM 0 comments links to this post
Friday, January 20, 2006
Close A Door, Open A Window
One of the things I like most about our hobby is how multi-faceted it is. Probably anyone enjoying the hobby can list at least a dozen different things they enjoy:
- getting to know the upcoming "stars" in the next batch of juniors
- traveling
- visiting with friends
- helping to make a show a reality
- working on a website
- helping new breeders get started
- seeing new kits in the nest box
- seeing parts of a long-term plan fall into place
- buying a new rabbit
- having fun with the sweepstakes contest
- furthering a new or underdeveloped breed or variety
- having visitors to the barn
- learning something new
- winning on the table
That's just a quick list of the first 14 things I thought of. I'm sure there are many, many more if I really put my mind to it.
The wonderful thing is that, if one part is not working well, something else most likely is. Right now, I'm in a bit of a showing slump. I am making a transition to working with lines that mature more slowly. One sire I've used extensively didn't win his first leg until he was 18 months old. So it's likely that at least some of his offspring will not be highly competitive as juniors. I will have to be patient. But if it works out, I will eventually have more rabbits that can do well on the table for a longer period of time.
So, instead of concentrating on wins right now, I'm concentrating on my long-term plan. I'm taking joy in seeing small parts of the plan work out well. And this weekend, I want to concentrate on visiting with friends that I haven't seen for quite a long time. I've really missed them. Probably dinner after the show will be the highlight of the day!
Don't get me wrong. I'm taking some of my favorite rabbits to the show and I will hope to place well. I'd love to take a class or two. But after last week, my expectations are reigned in for sure! But even if that door is closed to me, I will check out the open windows and still find plenty of ways to enjoy my hobby.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
Thursday, January 19, 2006
A Big Step Forward
Warning: processing rabbits for meat is discussed extensively in this post. If you find the topic offensive, you may wish to skip this one.
As I review where I started and where I am, I realize I've taken a huge step forward in my rabbitry in terms of rabbit quality. I cringe when I think of rabbits that I sold with pedigrees very early on. I hate that there are some rabbits out there with my name on them that I used to think were really nice, but would now probably pet out.
But in reality, no one can start with full knowledge of Holland lops or the well developed ability to evaluate them. Both things develop with time and are never completely finished. I know I'm still a work in progress!
I have no idea how many other large steps forward I may be able to take in the future. Perhaps one day I will laugh at myself for valuing the rabbits I value today. Who knows.
But from this particular vantage point, I see that some of the rabbits I used to pet out, I now send to be processed (although I have never sold pets with bad attitudes or health issues). Some of the rabbits I used to sell as breeding stock, I now pet out. Rabbits I used to keep in my herd, I now sell as breeding stock or occasionally as show stock (I label almost everything as breeding stock unless I feel that it has the potential to show well). And the types of rabbits I keep now, I didn't even produce a couple of years ago.
Two things have brought about these changes. First, I've figured out a few things about my rabbits and I've culled my herd aggressively to get it to where it is today, and I have a plan about where it is going tomorrow.
The second thing is that I've found someone to process my culls. And in truth, that has been as big a help as anything else I've done to improve my rabbits.
When I first got into rabbits, the idea of eating them repulsed me. I still don't eat them myself. I've always intellectually had no problem with it. I don't mind that they serve rabbit at rabbit shows. I don't have anything against any friend who butchers them or eats them. I just can't do it myself.
But since I've always believed that a clean kill is better than a poor life for animals, I at least had a starting point to deal with eventually sending healthy rabbits to their deaths. It was very hard for me at first. I felt guilty. But over time, it worked well for my rabbitry and I knew that none of the rabbits I sent to the processor were being attacked by dogs, neglected by someone who bought them on impulse, dying of a disease or anything else bad that might happen to them.
By having the processing option, I can also be very picky about who I sell pets to. I rarely take pets to shows anymore unless I have promised to bring one particularly for someone. I get to place my bunnies with people who bring me their cages to show what a special place they have prepared for him or ask me a million questions to make sure they've gotten it right. I get to sell my pets to people who send me photographs and let me know their special pet came through their neutering okay. I get to sell to people who will make a two-day trip to pick up their new pet rabbit.
I'd rather sell pets to families who are really ready to be devoted to their new rabbit and take the best of care of him, than to have to take anybody who is willing to relieve me of a bunny. And having a processor has done that for me.
When I was just starting in rabbits, I was aware that the ability to find a place for every rabbit that I could not use in my program was a requirement to continue to breed for the show quality ones that I aimed for. If all of the cages were full and I could not move out bunnies, I would have to slow down my breeding program or stop for awhile until I could find homes for the excess.
It made me antsy to evaluate those babies way too young. I had to know which were pets while they were cute and adorable so I could get them into pet homes while I still could! But I soon learned to slow down, take my time, and give the show quality rabbits time to develop first. I also developed my firm belief that rabbits shouldn't be petted out until they are older - for their own good, not just for my convenience.
So having a reliable way to move out rabbits, including any with undesirable personalities, those with plain characteristics, DQs unsuitable for pethood, and so forth, has allowed me to improve my herd faster, both by giving me more time to evaluate rabbits and by making it easier to move out lower quality rabbits. When I started in rabbits, I would never have thought that finding someone to process culls would be part of the secret to success, but it really, really is.
Here are some ideas on finding a processor:
As I review where I started and where I am, I realize I've taken a huge step forward in my rabbitry in terms of rabbit quality. I cringe when I think of rabbits that I sold with pedigrees very early on. I hate that there are some rabbits out there with my name on them that I used to think were really nice, but would now probably pet out.
But in reality, no one can start with full knowledge of Holland lops or the well developed ability to evaluate them. Both things develop with time and are never completely finished. I know I'm still a work in progress!
I have no idea how many other large steps forward I may be able to take in the future. Perhaps one day I will laugh at myself for valuing the rabbits I value today. Who knows.
But from this particular vantage point, I see that some of the rabbits I used to pet out, I now send to be processed (although I have never sold pets with bad attitudes or health issues). Some of the rabbits I used to sell as breeding stock, I now pet out. Rabbits I used to keep in my herd, I now sell as breeding stock or occasionally as show stock (I label almost everything as breeding stock unless I feel that it has the potential to show well). And the types of rabbits I keep now, I didn't even produce a couple of years ago.
Two things have brought about these changes. First, I've figured out a few things about my rabbits and I've culled my herd aggressively to get it to where it is today, and I have a plan about where it is going tomorrow.
The second thing is that I've found someone to process my culls. And in truth, that has been as big a help as anything else I've done to improve my rabbits.
When I first got into rabbits, the idea of eating them repulsed me. I still don't eat them myself. I've always intellectually had no problem with it. I don't mind that they serve rabbit at rabbit shows. I don't have anything against any friend who butchers them or eats them. I just can't do it myself.
But since I've always believed that a clean kill is better than a poor life for animals, I at least had a starting point to deal with eventually sending healthy rabbits to their deaths. It was very hard for me at first. I felt guilty. But over time, it worked well for my rabbitry and I knew that none of the rabbits I sent to the processor were being attacked by dogs, neglected by someone who bought them on impulse, dying of a disease or anything else bad that might happen to them.
By having the processing option, I can also be very picky about who I sell pets to. I rarely take pets to shows anymore unless I have promised to bring one particularly for someone. I get to place my bunnies with people who bring me their cages to show what a special place they have prepared for him or ask me a million questions to make sure they've gotten it right. I get to sell my pets to people who send me photographs and let me know their special pet came through their neutering okay. I get to sell to people who will make a two-day trip to pick up their new pet rabbit.
I'd rather sell pets to families who are really ready to be devoted to their new rabbit and take the best of care of him, than to have to take anybody who is willing to relieve me of a bunny. And having a processor has done that for me.
When I was just starting in rabbits, I was aware that the ability to find a place for every rabbit that I could not use in my program was a requirement to continue to breed for the show quality ones that I aimed for. If all of the cages were full and I could not move out bunnies, I would have to slow down my breeding program or stop for awhile until I could find homes for the excess.
It made me antsy to evaluate those babies way too young. I had to know which were pets while they were cute and adorable so I could get them into pet homes while I still could! But I soon learned to slow down, take my time, and give the show quality rabbits time to develop first. I also developed my firm belief that rabbits shouldn't be petted out until they are older - for their own good, not just for my convenience.
So having a reliable way to move out rabbits, including any with undesirable personalities, those with plain characteristics, DQs unsuitable for pethood, and so forth, has allowed me to improve my herd faster, both by giving me more time to evaluate rabbits and by making it easier to move out lower quality rabbits. When I started in rabbits, I would never have thought that finding someone to process culls would be part of the secret to success, but it really, really is.
Here are some ideas on finding a processor:
- learn to butcher rabbits yourself and fill your own freezer
- see if there is a raptor center or zoo near you that will accept your rabbits
- check with breeders of commercial breeds; sometimes they can send your rabbits with theirs (non-commercial breeds may be used as pet food)
- find out who serves that rabbit meat at your rabbit shows; he or she may take your culls for you
- ask around in the community if anyone is interested in rabbits for meat (you may be able to get a few dollars this way)
- ask around at shows to find out how other breeders send their rabbits for processing
Once you find a reliable resource for processing your rabbits, you may be amazed at how much easier it is to cull. When deciding that a rabbit does not need to be part of your herd does not translate into "now what am I going to do with him?" it is just easier to make the determination. And you can start putting that cage space to much better use.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
New Website
Kim Roberts of Sweet Dreams Bunnies in Georgia has a new website! Although you can expect more pictures in the future, the site is up and running. Drop by and check it out, bookmark it for future reference, and take a peek at her for sale rabbits, which she can deliver to the Spartanburg, SC, show. And if you want to exchange links with Kim, let either Kim or me know.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 9:28 AM 0 comments links to this post
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 9:28 AM 0 comments links to this post
Touchy Times For Kits
There are several points during a kit's development that are more vulnerable than others. Once you've raised a few hundred of them, the pattern is pretty plain. Here's what I have experienced:
- Birth - that's the most obvious one. Many kits do not make it into the world alive. Among those that do, many die before the first day it over. Seeing day two is a huge accomplishment for a young rabbit.
- Three weeks - sometime around three weeks, young rabbits begin adding solid feed to their menu. Some don't seem to realize that mom will not feed them everything they need forever. Others don't handle the feed well. At about three weeks, I will often lose a kit out of a litter.
- Weaning - a doe may wean anywhere from three weeks to three months, but usually it is sometime around 6 to 8 weeks. Again, some kits do not do well once the mother's support is removed. Some do not eat enough and waste. Others have not formed the appropriate gut flora and die of enteritis or another illness.
- Teeth - anytime after weaning, I may notice a set of really bad teeth. In the wild, that rabbit would die eventually. In the barn, they are cued up to go to the processor.
Although it is possible for teeth to go bad or a rabbit to succumb to an illness at any point in their lives, I feel that my rabbits are pretty stable after four months of age. By that time, I am ready to assign names and ear numbers and print out pedigrees. If they die after that point, it is much more of a blow to me and I experience an even stronger sense of loss over them.
I must say that I still feel a sense of loss any time a rabbit dies or is born dead, especially when it is a whole litter. I can take the death of peanuts better now than I used to. I accept the occasional DOA kit without letting it ruin my day. But it may take me several hours or even a day or two to deal with the loss of an entire dead litter, especially when I was really looking forward to them. But it does help me to be somewhat prepared for kit deaths if I know that they are likely to occur at birth, 3 weeks, and weaning, and that they aren't relatively safe until they've made it to four months of age.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
When Only You Know For Sure
A group of exhibitors was standing around the judging table one day talking about scales at shows. At least some of the scales at that particular show had been calibrated with a weight, which I thought was a great idea, but very unusual. Normally, the scales at a show are just dragged around and set up, it seems, with little or no thought to their accuracy. I may be wrong about that. Perhaps scales are routinely calibrated once they are set up, but I don't think so.
I believe that is why a number of judges allow an ounce or two over the show weight. It's not because they so much want to allow a rabbit that should be DQ'd but because the instrument they must use isn't precise. Although I did recently see a rabbit allowed that was over even on a scale that had been calibrated and the judge decided to let it slide. Perhaps she did it to be consistent or perhaps she has another philosophy altogether.
In any case, the conversation at the table ran to stories of shows that failed to provide scales at all. We joked about wishing we'd brought some rabbits from the barn that we knew were overweight. A couple of breeders mentioned a show that habitually failed to provide scales. They laughed that they always knew which rabbits they could take to those shows. Now up to this point, the conversation was all laughter and poking fun and exaggeration for the sake of a good punch line.
But just then the judge spoke up, quite seriously, "That's not ethical." Still in a joking mood, a breeder replied, "This is bunnies! What's that got to do with ethics?" Now this person is a perfectly ethical breeder; it's just hard to put the brakes on a funny conversation in a heartbeat.
Then the judge went on to tell a story about a rabbit he had years ago with a hard-to-find DQ. He said that in all of the times he showed that rabbit, the DQ was only found once. But he had gotten to thinking that it just wasn't ethical to show a rabbit with a DQ, even if he was the only one that knew it.
And course he's absolutely right.
So I thought back over some of my own decisions. I had a broken tort otter that I tried to find out the color of by asking other breeders (this was 2 1/2 years ago at least). I showed him until another breeder showed me how to determine that he was actually orange. I knew enough about genetics to eliminate that possibility - no agouti gene. Then I realized that he was a broken fox. I stopped showing him that moment.
Back before I knew the difference between a smoke pearl and a blue point, I showed a blue point doe several times. I even got positive comments from judges on her beautiful smoke pearl color! But when I was reminded by our local queen of color that smoke pearl must have an "E" gene and that a sable point and a tort could never produce a smoke pearl, I stopped showing her at once.
I had a black doe with a few white hairs at the tip of her ear, apparently from a nip as a youngster. I did pluck those white hairs. That's not allowed. I did it twice and then they quit growing back in so I was able to show her without a problem. But still, I had plucked white hairs.
And, if you are a long-time reader of my BLOG, you know the story of my letting Rio's weight get up. In December, I put him into the carrier at just under 4.01 fully expecting him to lose the less than an ounce from the long car trip and overnight stay in a carrier. According to the first judge, he actually gained 2 ounces, which I didn't believe but accepted because the judge must use the scales available. The second judge adjusted and scale to "zero" carefully and even waited for him to pee! But he still came out at 4.01 and was disqualified, as he should have been.
So I worked my butt off for the next five weeks, making him a double cage for exercise, weighing him every day or two, adjusting his feed and hay intake, and monitoring the changes, and got his weight to the point that it fluctuated between 3.14 and 3.15. But when it came time to put him in the carrier, he was 4.00 exactly, according to my scale. However this time, he wasn't even weighed. I could tell that the weight loss had taken something off of him and another breeder even mentioned it. When I got him home, I weighed him again and he was 3.12.
Now another breeder showed a rabbit that made it through the first two shows without being disqualified, even though the second judge announced that he was overweight by one ounce. He was disqualified in the third show (I should note that the breeder made it clear that they did not believe the scales were accurate, so that breeder may be showing that rabbit with the belief that he is within the weight limit). It made me think that I would have been better off leaving the weight on Rio in two out of three situations.
I used to think that whether a judge cut rabbits off right at 4.0 or allowed one or two ounces was just fine, as long as the judge was consistent with everyone. But now, given my experience with Rio, I have changed my mind. Allowing the ounce or two may actually encourage people to show rabbits that are over the weight limit, rather than to work to keep them within it. If the rabbit gets by with the extra ounce or two most of the time and looks better with it, then that's the smartest strategy, isn't it? But I don't think that there should be pratices that encourage the showing of any rabbit with a DQ.
Even though it is tempting to let Rio gain back five or six ounces - he certainly looks better with it - I have decided that I do not want to show a rabbit that I know has a DQ, even if I'm the only one that knows it.
It's a matter of ethics.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 9:01 AM 0 comments links to this post
I believe that is why a number of judges allow an ounce or two over the show weight. It's not because they so much want to allow a rabbit that should be DQ'd but because the instrument they must use isn't precise. Although I did recently see a rabbit allowed that was over even on a scale that had been calibrated and the judge decided to let it slide. Perhaps she did it to be consistent or perhaps she has another philosophy altogether.
In any case, the conversation at the table ran to stories of shows that failed to provide scales at all. We joked about wishing we'd brought some rabbits from the barn that we knew were overweight. A couple of breeders mentioned a show that habitually failed to provide scales. They laughed that they always knew which rabbits they could take to those shows. Now up to this point, the conversation was all laughter and poking fun and exaggeration for the sake of a good punch line.
But just then the judge spoke up, quite seriously, "That's not ethical." Still in a joking mood, a breeder replied, "This is bunnies! What's that got to do with ethics?" Now this person is a perfectly ethical breeder; it's just hard to put the brakes on a funny conversation in a heartbeat.
Then the judge went on to tell a story about a rabbit he had years ago with a hard-to-find DQ. He said that in all of the times he showed that rabbit, the DQ was only found once. But he had gotten to thinking that it just wasn't ethical to show a rabbit with a DQ, even if he was the only one that knew it.
And course he's absolutely right.
So I thought back over some of my own decisions. I had a broken tort otter that I tried to find out the color of by asking other breeders (this was 2 1/2 years ago at least). I showed him until another breeder showed me how to determine that he was actually orange. I knew enough about genetics to eliminate that possibility - no agouti gene. Then I realized that he was a broken fox. I stopped showing him that moment.
Back before I knew the difference between a smoke pearl and a blue point, I showed a blue point doe several times. I even got positive comments from judges on her beautiful smoke pearl color! But when I was reminded by our local queen of color that smoke pearl must have an "E" gene and that a sable point and a tort could never produce a smoke pearl, I stopped showing her at once.
I had a black doe with a few white hairs at the tip of her ear, apparently from a nip as a youngster. I did pluck those white hairs. That's not allowed. I did it twice and then they quit growing back in so I was able to show her without a problem. But still, I had plucked white hairs.
And, if you are a long-time reader of my BLOG, you know the story of my letting Rio's weight get up. In December, I put him into the carrier at just under 4.01 fully expecting him to lose the less than an ounce from the long car trip and overnight stay in a carrier. According to the first judge, he actually gained 2 ounces, which I didn't believe but accepted because the judge must use the scales available. The second judge adjusted and scale to "zero" carefully and even waited for him to pee! But he still came out at 4.01 and was disqualified, as he should have been.
So I worked my butt off for the next five weeks, making him a double cage for exercise, weighing him every day or two, adjusting his feed and hay intake, and monitoring the changes, and got his weight to the point that it fluctuated between 3.14 and 3.15. But when it came time to put him in the carrier, he was 4.00 exactly, according to my scale. However this time, he wasn't even weighed. I could tell that the weight loss had taken something off of him and another breeder even mentioned it. When I got him home, I weighed him again and he was 3.12.
Now another breeder showed a rabbit that made it through the first two shows without being disqualified, even though the second judge announced that he was overweight by one ounce. He was disqualified in the third show (I should note that the breeder made it clear that they did not believe the scales were accurate, so that breeder may be showing that rabbit with the belief that he is within the weight limit). It made me think that I would have been better off leaving the weight on Rio in two out of three situations.
I used to think that whether a judge cut rabbits off right at 4.0 or allowed one or two ounces was just fine, as long as the judge was consistent with everyone. But now, given my experience with Rio, I have changed my mind. Allowing the ounce or two may actually encourage people to show rabbits that are over the weight limit, rather than to work to keep them within it. If the rabbit gets by with the extra ounce or two most of the time and looks better with it, then that's the smartest strategy, isn't it? But I don't think that there should be pratices that encourage the showing of any rabbit with a DQ.
Even though it is tempting to let Rio gain back five or six ounces - he certainly looks better with it - I have decided that I do not want to show a rabbit that I know has a DQ, even if I'm the only one that knows it.
It's a matter of ethics.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 9:01 AM 0 comments links to this post
Monday, January 16, 2006
Augusta Show
The show was disappointing in many ways, but it's over and time to look for the future. I had really hoped to grand Jo-Jo so I could get her into production, but she came in second three times. Hilary and Purdy each came in second, too.
I picked up two legs, one on a junior that is the product of a joint breeding project with my friend Dani Cole. I have been waiting for him to get big enough to show, so that bit of anticipation was satisfied. Dani got two does from the litter and I got two bucks. I'm pleased with both of them. Perhaps I will show the brother soon as well.
The other leg was Rio. That's his seventh leg. I want to get about ten legs on him and then retire him to breeding. He's happier and looks better at 4.02 than at 3.15 or 4.00 and I'm not willing to show him knowingly overweight, hoping judges will let it slide. So, after the tenth leg, I'll let him gain back his weight and enjoy his new full-time job as breeder.
Congratulations to Tracy and Jenna on three BOBs and at least one BIS with Laz. I missed the other BIS judging, so I may be short one congrats.
The most exciting part of the day was when my daughter Anna won a stuff rabbit for herself, two horse figurines for her sister Lydia, and two Batman DVD's for her brother Daniel in the raffle. Enough said.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 8:25 AM 0 comments links to this post
I picked up two legs, one on a junior that is the product of a joint breeding project with my friend Dani Cole. I have been waiting for him to get big enough to show, so that bit of anticipation was satisfied. Dani got two does from the litter and I got two bucks. I'm pleased with both of them. Perhaps I will show the brother soon as well.
The other leg was Rio. That's his seventh leg. I want to get about ten legs on him and then retire him to breeding. He's happier and looks better at 4.02 than at 3.15 or 4.00 and I'm not willing to show him knowingly overweight, hoping judges will let it slide. So, after the tenth leg, I'll let him gain back his weight and enjoy his new full-time job as breeder.
Congratulations to Tracy and Jenna on three BOBs and at least one BIS with Laz. I missed the other BIS judging, so I may be short one congrats.
The most exciting part of the day was when my daughter Anna won a stuff rabbit for herself, two horse figurines for her sister Lydia, and two Batman DVD's for her brother Daniel in the raffle. Enough said.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 8:25 AM 0 comments links to this post
Friday, January 13, 2006
Through The Wilderness
I'm humming a song with the lyric, "I made it through the wilderness." Ending today is the biggest gap in my show schedule for the entire year. Hello, my name is Laurie Stroupe, and it has been 39 days since my last rabbit show. Yes, I'm addicted and I have been going through withdrawal!
This morning I face a mixture of feelings. The dread of packing up the rabbits and the car, the excitement of putting rabbits on the table, the anticipation of seeing rabbit friends for the first time in over a month, the fear of forgetting to pack something or do something, the mental preparation to accept poor results should they come my way, the delight of getting away from it all for a few hours, the challenge of staying on my diet while traveling, and so much more.
By late tomorrow evening, it will all be over. But right at this moment, I have 36 hours jam-packed with things to do, people to see, rabbits to groom, success to enjoy, disappointment to deal with.
I trimmed my show list to 16 rabbits (hey, I'm showing for the next four weekends!) I hope I picked the right ones. I'll be showing in 7 of the 8 classes for three shows. That's 21 opportunities for a leg. Yeah! I am taking five different rabbits that only need one leg to grand. That's my hope for this weekend - at least one new grand champion. I am showing two rabbits already grand champions and a couple with just one leg. Five rabbits are being shown for the very first time.
I hate to cut this short, but I have tons to do. My BLOG tomorrow, if I get one in, will be late in the evening. More likely, I'll talk with you again on Sunday.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 8:36 AM 0 comments links to this post
This morning I face a mixture of feelings. The dread of packing up the rabbits and the car, the excitement of putting rabbits on the table, the anticipation of seeing rabbit friends for the first time in over a month, the fear of forgetting to pack something or do something, the mental preparation to accept poor results should they come my way, the delight of getting away from it all for a few hours, the challenge of staying on my diet while traveling, and so much more.
By late tomorrow evening, it will all be over. But right at this moment, I have 36 hours jam-packed with things to do, people to see, rabbits to groom, success to enjoy, disappointment to deal with.
I trimmed my show list to 16 rabbits (hey, I'm showing for the next four weekends!) I hope I picked the right ones. I'll be showing in 7 of the 8 classes for three shows. That's 21 opportunities for a leg. Yeah! I am taking five different rabbits that only need one leg to grand. That's my hope for this weekend - at least one new grand champion. I am showing two rabbits already grand champions and a couple with just one leg. Five rabbits are being shown for the very first time.
I hate to cut this short, but I have tons to do. My BLOG tomorrow, if I get one in, will be late in the evening. More likely, I'll talk with you again on Sunday.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 8:36 AM 0 comments links to this post
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Bad Legislation
I used to work for the Georgia Merit System. Our offices were right across the street from the state capitol and we all were keenly aware of the legislature being in session. We knew that laws could and would be created that, while well meaning, would not be well thought out, well funded, or practical in any way. One of the commissioner's goals was to try to help law makers understand the ramifications they weren't thinking of. Often, the attempts were successful. Other times they were not.
Did you ever watch I Dream Of Jeanie? If you are my age, you certainly did. In one episode, Jeanie gave her powers to her master. He felt that he could put them to better use than Jeanie did. She reminded him, though, that to water a desert he might empty an ocean. Needless to say, he made a mess of things by not seeing the other effects his decisions would have.
When you hear of legislation meant to control, regulate, license, or otherwise limit animals in the hands of fanciers, breeders, and hobbyists, take the time to write to those lawmakers involved. They are generally trying to "water a desert," but we need to show them how they are "emptying an ocean."
The particular message I try to get across is how beneficial animals are to our society. We are all so aware of how much time our youth, families, and individuals spend with our rabbits. We see the wholesome activities that go on. We know the benefits in terms of achievement, learning, valuing life, and even sometimes taking leadership roles. Too many lawmakers may have no idea of the wonderfulness that is our hobby.
Think of all of the teens you know who are into rabbit showing. How many of them are also into drugs? Also in gangs? Also shoplift? Also getting into other trouble with the law? I predict their numbers are far, far, far lower than the national average.
How much time does a rabbit-showing family spend together in quality time? I predict much more time than the national average.
Rabbit showing (both ARBA and 4-H) should be protected like an endangered species. In an age when our children are raised with computers, 102 channels on the television, cell phones, I-pods, palm pilots, video game boy cube station things, and such, traditional, nature-oriented activities like raising rabbits are getting rarer all of the time. Governmental agencies spend money trying to "fix" the problems our societal "advances" have caused. How about just leaving this natural, already existing "fix" alone?
Of course, there may be other flaws in the particular legislation that should be addressed. You needn't be complex in your message to the appropriate bill sponsors (but should include your name and address, however). Your note may just end up one tally in the "against" column. But hopefully you can represent the other side of the coin and help make a difference.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 9:26 AM 0 comments links to this post
Did you ever watch I Dream Of Jeanie? If you are my age, you certainly did. In one episode, Jeanie gave her powers to her master. He felt that he could put them to better use than Jeanie did. She reminded him, though, that to water a desert he might empty an ocean. Needless to say, he made a mess of things by not seeing the other effects his decisions would have.
When you hear of legislation meant to control, regulate, license, or otherwise limit animals in the hands of fanciers, breeders, and hobbyists, take the time to write to those lawmakers involved. They are generally trying to "water a desert," but we need to show them how they are "emptying an ocean."
The particular message I try to get across is how beneficial animals are to our society. We are all so aware of how much time our youth, families, and individuals spend with our rabbits. We see the wholesome activities that go on. We know the benefits in terms of achievement, learning, valuing life, and even sometimes taking leadership roles. Too many lawmakers may have no idea of the wonderfulness that is our hobby.
Think of all of the teens you know who are into rabbit showing. How many of them are also into drugs? Also in gangs? Also shoplift? Also getting into other trouble with the law? I predict their numbers are far, far, far lower than the national average.
How much time does a rabbit-showing family spend together in quality time? I predict much more time than the national average.
Rabbit showing (both ARBA and 4-H) should be protected like an endangered species. In an age when our children are raised with computers, 102 channels on the television, cell phones, I-pods, palm pilots, video game boy cube station things, and such, traditional, nature-oriented activities like raising rabbits are getting rarer all of the time. Governmental agencies spend money trying to "fix" the problems our societal "advances" have caused. How about just leaving this natural, already existing "fix" alone?
Of course, there may be other flaws in the particular legislation that should be addressed. You needn't be complex in your message to the appropriate bill sponsors (but should include your name and address, however). Your note may just end up one tally in the "against" column. But hopefully you can represent the other side of the coin and help make a difference.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 9:26 AM 0 comments links to this post
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Cost Of A Quad
I have three quad shows coming up in the near future. I like quad shows, though there are a few downsides to them. One of the biggest concerns is the cost of entry fees. Four times $2.75 to $4.00 really adds up quickly. And since I have about 30 rabbits I'd LIKE to show, that causes me lots of decisions and compromises to make.
But first, I want to put the entry fee costs into perspective.
Although a quad may entail an additional motel room that I wouldn't have needed, that's not necessarily so. It's not that unusual to have to stay both Friday night and Saturday night in a motel. I've done it plenty of times for doubles. Other than that, most of my costs for a show are fairly set, depending more heavily on the distance from my home (or a friend's home!) than on the number of shows.
Whether the show is a single or a quad, my gasoline bill will be about the same. True, if I drive back to the showroom for a second day, there will be a little more gasoline, but it would be a small percentage of the total. Certainly my mileage to and from Pennsylvania or Kentucky will be much, much more than my "around town" mileage once I get there..
Food costs will be about the same. Perhaps I will have an extra meal or two in a quad weekend. But usually, I can count on supper on Friday through breakfast on Sunday anyway.
So to sum up, my other costs for attending the show do not double when I attend a quad. Only the entry fees double. So, in terms of cost, it would be better to go to one quad and show everything I would normally show and then skip some other show.
Oh now I see the problem!!! I can't seem to skip a show. I think there has been exactly one show that I consciously skipped since I started showing rabbits. There have been shows I've missed because of scheduling conflicts, sure. There are shows that I attend now that I didn't really know about in the beginning. But other than that, I can't seem to stay home when I know there's a rabbit show I could be at.
The one show I skipped was a single, far from home, when the gasoline prices hit the roof, the weekend after I'd driven to Kentucky with just my daughter, and then my travel partner was suddenly unable to make the show. That's apparently what it takes to make me skip a show!!!
From what I can tell, I have shown Holland lops more than any other exhibitor in the nation for the last year and a half. That's really embarrassing. I really hate to let my obsessive personality show so much!!! I'm kidding (okay, only partly). I do really love showing rabbits and I also enjoy the break from being home all week (my husband works from home and I home school three of our four children). I enjoy the time with my family, but the break away refreshes me so that I can face the new week with some renewed energy.
The other downside to quads is the exhaustion of getting that many rabbits on and off the tables. My feet and legs do not appreciate a quad nearly as much as the rest of me does.
In our local area, we sometimes have a double show one weekend and then another double two hours away in the next week or so. I'd love to see those shows coordinate and put on a quad. It would sure save a lot of gasoline! Of course, those people who have a set limit on entry fees per weekend might not show as much that way, even though it would be a financial benefit compared to two double shows.
I think that the formula for a good quad is organization and high quality judges. When you have that, the extra benefit of a quad kicks in because it draws a crowd. For the same entry fee, taking a class or placing at a quad with good attendance increases the number of sweeps points you can earn and increases the value of any legs or specials. Not all legs are created equally. Last year at the PA State Convention there were something like 52 solid senior bucks. Whichever rabbit took that class earned over 300 points in one fell swoop.
The three quad shows I'm attending are the PA State Convention, The North Carolina State Convention, and the Lexington, Kentucky show, which is quad for Hollands and also Jersey Woolies, I believe.
I hope to see you there!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
But first, I want to put the entry fee costs into perspective.
Although a quad may entail an additional motel room that I wouldn't have needed, that's not necessarily so. It's not that unusual to have to stay both Friday night and Saturday night in a motel. I've done it plenty of times for doubles. Other than that, most of my costs for a show are fairly set, depending more heavily on the distance from my home (or a friend's home!) than on the number of shows.
Whether the show is a single or a quad, my gasoline bill will be about the same. True, if I drive back to the showroom for a second day, there will be a little more gasoline, but it would be a small percentage of the total. Certainly my mileage to and from Pennsylvania or Kentucky will be much, much more than my "around town" mileage once I get there..
Food costs will be about the same. Perhaps I will have an extra meal or two in a quad weekend. But usually, I can count on supper on Friday through breakfast on Sunday anyway.
So to sum up, my other costs for attending the show do not double when I attend a quad. Only the entry fees double. So, in terms of cost, it would be better to go to one quad and show everything I would normally show and then skip some other show.
Oh now I see the problem!!! I can't seem to skip a show. I think there has been exactly one show that I consciously skipped since I started showing rabbits. There have been shows I've missed because of scheduling conflicts, sure. There are shows that I attend now that I didn't really know about in the beginning. But other than that, I can't seem to stay home when I know there's a rabbit show I could be at.
The one show I skipped was a single, far from home, when the gasoline prices hit the roof, the weekend after I'd driven to Kentucky with just my daughter, and then my travel partner was suddenly unable to make the show. That's apparently what it takes to make me skip a show!!!
From what I can tell, I have shown Holland lops more than any other exhibitor in the nation for the last year and a half. That's really embarrassing. I really hate to let my obsessive personality show so much!!! I'm kidding (okay, only partly). I do really love showing rabbits and I also enjoy the break from being home all week (my husband works from home and I home school three of our four children). I enjoy the time with my family, but the break away refreshes me so that I can face the new week with some renewed energy.
The other downside to quads is the exhaustion of getting that many rabbits on and off the tables. My feet and legs do not appreciate a quad nearly as much as the rest of me does.
In our local area, we sometimes have a double show one weekend and then another double two hours away in the next week or so. I'd love to see those shows coordinate and put on a quad. It would sure save a lot of gasoline! Of course, those people who have a set limit on entry fees per weekend might not show as much that way, even though it would be a financial benefit compared to two double shows.
I think that the formula for a good quad is organization and high quality judges. When you have that, the extra benefit of a quad kicks in because it draws a crowd. For the same entry fee, taking a class or placing at a quad with good attendance increases the number of sweeps points you can earn and increases the value of any legs or specials. Not all legs are created equally. Last year at the PA State Convention there were something like 52 solid senior bucks. Whichever rabbit took that class earned over 300 points in one fell swoop.
The three quad shows I'm attending are the PA State Convention, The North Carolina State Convention, and the Lexington, Kentucky show, which is quad for Hollands and also Jersey Woolies, I believe.
I hope to see you there!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun