The Nature Trail Rabbitry BLOG
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Two Observations From Family Night
On Tuesday nights, we have family night. We make or buy pizza. Sometimes we have a treat, too. And we watch a movie or play a game or swim together.
Last Tuesday, I thought that we had settled on watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. But Lydia didn't want to. So I said that I was open to suggestions. For the next half hour, various members of the family made suggestions: Let's watch Planet of the Apes, let's go swimming, let's have a checkers tournament, let's watch Spirit, and on and on.
To each thing, Lydia said no. She had just washed her hair, so she didn't want to swim. Spirit was broken. Planet of the Apes was weird. She wasn't in the mood for checkers. She had just watched this movie or that. We repeatedly asked for her suggestions, but she didn't have any.
Finally, Andrew and I had a talk with her about being part of a group. It's not okay, we told her, just to veto every idea. If you are going to complain about our activity, you need to be willing to at least make suggestions for an alternative.
She didn't really seem to get it. She's 11 and has her own way of viewing the world!
Once you step out of your barn and into a show or club meeting or rabbit social gathering, you are part of a group. The same idea applies - be willing to be part of the solution to the problems that you see and to improving the things you dislike. It is not sufficient to simply point our problems and complain.
Now for the second observation.
We did watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang after all. Lydia decided not to join us for family night, which was a big loss to me. But since we couldn't determine an alternative, it was the best we could do.
If you've ever seen the movie, you know that it is jam-packed with musical numbers. Andrew likes the one where the grandfather is singing about the POSH life (Port Out, Starboard Home refers to the cabins requested by the rich on oceanic journeys, by the way).
I like the song the baron and baronet sing to each other - while he's trying to do away with her! I can't say that I see a moral there, though.
But what struck me was a song sung by the grandfather and a group of captive inventors - From the Ashes of Disaster Grow the Roses of Success. Over and over they describe how each failure can be motivation to try harder, not to repeat a mistake, to build on what you learn from trials, and so forth.
Of course, my mind wandered to bunnies and I thought about how I feel when things don't work out. We can either get frustrated and quit or we can use it as motivation. If we try a breeding and it's awful, we add that information to our fund of knowledge that makes us a better breeder in the long run. If we have a period where we aren't producing rabbits we like, it makes it all the sweeter when we find that wonderful bunny in a litter.
So next time things go wrong in a club, show, or group, remember to be part of the solution and not just a complainer. And when something goes wrong in your barn, remember that from the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design ¶ 6:52 AM 0 comments links to this post
Last Tuesday, I thought that we had settled on watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. But Lydia didn't want to. So I said that I was open to suggestions. For the next half hour, various members of the family made suggestions: Let's watch Planet of the Apes, let's go swimming, let's have a checkers tournament, let's watch Spirit, and on and on.
To each thing, Lydia said no. She had just washed her hair, so she didn't want to swim. Spirit was broken. Planet of the Apes was weird. She wasn't in the mood for checkers. She had just watched this movie or that. We repeatedly asked for her suggestions, but she didn't have any.
Finally, Andrew and I had a talk with her about being part of a group. It's not okay, we told her, just to veto every idea. If you are going to complain about our activity, you need to be willing to at least make suggestions for an alternative.
She didn't really seem to get it. She's 11 and has her own way of viewing the world!
Once you step out of your barn and into a show or club meeting or rabbit social gathering, you are part of a group. The same idea applies - be willing to be part of the solution to the problems that you see and to improving the things you dislike. It is not sufficient to simply point our problems and complain.
Now for the second observation.
We did watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang after all. Lydia decided not to join us for family night, which was a big loss to me. But since we couldn't determine an alternative, it was the best we could do.
If you've ever seen the movie, you know that it is jam-packed with musical numbers. Andrew likes the one where the grandfather is singing about the POSH life (Port Out, Starboard Home refers to the cabins requested by the rich on oceanic journeys, by the way).
I like the song the baron and baronet sing to each other - while he's trying to do away with her! I can't say that I see a moral there, though.
But what struck me was a song sung by the grandfather and a group of captive inventors - From the Ashes of Disaster Grow the Roses of Success. Over and over they describe how each failure can be motivation to try harder, not to repeat a mistake, to build on what you learn from trials, and so forth.
Of course, my mind wandered to bunnies and I thought about how I feel when things don't work out. We can either get frustrated and quit or we can use it as motivation. If we try a breeding and it's awful, we add that information to our fund of knowledge that makes us a better breeder in the long run. If we have a period where we aren't producing rabbits we like, it makes it all the sweeter when we find that wonderful bunny in a litter.
So next time things go wrong in a club, show, or group, remember to be part of the solution and not just a complainer. And when something goes wrong in your barn, remember that from the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design ¶ 6:52 AM 0 comments links to this post
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Cute Kits
I hate to be picky, but there is a time when I want my kits to be cute and a time when I don't.
Let me explain. At three weeks of age, I sometimes get these gorgeous kits with full coats, beautifully placed ears that lop so well, a big head, and broad chest. They are a miniature of the perfect Holland lop. I hate those.
You see, those kits get you so excited because they are so gorgeous. But here's what's wrong. First, that full coat and gorgeous head probably mean it's a fuzzy. Those nicely lopped ears will be down to his knees by the time he's old enough to show. (And if I'm wrong about the first two and he's just bound to be a gorgeous Holland, then he's the one who will die or get the tip of his ear bitten off.)
No, I prefer my three week olds to have short ears that haven't started lopping - they should still be little pointy things at that age. I don't want that coat to be as long as the dam's at that age, either. And I'm looking for the middle-sized kits already, though it will be very obvious in three to five weeks. Those big full ones will probably be false dwarfs. Those tiny ones will probably be runty or too small to be competitive. Those middle-sized ones give me some hope.
Now it's great if an 8-week old is pretty, but that's totally optional. From about 6 weeks until anywhere from 3 1/2 months to 5 1/2 months, I just feed and take care of the rabbits and try very, very hard not to evaluate them for anything except being a false dwarf buck with no particularly good parts.
From time to time after 3 1/2 months, I'll peek in to see if any are ready to show; some are a bit precocious. I've had a very few 3 1/2 month olds to show well. But some are actually ready then. After that point, every week or so, I may add more juniors to the ready-to-show list.
That's when I want my rabbits to really start looking good. And I really don't care if their ears haven't totally lopped by then, either. I much prefer late lopping ears to long, heavy ears. I can't stand them. If I peek in at an 8-month old to find that his or her ears are finally down, great! It was probably worth the wait if they are still in my barn by that age because a rabbit has to have something going for it to make it that long.
Of course, every now and then, you will find an exception to almost any rule. I have a litter from May right now that has been cute every day of their lives. They were adorable at 3 weeks with longish fur and big heads. After the possibility of fuzzy was pointed out to me by a visitor, I was sure that they all four were fuzzies. But they are past the point that fuzzy is a possibility. I'm pleased at the surprise. I may find that early cuteness runs in that line. May was always cute herself.
But for most of my Hollands, waiting is the name of the game. Patience, not my strong suit, by the way, is the most important ingredient in my breeding program.
"Longer to the table, longer on the table . . . quicker to the table, quicker off."
Update: I think that the litter that produced May, Purdy, Hilary, and Jewel is my best thus far, both overall and in earth length. You can now see their baby picture on May's Page. Yup, she had those pointy little things I love!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 6:47 AM 3 comments links to this post
Let me explain. At three weeks of age, I sometimes get these gorgeous kits with full coats, beautifully placed ears that lop so well, a big head, and broad chest. They are a miniature of the perfect Holland lop. I hate those.
You see, those kits get you so excited because they are so gorgeous. But here's what's wrong. First, that full coat and gorgeous head probably mean it's a fuzzy. Those nicely lopped ears will be down to his knees by the time he's old enough to show. (And if I'm wrong about the first two and he's just bound to be a gorgeous Holland, then he's the one who will die or get the tip of his ear bitten off.)
No, I prefer my three week olds to have short ears that haven't started lopping - they should still be little pointy things at that age. I don't want that coat to be as long as the dam's at that age, either. And I'm looking for the middle-sized kits already, though it will be very obvious in three to five weeks. Those big full ones will probably be false dwarfs. Those tiny ones will probably be runty or too small to be competitive. Those middle-sized ones give me some hope.
Now it's great if an 8-week old is pretty, but that's totally optional. From about 6 weeks until anywhere from 3 1/2 months to 5 1/2 months, I just feed and take care of the rabbits and try very, very hard not to evaluate them for anything except being a false dwarf buck with no particularly good parts.
From time to time after 3 1/2 months, I'll peek in to see if any are ready to show; some are a bit precocious. I've had a very few 3 1/2 month olds to show well. But some are actually ready then. After that point, every week or so, I may add more juniors to the ready-to-show list.
That's when I want my rabbits to really start looking good. And I really don't care if their ears haven't totally lopped by then, either. I much prefer late lopping ears to long, heavy ears. I can't stand them. If I peek in at an 8-month old to find that his or her ears are finally down, great! It was probably worth the wait if they are still in my barn by that age because a rabbit has to have something going for it to make it that long.
Of course, every now and then, you will find an exception to almost any rule. I have a litter from May right now that has been cute every day of their lives. They were adorable at 3 weeks with longish fur and big heads. After the possibility of fuzzy was pointed out to me by a visitor, I was sure that they all four were fuzzies. But they are past the point that fuzzy is a possibility. I'm pleased at the surprise. I may find that early cuteness runs in that line. May was always cute herself.
But for most of my Hollands, waiting is the name of the game. Patience, not my strong suit, by the way, is the most important ingredient in my breeding program.
"Longer to the table, longer on the table . . . quicker to the table, quicker off."
Update: I think that the litter that produced May, Purdy, Hilary, and Jewel is my best thus far, both overall and in earth length. You can now see their baby picture on May's Page. Yup, she had those pointy little things I love!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 6:47 AM 3 comments links to this post
Monday, August 28, 2006
Dog-Tired
I am dog-tired. And just about every part of my body is aching. And I have a lovely red neck that burns a bit.
So how did I land in such a shape? Bunnies.
Andrew and I started the Great Barn Cleaning of 2006 this past weekend. But this is no ordinary great barn cleaning. Oh no. We’re also adding our PVC automatic watering system at the same time.
We started on Saturday morning by moving everything extraneous out of the first aisle of the barn. We have three aisles with a row on either side. I moved the bunnies into carriers placed on the third aisle. Then we took down the cages in one row and took them outside for pressure washing.
This will be the last time we take them down. I am hoping that in the future, we will pressure wash them in place. We’ll see about that when the time comes.
While I washed the cages, Andrew cut the PVC and fit the pieces together. We had a few things to figure out – where to put the risers, where to put the drain, etc. Finally things seemed to come together.
The heating cable must be threaded through the PVC (the cable will keep the water from freezing this winter). We figured the best, and maybe the only way to do that was to thread and then glue the PVC together. It all worked well, so by evening, we hung the cages back, marked the location of the founts, and removed the cages again.
Andrew drilled holes and glued saddles in place. Then it was time to hang the cages again, place a crock in each, and juggle bunnies around so that the second row of cages was empty and ready for the next day.
The first day, I had washed cages facing a westerly direction, so I got a bit of sunburn on my arms. I made sure I had sunscreen on them the next day. But Andrew showed me the way he normally cleans them, so I ended up facing north – and getting a terrible sunburn on the back of my neck. Ouch!
We proceeded in generally the same way as the day before. I would take a break and go inside when Andrew glued the pieces. I am extremely sensitive to chemicals, so I got the heck out of there when he glued.
Things took a downward turn. I knew it was bad when Andrew came in and told me that I had married an idiot, or something like that.
You see, after gluing a section, part of the PVC started bulging a bit. So, he did the sensible thing and decided to cut the pipe, take out the extra and rejoin it. It was the millisecond after he cut the pipe that he remembered that the heating cable was inside.
And the directions plainly say, “Do not splice heating cable.”
So, we securely taped a new cable to the end of the old and carefully pulled it through. It’s not as easy as it sounds with all of the twists and turns. There are over 50 feet of pipe in that section alone.
Things went well for a bit and then snap! the wire came apart. There is a connection between the heating cable and the electrical wire. We had reinforced it with electrical tape, but apparently not enough. Now what?
Luckily, the new cable had made it far enough to be in the sections not yet glued. So, we took some pieces apart and got the rest threaded through.
That put us a bit behind in our schedule. That, with an unplanned trip for more PVC glue, made the day slip away. It was 9:00 p.m. before the cages were hung, the spots marked, more drilling, more glue, and at last the cages were hung again.
I then went out to move rabbits around, make sure that every cage on the first aisle had a crock for water, and fed my furry babies.
I got to bed around midnight and closed my eyes for two seconds. Poof, it was time to get up and start home school.
So that’s why I am dog-tired. And we still have four rows to go!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 3:36 PM 0 comments links to this post
So how did I land in such a shape? Bunnies.
Andrew and I started the Great Barn Cleaning of 2006 this past weekend. But this is no ordinary great barn cleaning. Oh no. We’re also adding our PVC automatic watering system at the same time.
We started on Saturday morning by moving everything extraneous out of the first aisle of the barn. We have three aisles with a row on either side. I moved the bunnies into carriers placed on the third aisle. Then we took down the cages in one row and took them outside for pressure washing.
This will be the last time we take them down. I am hoping that in the future, we will pressure wash them in place. We’ll see about that when the time comes.
While I washed the cages, Andrew cut the PVC and fit the pieces together. We had a few things to figure out – where to put the risers, where to put the drain, etc. Finally things seemed to come together.
The heating cable must be threaded through the PVC (the cable will keep the water from freezing this winter). We figured the best, and maybe the only way to do that was to thread and then glue the PVC together. It all worked well, so by evening, we hung the cages back, marked the location of the founts, and removed the cages again.
Andrew drilled holes and glued saddles in place. Then it was time to hang the cages again, place a crock in each, and juggle bunnies around so that the second row of cages was empty and ready for the next day.
The first day, I had washed cages facing a westerly direction, so I got a bit of sunburn on my arms. I made sure I had sunscreen on them the next day. But Andrew showed me the way he normally cleans them, so I ended up facing north – and getting a terrible sunburn on the back of my neck. Ouch!
We proceeded in generally the same way as the day before. I would take a break and go inside when Andrew glued the pieces. I am extremely sensitive to chemicals, so I got the heck out of there when he glued.
Things took a downward turn. I knew it was bad when Andrew came in and told me that I had married an idiot, or something like that.
You see, after gluing a section, part of the PVC started bulging a bit. So, he did the sensible thing and decided to cut the pipe, take out the extra and rejoin it. It was the millisecond after he cut the pipe that he remembered that the heating cable was inside.
And the directions plainly say, “Do not splice heating cable.”
So, we securely taped a new cable to the end of the old and carefully pulled it through. It’s not as easy as it sounds with all of the twists and turns. There are over 50 feet of pipe in that section alone.
Things went well for a bit and then snap! the wire came apart. There is a connection between the heating cable and the electrical wire. We had reinforced it with electrical tape, but apparently not enough. Now what?
Luckily, the new cable had made it far enough to be in the sections not yet glued. So, we took some pieces apart and got the rest threaded through.
That put us a bit behind in our schedule. That, with an unplanned trip for more PVC glue, made the day slip away. It was 9:00 p.m. before the cages were hung, the spots marked, more drilling, more glue, and at last the cages were hung again.
I then went out to move rabbits around, make sure that every cage on the first aisle had a crock for water, and fed my furry babies.
I got to bed around midnight and closed my eyes for two seconds. Poof, it was time to get up and start home school.
So that’s why I am dog-tired. And we still have four rows to go!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 3:36 PM 0 comments links to this post
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Statistics
Someone once commented that they were surprised that I keep so many statistics on my rabbitry. To me, it's just the natural way to do things. After all, I spent years conducting research for a living. But even if it's not second nature to you, it still might be a good idea.
Think about all of the does in your barn that are producing. Then, without looking at the data, decide which does are doing your barn the most good. Now go back and see how many bunnies worth pedigreeing each has produced. Did you find any surprises?
When I took The Nature Trail's Spice out of the cage to photograph her, I wasn't so impressed with her. It made me wonder why I had even kept her in the first place! Of course, she was much cuter before having several litters. Her body was much more filled out. She's been in breeding cages with babies most of her adult life and not on the show table, so it's no wonder she refused to pose for me.
But let's look at the data for a minute. Spice is just under 1 1/2 years old. She has been in production for almost a year. She has produced 12 surviving offspring old enough to pedigree and has a litter in the box now. Of the 12 older offspring, she produced five that I showed with success: Picante, Suzy Q, Quinn, Quincy, and Navaro. She has two more show quality bucks that will be shown soon. That means she's producing over 50% keepers!
On the other hand, I have GC The Nature Trail's Brook. She is nearly two years old. She has produced one surviving kit and has two kits in the nest box. I love this doe. She has an awesome body and granded quite easily, with 6 BOSs and 1 BOGs.
Now since Brook only recently started producing, it may be that in the next 8 months before I sell her, she'll produce something that is really worthwhile. But it is more likely that Spice was the more valuable doe to my breeding program. Spice has worked her way out of a job; Brook still needs to produce a replacement.
The thing is, I was very surprised at the findings. I keep a list of does, in order of their value to my breeding program. I've talked about that before, how I move them up if they conform highly to the standards, produce live young, are good mothers, are young themselves, and produce good offspring. I move them down if they have stronger faults, have trouble kindling, don't care for their young well, are older, or have failed to produce worthy offspring.
I find that I had Spice well undervalued. It's only the statistics that help me see the error of my reasoning.
Just decide whether you want to run your rabbitry and breeding program on your gut reactions, impressions, and judgment, or whether you want to run it based on information. There are benefits to both. But if you want to run it on information, you'll need to collect the facts, organize the information, and evaluate it. You'll know what to do from there.
Laurie Stroupe T
he Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 7:58 AM 0 comments links to this post
Think about all of the does in your barn that are producing. Then, without looking at the data, decide which does are doing your barn the most good. Now go back and see how many bunnies worth pedigreeing each has produced. Did you find any surprises?
When I took The Nature Trail's Spice out of the cage to photograph her, I wasn't so impressed with her. It made me wonder why I had even kept her in the first place! Of course, she was much cuter before having several litters. Her body was much more filled out. She's been in breeding cages with babies most of her adult life and not on the show table, so it's no wonder she refused to pose for me.
But let's look at the data for a minute. Spice is just under 1 1/2 years old. She has been in production for almost a year. She has produced 12 surviving offspring old enough to pedigree and has a litter in the box now. Of the 12 older offspring, she produced five that I showed with success: Picante, Suzy Q, Quinn, Quincy, and Navaro. She has two more show quality bucks that will be shown soon. That means she's producing over 50% keepers!
On the other hand, I have GC The Nature Trail's Brook. She is nearly two years old. She has produced one surviving kit and has two kits in the nest box. I love this doe. She has an awesome body and granded quite easily, with 6 BOSs and 1 BOGs.
Now since Brook only recently started producing, it may be that in the next 8 months before I sell her, she'll produce something that is really worthwhile. But it is more likely that Spice was the more valuable doe to my breeding program. Spice has worked her way out of a job; Brook still needs to produce a replacement.
The thing is, I was very surprised at the findings. I keep a list of does, in order of their value to my breeding program. I've talked about that before, how I move them up if they conform highly to the standards, produce live young, are good mothers, are young themselves, and produce good offspring. I move them down if they have stronger faults, have trouble kindling, don't care for their young well, are older, or have failed to produce worthy offspring.
I find that I had Spice well undervalued. It's only the statistics that help me see the error of my reasoning.
Just decide whether you want to run your rabbitry and breeding program on your gut reactions, impressions, and judgment, or whether you want to run it based on information. There are benefits to both. But if you want to run it on information, you'll need to collect the facts, organize the information, and evaluate it. You'll know what to do from there.
Laurie Stroupe T
he Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 7:58 AM 0 comments links to this post
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Discussions, Disagreements, Arguments, and Fights
The kids and I are studying Critical Thinking in home school this year. It's a fascinating topic that you are probably familiar with, even it if is not known to you by that name.
To think critically, we stay open to new ideas, are aware that not everyone uses the same words to mean the same thing, we know when we need more information, we refrain from arguing over information which is a matter of credible public record, distinguish between things that might be true and those that must be true, etc.
One of the things I like best about the book we are using as our text is that it states that almost anyone can improve their critical thinking ability, regardless of their performance in other subjects. I hope that also means that almost anyone can learn to think more critically regardless of their age.
Today, we discussed the differences among discussions, disagreements, arguments, and fights. I'm sure you are aware of the negative connotations of these terms, but some of them, in terms of critical thinking, are not that bad. Let's go over them one by one:
To think critically, we stay open to new ideas, are aware that not everyone uses the same words to mean the same thing, we know when we need more information, we refrain from arguing over information which is a matter of credible public record, distinguish between things that might be true and those that must be true, etc.
One of the things I like best about the book we are using as our text is that it states that almost anyone can improve their critical thinking ability, regardless of their performance in other subjects. I hope that also means that almost anyone can learn to think more critically regardless of their age.
Today, we discussed the differences among discussions, disagreements, arguments, and fights. I'm sure you are aware of the negative connotations of these terms, but some of them, in terms of critical thinking, are not that bad. Let's go over them one by one:
- a discussion means that two or more people are talking about the same subject, but no one states that the other is wrong about any topic
- a disagreement means that at least one person states that the other person is wrong about something but that person does not try to convince the other person that he or she is wrong
- an argument means that there is a disagreement and that one or more people involved in the discussion attempts to convince another person that they are wrong in their point of view
- a fight (verbal) means that one or more participants in the argument have lost control - their face may be red, they may have raised their voice, they may have resorted to personal attacks, sarcasm, or threats
The way I read this list, the first three are perfectly acceptable alternatives, despite "argument" having a somewhat negative connotation. Even "disagreement" may be regarded as a negative thing, especially since it has been used as a euphemism for a fight. But as defined here, arguments and disagreements are AOK.
Different people have different levels of tolerance for discussion, disagreement, argument, and even fights. I remember several years ago, Andrew and I were having a passionate argument about something. We each believed the other to be wrong. We both tried very hard to convince the other of our view points. To us, this was a totally acceptable interchange. We stuck to the topic and didn't get into a fight. But because it was passionate, a friend actually told me she was worried that Andrew would leave me over this argument! To me, her comment seemed to come out of the blue.
When I mentioned her concern to Andrew, he was totally dumbfounded. Why would anyone think that there was a problem because we each presented the arguments for our side of an issue? My friend has a very low tolerance for disagreement, let alone what we would consider a healthy argument.
I have a very low tolerance for fights. I have deep respect for arguments. And when I say "argument" in this context, it's more akin to an attorney presenting the arguments in favor of his or her client than to the context, "My boyfriend and I got into a huge argument last night and broke up."
I think that as long as people discuss ideas and concepts, we should be able to talk about almost anything. An argument, that is, when someone presents the arguments either against someone else's viewpoint or for their own, helps us learn. They help us see things from a different point of view. If they persuade us to change our minds, that could be a good thing. If we stick to our guns, we may be even more solid in our position than before the arguments were made. Sometimes, they help both parties see a better point of view together than either would have seen separately - that's synergism.
In our household, we have rules posted for fighting fair. I think I'm going to change the title on that to Rules For Arguing, after learning these definitions. The rules encourage sticking to the issues, listening, and looking for solutions. They disallow shouting, hitting, throwing things, using profanity, insulting, blaming, or name calling.
You'd think that we wouldn't need such a set of rules for rabbit shows and rabbit clubs. But unfortunately, that's not the case. I remember hearing two women yelling at each other at Convention last year. I don't know the people or the issue, but it was clear that the argument had turned into a fight. At a show a few months ago, I was afraid that two exhibitors might actually come to blows.
One only need read a large rabbit Yahoo! Group for a short time before you will see personal attacks substituted for making a sound argument.
My hope is that more and more people will decide to use critical thinking, to employ arguments instead of fighting. I'm sure you never thought you'd read on this BLOG that I encourage arguing! But in the context of critical thinking, I really do.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Miss Lou
Take a moment or two and think of the two or three people in your life, outside of your own household, that really made a different to you. These people made you feel special, set a good example, or helped you in some way. These are people you will never forget, no matter how many more years you live.
Now I really want you to think of these people. Recall their names and what they meant to you. I'll wait. Take your time.
. . .
. . .
. . .
Does recalling these people make you feel warm and special all over again? I certainly hope so.
I want to tell you about one of the people in my life. Her name, to everyone who loves her, is Miss Lou. I met her in 1974 when my family moved to North Carolina. I was in the 7th grade and did not want to move at all. It was a horrible year for me. Everything was different, and I don't mean in a good way.
We joined the local Lutheran Church, where my father was engaged as the choir director. Miss Lou was my Sunday School teacher. She was also the local librarian (yes, we still called them that in those days). Miss Lou taught me how to pronounce Habakkuk - you know, one of those more obscure books in the Old Testament. She also seemed to very concerned about my braces. Every time I went to the library, I had to show them to her, while she winced at the very thought of them.
Really, there was not much more to it than that. She remembered my name, she inquired about how I was doing, and she really seemed to care about what was going on with me.
When I got married, Miss Lou and her husband attended my registry. Not long after, George died. I felt very fortunate that the photographer got a particularly good picture of them - Miss Lou looking like the angel that she is and George showing that mischievous side of himself. I had a copy made for Miss Lou. I didn't see her much in those days, but I will always remember the visit we had when I took it to her.
After that, I moved away from home. I heard from Miss Lou once. She sent me a gift certificate for long-distance telephone calls so that I could keep in touch with my family.
After that, my life was complicated and I moved around a bit. I kept up with the major things in Miss Lou's life and vice versa through my mother. Then, about six years ago, Miss Lou traveled over two hours to attend my mother's house blessing. Now I failed to mention that Miss Lou was an old lady when I met her (at least in the eyes of an adolescent). She retired not long after we moved to North Carolina. Of course, nowadays, I wouldn't think she was that old back then! But she's certainly the epitome of a sweet little old lady these days.
I loved that visit with her, too. She enjoyed seeing my children and their dogs running down the hill toward their grandparents' home. She once again cared so much for what was going on in my life.
Now let's think about these people, the Miss Lou's of the world. Why do we admire them so much? It is because they are rich? It is because they have Ph.D.'s and win Nobel prizes? Is it because they breed the best bunnies in the country?
I'm willing to bet that they are not. I'm willing to bet that every person on your list is ordinary in almost every way. The only thing that sets them apart is that they made you feel cared for and took time out of their life for you.
I met Miss Lou at the library. It's an ordinary place one would go in the ordinary routine of life. A rabbit show is an ordinary place, too. It is a place where we meet many people for whom we could become that special person they never forget.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design ¶ 6:44 PM 0 comments links to this post
Now I really want you to think of these people. Recall their names and what they meant to you. I'll wait. Take your time.
. . .
. . .
. . .
Does recalling these people make you feel warm and special all over again? I certainly hope so.
I want to tell you about one of the people in my life. Her name, to everyone who loves her, is Miss Lou. I met her in 1974 when my family moved to North Carolina. I was in the 7th grade and did not want to move at all. It was a horrible year for me. Everything was different, and I don't mean in a good way.
We joined the local Lutheran Church, where my father was engaged as the choir director. Miss Lou was my Sunday School teacher. She was also the local librarian (yes, we still called them that in those days). Miss Lou taught me how to pronounce Habakkuk - you know, one of those more obscure books in the Old Testament. She also seemed to very concerned about my braces. Every time I went to the library, I had to show them to her, while she winced at the very thought of them.
Really, there was not much more to it than that. She remembered my name, she inquired about how I was doing, and she really seemed to care about what was going on with me.
When I got married, Miss Lou and her husband attended my registry. Not long after, George died. I felt very fortunate that the photographer got a particularly good picture of them - Miss Lou looking like the angel that she is and George showing that mischievous side of himself. I had a copy made for Miss Lou. I didn't see her much in those days, but I will always remember the visit we had when I took it to her.
After that, I moved away from home. I heard from Miss Lou once. She sent me a gift certificate for long-distance telephone calls so that I could keep in touch with my family.
After that, my life was complicated and I moved around a bit. I kept up with the major things in Miss Lou's life and vice versa through my mother. Then, about six years ago, Miss Lou traveled over two hours to attend my mother's house blessing. Now I failed to mention that Miss Lou was an old lady when I met her (at least in the eyes of an adolescent). She retired not long after we moved to North Carolina. Of course, nowadays, I wouldn't think she was that old back then! But she's certainly the epitome of a sweet little old lady these days.
I loved that visit with her, too. She enjoyed seeing my children and their dogs running down the hill toward their grandparents' home. She once again cared so much for what was going on in my life.
Now let's think about these people, the Miss Lou's of the world. Why do we admire them so much? It is because they are rich? It is because they have Ph.D.'s and win Nobel prizes? Is it because they breed the best bunnies in the country?
I'm willing to bet that they are not. I'm willing to bet that every person on your list is ordinary in almost every way. The only thing that sets them apart is that they made you feel cared for and took time out of their life for you.
I met Miss Lou at the library. It's an ordinary place one would go in the ordinary routine of life. A rabbit show is an ordinary place, too. It is a place where we meet many people for whom we could become that special person they never forget.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design ¶ 6:44 PM 0 comments links to this post
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Cage Division
I found a week old kit walking around on the ground this past week. Now before you say anything, I DO have baby saver wire for several inches around the bottom of my breeding cages. But every now and then, a kit still manages to get out.
You may remember the story from long ago where the kit was going back and forth between two mothers, apparently with no problems. It would have been a problem for me except that it was a broken with a distinctive pattern.
Last spring, I had two tiny kits to climb over the baby saver. One ended on the ground and died. The other went next door to an oatmeal box that I had put in the cage for the older kits to play in. Lucky for that tiny baby, the big kits liked to sleep in the oatmeal box. So the tiny kit was toasty and warm the next morning.
And just this week, I found a pile of kits between the baby saver wire and nest box. One was in the neighbor's cage (thankfully, that mama rabbit and her two-month-olds didn't seem to care). There was also one kit with his hindquarter in one cage and front half in his own cage. It was hilarious to see. It confirmed one of my suspicions that sometimes kits climb on each other to get out (there were two kits under his front half). I also think they sometimes climb on their dam. Other times, I think they climb out of the nest box on the side, just above the level of the babysaver wire.
Now you can put a stop to all of this by making cages with smaller openings. But the expense would be enormous. We have installed hardware cloth, which is much less expensive, over the regular cage wire on the couple of occasions we've noted a problem. I'd like to do them all that way, but it's not high enough on my to-do list yet. I appreciate Pandora Allen sharing that tip with me. And one day, all of my breeding cages will have hardware cloth installed.
The hardware cloth, with its 1/2" x 1/2" grid, also prevents noses and ears from being nipped across the cage walls. It still might happen within a litter, but where there is just one bunny in a cage, they would be safe from being molested by a neighbor.
Roxie recently cooperated with the pre-junior in the next cage to do some extensive barbering. She pressed her face against the cage and he (or she) obliged by removing all of the fur from it. Thank goodness she's already granded. She's a black doe and I could just see her fur growing back full of white spots (it didn't, though).
My cages for show bunnies are made differently than my breeding cages. We built a gap between the compartments, which I use as a hay rack. In the winter, I can keep those racks stuffed with hay, which makes a solid barrier. In the summer, I like to just put a little hay in so as not to eliminate the air circulation they need to keep cool.
The gap prevents them from biting each other. When the racks are fully stuffed, they prevent the rabbits from spraying each other, too. I love that design and would love to another aisle full of them.
Another breeder told me the he has a gap that he places cardboard in. That prevents the bunny from being able to rub in anything he might spray on the cardboard.
I'm sure there are some other ideas for keeping baby bunnies where they belong and for keeping teeth and urine on the appropriate side of the cage wall. If you are planning to build some cages, take this issue into consideration. If you've already build or purchased cages, it's not too late to modify them.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design ¶ 2:24 PM 0 comments links to this post
You may remember the story from long ago where the kit was going back and forth between two mothers, apparently with no problems. It would have been a problem for me except that it was a broken with a distinctive pattern.
Last spring, I had two tiny kits to climb over the baby saver. One ended on the ground and died. The other went next door to an oatmeal box that I had put in the cage for the older kits to play in. Lucky for that tiny baby, the big kits liked to sleep in the oatmeal box. So the tiny kit was toasty and warm the next morning.
And just this week, I found a pile of kits between the baby saver wire and nest box. One was in the neighbor's cage (thankfully, that mama rabbit and her two-month-olds didn't seem to care). There was also one kit with his hindquarter in one cage and front half in his own cage. It was hilarious to see. It confirmed one of my suspicions that sometimes kits climb on each other to get out (there were two kits under his front half). I also think they sometimes climb on their dam. Other times, I think they climb out of the nest box on the side, just above the level of the babysaver wire.
Now you can put a stop to all of this by making cages with smaller openings. But the expense would be enormous. We have installed hardware cloth, which is much less expensive, over the regular cage wire on the couple of occasions we've noted a problem. I'd like to do them all that way, but it's not high enough on my to-do list yet. I appreciate Pandora Allen sharing that tip with me. And one day, all of my breeding cages will have hardware cloth installed.
The hardware cloth, with its 1/2" x 1/2" grid, also prevents noses and ears from being nipped across the cage walls. It still might happen within a litter, but where there is just one bunny in a cage, they would be safe from being molested by a neighbor.
Roxie recently cooperated with the pre-junior in the next cage to do some extensive barbering. She pressed her face against the cage and he (or she) obliged by removing all of the fur from it. Thank goodness she's already granded. She's a black doe and I could just see her fur growing back full of white spots (it didn't, though).
My cages for show bunnies are made differently than my breeding cages. We built a gap between the compartments, which I use as a hay rack. In the winter, I can keep those racks stuffed with hay, which makes a solid barrier. In the summer, I like to just put a little hay in so as not to eliminate the air circulation they need to keep cool.
The gap prevents them from biting each other. When the racks are fully stuffed, they prevent the rabbits from spraying each other, too. I love that design and would love to another aisle full of them.
Another breeder told me the he has a gap that he places cardboard in. That prevents the bunny from being able to rub in anything he might spray on the cardboard.
I'm sure there are some other ideas for keeping baby bunnies where they belong and for keeping teeth and urine on the appropriate side of the cage wall. If you are planning to build some cages, take this issue into consideration. If you've already build or purchased cages, it's not too late to modify them.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design ¶ 2:24 PM 0 comments links to this post
Monday, August 21, 2006
License
I received my new ARBA registration card today. You see, when you become a registrar, your expiration date has to be adjusted to January 1. And I got something else - my registrar's number! Yeah!
I received my forms and "R" tattoo insignia on Friday. But it feels more official now that I've received my certificate, suitable for framing!
I'm so excited that I celebrated by registering eleven rabbits. It was hard work, especially since I haven't done it hundreds of times. One day, I'm sure it will be second nature to me, but not yet. I am suddenly much more appreciative of the registrars who have registered my rabbits, especially Roger Bustle, who registered the bulk of them.
I'm so glad that I was able to start with a group of Holland lops. That's my comfort zone. But I'm also looking forward to registering different breeds, too. I'll get my chance soon since I will be the registrar for the Sandhills Rabbit Fanciers show on September 16 in Greensboro, NC.
I'd like to say that my first experience was uneventful. But I'll admit it. Everything that could go wrong, did, pretty much.
First, the pedigrees were left at home and had to be fetched. Then, the first three animals I put my hands on could not be registered. We misplaced a couple of pedigrees, but eventually found them. Then I lost a form, which had slid under a carrier. The worst part was that I had forgotten to tattoo them and didn't remember until they were loaded in the car! Duh!!! So, back out of the car they came.
I suppose it could be worse. I didn't get bitten or peed on. I'm grateful for that. The tattooing part is my least favorite (forgot is probably not the right word - in denial is probably more like it). At least I got them all done without mishap. No broken backs. I didn't hit any large veins. None of the bunnies screamed. So that wasn't so bad.
Of course, now I have to send in the paperwork and find out what else I've done wrong!! We'll see.
Laurie Stroupe
ARBA Registrar #RR138
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 8:35 PM 1 comments links to this post
I received my forms and "R" tattoo insignia on Friday. But it feels more official now that I've received my certificate, suitable for framing!
I'm so excited that I celebrated by registering eleven rabbits. It was hard work, especially since I haven't done it hundreds of times. One day, I'm sure it will be second nature to me, but not yet. I am suddenly much more appreciative of the registrars who have registered my rabbits, especially Roger Bustle, who registered the bulk of them.
I'm so glad that I was able to start with a group of Holland lops. That's my comfort zone. But I'm also looking forward to registering different breeds, too. I'll get my chance soon since I will be the registrar for the Sandhills Rabbit Fanciers show on September 16 in Greensboro, NC.
I'd like to say that my first experience was uneventful. But I'll admit it. Everything that could go wrong, did, pretty much.
First, the pedigrees were left at home and had to be fetched. Then, the first three animals I put my hands on could not be registered. We misplaced a couple of pedigrees, but eventually found them. Then I lost a form, which had slid under a carrier. The worst part was that I had forgotten to tattoo them and didn't remember until they were loaded in the car! Duh!!! So, back out of the car they came.
I suppose it could be worse. I didn't get bitten or peed on. I'm grateful for that. The tattooing part is my least favorite (forgot is probably not the right word - in denial is probably more like it). At least I got them all done without mishap. No broken backs. I didn't hit any large veins. None of the bunnies screamed. So that wasn't so bad.
Of course, now I have to send in the paperwork and find out what else I've done wrong!! We'll see.
Laurie Stroupe
ARBA Registrar #RR138
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 8:35 PM 1 comments links to this post
Sunday, August 20, 2006
What's 10 1/2 Hours Between Friends?
I left home around 2:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon and returned at half past midnight. What in the world could make me do that? The opportunity to sit in a meeting for five hours in Chapel Hill, about 2 1/2 hours away. And why would I be willing to sit in a meeting for five hours? Bunnies!!! of course.
The Sandhills Rabbit Fanciers club had a jam-packed meeting yesterday. Since we are hosting our main show next month, our program was Reviewing Show Rules. We played "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" or something like it. PJ Dvorak won 10 $100,000 bars and graciously shared them with his life lines and those who participated in the audience polls. The questions got hard pretty fast, so we gave him double lifelines. I think that everyone learned at least one new show rule.
We had lots to finalize for our September 16 show. This club really scrutinizes every aspect of the show to try to make it the very best we can. We also staff an educational display at the fair.
The really exciting part of the meeting for me was planning our Christmas show. Things are still fairly tentative, but it looks like we'll be having a NO ENTRY FEES show at Christmas. Instead, exhibitors will be bringing donations equal in value to their entry fees to donate to a charity. Sandhills and its sponsors will select the charity which will determine the type of donations. I personally am hoping for a food pantry, but it could be toys, or something else entirely.
If money is a little short in your household, you would have the opportunity to collect donations from family, friends, and neighbors, bring them to the show and show your rabbits for free. Your neighbors, friends, and family have the opportunity to make someone else's Christmas a little brighter, you get to show without stretching your already worn out Christmas budget, and the charity selected gets a hefty donation.
We will have a nice raffle table and food will be available at reasonable prices. We would love to find a corporate sponsor to pay our judging fee. If you know of anyone who would sponsor the cost of the judge, please let me know. If we make any profit from the sale of food and raffle tickets after expenses (now you see why a sponsor for the judge would be important), those profits would also be donated to the selected charity.
Now you see why I am so darn excited! It's a win-win-win-win situation!
But that's not all. Order in the next thirty minutes and you may get a bonus! And it's not a set of cheap knives, either. No, our club will also be checking into the possibility of having a Valentine's show in eastern NC. I have heard a lot of interest lately in that part of the state, so it's going to be a great opportunity for those folks to get involved and put on a great show. More on that later.
The project that I am personally most involved in is a series of Rabbit Educational Clinics for 2007. We are projecting seven clinics for next year. Five will be suitable for all breeders and exhibitors. Two will be focused on brand new exhibitors or those thinking about getting into showing rabbits.
We hope to hold one such program in the eastern part of the state and one in the west. We are hoping to partner with the NCRBA to have the program in the morning and a single show in the afternoon. Someone interested in showing rabbits could come to the clinic and perhaps even purchase their first show stock. Then, with a day of show entry, they could show for the very first time. We will need established exhibitors to pitch in and volunteer to mentor these new folks. Remember when you got started? If someone walked you through the steps, then you know how valuable that was to you. And if you had to figure it out by yourself, then you really know how much you would have appreciated the help.
The remaining five topics are Breeding Issues, Rabbit Health, Barn Environment, Posing/Proper Top Line/Evaluating Hindquarter/Photographing Rabbits, and How To Be A Show Writer, Show Secretary, or Show Superintendent (3 concurrent sessions). We have a lot of work to do to put them together, but please, if you live in the NC area, keep your eyes out for announcements and come out and support the Rabbit Clinics.
So, I'm pretty tired today after my lengthy meeting trip, but the time and energy were well worth it. I'm excited about all of this. I hope you are, too!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design ¶ 10:48 AM 0 comments links to this post
The Sandhills Rabbit Fanciers club had a jam-packed meeting yesterday. Since we are hosting our main show next month, our program was Reviewing Show Rules. We played "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" or something like it. PJ Dvorak won 10 $100,000 bars and graciously shared them with his life lines and those who participated in the audience polls. The questions got hard pretty fast, so we gave him double lifelines. I think that everyone learned at least one new show rule.
We had lots to finalize for our September 16 show. This club really scrutinizes every aspect of the show to try to make it the very best we can. We also staff an educational display at the fair.
The really exciting part of the meeting for me was planning our Christmas show. Things are still fairly tentative, but it looks like we'll be having a NO ENTRY FEES show at Christmas. Instead, exhibitors will be bringing donations equal in value to their entry fees to donate to a charity. Sandhills and its sponsors will select the charity which will determine the type of donations. I personally am hoping for a food pantry, but it could be toys, or something else entirely.
If money is a little short in your household, you would have the opportunity to collect donations from family, friends, and neighbors, bring them to the show and show your rabbits for free. Your neighbors, friends, and family have the opportunity to make someone else's Christmas a little brighter, you get to show without stretching your already worn out Christmas budget, and the charity selected gets a hefty donation.
We will have a nice raffle table and food will be available at reasonable prices. We would love to find a corporate sponsor to pay our judging fee. If you know of anyone who would sponsor the cost of the judge, please let me know. If we make any profit from the sale of food and raffle tickets after expenses (now you see why a sponsor for the judge would be important), those profits would also be donated to the selected charity.
Now you see why I am so darn excited! It's a win-win-win-win situation!
But that's not all. Order in the next thirty minutes and you may get a bonus! And it's not a set of cheap knives, either. No, our club will also be checking into the possibility of having a Valentine's show in eastern NC. I have heard a lot of interest lately in that part of the state, so it's going to be a great opportunity for those folks to get involved and put on a great show. More on that later.
The project that I am personally most involved in is a series of Rabbit Educational Clinics for 2007. We are projecting seven clinics for next year. Five will be suitable for all breeders and exhibitors. Two will be focused on brand new exhibitors or those thinking about getting into showing rabbits.
We hope to hold one such program in the eastern part of the state and one in the west. We are hoping to partner with the NCRBA to have the program in the morning and a single show in the afternoon. Someone interested in showing rabbits could come to the clinic and perhaps even purchase their first show stock. Then, with a day of show entry, they could show for the very first time. We will need established exhibitors to pitch in and volunteer to mentor these new folks. Remember when you got started? If someone walked you through the steps, then you know how valuable that was to you. And if you had to figure it out by yourself, then you really know how much you would have appreciated the help.
The remaining five topics are Breeding Issues, Rabbit Health, Barn Environment, Posing/Proper Top Line/Evaluating Hindquarter/Photographing Rabbits, and How To Be A Show Writer, Show Secretary, or Show Superintendent (3 concurrent sessions). We have a lot of work to do to put them together, but please, if you live in the NC area, keep your eyes out for announcements and come out and support the Rabbit Clinics.
So, I'm pretty tired today after my lengthy meeting trip, but the time and energy were well worth it. I'm excited about all of this. I hope you are, too!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design ¶ 10:48 AM 0 comments links to this post
Saturday, August 19, 2006
See How Far
Do you ever get discouraged with your rabbits? Do you ever feel that you can't win for losing? Maybe you are having trouble getting live kits. Maybe your last few breedings didn't turn out as well as you hoped. Maybe you are still struggling to grand your first rabbit, take your first Best of Breed, or earn your first leg.
Sometimes I feel like I'm walking through molasses. It takes a lot of energy to make any forward movement. Sometimes I feel like I'm not moving at all! I have a lot of enthusiasm, but I get tend to get frustrated fairly easily.
So, what do you do when you feel like that?
Turn around and look at how far you have come already. Wow! It's amazing, isn't it?
Do you remember asking, "How do you show rabbits?" Can you remember when you first learned that the gestational period for rabbits is 31 days? Can you remember the first time you thought you could feel embryos at twelve days after breeding? Heck, do you remember installing your first cages?
In addition to all of the bunny knowledge and experience you have gained, think of all of the show knowledge you now have. Do you have the basics of the show rules down? Know the showing order for your breed? Understand how a rabbit gets to be Best In Show? You've come a long way, baby!
And I bet you go to shows now and recognize at least some of the faces. If you've been showing for a while, you know a lot of faces and names. And I'll bet you have gained a lot of friends who automatically share one of your passions. It's nice to look forward to seeing people in my local area, friends several states away, and even friends from other countries!
So, when you get down and think that you are going nowhere with your rabbits or that it's maybe just not worth it, turn around and see how far you have come. Maybe it will help you put everything into perspective.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 6:49 AM 2 comments links to this post
Sometimes I feel like I'm walking through molasses. It takes a lot of energy to make any forward movement. Sometimes I feel like I'm not moving at all! I have a lot of enthusiasm, but I get tend to get frustrated fairly easily.
So, what do you do when you feel like that?
Turn around and look at how far you have come already. Wow! It's amazing, isn't it?
Do you remember asking, "How do you show rabbits?" Can you remember when you first learned that the gestational period for rabbits is 31 days? Can you remember the first time you thought you could feel embryos at twelve days after breeding? Heck, do you remember installing your first cages?
In addition to all of the bunny knowledge and experience you have gained, think of all of the show knowledge you now have. Do you have the basics of the show rules down? Know the showing order for your breed? Understand how a rabbit gets to be Best In Show? You've come a long way, baby!
And I bet you go to shows now and recognize at least some of the faces. If you've been showing for a while, you know a lot of faces and names. And I'll bet you have gained a lot of friends who automatically share one of your passions. It's nice to look forward to seeing people in my local area, friends several states away, and even friends from other countries!
So, when you get down and think that you are going nowhere with your rabbits or that it's maybe just not worth it, turn around and see how far you have come. Maybe it will help you put everything into perspective.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 6:49 AM 2 comments links to this post
Friday, August 18, 2006
Yearbook
Have you received your ARBA Yearbook yet? Have you shelved it already or lost it? I admit that I used to do just that. I don't know where my first ones are anymore. But lately, I've come to realize that there's a bunch of really useful stuff in there. Let's take a look.
Beginning on page 259, you find the Official Show Rules. I confess that I had been showing for a good while before I ever read them for myself. I tended to learn just by hearing about this rule or that at a show. But since then I have found that the Show Rules are a bit like the Bible in one respect: people think there are things in there that aren't and there are parts that are in there that not enough people know about.
On page 266, you can find the rules for registering a rabbit or cavy. Notice the change to 30 characters (including spaces and punctuation) for registered names. Following this page you will find instructions to registrars, information on obtaining grand champion certificates, and special Convention rules.
I did not realize that ARBA has state and provincial representatives until I started looking into the Yearbook. For example, page 5 tells me that Pandora Allen and Tracy Lukeman are our state representatives for Virginia. These positions are appointed.
On pages 30 and 31, you can find a listing of judges by state. Of course, there are new judges added between printings, so don't forget to check out the judges on the www.arba.net website. The next page shows registrars. You may need that list as well if you are planning a show.
Want to know which year the Holland Lop won the Best In Show at Convention? Or maybe you want to know which breed wins it most often. Find that on page 38.
If you are interested in starting a new club or state association, you can find the ARBA by-laws for that beginning on page 249. The state association part begins on page 251.
There's much, much more in your Yearbook. Take some time to check it out. You just might be amazed at what you learn.
Of course, there are member listings in the Yearbook as well. You can find me on page 148. But it's probably just easier to find me here!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 9:15 AM 0 comments links to this post
Beginning on page 259, you find the Official Show Rules. I confess that I had been showing for a good while before I ever read them for myself. I tended to learn just by hearing about this rule or that at a show. But since then I have found that the Show Rules are a bit like the Bible in one respect: people think there are things in there that aren't and there are parts that are in there that not enough people know about.
On page 266, you can find the rules for registering a rabbit or cavy. Notice the change to 30 characters (including spaces and punctuation) for registered names. Following this page you will find instructions to registrars, information on obtaining grand champion certificates, and special Convention rules.
I did not realize that ARBA has state and provincial representatives until I started looking into the Yearbook. For example, page 5 tells me that Pandora Allen and Tracy Lukeman are our state representatives for Virginia. These positions are appointed.
On pages 30 and 31, you can find a listing of judges by state. Of course, there are new judges added between printings, so don't forget to check out the judges on the www.arba.net website. The next page shows registrars. You may need that list as well if you are planning a show.
Want to know which year the Holland Lop won the Best In Show at Convention? Or maybe you want to know which breed wins it most often. Find that on page 38.
If you are interested in starting a new club or state association, you can find the ARBA by-laws for that beginning on page 249. The state association part begins on page 251.
There's much, much more in your Yearbook. Take some time to check it out. You just might be amazed at what you learn.
Of course, there are member listings in the Yearbook as well. You can find me on page 148. But it's probably just easier to find me here!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 9:15 AM 0 comments links to this post
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Willow Walker Rabbits Has A New Website!
Janice Jones of Willow Walker Wabbits is unveiling her brand new website today. Janice picked a beautiful and colorful design that we hope you will enjoy quite a bit. She has taken some very nice photos of her herd. You'll have to visit her site just to figure out why she named her rabbitry as she did (well, the wabbits part is obvious anyway).
You can visit Janice's site at http://www.willow-walker-wabbits.com/. Stop by today!
If you have a rabbitry website and would like to exchange links with Janice, just let me know.
Laurie ¶ 3:56 PM 0 comments links to this post
You can visit Janice's site at http://www.willow-walker-wabbits.com/. Stop by today!
If you have a rabbitry website and would like to exchange links with Janice, just let me know.
Laurie ¶ 3:56 PM 0 comments links to this post
Bold Plan
I’m going to be making a bold move in my barn and breeding program. I’m a little nervous about it. I hope it works out well.
A friend of mine reminds me that I have been nervous in the past about major changes in my barn and, so far, they’ve worked out well. That gave me the final courage to “go for it.”
So what is this bold move? I am going to sell all of my non-grand champion does. I will be keeping those that have granded or those that I feel I can grand in the foreseeable future. Otherwise, the rest are going.
The downside to this choice is that some of these does have produced some pretty nice stock for me. But since my barn is overflowing again (how did that happen so soon?), I need to downsize somewhere. And my grand champion does are producing some really nice offspring for me, too, so I feel that I can rely on them.
Another downside is that true dwarf does tend to have smaller litters. There are exceptions, of course, but on the average, I’ll have smaller litters and more peanuts than if I were working with a mixed group of true and false dwarfs. Of course, I’ll produce fewer false dwarfs, too, which gives me fewer pets and culls to deal with as well.
You probably already know that one of my personal goals is to produce show rabbits with all-grand-champion pedigrees. I feel that making this move will help me reach my goal faster and more reliably. Most of my bucks are granded. I feel that those that aren’t, will grand as soon as they have the maturity on them that they need.
Does are much trickier than bucks. You can grand a buck at age five. But does have a shorter shelf life. If you don’t grand them within the first year, things won’t be looking too good for her, especially if you have robust competition in your area.
So, I’m taking a deep breath and jumping right in to this new plan. I will be taking pictures of the does this week and hope to get them posted soon. There will be thirteen does (including several registered, proven does) and one young buck (for those who want to work with color) for sale.
This will leave me with six GC broken does who are all proven. May produces reliable litters of four to six. I do lose a lot to Charlies and fuzzies with her, if you remember! Mercedes is also a reliable producer. I can count on the others, too, but their numbers are lower.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design ¶ 11:17 AM 0 comments links to this post
A friend of mine reminds me that I have been nervous in the past about major changes in my barn and, so far, they’ve worked out well. That gave me the final courage to “go for it.”
So what is this bold move? I am going to sell all of my non-grand champion does. I will be keeping those that have granded or those that I feel I can grand in the foreseeable future. Otherwise, the rest are going.
The downside to this choice is that some of these does have produced some pretty nice stock for me. But since my barn is overflowing again (how did that happen so soon?), I need to downsize somewhere. And my grand champion does are producing some really nice offspring for me, too, so I feel that I can rely on them.
Another downside is that true dwarf does tend to have smaller litters. There are exceptions, of course, but on the average, I’ll have smaller litters and more peanuts than if I were working with a mixed group of true and false dwarfs. Of course, I’ll produce fewer false dwarfs, too, which gives me fewer pets and culls to deal with as well.
You probably already know that one of my personal goals is to produce show rabbits with all-grand-champion pedigrees. I feel that making this move will help me reach my goal faster and more reliably. Most of my bucks are granded. I feel that those that aren’t, will grand as soon as they have the maturity on them that they need.
Does are much trickier than bucks. You can grand a buck at age five. But does have a shorter shelf life. If you don’t grand them within the first year, things won’t be looking too good for her, especially if you have robust competition in your area.
So, I’m taking a deep breath and jumping right in to this new plan. I will be taking pictures of the does this week and hope to get them posted soon. There will be thirteen does (including several registered, proven does) and one young buck (for those who want to work with color) for sale.
This will leave me with six GC broken does who are all proven. May produces reliable litters of four to six. I do lose a lot to Charlies and fuzzies with her, if you remember! Mercedes is also a reliable producer. I can count on the others, too, but their numbers are lower.
I will have just four proven, solid, GC does, but really, I’m in better shape with them. I have three more that are proven that I hope to grand. I have one granded that I will be adding to my breeding plan shortly, and I have three additional does that I want to grand before putting into my breeding program. That will give me eight by the end of the fall, if all goes well.
And I do have a half dozen very promising junior does coming up that may add to my breeding program in the next several months. Plus, there are a couple dozen kits in the nest box right now. And breeding for Nationals is right around the corner.
I am making an exception to the plan. I can’t seem to part with Celeste, Rio’s sister. I want to try breeding them together a couple of more times before I sell her. I like what I got last time. Rio’s such an exceptional rabbit in many ways, that I want to lock in his genes the best that I can.
So that’s the plan and I’m going for it.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design ¶ 11:17 AM 0 comments links to this post
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Virginia State Association
I am a member of the North Carolina Rabbit Breeders Association. I enjoy being a member and plan to continue contributing to that club. However, my involvement is limited by the constitution and by-laws of the club because I am a Virginia resident.
Several Virginia residents share my view that Virginia needs a state association. The interior of Virginia is an untapped resource and an underserved area.
I am hoping to find enough interest to start such an association. I have an application and see that we need three or four officers (the secretary/treasurer job may be combined), at least five directors, and a constitution and by-laws. That, with a $25 fee, can get the ball rolling.
What will keep it rolling is a wide variety of interested people with a wide variety of talents. No matter what your talent and interest is, you can contribute to your state association.
Now this is not a complete list by any means, but here are some talents and qualities that a new Virginia State Rabbit Breeders Association would need:
- Leadership
- Carpentry
- Storage and Hauling
- Public Relations
- Desktop Publishing
- Show Secretary Experience
- Show Superintendent Experience
- Organizational Skills
- Physical Labor
- Record-Keeping
- Ability To Run A Meeting Smoothly
- People Skills
- Creativity
- Negotiation Skills
- Fund-raising Abilities
- Computer Skills
- Knowledge of Rabbits
- Ability to Work With Youth
- Enthusiasm
- Perseverance
- Ability to Have Fun!
So if you are an ARBA member (or want to be) who resides in or near the Commonwealth of Virginia, we need you. I know you have at least one of the skills or qualities that we are looking for! True, if you don’t live in Virginia, you can’t vote or hold office, but you can still participate like I do in the NCRBA.
Please email me at
And if you don’t live anywhere near Virginia, your own nearby state association needs you, too. Share your talents and skills!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
Monday, August 14, 2006
Fall Shows
It’s time for me to get my fall show schedule in order. Although I told myself that I wouldn’t show more than twice a month, I can’t do it. The weekends are filling up and it will be Christmas before you know it.
In September, I’m especially looking forward to the Sandhills Rabbit Fanciers show in Greensboro, NC, on September 16. It’s a triple open, double youth, Holland lop youth specialty, and double cavy show. And it’s the local club I belong to.
The best thing about the show, besides the wonderful club that works so hard to make every part of the show successful, is the lovely air-conditioned location. The club volunteers for a week of providing and staffing an educational display at the adjoining fair in order to secure that space. And the best thing is that it’s less than an hour and a half from my house!
Yes, you are invited to stay with me on the way to or from the show. You know whether I’m talking to you.
In October, I’m facing a dilemma on October 7. There’s a show in Perry, GA, that I’d love to go to. And, there’s one in Kentucky that’s calling my name. I have no idea how I will solve that problem. Oh, to be two places at once!
But of course the highlight of October will be traveling to Fort Worth, Texas. I am not particularly happy about the location. Having been born in Texas and having spent more than a quarter of my life there, it’s no exotic destination to me. But I do have relatives in Dallas and friends I hope to see, so that’s a bonus.
No matter the location, however, I love national shows. It’s so much fun to see people from all over the country – people you would normally only “meet” through email. I love to see the rabbits. And, now that I’m expanding my interest in other breeds, I will definitely be taking advantage of seeing really good examples of all of the breeds.
If you are just getting started in breeding and showing rabbits, please do not think that you have to achieve some level of success before going to – and enjoying – a national show. In fact, going to such shows will help you achieve success in your breeding program. Where else will you see so many fine examples of each breed and variety? You don't even have to take rabbits to have fun.
Once Convention is over, you’d think I would have had enough of showing rabbits for a while. But I bet that not a week will pass until I’m ready to get back to a show.
I’m not sure what November holds for me, but I do plan to travel to Georgia on November 18 for a show in Monroe, GA. The folks who put on that show were kind enough to move their show date so that it no longer conflicts with our Sandhills show. So I plan to support them and hope that everyone who goes to the Greensboro show does the same.
I hope to miss the SC show the first weekend in December. Yes, that’s right. I hope to MISS it. Let me explain. If my grandfather is still living, I will be back in Texas celebrating his 90th birthday with him. So now you see why I hope to miss it.
Luckily for me, the Sandhills Rabbit Fanciers has decided to put on a small Christmas show the second weekend in December. I shouldn’t have to go nearly as long without show this Christmas season as last.
I’m sure I will be attending a number of other shows that I didn’t mention. I’m going to try to jumble my schedule up as much as possible to get the largest variety of judges and show experiences. We’ll see how successful I’ll be.
I have several rabbits that I hope to grand this fall. Gypsy has five junior legs and has placed second several times as a senior. She’s my top priority. I’d also like to grand Pandora and Gypsy’s sister Latifa, who has four junior legs. Cleome just needs a leg as well. Suzy Q hit the ground running, so I hope I can grand her sometime this fall.
As for the boys, I’d love to see Wizard sporting a brand new coat (boy, does he need it!) and win his senior legs. Quincy needs one more to grand as well. And Prince William and Imagination will turn senior this September – they’ll just need one each. I hope they will be the types to grand young. I don’t know. We’ll just have to see.
I hope to see you at a show this fall as well. If we haven’t already met, be sure to introduce yourself. I’ll do my best to remember your name. But given that I often call our children by the dogs’ names, don’t count on it.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design ¶ 4:20 PM 0 comments links to this post
In September, I’m especially looking forward to the Sandhills Rabbit Fanciers show in Greensboro, NC, on September 16. It’s a triple open, double youth, Holland lop youth specialty, and double cavy show. And it’s the local club I belong to.
The best thing about the show, besides the wonderful club that works so hard to make every part of the show successful, is the lovely air-conditioned location. The club volunteers for a week of providing and staffing an educational display at the adjoining fair in order to secure that space. And the best thing is that it’s less than an hour and a half from my house!
Yes, you are invited to stay with me on the way to or from the show. You know whether I’m talking to you.
In October, I’m facing a dilemma on October 7. There’s a show in Perry, GA, that I’d love to go to. And, there’s one in Kentucky that’s calling my name. I have no idea how I will solve that problem. Oh, to be two places at once!
But of course the highlight of October will be traveling to Fort Worth, Texas. I am not particularly happy about the location. Having been born in Texas and having spent more than a quarter of my life there, it’s no exotic destination to me. But I do have relatives in Dallas and friends I hope to see, so that’s a bonus.
No matter the location, however, I love national shows. It’s so much fun to see people from all over the country – people you would normally only “meet” through email. I love to see the rabbits. And, now that I’m expanding my interest in other breeds, I will definitely be taking advantage of seeing really good examples of all of the breeds.
If you are just getting started in breeding and showing rabbits, please do not think that you have to achieve some level of success before going to – and enjoying – a national show. In fact, going to such shows will help you achieve success in your breeding program. Where else will you see so many fine examples of each breed and variety? You don't even have to take rabbits to have fun.
Once Convention is over, you’d think I would have had enough of showing rabbits for a while. But I bet that not a week will pass until I’m ready to get back to a show.
I’m not sure what November holds for me, but I do plan to travel to Georgia on November 18 for a show in Monroe, GA. The folks who put on that show were kind enough to move their show date so that it no longer conflicts with our Sandhills show. So I plan to support them and hope that everyone who goes to the Greensboro show does the same.
I hope to miss the SC show the first weekend in December. Yes, that’s right. I hope to MISS it. Let me explain. If my grandfather is still living, I will be back in Texas celebrating his 90th birthday with him. So now you see why I hope to miss it.
Luckily for me, the Sandhills Rabbit Fanciers has decided to put on a small Christmas show the second weekend in December. I shouldn’t have to go nearly as long without show this Christmas season as last.
I’m sure I will be attending a number of other shows that I didn’t mention. I’m going to try to jumble my schedule up as much as possible to get the largest variety of judges and show experiences. We’ll see how successful I’ll be.
I have several rabbits that I hope to grand this fall. Gypsy has five junior legs and has placed second several times as a senior. She’s my top priority. I’d also like to grand Pandora and Gypsy’s sister Latifa, who has four junior legs. Cleome just needs a leg as well. Suzy Q hit the ground running, so I hope I can grand her sometime this fall.
As for the boys, I’d love to see Wizard sporting a brand new coat (boy, does he need it!) and win his senior legs. Quincy needs one more to grand as well. And Prince William and Imagination will turn senior this September – they’ll just need one each. I hope they will be the types to grand young. I don’t know. We’ll just have to see.
I hope to see you at a show this fall as well. If we haven’t already met, be sure to introduce yourself. I’ll do my best to remember your name. But given that I often call our children by the dogs’ names, don’t count on it.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design ¶ 4:20 PM 0 comments links to this post
Sunday, August 13, 2006
New! The Bunny Hutch Website
Please visit The Bunny Hutch, a brand new website for Tracy Reed and her family in Oregon. Tracy has taken gorgeous pictures for her nearly 30-page website. She and her son raise Netherland Dwarfs, Holland Lops, Lionheads, Dutch, English Lops, and Mules! Tracy really worked hard on her website and you will definitely enjoy your visit.
Laurie ¶ 10:07 PM 0 comments links to this post
Laurie ¶ 10:07 PM 0 comments links to this post
Plenty Of Milk For All
Do you remember the shell game? You put something under one of three shells and then move them around, trying to remember which one has the object? Well, that's practically what I've been doing with kits these late few days. And it's a good think that I have kept good notes. Otherwise, I might have failed to keep my eyes on the prize.
So what the heck am I talking about? Making sure all of my kits get enough milk. I have a couple dozen kits in the barn right now. These will be my oldest juniors for the PA Convention so I want to make sure as many as possible make it and are robust. I'm micro-managing their feeding right now.
The first thing that really helped was that one of my does who had a dead litter on her first try insisted on feeding an empty nest box. So, I gave her Jo-Jo's litter for one feeding. Jo-Jo has raised babies, but has a slow start with her milk, so that worked out fine.
The next day, she went back in to feed her empty nest just about the time I found two different kits on the wire. Now the weather in August around here is very hot, but we've had some slightly cooler days - cool enough to be a problem for a nearly naked newborn. The newborns were chilled but still moving; the timing was perfect. A belly full of warm milk and a foster mother who stays in the nest box for a half hour was just the ticket for them.
On the third day, I had just one kit that was smaller than the rest of its litter. So I gave her that one.
Now Duckie, this doe I've been telling you about, is extremely flexible and hard to fluster. Once, when I was having trouble slipping the kit in beside her, I picked up her tail, lifted the back half of her body, put the kit underneath her, and put her back down again. She didn't even flinch! Talk about concentrating on the task at hand. I don't think any of my other does would have tolerated that.
Yesterday, I noticed that Markie is outdoing herself with her litter. She had five kits, but I found a dead one - with a belly full of milk. It may have been injured. But as fat as the remaining four are, it may have just exploded! Just kidding.
On the other hand, Jo-Jo's babies are okay, but not robust like I like, so I switched their litters for the day. It will be good for both litters. Those fat babies of Markie's do not need to be that fat. They look like toads. And Jo-Jo's could use a little insurance fat.
I also noticed yesterday that three of Gina's kits were indeed peanuts. I thought they were, but it's extremely easy to tell now. The last one was hanging on, but I expect it to be dead today, leaving Gina with only one. The weather is acceptable for one right now, but I hate to keep a doe out of production for one surviving kit.
So, when I go to the barn today to give Markie back her kits, I'll be adding Gina's to that group. And, instead of giving Jo-Jo's back to her, Duckie will get a permanent litter to foster - she's earned it. This will free up Jo-Jo to produce babies for Nationals. Since Nationals is so early next year, I will begin breeding for it next Sunday. Can you believe it?
Okay, back to milk. Andrew was teasing me yesterday about how tentative I used to be about fostering kits. I was so afraid that the dam would injure the kits. I used to be Vicks on their noses and hover. Now my biggest concern is keeping track of who is where.
To mark kits, I still use a permanent marker in the ear. I've tried other methods, but I like this one best. Last go round in May, I tattooed dots. The dots got huge in one kit and disappeared in the other (luckily, the balance of the litter was pets, so it didn't matter). My favorite color to use is green. As long as one itty bitty dot of green remains, I can tell which kit is marked. I tried black, but after awhile, you can't tell whether the black is part of the fur, skin, or the mark you made.
I've also used hot pink and, in a pinch, dark blue.
I do remark the ears daily for the first several days. By then, I think the color is well down in the pores - or the dam is tired of licking it off. I'm not sure which! But it tends to stay after that with just weekly updates. Once the kit is a few weeks old, I just mark the right ear so that there's not residue in the tattoo ear by the time I start showing the kit as a junior.
So if you are attending the PA Convention next February and see my oldest junior kits, you can remember all of the hullabaloo over feeding them as babies and see whether it was worth all of the extra effort.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry - “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 9:28 AM 0 comments links to this post
So what the heck am I talking about? Making sure all of my kits get enough milk. I have a couple dozen kits in the barn right now. These will be my oldest juniors for the PA Convention so I want to make sure as many as possible make it and are robust. I'm micro-managing their feeding right now.
The first thing that really helped was that one of my does who had a dead litter on her first try insisted on feeding an empty nest box. So, I gave her Jo-Jo's litter for one feeding. Jo-Jo has raised babies, but has a slow start with her milk, so that worked out fine.
The next day, she went back in to feed her empty nest just about the time I found two different kits on the wire. Now the weather in August around here is very hot, but we've had some slightly cooler days - cool enough to be a problem for a nearly naked newborn. The newborns were chilled but still moving; the timing was perfect. A belly full of warm milk and a foster mother who stays in the nest box for a half hour was just the ticket for them.
On the third day, I had just one kit that was smaller than the rest of its litter. So I gave her that one.
Now Duckie, this doe I've been telling you about, is extremely flexible and hard to fluster. Once, when I was having trouble slipping the kit in beside her, I picked up her tail, lifted the back half of her body, put the kit underneath her, and put her back down again. She didn't even flinch! Talk about concentrating on the task at hand. I don't think any of my other does would have tolerated that.
Yesterday, I noticed that Markie is outdoing herself with her litter. She had five kits, but I found a dead one - with a belly full of milk. It may have been injured. But as fat as the remaining four are, it may have just exploded! Just kidding.
On the other hand, Jo-Jo's babies are okay, but not robust like I like, so I switched their litters for the day. It will be good for both litters. Those fat babies of Markie's do not need to be that fat. They look like toads. And Jo-Jo's could use a little insurance fat.
I also noticed yesterday that three of Gina's kits were indeed peanuts. I thought they were, but it's extremely easy to tell now. The last one was hanging on, but I expect it to be dead today, leaving Gina with only one. The weather is acceptable for one right now, but I hate to keep a doe out of production for one surviving kit.
So, when I go to the barn today to give Markie back her kits, I'll be adding Gina's to that group. And, instead of giving Jo-Jo's back to her, Duckie will get a permanent litter to foster - she's earned it. This will free up Jo-Jo to produce babies for Nationals. Since Nationals is so early next year, I will begin breeding for it next Sunday. Can you believe it?
Okay, back to milk. Andrew was teasing me yesterday about how tentative I used to be about fostering kits. I was so afraid that the dam would injure the kits. I used to be Vicks on their noses and hover. Now my biggest concern is keeping track of who is where.
To mark kits, I still use a permanent marker in the ear. I've tried other methods, but I like this one best. Last go round in May, I tattooed dots. The dots got huge in one kit and disappeared in the other (luckily, the balance of the litter was pets, so it didn't matter). My favorite color to use is green. As long as one itty bitty dot of green remains, I can tell which kit is marked. I tried black, but after awhile, you can't tell whether the black is part of the fur, skin, or the mark you made.
I've also used hot pink and, in a pinch, dark blue.
I do remark the ears daily for the first several days. By then, I think the color is well down in the pores - or the dam is tired of licking it off. I'm not sure which! But it tends to stay after that with just weekly updates. Once the kit is a few weeks old, I just mark the right ear so that there's not residue in the tattoo ear by the time I start showing the kit as a junior.
So if you are attending the PA Convention next February and see my oldest junior kits, you can remember all of the hullabaloo over feeding them as babies and see whether it was worth all of the extra effort.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry - “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 9:28 AM 0 comments links to this post
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Cool Mist
We installed a misting system inside the barn this summer. Several people have asked how I like it. The truth is that I love it and I hate it.
I love it because it makes the barn very comfortable, even when the temperature outside is 99 degrees. On the hottest day of the year, I was able to stay in the barn during the middle of the day as long as I pleased without overheating. I didn’t have to worry about any of my rabbits getting too hot. I didn't need any ice, nor did I have to run back and forth all day, worried that I'd find a dead or dying bunny.
I hate it because everything is wet. I am most concerned about rabbits getting wet. We have put up some plastic sheets above the end cages to reduce the water flow on those bunnies. I don’t think we have our system quite ironed out yet, but we’ve improved things dramatically. The first day we tried it, I had some rabbits that looked like drowned rats. It didn’t seem to bother them, given the extreme heat, but they looked awful.
The “mist” seems to be more like a shower. We have tried over level of pressure on our regulator and nothing comes out like a fine mist, unfortunately.
The floor to the barn is fairly wet on the days we’ve used the misters. That’s not a huge problem since there is a gravel floor. But where mud has built up over the gravel, things can get a little slippery.
My biggest concern, besides wet bunnies, is wet feed and hay. I really fear mold and mildew growing on their feed and causing its own problems.
I have changed my feeding schedule so that I feed my buns later in the day once the mister system has been turned off for the day. On really hot days, few rabbits are eating during the day anyway. By doing that, I can dry out feeders and make sure that the bulk of their feeding takes place in relatively dry circumstances. I do have to discard any leftover feed the next day because I do not want to risk damp feed causing a problem.
I have also reduced my hay allotment to make sure they finish it before the mister must be turned on the next day.
Another concern is how the mister will affect my newborn kits. Luckily, we’ve hit a relatively cool spell since my newest babies were born, but it’s likely to get hot again before they graduate from the nest box. I did move them all of cages further away from the misting nozzles. We’ll see if it helps.
My other concern is with my fans. I did purchase one completely sealed barn fan this year. It’s wall-mounted and I love it. But it was pretty expensive. I plan to add at least one more next year. I also purchased a huge floor barn fan and was disappointed to realize that it is not sealed. So I’ve had to move it away from the misters and right in the middle of my center aisle. It’s a real pill to have it there.
Like most rabbitries, I do not have a lot of spare room for walking around. Having to move the large fan and my three smaller floor fans away from the misters has caused a problem. I hope to solve it sometime during the next year by building a shelter outside of the main window for the large fan. That way, it can blow air through the mist without getting wet. It will also free up the floor space that I value so much. And, once I’ve replaced two of my floor fans with wall-mounted, sealed fans, I should be one happy camper again.
In addition to the mister system, we are installing a PVC-based water system and will be removing our flexible line system. The reason is that I want to install heating cables into the water line, eliminating frozen water in the winter. (Heating cables are not compatible with flexible water lines.) We generally get our first frozen water in December, so we have nearly four months to get it done. I know it sounds like a long time, but my money says that we’ll get it done barely under the wire!
I hope you are able to keep your bunnies cool this August. August was my least favorite month before I got into bunnies, and now I just hate it. But September, with cool mornings and more comfortable temperatures, is just around the corner.
Laurie Stroupe
“Home Of Grand Champions”
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design ¶ 10:10 PM 1 comments links to this post
I love it because it makes the barn very comfortable, even when the temperature outside is 99 degrees. On the hottest day of the year, I was able to stay in the barn during the middle of the day as long as I pleased without overheating. I didn’t have to worry about any of my rabbits getting too hot. I didn't need any ice, nor did I have to run back and forth all day, worried that I'd find a dead or dying bunny.
I hate it because everything is wet. I am most concerned about rabbits getting wet. We have put up some plastic sheets above the end cages to reduce the water flow on those bunnies. I don’t think we have our system quite ironed out yet, but we’ve improved things dramatically. The first day we tried it, I had some rabbits that looked like drowned rats. It didn’t seem to bother them, given the extreme heat, but they looked awful.
The “mist” seems to be more like a shower. We have tried over level of pressure on our regulator and nothing comes out like a fine mist, unfortunately.
The floor to the barn is fairly wet on the days we’ve used the misters. That’s not a huge problem since there is a gravel floor. But where mud has built up over the gravel, things can get a little slippery.
My biggest concern, besides wet bunnies, is wet feed and hay. I really fear mold and mildew growing on their feed and causing its own problems.
I have changed my feeding schedule so that I feed my buns later in the day once the mister system has been turned off for the day. On really hot days, few rabbits are eating during the day anyway. By doing that, I can dry out feeders and make sure that the bulk of their feeding takes place in relatively dry circumstances. I do have to discard any leftover feed the next day because I do not want to risk damp feed causing a problem.
I have also reduced my hay allotment to make sure they finish it before the mister must be turned on the next day.
Another concern is how the mister will affect my newborn kits. Luckily, we’ve hit a relatively cool spell since my newest babies were born, but it’s likely to get hot again before they graduate from the nest box. I did move them all of cages further away from the misting nozzles. We’ll see if it helps.
My other concern is with my fans. I did purchase one completely sealed barn fan this year. It’s wall-mounted and I love it. But it was pretty expensive. I plan to add at least one more next year. I also purchased a huge floor barn fan and was disappointed to realize that it is not sealed. So I’ve had to move it away from the misters and right in the middle of my center aisle. It’s a real pill to have it there.
Like most rabbitries, I do not have a lot of spare room for walking around. Having to move the large fan and my three smaller floor fans away from the misters has caused a problem. I hope to solve it sometime during the next year by building a shelter outside of the main window for the large fan. That way, it can blow air through the mist without getting wet. It will also free up the floor space that I value so much. And, once I’ve replaced two of my floor fans with wall-mounted, sealed fans, I should be one happy camper again.
In addition to the mister system, we are installing a PVC-based water system and will be removing our flexible line system. The reason is that I want to install heating cables into the water line, eliminating frozen water in the winter. (Heating cables are not compatible with flexible water lines.) We generally get our first frozen water in December, so we have nearly four months to get it done. I know it sounds like a long time, but my money says that we’ll get it done barely under the wire!
I hope you are able to keep your bunnies cool this August. August was my least favorite month before I got into bunnies, and now I just hate it. But September, with cool mornings and more comfortable temperatures, is just around the corner.
Laurie Stroupe
“Home Of Grand Champions”
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design ¶ 10:10 PM 1 comments links to this post
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Two Of Me?
No, there are not really two of me. Someone has been impersonating me on the Internet. They’ve been leaving rude remarks on other people’s BLOGs. So this is an open letter to that person.
If you want to do a good job of impersonating me, you need to write your notes more like I would write them.
For example, instead of writing, “Well I am not shocked that your (sic) selling out of Hollands,” I might have written something more like “I’m sorry to hear that you’re getting out of Hollands. It’s a loss for our whole hobby every time we lose a breeder.”
Instead of writing, “I think if you guys held on to your stock longer then maybe...you might have better Hollands,” I might have shared my story of Boris and his littermates.
I’m sure that most of you are familiar with that story. Boris and his whole litter looked like a pile of pets. I ended up pedigreeing all of them and Boris is now a grand champion and sire to grand champions. I learned to keep my Hollands a bit longer from my experience with Boris.
Or maybe I would have shared how I used to sell my Hollands too early, only to have people send me pictures of how nice they turn out later. Either story would work.
Instead of writing, “Look at how long you have had them...and look at the quality....not really that nice...,” I probably would have kept my opinion to myself, unless I was asked.
If asked, I might have said something like, “I like the bone you are getting on your Hollands. Perhaps adding a piece that is nice and short would help.” Of course, I’ve not been monitoring this person’s website and sales, so I probably wouldn’t be able to comment on them at all.
I certainly would not have used ellipsis ( . . . ) as my primary form of punctuation – I’m much more fond of the excessive and unnecessary dash. I’ve seen the frequent use of the ellipsis in other Holland breeders' writings. I just don’t happen to be one that uses it excessively.
I don’t use the term “nice,” or in this case “not all that nice” to describe Hollands very often. I tend to say that I like something. Or maybe I’d say that I prefer a certain characteristic.
And finally, if you are going to impersonate me, please spell my name correctly. It’s not “Lorie Stroupe.”
Laurie Stroupe
“Home Of Grand Champions”
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 9:06 PM 4 comments links to this post
If you want to do a good job of impersonating me, you need to write your notes more like I would write them.
For example, instead of writing, “Well I am not shocked that your (sic) selling out of Hollands,” I might have written something more like “I’m sorry to hear that you’re getting out of Hollands. It’s a loss for our whole hobby every time we lose a breeder.”
Instead of writing, “I think if you guys held on to your stock longer then maybe...you might have better Hollands,” I might have shared my story of Boris and his littermates.
I’m sure that most of you are familiar with that story. Boris and his whole litter looked like a pile of pets. I ended up pedigreeing all of them and Boris is now a grand champion and sire to grand champions. I learned to keep my Hollands a bit longer from my experience with Boris.
Or maybe I would have shared how I used to sell my Hollands too early, only to have people send me pictures of how nice they turn out later. Either story would work.
Instead of writing, “Look at how long you have had them...and look at the quality....not really that nice...,” I probably would have kept my opinion to myself, unless I was asked.
If asked, I might have said something like, “I like the bone you are getting on your Hollands. Perhaps adding a piece that is nice and short would help.” Of course, I’ve not been monitoring this person’s website and sales, so I probably wouldn’t be able to comment on them at all.
I certainly would not have used ellipsis ( . . . ) as my primary form of punctuation – I’m much more fond of the excessive and unnecessary dash. I’ve seen the frequent use of the ellipsis in other Holland breeders' writings. I just don’t happen to be one that uses it excessively.
I don’t use the term “nice,” or in this case “not all that nice” to describe Hollands very often. I tend to say that I like something. Or maybe I’d say that I prefer a certain characteristic.
And finally, if you are going to impersonate me, please spell my name correctly. It’s not “Lorie Stroupe.”
Laurie Stroupe
“Home Of Grand Champions”
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 9:06 PM 4 comments links to this post
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Charleston Fancy RBA Show in Ladson, SC, August 5, 2006
In sum, it was a great show. My bunnies earned 15 legs, including 3 BOBs and 3 BOSs. Java granded. Three bunnies being shown for the first time earned legs, including one BOS. I added nine quality points and two herdsman points as well.
I left a little early this year compared to last year, remembering how I was stuck in traffic around Charlotte for three hours in 2005. But since there was no repeat, my daughter Anna and I landed in Ladson at about 4:30. After we got the bunnies settled, we made a quick trip to Wal-mart for ice and other cool treats. The show started at 8:00 p.m.
Our first judge was Greg West. I still like the way he really gives a rabbit a chance to show itself off. He was sensitive to how hot the rabbits were and tried not to over-handle them. I really appreciated that, too.
I wrote for a few other breeds. Then it was time for show B, under Bill Rice. I have to admit that I was disappointed that we didn't get Ray Brewer. I had been thinking how nice it would be to have three Holland-savvy judges at one show. But it was not to be.
It did work out well for me, mostly, since Bill has different tastes in Hollands. It gave a couple of different rabbits the chance to rise to the top.
Finally we had the specialty show with Robert Frizzell. Robert took interest in my broken junior buck Imagination. Imagination had taken his class in the previous two shows, but not for a leg. And Rio had beaten him up to that point.
Robert has wonderful hands that really coax out the best in a Holland. I really like Imagination, a Java and May son, but fell more in love with him when I saw how beautifully Robert had him posed. The Shelby show was Imagination's first show and he was still very skittish. It had been a long, hot evening, but Robert had him mesmerized, I think!
I was extremely pleased when Robert placed Imagination over Rio and awarded him the BOS. Padme, the hottest rabbit in my barn right now, got her first BOB. She's taken her class eight of the ten times she's been shown with 1 BOB, 3 BOS, and 4 BOSG.
I have to mention here, too, that The Nature Trail's Zsa Zsa was BOB in the youth show for Brashear and Young. She's been doing well on the table for them lately. She's a cute little girl that goes back to an adorable little Ormond buck I once owned who now lives with Linda Norris at Dreamcatcher Rabbitry.
The show was over after 1:00 a.m. - definitely earlier than last year. It was a show well spent.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
"Home Of Grand Champions"
¶ 2:55 PM 0 comments links to this post
I left a little early this year compared to last year, remembering how I was stuck in traffic around Charlotte for three hours in 2005. But since there was no repeat, my daughter Anna and I landed in Ladson at about 4:30. After we got the bunnies settled, we made a quick trip to Wal-mart for ice and other cool treats. The show started at 8:00 p.m.
Our first judge was Greg West. I still like the way he really gives a rabbit a chance to show itself off. He was sensitive to how hot the rabbits were and tried not to over-handle them. I really appreciated that, too.
I wrote for a few other breeds. Then it was time for show B, under Bill Rice. I have to admit that I was disappointed that we didn't get Ray Brewer. I had been thinking how nice it would be to have three Holland-savvy judges at one show. But it was not to be.
It did work out well for me, mostly, since Bill has different tastes in Hollands. It gave a couple of different rabbits the chance to rise to the top.
Finally we had the specialty show with Robert Frizzell. Robert took interest in my broken junior buck Imagination. Imagination had taken his class in the previous two shows, but not for a leg. And Rio had beaten him up to that point.
Robert has wonderful hands that really coax out the best in a Holland. I really like Imagination, a Java and May son, but fell more in love with him when I saw how beautifully Robert had him posed. The Shelby show was Imagination's first show and he was still very skittish. It had been a long, hot evening, but Robert had him mesmerized, I think!
I was extremely pleased when Robert placed Imagination over Rio and awarded him the BOS. Padme, the hottest rabbit in my barn right now, got her first BOB. She's taken her class eight of the ten times she's been shown with 1 BOB, 3 BOS, and 4 BOSG.
I have to mention here, too, that The Nature Trail's Zsa Zsa was BOB in the youth show for Brashear and Young. She's been doing well on the table for them lately. She's a cute little girl that goes back to an adorable little Ormond buck I once owned who now lives with Linda Norris at Dreamcatcher Rabbitry.
The show was over after 1:00 a.m. - definitely earlier than last year. It was a show well spent.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
"Home Of Grand Champions"
¶ 2:55 PM 0 comments links to this post
