The Nature Trail Rabbitry BLOG
Sunday, September 30, 2007
A Quickie
I think today's show will stand as the quickest rabbit show I've ever attended. I got there a few minutes before 8:00 a.m. and left - for the first time - at 10:30 a.m. I say "the first time" because I left a rabbit that I was supposed to pick up to take to Convention. This rabbit is an old friend of mine - LL Brendan.
I was so lucky that Hollands were the first breed. We got a judge that I've never done well under, but Padawan managed to pull off a BOG/BOS. I granded Fabrizia, a daughter of Lord and Hilary, with a BOSG. My solid junior doe took a small class, but didn't get a leg. Drats. I showed in three broken classes as well, but didn't take any of them. I'm still trying to get a leg on "Mr. Second Place," The Nature Trail's Kerry. A friend asked me not to bring May to this show, so I didn't. I understand that need to get does granded and into your breeding program.
Congratulations to Margie Brewer who won the BOB with a gorgeous chestnut broken junior doe under Jeff Hardin.
I took care of a few odds and ends, and then packed up. I left at 10:30 and then I left again at 11:00 a.m., and was home around noon.
It's a good thing, too. We're in the middle of a project to paint four of the bedrooms, the hall, and the kids' bathroom. We're basically camping out in a home without furniture right now. Not fun. I needed to get home and get that project moved a little further along. Talk about good timing.
So, for what should have been just 2 1/2 hours of my time (let's not count packing!), I got 2 legs, 1 GC, and 1 quality point. I'll take it.
Laurie ¶ 8:42 PM 0 comments links to this post
I was so lucky that Hollands were the first breed. We got a judge that I've never done well under, but Padawan managed to pull off a BOG/BOS. I granded Fabrizia, a daughter of Lord and Hilary, with a BOSG. My solid junior doe took a small class, but didn't get a leg. Drats. I showed in three broken classes as well, but didn't take any of them. I'm still trying to get a leg on "Mr. Second Place," The Nature Trail's Kerry. A friend asked me not to bring May to this show, so I didn't. I understand that need to get does granded and into your breeding program.
Congratulations to Margie Brewer who won the BOB with a gorgeous chestnut broken junior doe under Jeff Hardin.
I took care of a few odds and ends, and then packed up. I left at 10:30 and then I left again at 11:00 a.m., and was home around noon.
It's a good thing, too. We're in the middle of a project to paint four of the bedrooms, the hall, and the kids' bathroom. We're basically camping out in a home without furniture right now. Not fun. I needed to get home and get that project moved a little further along. Talk about good timing.
So, for what should have been just 2 1/2 hours of my time (let's not count packing!), I got 2 legs, 1 GC, and 1 quality point. I'll take it.
Laurie ¶ 8:42 PM 0 comments links to this post
Friday, September 28, 2007
Time Flies
Can you believe that September is already coming to an end? Last year, I was counting down the days until Dancing With The Stars came on, but this year, it snuck up on me. I was just calculating that it's only eight weeks until my 46th birthday and nine weeks until we put up the Christmas tree. Where does the time go?
But here's a better question - how is it that the year flies by so quickly and yet it seems to take forever to get your own line of rabbits established? Why does it seem that the show season is just starting and it's already time to start thinking about wrapping up?
True, I'm trying to cut down on showing, so the number of shows I have left to participate in this year is smaller than what I had left this time last year. Still, it seems like we just got started back and I have just five shows and Convention left. Last year, I think I showed at 6 shows in just four weeks! (that was just plain crazy, by the way).
I had actually thought that by showing less, time might slow down a bit for me, but since I've filled in the spaces with ballroom dancing, it's going by just as quickly.
I have to say that in some ways it seems that rabbits have always been part of my life - it's hard to imagine life without them. And yet, it doesn't seem like 4 1/2 years have gone by either (we got our first rabbits just over five years ago, but I didn't join ARBA until a few months later). I can actually start thinking about whether I want to take out a certificate of development on a variety.
I've always loved blue points (blue sable points). I had been told that the Standards Committee would not entertain a request to develop them. There's some history that I don't have all of the facts about. We have sable point, which is more formally "black sable point." I'd love to see us add blue sable point (blue point), lilac sable point, and chocolate sable point. Perhaps future committees will entertain an application for a certificate of development on the other three types of sable points. I actually wonder if the Pearl variety in angoras are actually the four sable point varieties. It sounds like it. If they have it, why shouldn't Hollands?
Before you know it, Christmas will be upon us. Most likely, you'll experience a break from showing rabbits. If you live in the NC area, I hope you'll come to the Sandhills Rabbit Fanciers' Christmas show. We're already planning some really fun activities. It's almost like the rabbit breeders Christmas party for our region. Put it on your calendar for December 15.
So time flies on, except when you are waiting for a special doe to deliver her kits. Months turn into years. I hope your time is being filled with really good things. I know mine is.
Laurie ¶ 10:35 AM 0 comments links to this post
But here's a better question - how is it that the year flies by so quickly and yet it seems to take forever to get your own line of rabbits established? Why does it seem that the show season is just starting and it's already time to start thinking about wrapping up?
True, I'm trying to cut down on showing, so the number of shows I have left to participate in this year is smaller than what I had left this time last year. Still, it seems like we just got started back and I have just five shows and Convention left. Last year, I think I showed at 6 shows in just four weeks! (that was just plain crazy, by the way).
I had actually thought that by showing less, time might slow down a bit for me, but since I've filled in the spaces with ballroom dancing, it's going by just as quickly.
I have to say that in some ways it seems that rabbits have always been part of my life - it's hard to imagine life without them. And yet, it doesn't seem like 4 1/2 years have gone by either (we got our first rabbits just over five years ago, but I didn't join ARBA until a few months later). I can actually start thinking about whether I want to take out a certificate of development on a variety.
I've always loved blue points (blue sable points). I had been told that the Standards Committee would not entertain a request to develop them. There's some history that I don't have all of the facts about. We have sable point, which is more formally "black sable point." I'd love to see us add blue sable point (blue point), lilac sable point, and chocolate sable point. Perhaps future committees will entertain an application for a certificate of development on the other three types of sable points. I actually wonder if the Pearl variety in angoras are actually the four sable point varieties. It sounds like it. If they have it, why shouldn't Hollands?
Before you know it, Christmas will be upon us. Most likely, you'll experience a break from showing rabbits. If you live in the NC area, I hope you'll come to the Sandhills Rabbit Fanciers' Christmas show. We're already planning some really fun activities. It's almost like the rabbit breeders Christmas party for our region. Put it on your calendar for December 15.
So time flies on, except when you are waiting for a special doe to deliver her kits. Months turn into years. I hope your time is being filled with really good things. I know mine is.
Laurie ¶ 10:35 AM 0 comments links to this post
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Help Out A Show Secretary
I'm entering data from a recent show. I'm about to pull out my hair. First of all, the program is extremely quirky and requires weird workarounds if you don't behave exactly as the program means for you too.
I'm thinking a lot about that commercial where the woman throws her washing machine out of the window because it won't get out set-in stains. How far can I hurl this computer, do you suppose?
The other part of the frustration comes from the entries themselves. Show secretaries are in short supply in some parts of the country. I've even heard of clubs that pay the show secretary because no one wants to step up and take on the job voluntarily (I can easily see why!) So, consider doing your best to help out your show secretaries. Here are some ideas:
I'm thinking a lot about that commercial where the woman throws her washing machine out of the window because it won't get out set-in stains. How far can I hurl this computer, do you suppose?
The other part of the frustration comes from the entries themselves. Show secretaries are in short supply in some parts of the country. I've even heard of clubs that pay the show secretary because no one wants to step up and take on the job voluntarily (I can easily see why!) So, consider doing your best to help out your show secretaries. Here are some ideas:
- Always include your address with your entry. It is also a great idea to include your phone number and the cell phone you will be carrying on your way to the show. I've had secretaries call me to clarify an issue (when I was first starting out). We've also had need to contact an exhibitor that was running late to make sure they were coming. That cell phone number comes in handy then.
- Do not email a form. They do not always come through the way you sent them. If you could see all of the code that comes through, the nonaligned colunms, and the ear numbers mixed with variety, class, and sex, you would easily see why the forms aren't a great idea. A simple, well spaced column of information works great. Be sure to include breed, variety, class, sex, and ear number for each entry.
- Although it is your right to enter some rabbits in A and others in B, just keep in mind that it complicates data entry.
- I personally prefer a separate email for each exhibitor. When you are entering data and your eyes have to go back and forth between the online form and the entry, it's easy to lose your place. If you are also having to keep up with whose rabbits are whose, it makes it much more difficult.
- If you are sending in your entries on a form or entering day of show, definitely use a separate form for each exhibitor. It is very confusing to get a form with arrows showing these are my daughter's, these are my son's, and these are theirs together.
- If your entry spans two emails, make sure you do your best to label them that way. You might put in the subject line "Entries for Saturday: 1 of 2" or if you are updating your entry "Entries for Sunday - Updated."
- If you need to make a change to your entry, I personally prefer that you repeat your entire entry so that the first email may be deleted. But please highlight the change, just in case your entry has already been entered into the computer and just the change needs to be made.
- Check over your rabbits before you enter them. There's no accounting for a rabbit that suddenly blows a coat or breaks a nail, but most of the time, going over your rabbits before you enter them will prevent changes at the check-in table. Changes and additions take more time than all of the regular entries put together. You can help shows start on time and help the show secretary by making your entry as accurate as possible.
- Entries made on the day of the show are the most difficult. Many, if not most clubs need entries and are not likely to turn you away. We'd rather you come and partipate if you can, even if you couldn't commit until the last second. However, enter early if you can, even if it is after the deadline. If you can't, make sure you bring a completed entry form with you. If you don't have software available to you, you can almost always find an entry form attached to one of the many show catalogs posted around the internet. Scraps of paper or notes jotted down are very difficult to recognize and keep up with.
- Writers can help show secretaries by always writing their names down on the paperwork and recording the judge's information. Most judges have a stamp you can use, but you often have to remind them to get it out.
- Everyone can help out by using good handwriting. Even BOB and BOS can be confused when the ends of the S loop all of the way around. Pay special attention to O versus 0 (use a slash in the zero), 5 versus S (make the top of the 5 very flat), 1 versus l or i (use a capital L and use a dot on the I or make it into a Roman type I).
- Always write down the reasons for disqualifications. Some disqualifications reduce the number in the class, such as when a rabbit is the wrong sex or variety.
The most important way you can help your show secretary is to be patient if there is an error or issue to be resolved. Oftentimes problems were beyond the control of the show secretary. Usually, errrors represent a very small percentage of the work done. Show secretary work is a time-consuming, volunteer job. Show secretaries do not deserve snide remarks or hostile attitudes.
Well, that's all of the time I have. I've got to get back to data entry!
Laurie
¶ 9:46 AM 0 comments links to this post
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Random Thoughts About Line Breeding
Let me say first of all that when it comes to line breeding, I'm for it. I believe that the Holland Lop gene pool is much more scattered than most breeds, exempting some of the newer breeds and varieties. We don't get reliable and predictable results in the nest box. Tex Thomas once told me that he had bred Hollands for a while and had never experienced such unpredictable results.
So, as a group, it would be my hope that each breeder is working to consolidate their gene pools so that breeding Hollands in the future would be more predictable and reliable. And from that predictability, we would be able to produce better and better Hollands across the board.
When I was trying to find an online breeding chart to refer you to, I ran across these words of wisdom: "Generally, an inbred rabbit breeds better than it looks whereas an outcrossed rabbit looks better than it breeds." I couldn't have said it better myself!
By the way, here's the line breeding chart I was looking for. It's a pretty simple one and probably best for folks who are already familiar with the concepts.
I think the line breeding charts are great. But there's one big problem with them: they suppose that you have a great specimen of the breed available that you want to replicate (and hopefully improve upon). How many breeders really have that? An even better question, how many new breeders have that?
Unless you have a lot of money or some really good connections, you are not going to start out with a specimen worth replicating. If you are like most, it's not until your second attempt at populating your rabbitry that you even tried to get rabbits that were related - a step in the right direction.
So, your first step is likely to be producing a lucky outcross. Whereas inbreeding and line breeding increase the chances of bringing out good traits (and bad), outcrossing not only minimizes the chances of expressing something really bad, it minimizes the chances of expressing something really good.
But sometimes you have a lucky outcross. That's what Rio is, for example.
Right after he took his class at Convention, I had numerous people come up and ask me for something out of him. I told them that I hadn't really started breeding him much and I really didn't understand his gene pool yet. It would be better for those folks to wait two or three generations for something out of Rio.
So far, I've gotten two grand champion daughters, one very promising son (Kerry, who has had several near misses with earning legs), and two promising junior daughters. His success rate in production (ratio of really good rabbits to average and/or pet rabbits) is not as high as Merlin's, for example, who is much more tightly bred.
So, now I have some daughters to breed back to Rio. I even have a Rio daughter who is also a Rio granddaughter. Luckily, she appears to also be a physical match for Rio. In the next year or so, I might have something that I feel is much more valuable than Rio, the lucky outcross.
The rabbits with the greatest number of legs in my barn are Rio, 27, Java, 19, Camelot's Merlin, 13, Lex, 10, Padme, 9, Lord, Jamillia, and Francesca, 6 each, and there are 15 other rabbits with at least one leg. But I am most pleased with Padawan, 3 legs, Jamillia, 6 legs, and Jocasta, 3 junior legs. They don't (yet) top the charts in legs and wins, but they are my favorites.
The reason is simply that they are bred better than Rio was. I expect that they will produce some of the most reliable litters in my barn. Of course, only time will tell about that. But I have every reason to expect that.
So, if you can't buy a tightly bred specimen that is worth replicating, try for your lucky outcrosses. But consider those rabbits to be the starting place, not the final product. When you get one, then expect several generations before you have a group of rabbits that is really valuable to your breeding program.
I will be outcrossing again this fall. The last time that I brought in a rabbit that became a real part of my herd was Camelot's Merlin whom I picked up at the Rhode Island Convention. (I did buy out Valerie Harrell's herd, but ultimately, I sold off everything I bought and virtually everything that I produced. They were lovely rabbits, but I decided to consolidate my gene pool in a different direction.)
I'm quite nervous about it, but I do at least have a plan for my new buck. I will breed him to every doe in the herd. Not all in one day, of course. I want him to live more than a week! I will look for the most promising does that are produced. Unless there's a buck that really knocks my socks off, I will probably sell all of the bucks. Then all of those does will become the harem of the new buck. I will go back to my regular breeding program with my current herd, as if he had never arrived. I hope to work the "harem" for a couple of generations. Then I will be ready to try to integrate the new herd with my current one. They will already be partly related, since the original does came from my herd.
That's my plan. I hope I can stick to it and not be tempted to make a physical match. I suppose I might be tempted to use a really good son or grandson with his dam's side of the family. But I still have a lot of plans with my current herd to carry out.
Note that, except for the first breeding with all of my does, after that, everything will be back to line breeding and inbreeding.
Thank you to Allan Ormond for sharing with me several years ago how he brings new lines into his herd. He rarely does it, but when he does, he brings in a buck and breeds to all of his does. I tucked away that piece of information for the day when I might need it. It looks like that day is coming soon.
Laurie ¶ 9:58 AM 0 comments links to this post
So, as a group, it would be my hope that each breeder is working to consolidate their gene pools so that breeding Hollands in the future would be more predictable and reliable. And from that predictability, we would be able to produce better and better Hollands across the board.
When I was trying to find an online breeding chart to refer you to, I ran across these words of wisdom: "Generally, an inbred rabbit breeds better than it looks whereas an outcrossed rabbit looks better than it breeds." I couldn't have said it better myself!
By the way, here's the line breeding chart I was looking for. It's a pretty simple one and probably best for folks who are already familiar with the concepts.
I think the line breeding charts are great. But there's one big problem with them: they suppose that you have a great specimen of the breed available that you want to replicate (and hopefully improve upon). How many breeders really have that? An even better question, how many new breeders have that?
Unless you have a lot of money or some really good connections, you are not going to start out with a specimen worth replicating. If you are like most, it's not until your second attempt at populating your rabbitry that you even tried to get rabbits that were related - a step in the right direction.
So, your first step is likely to be producing a lucky outcross. Whereas inbreeding and line breeding increase the chances of bringing out good traits (and bad), outcrossing not only minimizes the chances of expressing something really bad, it minimizes the chances of expressing something really good.
But sometimes you have a lucky outcross. That's what Rio is, for example.
Right after he took his class at Convention, I had numerous people come up and ask me for something out of him. I told them that I hadn't really started breeding him much and I really didn't understand his gene pool yet. It would be better for those folks to wait two or three generations for something out of Rio.
So far, I've gotten two grand champion daughters, one very promising son (Kerry, who has had several near misses with earning legs), and two promising junior daughters. His success rate in production (ratio of really good rabbits to average and/or pet rabbits) is not as high as Merlin's, for example, who is much more tightly bred.
So, now I have some daughters to breed back to Rio. I even have a Rio daughter who is also a Rio granddaughter. Luckily, she appears to also be a physical match for Rio. In the next year or so, I might have something that I feel is much more valuable than Rio, the lucky outcross.
The rabbits with the greatest number of legs in my barn are Rio, 27, Java, 19, Camelot's Merlin, 13, Lex, 10, Padme, 9, Lord, Jamillia, and Francesca, 6 each, and there are 15 other rabbits with at least one leg. But I am most pleased with Padawan, 3 legs, Jamillia, 6 legs, and Jocasta, 3 junior legs. They don't (yet) top the charts in legs and wins, but they are my favorites.
The reason is simply that they are bred better than Rio was. I expect that they will produce some of the most reliable litters in my barn. Of course, only time will tell about that. But I have every reason to expect that.
So, if you can't buy a tightly bred specimen that is worth replicating, try for your lucky outcrosses. But consider those rabbits to be the starting place, not the final product. When you get one, then expect several generations before you have a group of rabbits that is really valuable to your breeding program.
I will be outcrossing again this fall. The last time that I brought in a rabbit that became a real part of my herd was Camelot's Merlin whom I picked up at the Rhode Island Convention. (I did buy out Valerie Harrell's herd, but ultimately, I sold off everything I bought and virtually everything that I produced. They were lovely rabbits, but I decided to consolidate my gene pool in a different direction.)
I'm quite nervous about it, but I do at least have a plan for my new buck. I will breed him to every doe in the herd. Not all in one day, of course. I want him to live more than a week! I will look for the most promising does that are produced. Unless there's a buck that really knocks my socks off, I will probably sell all of the bucks. Then all of those does will become the harem of the new buck. I will go back to my regular breeding program with my current herd, as if he had never arrived. I hope to work the "harem" for a couple of generations. Then I will be ready to try to integrate the new herd with my current one. They will already be partly related, since the original does came from my herd.
That's my plan. I hope I can stick to it and not be tempted to make a physical match. I suppose I might be tempted to use a really good son or grandson with his dam's side of the family. But I still have a lot of plans with my current herd to carry out.
Note that, except for the first breeding with all of my does, after that, everything will be back to line breeding and inbreeding.
Thank you to Allan Ormond for sharing with me several years ago how he brings new lines into his herd. He rarely does it, but when he does, he brings in a buck and breeds to all of his does. I tucked away that piece of information for the day when I might need it. It looks like that day is coming soon.
Laurie ¶ 9:58 AM 0 comments links to this post
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Keeping Records
I cannot over-estimate how important keeping records is to your breeding program. While it's not imperative that you have a computer program to keep up with these various records, I personally can't see how I could handle it otherwise. There are large rabbitries, though, that operate successfully without them. My hat's off to anyone who can keep good records without a computer in this day and age.
I recently got a doe back, GC The Nature Trail's Belle. Let me take a moment to say that she was in great condition and obviously well cared for. Anyway, Belle has not been a great producer. So far, she had one kit for me and one for the other breeder.
Normally, I wouldn't spend any more time with a doe of that track record - been there, done that. But, in this case, I certainly have the cage space and I was down to just May, Hope, and Lexus for granded broken senior does.
Here's where the good record part comes in. My friend had kept wonderful records. I had Belle's earlier records. From those accounts, I can see that Belle tends to have small litters and deliver her kits late. The one time she had a live one from me, she'd had 6 in the litter, which was the exception.
All of this leads me to believe that she has large kits and/or weak labor. By the time she passes them, they are all dead.
So, I'm using the information from her records to make a plan. I have never used oxytocin before, but I believe it is called for in her case. If she misses this time or has a dead litter, then I will make sure that I breed her on the full moon and breed her as many times as she will consent to, to try to increase her litter size. I will also keep her feed on the low side if she palpates positive, but with few kits, to keep the babies on the smaller side, hopefully.
So I have a plan. I don't know whether it will work. But because there were good records, I can at least make a reasonable attempt to get babies from her.
(By the way, if I get daughters and they a problematic moms, then I will not repeat the effort to get babies.)
I've also used my records to track the REW gene in my herd. Against all odds, I've had two tort herd bucks that were REW carriers. One became a cornerstone of my herd, so I have the REW gene running around here and there.
The REW gene, by the way, if great for producing properly-gened sable points and for testing for c-series genes in other rabbits.
Even when I can't see the REW gene for a generation or two, when it pops up, I can trace it back because of good records.
If you've been reading my BLOG for any time at all, then you probably know that I keep close tabs on productions rates (production of worthy rabbits, that is). I want to always know which rabbits produce the good stuff. I keep an eye on production numbers in general, too. That can help you spot a subtle feed and/or conditioner problem. I've even used my records to check out the full moon-new moon theory of breeding.
It's true that sometimes you need to take the raw data you've collected and work with it a bit to give you the answers you need. For example, if I wanted to track which rabbits produce short ears in my herd, I'd have to do a bit of tabulating. But at least I have data to help me out.
I probably need to start putting photographs into my program. Right now, I can remember a lot about each rabbit that I've kept in my barn long enough to breed. But I'm sure that over time, some of the details might be lost. If I photograph them and associate it with their file, then I'd have more clues about the characteristics of each.
I also should find a field in my software program somewhere to list the strengths and weaknesses of each rabbit. That might provide even more useful information for the future.
When my teenage daughter, 17, is in a battling mood, she claims that I'm always harping on the past. Well, the fact is that the past is the best predictor we have for the future. And the history of your barn is the best information you have to help guide you to your future.
Laurie ¶ 9:22 AM 0 comments links to this post
I recently got a doe back, GC The Nature Trail's Belle. Let me take a moment to say that she was in great condition and obviously well cared for. Anyway, Belle has not been a great producer. So far, she had one kit for me and one for the other breeder.
Normally, I wouldn't spend any more time with a doe of that track record - been there, done that. But, in this case, I certainly have the cage space and I was down to just May, Hope, and Lexus for granded broken senior does.
Here's where the good record part comes in. My friend had kept wonderful records. I had Belle's earlier records. From those accounts, I can see that Belle tends to have small litters and deliver her kits late. The one time she had a live one from me, she'd had 6 in the litter, which was the exception.
All of this leads me to believe that she has large kits and/or weak labor. By the time she passes them, they are all dead.
So, I'm using the information from her records to make a plan. I have never used oxytocin before, but I believe it is called for in her case. If she misses this time or has a dead litter, then I will make sure that I breed her on the full moon and breed her as many times as she will consent to, to try to increase her litter size. I will also keep her feed on the low side if she palpates positive, but with few kits, to keep the babies on the smaller side, hopefully.
So I have a plan. I don't know whether it will work. But because there were good records, I can at least make a reasonable attempt to get babies from her.
(By the way, if I get daughters and they a problematic moms, then I will not repeat the effort to get babies.)
I've also used my records to track the REW gene in my herd. Against all odds, I've had two tort herd bucks that were REW carriers. One became a cornerstone of my herd, so I have the REW gene running around here and there.
The REW gene, by the way, if great for producing properly-gened sable points and for testing for c-series genes in other rabbits.
Even when I can't see the REW gene for a generation or two, when it pops up, I can trace it back because of good records.
If you've been reading my BLOG for any time at all, then you probably know that I keep close tabs on productions rates (production of worthy rabbits, that is). I want to always know which rabbits produce the good stuff. I keep an eye on production numbers in general, too. That can help you spot a subtle feed and/or conditioner problem. I've even used my records to check out the full moon-new moon theory of breeding.
It's true that sometimes you need to take the raw data you've collected and work with it a bit to give you the answers you need. For example, if I wanted to track which rabbits produce short ears in my herd, I'd have to do a bit of tabulating. But at least I have data to help me out.
I probably need to start putting photographs into my program. Right now, I can remember a lot about each rabbit that I've kept in my barn long enough to breed. But I'm sure that over time, some of the details might be lost. If I photograph them and associate it with their file, then I'd have more clues about the characteristics of each.
I also should find a field in my software program somewhere to list the strengths and weaknesses of each rabbit. That might provide even more useful information for the future.
When my teenage daughter, 17, is in a battling mood, she claims that I'm always harping on the past. Well, the fact is that the past is the best predictor we have for the future. And the history of your barn is the best information you have to help guide you to your future.
Laurie ¶ 9:22 AM 0 comments links to this post
Monday, September 24, 2007
Fun
Yesterday, Andrew and I attended a meeting for our local Mayberry Ballroom Dancers committee. I mentioned to the group that we should think about what makes a dance successful and frequently check ourselves to see if we are covering those very important items in each dance.
The question made me wonder a couple of things about our rabbit hobby. First of all, I wonder how many clubs really take the time to think about what makes a really successful rabbit show and then purposefully set out to cover each of those bases.
I have to say that the Sandhills Rabbit Fanciers is one club that I am familiar with that really does put on its thinking cap when planning each and every show. They help keep the satisfaction in showing rabbits and the fun in getting together. I'm already looking forward to the Christmas show - what will I dress my rabbit as this year?
I know there are other clubs out there, not operating on auto-pilot, but rather attempting to make each show they sponsor a great show. I just want to say "Thank You" to each and every club that takes the time to think about, plan, and carry out really fun, satisfying shows.
But I can't depend on others to keep the fun in my hobby. First and foremost, that responsibility is mine.
That brings me to the second thing to wonder about. I suppose I should think about what makes my hobby fun and then periodically check to make sure that I'm including those parts and not letting my hobby get out of balance.
Here, in no particular order, are some of the things that I think are fun about my hobby:
The question made me wonder a couple of things about our rabbit hobby. First of all, I wonder how many clubs really take the time to think about what makes a really successful rabbit show and then purposefully set out to cover each of those bases.
I have to say that the Sandhills Rabbit Fanciers is one club that I am familiar with that really does put on its thinking cap when planning each and every show. They help keep the satisfaction in showing rabbits and the fun in getting together. I'm already looking forward to the Christmas show - what will I dress my rabbit as this year?
I know there are other clubs out there, not operating on auto-pilot, but rather attempting to make each show they sponsor a great show. I just want to say "Thank You" to each and every club that takes the time to think about, plan, and carry out really fun, satisfying shows.
But I can't depend on others to keep the fun in my hobby. First and foremost, that responsibility is mine.
That brings me to the second thing to wonder about. I suppose I should think about what makes my hobby fun and then periodically check to make sure that I'm including those parts and not letting my hobby get out of balance.
Here, in no particular order, are some of the things that I think are fun about my hobby:
- Traveling with a good friend
- Going out to eat with the gang after a show
- Planning breedings
- Playing with baby rabbits
- Winning with a rabbit that I worked hard to produce
- Helping someone else get their start in rabbits
- Visiting and chatting at shows
- Seeing my plans and goals moving along
- Attending Nationals and Convention
- Learning
I'm not sure that this list is totally complete. I'll be thinking about this more, I'm sure.
Your list may look a lot different than mine. It's not important what's on your list (as long as it is all moral and ethical and in keeping with good sportsmanship!), but I think that it is important that you have a list - either formally written down or floating around in your head. And of the two, it's better to write it down.
Even more important is taking some time periodically to evaluate your hobby. Are you doing the fun parts? Have you gotten bogged down in the not-so-fun parts? Is your hobby so full of cleaning, packing, unpacking, exhaustion, interpersonal strife, fear, and loss that you've lost sight of the fun?
I certainly hope not. I'm not saying that there shouldn't be hard work involved. There should be or the satisfaction wouldn't be nearly so good when things fall your way. And I'm not saying that you can totally avoid stress in our hobby. You have stress any time people are involved, not to mention the little tricks that nature likes to through your way.
But make it your goal to keep fun large and real in your hobby. I think that just keeping tabs on the fun versus not-so-fun ratio can really make a big difference.
Laurie
¶ 8:27 AM 0 comments links to this post
Friday, September 21, 2007
Why Do We Do It?
Have you ever been in the middle of preparing for a rabbit show - whether you are loading up in the heat while trying to keep bunnies cool or loading up in the rain while trying to keep dry - and wonder why we do this - for fun? Have you ever cried your eyes out over the loss of a special bunny or stayed up half the night trying to save a furry life and thought, "THIS is my hobby? my relaxation?"
All in all, you'd have to say that we are a crazy lot, traveling too far, spending too much money on rabbit supplies, and using too many gallons of bleach and vinegar for a normal person. And this is how we "get away from it all"!
I admit it is a great paradox that this work, often exhausting and frequently dirty, does renew us and refresh us. It does give us time to clear our minds. It does provide us with a sense of hope and a sense of wonder and a sense of accomplishment.
By all logical reasoning, I should give up bunnies. I have more than enough in my life otherwise. I even have another hobby. I could certainly use all of the money I spend on rabbits for more practical things or even dance weekends and new dance clothes and shoes.
But still I stay.
Why do we do it? Why do I do it?
I'm sure the answer is different for each person. But it's worth asking yourself every now and then, especially when the work seems to outweigh the relaxation, or the frustration and disappointment seems to outweigh the satisfaction.
I love my rabbits. I can't imagine being without them. I love the look of them, the feel of them, their individual personalities, and the promise that each new baby holds.
I love my rabbit friends. I count on them to share our passion for rabbits, to spend delightful times together, and to support me. They also give me the opportunity to help, share, and support, which is even more important.
So when I have a disappointing day on the table or empty nest boxes, I have to remind myself that it is not my goal to be #1 in the nation and that I have no time restraints concerning when I reach my goals. I look to the long-term, anyway, so that helps me realize that no one show, no one season, even, should be able to derail me and my hobby.
So why do I do it? I do it for lots of reasons, most of them very good reasons. Is it worth it? Sometimes, the answer is definitely not. This is crazy. I must be insane. But most of the time, the answer comes back to me very clearly: absolutely.
Laurie ¶ 8:27 AM 1 comments links to this post
All in all, you'd have to say that we are a crazy lot, traveling too far, spending too much money on rabbit supplies, and using too many gallons of bleach and vinegar for a normal person. And this is how we "get away from it all"!
I admit it is a great paradox that this work, often exhausting and frequently dirty, does renew us and refresh us. It does give us time to clear our minds. It does provide us with a sense of hope and a sense of wonder and a sense of accomplishment.
By all logical reasoning, I should give up bunnies. I have more than enough in my life otherwise. I even have another hobby. I could certainly use all of the money I spend on rabbits for more practical things or even dance weekends and new dance clothes and shoes.
But still I stay.
Why do we do it? Why do I do it?
I'm sure the answer is different for each person. But it's worth asking yourself every now and then, especially when the work seems to outweigh the relaxation, or the frustration and disappointment seems to outweigh the satisfaction.
I love my rabbits. I can't imagine being without them. I love the look of them, the feel of them, their individual personalities, and the promise that each new baby holds.
I love my rabbit friends. I count on them to share our passion for rabbits, to spend delightful times together, and to support me. They also give me the opportunity to help, share, and support, which is even more important.
So when I have a disappointing day on the table or empty nest boxes, I have to remind myself that it is not my goal to be #1 in the nation and that I have no time restraints concerning when I reach my goals. I look to the long-term, anyway, so that helps me realize that no one show, no one season, even, should be able to derail me and my hobby.
So why do I do it? I do it for lots of reasons, most of them very good reasons. Is it worth it? Sometimes, the answer is definitely not. This is crazy. I must be insane. But most of the time, the answer comes back to me very clearly: absolutely.
Laurie ¶ 8:27 AM 1 comments links to this post
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Realistic Expectations When Buying Rabbits
It's that time of year when I receive telephone calls frequently and my email is filled with requests for rabbits. I dread it.
First of all, selling rabbits is not my favorite activity. I am first and foremost a breeder.
Oh, I love it when I can share a very nice rabbit with a friend or help someone get started off on a good foot. But let's face it, it's really rare when you can let a grand champion go (I've sold a total of 15 grand champions in my career) or have the perfect trio on hand and ready to go just when someone wants to start out in Hollands.
What I really dislike is the unrealistic expectations.
I had an established breeder call me once and talk for quite some time. As we talked, I began to feel that what she wanted was Java or May or Padme. Let me be clear about something: if I get a rabbit like Java or May or Padme again, I'm keeping it. That's why I breed. To produce rabbits for me to show.
Folks also want to buy a rabbit from me that will place in the top ten at Convention. Again, if I produce a rabbit that I think can do that, he or she is staying in my herd.
There seems to be a pervasive feeling that if an exhibitor does well on the tables, especially at a national show, then all of the rabbits by that exhibitor are of the same quality. I doubt that is true. Those rabbits on the table are the cream of the crop.
I would say that if an exhibitor does well consistently and the pedigrees show tight breeding, then you may be able to get some pieces from that exhibitor that are worth working with. That's a more realistic expectation.
Sure, breeders do sell rabbits that win Best In Show for other people. Folks have sold rabbits that turned out to be top lops. Perhaps they knew what they were selling at the time, but I expect they were just sleepers, surprising the seller and buyer alike.
I expect that a lot of rabbit buyers are like speculators - looking for that vein of gold that will help them strike it rich. That strategy is expensive and not guaranteed to work.
I got a call from a breeder re-entering Hollands after a number of years. He's having a hard time getting his hands on really good stock to start with. For the most part, you can't just knock on a top breeder's door and purchase their top quality stock, especially around Convention time.
You might be able to make an appointment to go to their barns in the summer, when sales are generally slow and barns are more full. That's a great strategy.
But don't be surprised that top breeders have a long list of friends and colleagues who get first pick of their best rabbits. And, of course, don't be surprised if a top breeder won't sell their best sale rabbits to folks in their own area. I do, but I figure that if I can't stay one step ahead of the folks I sell to, then I'm doing something wrong and need to make an adjustment. I like helping to raise the general quality of Hollands in my area anyway.
I've written about this before, but let me repeat again that the rabbits that have helped my barn the most cost between $75 and $150. It's not always the $300 rabbit that is the best addition to your barn, especially if you are more interested in producing rabbits of your own than showing someone else's bunnies.
Shopping for pieces, parts, and complementary rabbits is a great strategy. Buying a good bunny that has the part you need is often better than buying a great bunny with the same fault you already struggle with.
When folks ask me whether they should buy this bunny or that, I always ask the same question. What do you need in your barn?
I was asked to evaluate a rabbit for a breeder who was thinking of buying from a judge who breeds Hollands. I asked to evaluate the rabbit out of the presence of the seller, which is always a good practice. There's no sense in giving your opinion if you can't be frank. I looked very briefly at the rabbit but asked the question, "What do you need in your barn?"
To me, if you don't know the answer to that question, you don't need to be shopping for rabbits. Perhaps you are hoping to luck up and get Mr. or Ms. Perfect. I hope you get it, but I don't think that's a realistic expectation.
So, I bet you can guess which kinds of customers I like the best. Yes, it's the ones who write and say, "I'm trying to shorten up shoulders," or "I need more texture to the ears." I don't mind those who are looking for a well-matched trio. Those customers, I might be able to help.
But please don't write me and ask for a rabbit like Rio. That rabbit is not for sale.
Laurie ¶ 7:21 AM 3 comments links to this post
First of all, selling rabbits is not my favorite activity. I am first and foremost a breeder.
Oh, I love it when I can share a very nice rabbit with a friend or help someone get started off on a good foot. But let's face it, it's really rare when you can let a grand champion go (I've sold a total of 15 grand champions in my career) or have the perfect trio on hand and ready to go just when someone wants to start out in Hollands.
What I really dislike is the unrealistic expectations.
I had an established breeder call me once and talk for quite some time. As we talked, I began to feel that what she wanted was Java or May or Padme. Let me be clear about something: if I get a rabbit like Java or May or Padme again, I'm keeping it. That's why I breed. To produce rabbits for me to show.
Folks also want to buy a rabbit from me that will place in the top ten at Convention. Again, if I produce a rabbit that I think can do that, he or she is staying in my herd.
There seems to be a pervasive feeling that if an exhibitor does well on the tables, especially at a national show, then all of the rabbits by that exhibitor are of the same quality. I doubt that is true. Those rabbits on the table are the cream of the crop.
I would say that if an exhibitor does well consistently and the pedigrees show tight breeding, then you may be able to get some pieces from that exhibitor that are worth working with. That's a more realistic expectation.
Sure, breeders do sell rabbits that win Best In Show for other people. Folks have sold rabbits that turned out to be top lops. Perhaps they knew what they were selling at the time, but I expect they were just sleepers, surprising the seller and buyer alike.
I expect that a lot of rabbit buyers are like speculators - looking for that vein of gold that will help them strike it rich. That strategy is expensive and not guaranteed to work.
I got a call from a breeder re-entering Hollands after a number of years. He's having a hard time getting his hands on really good stock to start with. For the most part, you can't just knock on a top breeder's door and purchase their top quality stock, especially around Convention time.
You might be able to make an appointment to go to their barns in the summer, when sales are generally slow and barns are more full. That's a great strategy.
But don't be surprised that top breeders have a long list of friends and colleagues who get first pick of their best rabbits. And, of course, don't be surprised if a top breeder won't sell their best sale rabbits to folks in their own area. I do, but I figure that if I can't stay one step ahead of the folks I sell to, then I'm doing something wrong and need to make an adjustment. I like helping to raise the general quality of Hollands in my area anyway.
I've written about this before, but let me repeat again that the rabbits that have helped my barn the most cost between $75 and $150. It's not always the $300 rabbit that is the best addition to your barn, especially if you are more interested in producing rabbits of your own than showing someone else's bunnies.
Shopping for pieces, parts, and complementary rabbits is a great strategy. Buying a good bunny that has the part you need is often better than buying a great bunny with the same fault you already struggle with.
When folks ask me whether they should buy this bunny or that, I always ask the same question. What do you need in your barn?
I was asked to evaluate a rabbit for a breeder who was thinking of buying from a judge who breeds Hollands. I asked to evaluate the rabbit out of the presence of the seller, which is always a good practice. There's no sense in giving your opinion if you can't be frank. I looked very briefly at the rabbit but asked the question, "What do you need in your barn?"
To me, if you don't know the answer to that question, you don't need to be shopping for rabbits. Perhaps you are hoping to luck up and get Mr. or Ms. Perfect. I hope you get it, but I don't think that's a realistic expectation.
So, I bet you can guess which kinds of customers I like the best. Yes, it's the ones who write and say, "I'm trying to shorten up shoulders," or "I need more texture to the ears." I don't mind those who are looking for a well-matched trio. Those customers, I might be able to help.
But please don't write me and ask for a rabbit like Rio. That rabbit is not for sale.
Laurie ¶ 7:21 AM 3 comments links to this post
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Doldrums
There's a factor of delay whenever you have a break in breeding. You may suffer disapointments in the nestbox one month, but you won't feel it on the show table until about four months later.
On September 21, my several remaining older juniors will turn senior. After that, I will have just four junior does that may or may not be show quality. That's it.
I have does due in early October. Generally, I start showing juniors around four months old, so it will most likely be early February before I can put new juniors on the table again. That's a huge break!
These months ahead will be the doldrums for me. Just as sailors sat in the ocean not moving for what seemed an eternity, my barn will be making no forward progress - or at least feel that way.
The kits that are due in early October are due exactly four months after the last kits were born in my barn. That's 1/3 of a year with absolutely no production.
Actually, I hope that my barn is make great forward progress, it will just appear to be standing still on the show table. At home, I hope there will be new and very promising babies born. Maybe next spring will be my best season yet for juniors. Who knows?
If you know me, you know I'm not really a patient person. So this lapse in production is probably going to drive me crazy. I don't usually like to show the same seniors over and over again. I'm always looking for the winner in the next generation. But I suppose over the next few months, I'll have to be content with trying to get senior legs.
Luckily, I do have a couple of projects. I want to grand Kerry, who has had more than his share of second place and first place with four rabbits. I also have three does with two legs each to try to grand.
I have several bucks that are turning senior this month. Each of them will be slow to the table, though, so I doubt any of them will be ready to show for at least six months or maybe a year. Except for the waiting part, I like them that way. (Slow to the table, long on the table; quick to the table, quick off the table.) Maybe some of the junior does turning senior this week will be GC quality. They've each got some potential or they wouldn't still be here.
So, I'm sorry I won't be helping to fill out the junior classes very much over the next few months. I suppose I'll just have to be content with saving money on entry fees!
Laurie
¶ 7:22 AM 0 comments links to this post
On September 21, my several remaining older juniors will turn senior. After that, I will have just four junior does that may or may not be show quality. That's it.
I have does due in early October. Generally, I start showing juniors around four months old, so it will most likely be early February before I can put new juniors on the table again. That's a huge break!
These months ahead will be the doldrums for me. Just as sailors sat in the ocean not moving for what seemed an eternity, my barn will be making no forward progress - or at least feel that way.
The kits that are due in early October are due exactly four months after the last kits were born in my barn. That's 1/3 of a year with absolutely no production.
Actually, I hope that my barn is make great forward progress, it will just appear to be standing still on the show table. At home, I hope there will be new and very promising babies born. Maybe next spring will be my best season yet for juniors. Who knows?
If you know me, you know I'm not really a patient person. So this lapse in production is probably going to drive me crazy. I don't usually like to show the same seniors over and over again. I'm always looking for the winner in the next generation. But I suppose over the next few months, I'll have to be content with trying to get senior legs.
Luckily, I do have a couple of projects. I want to grand Kerry, who has had more than his share of second place and first place with four rabbits. I also have three does with two legs each to try to grand.
I have several bucks that are turning senior this month. Each of them will be slow to the table, though, so I doubt any of them will be ready to show for at least six months or maybe a year. Except for the waiting part, I like them that way. (Slow to the table, long on the table; quick to the table, quick off the table.) Maybe some of the junior does turning senior this week will be GC quality. They've each got some potential or they wouldn't still be here.
So, I'm sorry I won't be helping to fill out the junior classes very much over the next few months. I suppose I'll just have to be content with saving money on entry fees!
Laurie
¶ 7:22 AM 0 comments links to this post
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Why Go To Convention?
I was talking to a breeder this weekend about a former customer of hers. She sold her some nice stock and the new breeder has been working with it, getting ready to show for the first time. She's been working for two years! and hasn't attended her first show. She's waiting for her rabbits to get good enough to show before she comes.
Yikes! She is missing out on so much by waiting until she thinks she has it right to even start going to shows. Besides all of the fun and fellowship with other breeders, she's missing opportunities for comments on her rabbits and opportunities to see good (and poor) examples of the breed. In my opinion, she needs to jump in there. I think she'd progress much faster that way.
It may seem obvious to most of us that this new breeder doesn't need to wait until her rabbits are competitive before attending shows, but many breeders use just that same logic about Convention and Nationals.
I'm going to go when my rabbits are competitive. I've heard it from a number of people. Inside, I always say, no, no, no, don't wait. And then I try to encourage them to go much sooner than that.
When I planned to go to my first Convention, I had absolutely nothing that was competitive. I entered a couple of rabbits just so I'd feel like I was participating. I did end up purchasing Dandy, who placed 4th, so I had something competitive to show, but that wasn't really necessary for my trip to be worthwhile.
First of all, you get to meet breeders from all over. It is great to put faces with names you've only read about before that time. And I've met some great people that I'd never heard of before.
You get to see really good Hollands. At shows, you might see one or two really good examples in each class - and sometimes none. How about seeing 40 or 50 to-die-for senior bucks all at once? You really can refine your ideas of what a Holland lop should be and what it can be when you see that many quality animals at once.
It's also a reality check. You realize that there's not that big of a gap between what you have and what some of the more famous breeders have to show. When I first started, I felt like I had decades to go before I could compete. Going to national shows made things seem so reachable, especially once my own rabbits started placing in the top tens.
Now I just think getting a special at Convention is decades off!
At Convention, you also have a chance to participate in the annual meeting. It's great to have a chance to hear first-hand what's going on.
If you are into sightseeing, there are opportunities to go out and see the area. Or, you can stay in and shop vendors until you drop. Plus, there are the new varieties and breeds to look at.
And if you are into buying and selling rabbits, it doesn't get any better than Convention for that. Providence, Rhode Island, is where I picked up Camelot's Merlin (a presale). You know what a difference he has made to my herd.
I always enjoy the HLRSC banquet, even if the food is barely adequate. We generally have a nice auction. And it's wonderful to see all of the winner line up. Unlike regular shows, at Convention, you actually get to find out who won what.
So you see, you could go to Convention and not even show rabbits - and have a great time. I have a friend who frequently does that and another who had a great time at Nationals without showing rabbits.
But if you show and your rabbit does better than you thought it would, then that's the gravy on your mashed potatoes.
You never know exactly how Convention will go. There are sure to be some snafus and troublesome spots. The only thing I can guarantee is that you'll be tired at the end of the week. But so far, I've always learned a lot, enjoyed the fellowship, and found it all to be really worthwhile.
Laurie ¶ 7:17 AM 0 comments links to this post
Yikes! She is missing out on so much by waiting until she thinks she has it right to even start going to shows. Besides all of the fun and fellowship with other breeders, she's missing opportunities for comments on her rabbits and opportunities to see good (and poor) examples of the breed. In my opinion, she needs to jump in there. I think she'd progress much faster that way.
It may seem obvious to most of us that this new breeder doesn't need to wait until her rabbits are competitive before attending shows, but many breeders use just that same logic about Convention and Nationals.
I'm going to go when my rabbits are competitive. I've heard it from a number of people. Inside, I always say, no, no, no, don't wait. And then I try to encourage them to go much sooner than that.
When I planned to go to my first Convention, I had absolutely nothing that was competitive. I entered a couple of rabbits just so I'd feel like I was participating. I did end up purchasing Dandy, who placed 4th, so I had something competitive to show, but that wasn't really necessary for my trip to be worthwhile.
First of all, you get to meet breeders from all over. It is great to put faces with names you've only read about before that time. And I've met some great people that I'd never heard of before.
You get to see really good Hollands. At shows, you might see one or two really good examples in each class - and sometimes none. How about seeing 40 or 50 to-die-for senior bucks all at once? You really can refine your ideas of what a Holland lop should be and what it can be when you see that many quality animals at once.
It's also a reality check. You realize that there's not that big of a gap between what you have and what some of the more famous breeders have to show. When I first started, I felt like I had decades to go before I could compete. Going to national shows made things seem so reachable, especially once my own rabbits started placing in the top tens.
Now I just think getting a special at Convention is decades off!
At Convention, you also have a chance to participate in the annual meeting. It's great to have a chance to hear first-hand what's going on.
If you are into sightseeing, there are opportunities to go out and see the area. Or, you can stay in and shop vendors until you drop. Plus, there are the new varieties and breeds to look at.
And if you are into buying and selling rabbits, it doesn't get any better than Convention for that. Providence, Rhode Island, is where I picked up Camelot's Merlin (a presale). You know what a difference he has made to my herd.
I always enjoy the HLRSC banquet, even if the food is barely adequate. We generally have a nice auction. And it's wonderful to see all of the winner line up. Unlike regular shows, at Convention, you actually get to find out who won what.
So you see, you could go to Convention and not even show rabbits - and have a great time. I have a friend who frequently does that and another who had a great time at Nationals without showing rabbits.
But if you show and your rabbit does better than you thought it would, then that's the gravy on your mashed potatoes.
You never know exactly how Convention will go. There are sure to be some snafus and troublesome spots. The only thing I can guarantee is that you'll be tired at the end of the week. But so far, I've always learned a lot, enjoyed the fellowship, and found it all to be really worthwhile.
Laurie ¶ 7:17 AM 0 comments links to this post
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Sandhills Rabbit Fanicers Show, September 15, 2007
The show, for me, started earlier in the week by learning a new rabbit show management program. I just about pulled my hair out with its quirkiness, but finally figured out how to play the game, for the most part.
Then I arrived early on Friday evening to help set up and to attend the palpation workshop. The workshop was outstanding. I learned so much. It was nothing too fancy or too formal. We just gathered around a table, watched and listened, and then gave it a try. May is not pregnant, Hope did catch, and I need to check Jamillia again on Monday!
Many thanks to Ray Brewer for teaching us.
I drove back home for a few hours' sleep. That 1 1/2 hours seemed really, really long to me. The next morning, I helped with check-in, sold some bunnies, bought Anna her first Jersey Woolies, got GC The Nature Trail's Belle back, and finally got settled in to showing bunnies.
It was so wonderful to see some friends who don't show often, don't show in summer, or don't show in my area very often. That was great!
I got a peak at Pandora Allen's silver martens. They are gorgeous. I'm so excited about this variety. Good luck Panny!
So how did my bunnies fare? I planned to show just eight, two in each of the senior classes, but I decided to throw in two juniors because the price went down per bunny at ten. I like a bargain as much as the next person. In retrospect, maybe I should have thrown in my junior bucks instead, though.
There was lots of competition and nearly 100 Hollands in show A & B (a bit fewer in C since two breeders scratched and a couple of others never entered).
Well just go ahead and crown me queen of second place! I lost count of how many times my bunnies came in second place yesterday. Todd was starting to chuckle by the time the broken senior does came up and I once again went forward to get my second placed rabbit.
MLK was second in a very large class. I think maybe Crazy Horse was, too. I didn't write anything down yesterday, so I'm not 100% certain.
The classes were good sized and the competition was good, so second wasn't that bad a place to be in. Not great, but definitely not bad.
When I went to get my second place broken senior doe, GC The Nature Trail's May, I was definitely happy because her daughter, GC The Nature Trail's Hope, had taken the class.
In the second show, under Everette Hopper, May took her class. Hope broke her streak of always coming in first each time I show her. Jocasta finally beat Willow Walker's Voodoo, that gorgeous black doe, but another doe beat them both, and then Jamillia took the class. Poor Jocasta - still seeking that elusive senior leg to grand!
This time, Lord was second and MLK was third. I believe Crazy Horse might have been third that time.
The competition thinned down a bit for the third show, but there were still plenty of nice bunnies left. Lord came in second again. Voodoo went back to beating Jocasta, as usual. Crazy Horse took his class for a BOSG and May was BOB.
It was really a family affair for my rabbits this weekend: May, her half-brother Crqzy Horse, her daughter Hope, and her granddaughter Jamillia were my winners. MLK, who came in second in a large class under Todd Naragon is also a half-brother to May.
I can't remember being this tired after a show, at least not in a long, long time. There was just too much to do. I enjoyed myself a lot, visited friends, learned a lot, and brought home five legs, two quality points, and a herdsman point. Not bad for one weekend.
Laurie ¶ 8:36 AM 0 comments links to this post
Then I arrived early on Friday evening to help set up and to attend the palpation workshop. The workshop was outstanding. I learned so much. It was nothing too fancy or too formal. We just gathered around a table, watched and listened, and then gave it a try. May is not pregnant, Hope did catch, and I need to check Jamillia again on Monday!
Many thanks to Ray Brewer for teaching us.
I drove back home for a few hours' sleep. That 1 1/2 hours seemed really, really long to me. The next morning, I helped with check-in, sold some bunnies, bought Anna her first Jersey Woolies, got GC The Nature Trail's Belle back, and finally got settled in to showing bunnies.
It was so wonderful to see some friends who don't show often, don't show in summer, or don't show in my area very often. That was great!
I got a peak at Pandora Allen's silver martens. They are gorgeous. I'm so excited about this variety. Good luck Panny!
So how did my bunnies fare? I planned to show just eight, two in each of the senior classes, but I decided to throw in two juniors because the price went down per bunny at ten. I like a bargain as much as the next person. In retrospect, maybe I should have thrown in my junior bucks instead, though.
There was lots of competition and nearly 100 Hollands in show A & B (a bit fewer in C since two breeders scratched and a couple of others never entered).
Well just go ahead and crown me queen of second place! I lost count of how many times my bunnies came in second place yesterday. Todd was starting to chuckle by the time the broken senior does came up and I once again went forward to get my second placed rabbit.
MLK was second in a very large class. I think maybe Crazy Horse was, too. I didn't write anything down yesterday, so I'm not 100% certain.
The classes were good sized and the competition was good, so second wasn't that bad a place to be in. Not great, but definitely not bad.
When I went to get my second place broken senior doe, GC The Nature Trail's May, I was definitely happy because her daughter, GC The Nature Trail's Hope, had taken the class.
In the second show, under Everette Hopper, May took her class. Hope broke her streak of always coming in first each time I show her. Jocasta finally beat Willow Walker's Voodoo, that gorgeous black doe, but another doe beat them both, and then Jamillia took the class. Poor Jocasta - still seeking that elusive senior leg to grand!
This time, Lord was second and MLK was third. I believe Crazy Horse might have been third that time.
The competition thinned down a bit for the third show, but there were still plenty of nice bunnies left. Lord came in second again. Voodoo went back to beating Jocasta, as usual. Crazy Horse took his class for a BOSG and May was BOB.
It was really a family affair for my rabbits this weekend: May, her half-brother Crqzy Horse, her daughter Hope, and her granddaughter Jamillia were my winners. MLK, who came in second in a large class under Todd Naragon is also a half-brother to May.
I can't remember being this tired after a show, at least not in a long, long time. There was just too much to do. I enjoyed myself a lot, visited friends, learned a lot, and brought home five legs, two quality points, and a herdsman point. Not bad for one weekend.
Laurie ¶ 8:36 AM 0 comments links to this post
Friday, September 14, 2007
A Different Kind Of Dream
I remember when the children were really little how they changed the nature of my dreams. Not dreams as in "hopes and dreams," but rather night time dreams. I used to dream about forgetting where I left one. Any mom can relate to that one, I'm sure. When we were planning to adopt our first, I kept dreaming that I'd found a litter of puppies. I was always leaving a baby on the bus or suddenly remembering that I had children while going about my business. These were disturbing dreams - a reflection of the anxiety caused by the weighty responsibilities of parenthood.
Right now, I'm wrapping up the paperwork from one show, helping a little bit to prepare for another show, and trying to fit in home school, chiropractic visits, dance lessons, family night, making arrangements for Convention, and everything else with preparing my own rabbits and "stuff" for a show tomorrow and the educational clinic/check-in time this evening.
I hate it, but I didn't get a chance to even look over the rabbits I entered. I hope they look as good as I remember them. Well, as long as I'm wishing, I hope they are better than I remembered!
Well, apparently all of this balancing act is affecting my dreams again. Here's what I remember of my dreams from last night:
The first thing I remember is seeing friends I haven't seen in a while. That was great. We were chatting and talking about the upcoming show when I mentioned that I used to like a particular judge very well, but as I learned more and more about Hollands, I liked his judging less. Suddenly everyone was staring at me. I refocused behind their shoulders to see the judge sitting there! The look on his face told me there was no use in trying to recover or rephrase. Talk about an uncomfortable moment!
Then I found myself visiting with Gary & Susan Smith. They had taken a room near the show and had their rabbits there. They were all sitting around on the furniture like glass trinkets, in perfect fur, all broken does, with the cutest faces you've ever seen. The ends of their ears curled up a bit like someone had given each of them a fancy hairdo. You half expected a little bow on the top of their heads and they each smiled sweetly as you looked upon them.
I was thinking, "you just can't beat that on the table!"
Suddenly I was back in the showroom. I still had my Flemish (or something large like them) and had entered them as juniors when they should have been intermediates. I discovered that when someone else had made the same mistake. Instead of putting them in judging coops, though, we were trying to line the rabbits up in a row of plastic chairs. They all looked alike, so I was picking up large rabbit after large rabbit, only to find that the ear number was wrong.
Later, it was time for the Hollands and some of the exhibitors were missing. Actually, some big Holland breeders had come and brought other breeds instead. One was trying to show in youth. We kept hearing their names called on the PA system. It was strange.
Of course, all of the paperwork was messed up (probably the reason that those other breeders kept being called to the wrong tables) and again we were lining up rabbits on tables and chairs because there were no judging coops. There were rabbits everywhere, wall to wall.
Do you think that has anything to do with the pajamas I bought Lydia last night - the ones with bunnies all over them? Hmmmmm.
There seems to have been more to the dream, but that's all that I can remember. I know that a lot of the dream is caused by the anxiety of trying to get everything done well and on time. I guess I can be glad that I didn't also lose one of my children during this dream. And I never tried to dial a phone number that I can't remember or press the right buttons for (I hate that dream). Still, I can't say that I woke up feeling refreshed and well rested!
I suppose the positive side is that the real show is not likely to be anything like my dream. You can be sure that I won't be announcing my evaluations of judges aloud and I can depend on the fact that we will be using judging coops!
Laurie ¶ 6:51 AM 0 comments links to this post
Right now, I'm wrapping up the paperwork from one show, helping a little bit to prepare for another show, and trying to fit in home school, chiropractic visits, dance lessons, family night, making arrangements for Convention, and everything else with preparing my own rabbits and "stuff" for a show tomorrow and the educational clinic/check-in time this evening.
I hate it, but I didn't get a chance to even look over the rabbits I entered. I hope they look as good as I remember them. Well, as long as I'm wishing, I hope they are better than I remembered!
Well, apparently all of this balancing act is affecting my dreams again. Here's what I remember of my dreams from last night:
The first thing I remember is seeing friends I haven't seen in a while. That was great. We were chatting and talking about the upcoming show when I mentioned that I used to like a particular judge very well, but as I learned more and more about Hollands, I liked his judging less. Suddenly everyone was staring at me. I refocused behind their shoulders to see the judge sitting there! The look on his face told me there was no use in trying to recover or rephrase. Talk about an uncomfortable moment!
Then I found myself visiting with Gary & Susan Smith. They had taken a room near the show and had their rabbits there. They were all sitting around on the furniture like glass trinkets, in perfect fur, all broken does, with the cutest faces you've ever seen. The ends of their ears curled up a bit like someone had given each of them a fancy hairdo. You half expected a little bow on the top of their heads and they each smiled sweetly as you looked upon them.
I was thinking, "you just can't beat that on the table!"
Suddenly I was back in the showroom. I still had my Flemish (or something large like them) and had entered them as juniors when they should have been intermediates. I discovered that when someone else had made the same mistake. Instead of putting them in judging coops, though, we were trying to line the rabbits up in a row of plastic chairs. They all looked alike, so I was picking up large rabbit after large rabbit, only to find that the ear number was wrong.
Later, it was time for the Hollands and some of the exhibitors were missing. Actually, some big Holland breeders had come and brought other breeds instead. One was trying to show in youth. We kept hearing their names called on the PA system. It was strange.
Of course, all of the paperwork was messed up (probably the reason that those other breeders kept being called to the wrong tables) and again we were lining up rabbits on tables and chairs because there were no judging coops. There were rabbits everywhere, wall to wall.
Do you think that has anything to do with the pajamas I bought Lydia last night - the ones with bunnies all over them? Hmmmmm.
There seems to have been more to the dream, but that's all that I can remember. I know that a lot of the dream is caused by the anxiety of trying to get everything done well and on time. I guess I can be glad that I didn't also lose one of my children during this dream. And I never tried to dial a phone number that I can't remember or press the right buttons for (I hate that dream). Still, I can't say that I woke up feeling refreshed and well rested!
I suppose the positive side is that the real show is not likely to be anything like my dream. You can be sure that I won't be announcing my evaluations of judges aloud and I can depend on the fact that we will be using judging coops!
Laurie ¶ 6:51 AM 0 comments links to this post
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Why Am I Selling?
You may be wondering why I am selling so many rabbits after I've lost so many. In fact, I did go through with most of the sales of my 2 1/2 year old grand champion does just at a time when my rabbitry is at its smallest since I got started. You'd think I'd be holding on to everything. But I'm not.
I did make an exception with my does. I had already decided to keep May and later I decided to keep Roxie partly because her beautiful broken black with Rio died during the summer. I don't want to be totally rigid, but I wanted to stay the course as much as possible and try out my philosophies. Otherwise, I sold every 2 1/2 year old doe late this summer.
As for the other rabbits I'm selling or have sold, I am doing so with crystal clear vision. I think. You see, when you are at risk of losing your rabbits, or feel that way, all of a sudden you are quite clear which rabbits in your barn make the difference and which ones are just nice rabbits. I could feel how much I feared losing each rabbit or how well I'd be able to cope with each loss. There was no equivocation.
So, I decided to shrink my herd down around these core animals - the ones that I feared losing the most. I want to work, at least for a while, only with these rabbits to see if a smaller group of the highest quality rabbits I've produced will actually help me recover faster than if I kept a much larger group of rabbits to work with.
I've noticed that I tend to keep the best rabbits from my best rabbits anyway. Why not just work with them from the beginning?
Yes, I'm eliminating the possibility of happy accidents, unknown combinations, and serendipity. That's the risk I am taking. But I'm guessing that my data will support my decision. I haven't yet looked at it. We'll look at it right now together.
Here are the last 15 rabbits I've decided to admit into my herd proper (rabbits get a space in the barn and proper care just because they are born, but they have to earn a place on my roster of rabbits I consider to be "in my herd"; the rest are waiting to mature for a later decision or waiting to be sold):
Aries - MLK x Sadie
Brewster - MLK x Purdy
Evita - Rio x Padme
Fabrizia - Lord x Hilary
Kazia - Lord x Hilary
Sirius - MLK x Sadie
GC Padawan - Lord x Padme
GC Jamillia - Lord x Padme
GC Jocasta - Lord x Padme
Kerry - Rio x Markie
GC Lex - Java x Lexus
Rizzo - Wizard x Purdy
GC Crazy Horse - Camelot's Merlin x Roxie
GC Arabica - Java x May
GC Francesca - LL Brendan x Nina
There's a short list of rabbits who produced these rabbits: Lord, Java, MLK, Rio, Merlin, Wizard, and LL Brendan (my last baby from him!) on the buck side. Sadie (MLK's littermate), Padme, Markie, Lexus, Purdy, Roxie, May, Nina (Mercedes' sister), and Hilary. I may as well have been working with these 16 rabbits for the last year and a half!
Now I realize that looking to the future won't be as accurate as looking to the past, but it's the best guide any of us has.
Of those sires, I still have Lord, Java, MLK, Rio, and Merlin. In addition, I have Myrddin, Kerry, Crazy Horse, and Padawan who haven't yet had many opportunities (or no opportunities) to show what they can do. On the dam side, I have Padme, Lexus, Roxie, and May. But I am hoping that Francesca (has a promising doe right now), Arabica, Rizzo, Jamillia, Hope, and Jocasta will be able to add to my production possibilities.
Here are the current GC production numbers of the senior members of my herd:
GC Camelot's Merlin - 8 grand champion offspring, 4 bucks and 4 does, of 55 offspring
GC Java - 2 grand champion offspring, 1 buck and 1 doe, of 23 offspring
GC Lexus - 1 grand champion offspring, 1 buck, of 6 offspring
GC Lord - 2 grand champion offspring, 1 buck and 1 doe, of 11 offspring
GC May - 7 grand champion offspring, 5 does and 2 bucks, of 29 offspring
GC MLK - 1 grand champion offspring, 1 buck, of 7 offspring
GC Padme- 2 grand champion offspring, 1 buck and 1 doe, of 8 offspring (a third should join soon)
GC Rio - 2 grand champion offspring, 2 does, of 29 offspring (working on a third)
GC Roxie - 2 grand champion offspring, 2 bucks, of 14 offspring
I think after looking at my data that I'll stay the course, hope that I have truly picked the best rabbits to produce my next generation, and will follow with this plan for enough time to see if it works.
If I find that I've restricted myself too much, it should take only a year to fill the rabbitry back to overflowing. It's like cutting your hair too short. If you don't like it, it only takes a few months before you can try something else.
You may well wonder if I'm nervous about cutting my herd down so small. Yes, I am. But I try not to run my rabbitry too much on emotion, but rather by making my best guess, checking the data to see if my plan is supported, trying out the plan, and then analysing the results. So far, this method has served me just fine.
Laurie ¶ 7:31 AM 0 comments links to this post
I did make an exception with my does. I had already decided to keep May and later I decided to keep Roxie partly because her beautiful broken black with Rio died during the summer. I don't want to be totally rigid, but I wanted to stay the course as much as possible and try out my philosophies. Otherwise, I sold every 2 1/2 year old doe late this summer.
As for the other rabbits I'm selling or have sold, I am doing so with crystal clear vision. I think. You see, when you are at risk of losing your rabbits, or feel that way, all of a sudden you are quite clear which rabbits in your barn make the difference and which ones are just nice rabbits. I could feel how much I feared losing each rabbit or how well I'd be able to cope with each loss. There was no equivocation.
So, I decided to shrink my herd down around these core animals - the ones that I feared losing the most. I want to work, at least for a while, only with these rabbits to see if a smaller group of the highest quality rabbits I've produced will actually help me recover faster than if I kept a much larger group of rabbits to work with.
I've noticed that I tend to keep the best rabbits from my best rabbits anyway. Why not just work with them from the beginning?
Yes, I'm eliminating the possibility of happy accidents, unknown combinations, and serendipity. That's the risk I am taking. But I'm guessing that my data will support my decision. I haven't yet looked at it. We'll look at it right now together.
Here are the last 15 rabbits I've decided to admit into my herd proper (rabbits get a space in the barn and proper care just because they are born, but they have to earn a place on my roster of rabbits I consider to be "in my herd"; the rest are waiting to mature for a later decision or waiting to be sold):
Aries - MLK x Sadie
Brewster - MLK x Purdy
Evita - Rio x Padme
Fabrizia - Lord x Hilary
Kazia - Lord x Hilary
Sirius - MLK x Sadie
GC Padawan - Lord x Padme
GC Jamillia - Lord x Padme
GC Jocasta - Lord x Padme
Kerry - Rio x Markie
GC Lex - Java x Lexus
Rizzo - Wizard x Purdy
GC Crazy Horse - Camelot's Merlin x Roxie
GC Arabica - Java x May
GC Francesca - LL Brendan x Nina
There's a short list of rabbits who produced these rabbits: Lord, Java, MLK, Rio, Merlin, Wizard, and LL Brendan (my last baby from him!) on the buck side. Sadie (MLK's littermate), Padme, Markie, Lexus, Purdy, Roxie, May, Nina (Mercedes' sister), and Hilary. I may as well have been working with these 16 rabbits for the last year and a half!
Now I realize that looking to the future won't be as accurate as looking to the past, but it's the best guide any of us has.
Of those sires, I still have Lord, Java, MLK, Rio, and Merlin. In addition, I have Myrddin, Kerry, Crazy Horse, and Padawan who haven't yet had many opportunities (or no opportunities) to show what they can do. On the dam side, I have Padme, Lexus, Roxie, and May. But I am hoping that Francesca (has a promising doe right now), Arabica, Rizzo, Jamillia, Hope, and Jocasta will be able to add to my production possibilities.
Here are the current GC production numbers of the senior members of my herd:
GC Camelot's Merlin - 8 grand champion offspring, 4 bucks and 4 does, of 55 offspring
GC Java - 2 grand champion offspring, 1 buck and 1 doe, of 23 offspring
GC Lexus - 1 grand champion offspring, 1 buck, of 6 offspring
GC Lord - 2 grand champion offspring, 1 buck and 1 doe, of 11 offspring
GC May - 7 grand champion offspring, 5 does and 2 bucks, of 29 offspring
GC MLK - 1 grand champion offspring, 1 buck, of 7 offspring
GC Padme- 2 grand champion offspring, 1 buck and 1 doe, of 8 offspring (a third should join soon)
GC Rio - 2 grand champion offspring, 2 does, of 29 offspring (working on a third)
GC Roxie - 2 grand champion offspring, 2 bucks, of 14 offspring
I think after looking at my data that I'll stay the course, hope that I have truly picked the best rabbits to produce my next generation, and will follow with this plan for enough time to see if it works.
If I find that I've restricted myself too much, it should take only a year to fill the rabbitry back to overflowing. It's like cutting your hair too short. If you don't like it, it only takes a few months before you can try something else.
You may well wonder if I'm nervous about cutting my herd down so small. Yes, I am. But I try not to run my rabbitry too much on emotion, but rather by making my best guess, checking the data to see if my plan is supported, trying out the plan, and then analysing the results. So far, this method has served me just fine.
Laurie ¶ 7:31 AM 0 comments links to this post
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
A Bump In The Road
I've been on a diet since January. No, I've not been perfect on my diet, but I've not really considered myself off my diet except for the two weeks right after the lightening incident (my sister brought me a chocolate milkshake to the hospital - that started a two-week period of frequent treats).
I chart my weight each week and have enjoyed seeing the graph go down a bit at a time. That is, it went down a bit each week until about six weeks ago. That's where the chart went a little flat and then even went up some.
I had hit that critical point in a diet where you've lost some weight and enjoy not being quite so heavy but you are also a bit tired of dieting. You find that you can eat what you want and still be basically the same size. For a while, you can have the best of both worlds. It's very enticing.
What generally happens next is that you abandon the diet altogether and, at first, there are no real consequences. But you wake up a few months later, heavier than in the beginning and have to start all over - with all of the work and none of the rewards of a diet again.
Well, I recognized this stage from other diets of the past. My sister and I have often said that if we'd just stuck to our diets half-heartedly during those tempting times, we'd have been so much better off. Well, this time, I stuck with it fairly well. I cheated more for a month or so than usual. But I didn't abandon the program altogether.
And today, I made my first real progress in over a month. It was so satisfying to see the scale drop 2 1/2 lbs.
If I keep going, months from now these past few weeks will look like little more than a small blip on the graph - a small bump in the road. But that's only because I didn't get totally discouraged and stop. If I had stopped, then those weeks would have turned into the end.
While I was in the middle of rabbits dying and not being able to breed, it felt like the end a lot of the time. I can't say that there weren't days when I thought of packing it all in. Luckily, those moments didn't last long. I tried to keep an eye on the long-term. As long as I didn't lose all of the very core of my herd, I could recover. That thought helped me keep going.
Five years from now (which, at my age, isn't a very long time - you know, life seems quicker the older you get), I will be able to look back on this summer as just a bump in the road, a small delay, a little setback. But it will only be a little setback because I kept going. If I had stopped, it would have been the end of the road.
Now I'm not saying that there are no good reasons to stop your hobby or get out of bunnies. There are. But keeping an eye on your long-term goals and not letting a bump in the road cause you to prematurely end your hobby are both very important to your success and satisfaction with your bunnies.
Persevere - I think you will be happy with the results.
Laurie ¶ 7:18 AM 0 comments links to this post
I chart my weight each week and have enjoyed seeing the graph go down a bit at a time. That is, it went down a bit each week until about six weeks ago. That's where the chart went a little flat and then even went up some.
I had hit that critical point in a diet where you've lost some weight and enjoy not being quite so heavy but you are also a bit tired of dieting. You find that you can eat what you want and still be basically the same size. For a while, you can have the best of both worlds. It's very enticing.
What generally happens next is that you abandon the diet altogether and, at first, there are no real consequences. But you wake up a few months later, heavier than in the beginning and have to start all over - with all of the work and none of the rewards of a diet again.
Well, I recognized this stage from other diets of the past. My sister and I have often said that if we'd just stuck to our diets half-heartedly during those tempting times, we'd have been so much better off. Well, this time, I stuck with it fairly well. I cheated more for a month or so than usual. But I didn't abandon the program altogether.
And today, I made my first real progress in over a month. It was so satisfying to see the scale drop 2 1/2 lbs.
If I keep going, months from now these past few weeks will look like little more than a small blip on the graph - a small bump in the road. But that's only because I didn't get totally discouraged and stop. If I had stopped, then those weeks would have turned into the end.
While I was in the middle of rabbits dying and not being able to breed, it felt like the end a lot of the time. I can't say that there weren't days when I thought of packing it all in. Luckily, those moments didn't last long. I tried to keep an eye on the long-term. As long as I didn't lose all of the very core of my herd, I could recover. That thought helped me keep going.
Five years from now (which, at my age, isn't a very long time - you know, life seems quicker the older you get), I will be able to look back on this summer as just a bump in the road, a small delay, a little setback. But it will only be a little setback because I kept going. If I had stopped, it would have been the end of the road.
Now I'm not saying that there are no good reasons to stop your hobby or get out of bunnies. There are. But keeping an eye on your long-term goals and not letting a bump in the road cause you to prematurely end your hobby are both very important to your success and satisfaction with your bunnies.
Persevere - I think you will be happy with the results.
Laurie ¶ 7:18 AM 0 comments links to this post
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Can't Sell What I Can't Use???
I've seen people write on various groups that they wouldn't sell a rabbit they woudln't use themselves. It sounds like to me, they are just selling rabbits they could use in their own herds and the rest are worthless to anyone else. I don't happen to agree with this point of view. I will sell rabbits that I can't wouldn't use myself in my herd and I don't feel the least bit bad about it.
First of all, I may sell rabbits that have the very fault I am currently working on eradicating from my herd. A good while back, I sold a number of nice bunnies with narrower shoulders. Despite the fact that they have lovely hindquarters, gorgeous heads, did well on the table, and produce nice offspring, I wouldn't use them in my herd (any more) because I was doubling and quadrupling that fault in my herd with nothing much to balance it out.
Was it unethical of me to sell them? Heck no. I described their faults and strengths to the best of my ability, priced them fairly, and let them go with a full heart. They may have been the perfect bunny for someone not having shoulder width problems but looking for a nice head or butt.
I will also sell bunnies that have the same set of strengths and faults and the majority of the rabbits in my herd, especially if I don't think he or she has something else to offer my herd. In fact, I may keep a slightly inferior rabbit instead, if it has something unique or at least more rare in my herd.
I will also sell rabbits that are nice, but just not nicer than the herd bucks I have already. I wouldn't use it in my herd - why would I need to? - but there's nothing wrong with selling it to someone else.
I might also sell rabbits because I'm narrowing my genetic pool - again. I have a nice line started now that I'm selling completely out of. They are nice bunnies, but it's just not where I'm going to spend my energy. Some of you may remember when I did that with my fledgling Dandy line. What a great bunny! But I decided to put my energies elsewhere.
Also on my for sale list are rabbits that just don't meet the quality of the rabbits in my herd. This may be what some of those folks are talking about. But as long as the rabbit is sound and is described and sold fairly, I see no problem with selling it. Not everyone is looking to start out with $200 does and $350 bucks. A rabbit that might be a couple of steps back for me, might just be several steps ahead for someone else.
I do feel that each rabbit I sell should have solid genetics behind it and have the potential to produce better than itself, though. If a rabbit has nothing to offer its new owners, then it is sold only as a pet. And only then if it has a nice personality.
I think we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that rabbits are bad or good. But rabbits, at least to me, are puzzle pieces. I don't need five corners in my puzzle and neither do I need 45 blue sky pieces of the same shape and color. A piece that doesn't fit in my puzzle may fit nicely in someone else's. Or it may be the start of a puzzle for someone who doesn't yet have enough pieces to even start seeing the picture.
A rabbit does not have to be able to earn legs to be worthy. True, I probably toss aside too many good pieces because of my personal project of working with all grand champions, but for now at least, I'm willing to pay that price.
I'm glad that there are people who feel they can only sell rabbits good enough for them to use themselves. That's certainly a better position than those who will sell anything as long as they can get money for it. But just because I don't find a rabbit useful to me, doesn't mean it's not great for someone else.
Laurie
¶ 6:08 PM 0 comments links to this post
First of all, I may sell rabbits that have the very fault I am currently working on eradicating from my herd. A good while back, I sold a number of nice bunnies with narrower shoulders. Despite the fact that they have lovely hindquarters, gorgeous heads, did well on the table, and produce nice offspring, I wouldn't use them in my herd (any more) because I was doubling and quadrupling that fault in my herd with nothing much to balance it out.
Was it unethical of me to sell them? Heck no. I described their faults and strengths to the best of my ability, priced them fairly, and let them go with a full heart. They may have been the perfect bunny for someone not having shoulder width problems but looking for a nice head or butt.
I will also sell bunnies that have the same set of strengths and faults and the majority of the rabbits in my herd, especially if I don't think he or she has something else to offer my herd. In fact, I may keep a slightly inferior rabbit instead, if it has something unique or at least more rare in my herd.
I will also sell rabbits that are nice, but just not nicer than the herd bucks I have already. I wouldn't use it in my herd - why would I need to? - but there's nothing wrong with selling it to someone else.
I might also sell rabbits because I'm narrowing my genetic pool - again. I have a nice line started now that I'm selling completely out of. They are nice bunnies, but it's just not where I'm going to spend my energy. Some of you may remember when I did that with my fledgling Dandy line. What a great bunny! But I decided to put my energies elsewhere.
Also on my for sale list are rabbits that just don't meet the quality of the rabbits in my herd. This may be what some of those folks are talking about. But as long as the rabbit is sound and is described and sold fairly, I see no problem with selling it. Not everyone is looking to start out with $200 does and $350 bucks. A rabbit that might be a couple of steps back for me, might just be several steps ahead for someone else.
I do feel that each rabbit I sell should have solid genetics behind it and have the potential to produce better than itself, though. If a rabbit has nothing to offer its new owners, then it is sold only as a pet. And only then if it has a nice personality.
I think we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that rabbits are bad or good. But rabbits, at least to me, are puzzle pieces. I don't need five corners in my puzzle and neither do I need 45 blue sky pieces of the same shape and color. A piece that doesn't fit in my puzzle may fit nicely in someone else's. Or it may be the start of a puzzle for someone who doesn't yet have enough pieces to even start seeing the picture.
A rabbit does not have to be able to earn legs to be worthy. True, I probably toss aside too many good pieces because of my personal project of working with all grand champions, but for now at least, I'm willing to pay that price.
I'm glad that there are people who feel they can only sell rabbits good enough for them to use themselves. That's certainly a better position than those who will sell anything as long as they can get money for it. But just because I don't find a rabbit useful to me, doesn't mean it's not great for someone else.
Laurie
¶ 6:08 PM 0 comments links to this post
Monday, September 10, 2007
Celebrate A Milestone With Me
There's a letter sitting on the small shelf by my front door, ready to go out to the mailbox the next time someone makes the trip down to the main road. I'm really excited about that letter. And I hope you'll celebrate with me.
The letter goes to ARBA. Inside are payment and legs for four grand champions: Crazy Horse, Jamillia, Padawan, and Hope. That's really nice and I am glad for that, but that's not my milestone.
There are also four registration forms in the envelope. Jamillia, Padawan, and Hope all granded so young that I'm sending in their registration forms and their GC legs at the same time. I'm also sending in Jocasta's registration form. Now we're getting a little closer to the really exciting part.
Jamillia, Jocasta (not yet granded, but has 3 junior legs), and Padawan are from the same litter. I've mentioned before that Jamillia and Padawan are my first third generation, home grown grand champions.
But here's another milestone - they will be receiving red, white, and blue seals on their pedigrees. This is a first for my rabbitry. I'm so excited!
I'm so glad that I registered all of my foundation stock and consistently have registered anything that I found worthy of breeding.
It's hard to believe that when I register Jamillia's, Jocasta's, and Padawan's offspring, my foundation rabbits will be moving off of the back of the pedigrees. I've been working hard to develop my own rabbits and my own line. I'm getting closer by the moment.
I've bred Jamillia and Padawan together. Keep your fingers crossed. It may within the next year or so that I'll have achieved my ultimate milestone - a gold seal on a pedigree - with all The Nature Trail's bunnies on it!
Laurie ¶ 2:32 PM 0 comments links to this post
The letter goes to ARBA. Inside are payment and legs for four grand champions: Crazy Horse, Jamillia, Padawan, and Hope. That's really nice and I am glad for that, but that's not my milestone.
There are also four registration forms in the envelope. Jamillia, Padawan, and Hope all granded so young that I'm sending in their registration forms and their GC legs at the same time. I'm also sending in Jocasta's registration form. Now we're getting a little closer to the really exciting part.
Jamillia, Jocasta (not yet granded, but has 3 junior legs), and Padawan are from the same litter. I've mentioned before that Jamillia and Padawan are my first third generation, home grown grand champions.
But here's another milestone - they will be receiving red, white, and blue seals on their pedigrees. This is a first for my rabbitry. I'm so excited!
I'm so glad that I registered all of my foundation stock and consistently have registered anything that I found worthy of breeding.
It's hard to believe that when I register Jamillia's, Jocasta's, and Padawan's offspring, my foundation rabbits will be moving off of the back of the pedigrees. I've been working hard to develop my own rabbits and my own line. I'm getting closer by the moment.
I've bred Jamillia and Padawan together. Keep your fingers crossed. It may within the next year or so that I'll have achieved my ultimate milestone - a gold seal on a pedigree - with all The Nature Trail's bunnies on it!
Laurie ¶ 2:32 PM 0 comments links to this post
Friday, September 07, 2007
What Is A Successful Holland Breeder?
When I first got into Hollands, I observed those who were considered to be successful in breeding and exhibiting Holland lops. I inferred that to be successful, you should buy expensive stock (the best you can afford), breed heavily, cull hard, show a lot, attend national shows, and carefully monitor your national sweeps points.
So I did. Although I never bought any outrageously priced Hollands, I spent money and occasionally got my money's worth. I bred, bred, bred. I showed, showed, showed. And I placed fairly well in sweeps, quality points, and herdsman points.
But what did it get me? Tired, behind on the rest of my life, and contacted by a lot of people I don't know who decided they wanted to buy my bunnies. Of course, they wanted Java or May or Rio, who aren't going anywhere. And the points didn't show up until I was in a totally different stage in my rabbitry. In the end, it wasn't really very satisfying.
So I'm no longer convinced that is the path to being a successful Holland breeder. Or at least, it wasn't for me. If it suits other people, that's great for them.
So what are some other ways to be successful?
I see some people working hard to improve a single variety or to develop a new variety. I would think that would be highly satisfying. Competition takes on a new meaning since you are really competing mostly with yourself.
I would like to do that someday. Right now, I don't have my torts where I'd like them to be. But once I get there (or close - I suppose I'll never really arrive at my destination), I would like to pick a variety to improve.
Some Holland breeders seem to take pride in helping others get started or in supporting other breeders. Sure, they thrill over successes on the table, but they seem to enjoy the moment rather than see a win as contributing to their overall point standings. They can be just as thrilled to see an exhibitor win his or her first leg or first Best of Breed. They put relationships before bunnies. I think that being successful that way would be highly satisfying, too.
Then there are other breeders, actually of any breed, who split their time between their herd and their clubs. They organize and plan, prepare, work the show, and wrap up afterwards, only to start planning for the next show. They know that there would be no exhibitors were it not for folks like them. Involvement is important to many people and could be a very satisfying way to be successful.
There are probably many, many other ways to be successful in Hollands. For me, working on a tightly bred, successful line of rabbits that reproduce their quality reliably is where I define my success or progress toward success anyway.
So if you look at some "successful" breeders and think that you can never compete with that or would never want to do all of the things they do, perhaps you just need to redefine success. Look around for the people who are very satisfied with their Holland hobby. Could they hold one of the many different keys to success?
Laurie ¶ 7:42 AM 0 comments links to this post
So I did. Although I never bought any outrageously priced Hollands, I spent money and occasionally got my money's worth. I bred, bred, bred. I showed, showed, showed. And I placed fairly well in sweeps, quality points, and herdsman points.
But what did it get me? Tired, behind on the rest of my life, and contacted by a lot of people I don't know who decided they wanted to buy my bunnies. Of course, they wanted Java or May or Rio, who aren't going anywhere. And the points didn't show up until I was in a totally different stage in my rabbitry. In the end, it wasn't really very satisfying.
So I'm no longer convinced that is the path to being a successful Holland breeder. Or at least, it wasn't for me. If it suits other people, that's great for them.
So what are some other ways to be successful?
I see some people working hard to improve a single variety or to develop a new variety. I would think that would be highly satisfying. Competition takes on a new meaning since you are really competing mostly with yourself.
I would like to do that someday. Right now, I don't have my torts where I'd like them to be. But once I get there (or close - I suppose I'll never really arrive at my destination), I would like to pick a variety to improve.
Some Holland breeders seem to take pride in helping others get started or in supporting other breeders. Sure, they thrill over successes on the table, but they seem to enjoy the moment rather than see a win as contributing to their overall point standings. They can be just as thrilled to see an exhibitor win his or her first leg or first Best of Breed. They put relationships before bunnies. I think that being successful that way would be highly satisfying, too.
Then there are other breeders, actually of any breed, who split their time between their herd and their clubs. They organize and plan, prepare, work the show, and wrap up afterwards, only to start planning for the next show. They know that there would be no exhibitors were it not for folks like them. Involvement is important to many people and could be a very satisfying way to be successful.
There are probably many, many other ways to be successful in Hollands. For me, working on a tightly bred, successful line of rabbits that reproduce their quality reliably is where I define my success or progress toward success anyway.
So if you look at some "successful" breeders and think that you can never compete with that or would never want to do all of the things they do, perhaps you just need to redefine success. Look around for the people who are very satisfied with their Holland hobby. Could they hold one of the many different keys to success?
Laurie ¶ 7:42 AM 0 comments links to this post
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Just A Little Idea
This summer, while I was fighting an unknown monster in the barn, we constantly cleaned and sanitized everything we could think of. I wanted to keep the cages sparkling clean and that meant removing any waste that clung to the cages between bleachings. But I didn't want to use a brush and possibly share a pathogen.
I thought of getting two brushes and using a bucket of vanodine. I could use a brush, then put it in the bucket while I did the second cage and continue to leap frog down the rows. That sounded okay, but a bit messy and cumbersome.
One day, I saw just a small amount of droppings on a cage, so I grabbed a piece of hay and knocked it off. Then it hit me - what is a broom anyway? It's straw. I had some stiff hay in the barn, so I grabbed a handful, bent it in half and made a little broom. I used it to brush the underside of the cage and it worked beautifully. Soft hay doesn't work as well, but you'd be amazed at what even that would get off.
So, I tossed away my "broom" and got a fresh one for the nest cage. It became my habit to clean the bottom of my hanging cages daily, each with a fresh clump of hay.
There are drawbacks, of course. The occasional thorn is a wet blanket. And there's no handle on this "broom," so I have to stretch under the cage. This is a little chancy if the rabbit is in the cage, of course. But it satisfied my biggest need - to clean cages using a fresh brush each time.
Laurie
¶ 9:46 AM 0 comments links to this post
I thought of getting two brushes and using a bucket of vanodine. I could use a brush, then put it in the bucket while I did the second cage and continue to leap frog down the rows. That sounded okay, but a bit messy and cumbersome.
One day, I saw just a small amount of droppings on a cage, so I grabbed a piece of hay and knocked it off. Then it hit me - what is a broom anyway? It's straw. I had some stiff hay in the barn, so I grabbed a handful, bent it in half and made a little broom. I used it to brush the underside of the cage and it worked beautifully. Soft hay doesn't work as well, but you'd be amazed at what even that would get off.
So, I tossed away my "broom" and got a fresh one for the nest cage. It became my habit to clean the bottom of my hanging cages daily, each with a fresh clump of hay.
There are drawbacks, of course. The occasional thorn is a wet blanket. And there's no handle on this "broom," so I have to stretch under the cage. This is a little chancy if the rabbit is in the cage, of course. But it satisfied my biggest need - to clean cages using a fresh brush each time.
Laurie
¶ 9:46 AM 0 comments links to this post
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
How I Coped
If you read yesterday's BLOG, you may be wondering how I coped with losing favorite bunnies and hot prospects, dealt with so much death, struggled through the work, worked through my lightening strike injuries, and coped with the fears that I would lose everything. Well, like the Beatles said, "I get by with a little help from my friends."
I was absolutely floored by the support I got from my rabbit friends. Sure, Andrew was great through the whole thing, clocking many bunny hours. But my bunny friends could have simply written me a nice note each and that would have been enough. But no, they went far beyond the call of duty!
A group of rabbit friends "up north" (meaning northern Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland) sent me a hydrangea in full bloom and a box of Godiva chocolate. I had been on a diet for six months when the chocolate arrived. I was absolutely thrilled - nothing tastes better than a favorite you've been without for a while. Over the next couple of weeks, I ate 25 of the 26 pieces. I enjoyed each one immensely - Godiva is my all-time favorite chocolate. But more than that, each time I had a piece, I thought about the support from my friends.
I still have the hydrangea on my countertop. There's but one living leaf left. I hope that it's still alive when the weather cools. Maybe it will come back. But if not, it did its job already.
Another friend showed up at my house one Saturday morning with 8 bales of hay. They were "in lieu of flowers." And what a great substitute. My bunnies were on all hay by that time and we'd disposed of our old hay and had only gotten some fair bales as substitute. The hay was a lifesaver and, again, I was overwhelmed with the feeling of support.
One of my Maryland friends wrote me almost daily for weeks on end. She offered ideas and possible solutions. She let me cry on her shoulder over and over again. It was so nice to have an outlet for all of my frustrations and sadness.
One of my friends in Kentucky, who also wrote frequently offering tips and insight, offered me the use of 10 of her cages to get some of my rabbits safely away. I couldn't take her up on her offer because, at that time, I wasn't sure whether her rabbits could be affected, but it was the kindest of offers.
Another friend offered to pick up my sale bunnies so they wouldn't be affected, but I had to decline for the same reason.
I did decide, though, to separate six rabbits and bring them inside the house. Can you imagine how hard it was to pick just six to save? Another friend in NC dropped everything and made me six cages with trays in one day. Talk about going beyond the call of duty! I was so relieved to get those bunnies out of the barn, not knowing what was causing what at that stage. (The six were Rio, Lex, Java, Jamillia, Merlin, and Padawan).
I lost track of how many people, upon hearing about my situation, wrote to tell me which The Nature Trail's bunnies they had. They offered to breed two rabbits from my stock to produce pure The Nature Trail's offspring for me. They offered me the use of the bucks. They offered me young does from my lines. It was such a comfort to know that if the worse should happen, I would be able to pick up the threads of my work and go on. I was so glad that I had sold some of my favorite bunnies to breeders nearby - and to breeders with such big hearts.
There were other emails asking what they could do to help. I usually couldn't think of anything, but it made me feel good to have the offers.
And I can't forget my veterinarian. He was so sympathetic throughout. I've never had rabbits euthanized by a vet before, but one day, when I had to go there anyway, I took five that were obviously not going to make it. He impressed me so much with the gentleness that he used when handling the bunnies. I had already had so much death that it was a comfort to see them go with no struggle or stress.
With all of the kindness shown to me, I think the biggest test was when it was time for me to start showing again. Would I be welcomed back? Would exhibitors trust that I would never intentionally put anyone's rabbits at risk? So before the show, I emailed several exhibitors to ask how they felt. They were all positive. Several told me that they hoped that I had a successful show - to help balance out some of the unfortunate summer in some way.
So I went and I did well. After the show, I got a huge hug from one of my bunny friends. It was so nice to be celebrating with my friends after having leaned on them all summer for support.
Laurie
¶ 6:53 AM 0 comments links to this post
I was absolutely floored by the support I got from my rabbit friends. Sure, Andrew was great through the whole thing, clocking many bunny hours. But my bunny friends could have simply written me a nice note each and that would have been enough. But no, they went far beyond the call of duty!
A group of rabbit friends "up north" (meaning northern Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland) sent me a hydrangea in full bloom and a box of Godiva chocolate. I had been on a diet for six months when the chocolate arrived. I was absolutely thrilled - nothing tastes better than a favorite you've been without for a while. Over the next couple of weeks, I ate 25 of the 26 pieces. I enjoyed each one immensely - Godiva is my all-time favorite chocolate. But more than that, each time I had a piece, I thought about the support from my friends.
I still have the hydrangea on my countertop. There's but one living leaf left. I hope that it's still alive when the weather cools. Maybe it will come back. But if not, it did its job already.
Another friend showed up at my house one Saturday morning with 8 bales of hay. They were "in lieu of flowers." And what a great substitute. My bunnies were on all hay by that time and we'd disposed of our old hay and had only gotten some fair bales as substitute. The hay was a lifesaver and, again, I was overwhelmed with the feeling of support.
One of my Maryland friends wrote me almost daily for weeks on end. She offered ideas and possible solutions. She let me cry on her shoulder over and over again. It was so nice to have an outlet for all of my frustrations and sadness.
One of my friends in Kentucky, who also wrote frequently offering tips and insight, offered me the use of 10 of her cages to get some of my rabbits safely away. I couldn't take her up on her offer because, at that time, I wasn't sure whether her rabbits could be affected, but it was the kindest of offers.
Another friend offered to pick up my sale bunnies so they wouldn't be affected, but I had to decline for the same reason.
I did decide, though, to separate six rabbits and bring them inside the house. Can you imagine how hard it was to pick just six to save? Another friend in NC dropped everything and made me six cages with trays in one day. Talk about going beyond the call of duty! I was so relieved to get those bunnies out of the barn, not knowing what was causing what at that stage. (The six were Rio, Lex, Java, Jamillia, Merlin, and Padawan).
I lost track of how many people, upon hearing about my situation, wrote to tell me which The Nature Trail's bunnies they had. They offered to breed two rabbits from my stock to produce pure The Nature Trail's offspring for me. They offered me the use of the bucks. They offered me young does from my lines. It was such a comfort to know that if the worse should happen, I would be able to pick up the threads of my work and go on. I was so glad that I had sold some of my favorite bunnies to breeders nearby - and to breeders with such big hearts.
There were other emails asking what they could do to help. I usually couldn't think of anything, but it made me feel good to have the offers.
And I can't forget my veterinarian. He was so sympathetic throughout. I've never had rabbits euthanized by a vet before, but one day, when I had to go there anyway, I took five that were obviously not going to make it. He impressed me so much with the gentleness that he used when handling the bunnies. I had already had so much death that it was a comfort to see them go with no struggle or stress.
With all of the kindness shown to me, I think the biggest test was when it was time for me to start showing again. Would I be welcomed back? Would exhibitors trust that I would never intentionally put anyone's rabbits at risk? So before the show, I emailed several exhibitors to ask how they felt. They were all positive. Several told me that they hoped that I had a successful show - to help balance out some of the unfortunate summer in some way.
So I went and I did well. After the show, I got a huge hug from one of my bunny friends. It was so nice to be celebrating with my friends after having leaned on them all summer for support.
Laurie
¶ 6:53 AM 0 comments links to this post
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
What I Did On My Summer Vacation
Today was the first day of school for us. I am very happy to kiss summer good-bye. I'm generally ready for school, fall, the holidays, and cooler weather, but this year, I have another reason to want to kiss the summer good-bye. It was a horrible time for my rabbitry.
I started the summer, actually late spring around Memorial Day, with 136 rabbits, from adults to babies. Today, I have 21 adults in my herd proper, 12 rabbits for sale (available at the Greensboro, NC, show, September 15), 2 rabbits on hold, 2 cued up to go to the processor, and 12 juniors for a total of 49 Holland Lops.
In between, we buried 55 rabbits, had 18 rabbits butchered out, and sold the balance with no babies coming up to replace them. I hadn't bred bunnies since early May - until yesterday.
At first, there were just a few deaths. I chalked them up to spring weather being so mercurial. But when deaths 9-12 came very close together on June 16, 2007, I took a body and a fecal sample from a live, but obviously sick rabbit to my vet (who has raised rabbits for 25 years). He performed a gross necropsy and fecal flotation test. He saw no problems except in the intestines - swollen, fluid filled intestines.
I started the summer, actually late spring around Memorial Day, with 136 rabbits, from adults to babies. Today, I have 21 adults in my herd proper, 12 rabbits for sale (available at the Greensboro, NC, show, September 15), 2 rabbits on hold, 2 cued up to go to the processor, and 12 juniors for a total of 49 Holland Lops.
In between, we buried 55 rabbits, had 18 rabbits butchered out, and sold the balance with no babies coming up to replace them. I hadn't bred bunnies since early May - until yesterday.
At first, there were just a few deaths. I chalked them up to spring weather being so mercurial. But when deaths 9-12 came very close together on June 16, 2007, I took a body and a fecal sample from a live, but obviously sick rabbit to my vet (who has raised rabbits for 25 years). He performed a gross necropsy and fecal flotation test. He saw no problems except in the intestines - swollen, fluid filled intestines.
- What I Learned: the correct response to any intestinal problem is to immediately put the rabbits on hay and water - I delayed this step far too long. It was an "I-could've-had-a-V-8 moment."
- What I Learned: coccidia is usually present in some quantity in a rabbit herd at all times; it can be a red herring that distracts you from what's really going on.
- What I Learned: most large animal vets keep amprolium, the main ingredient in corrid, on hand at all times.
We decided that it was time to send some rabbits to the state, but I hit some roadblocks because my vet’s contacts were in NC and I live in VA. And my local extension office has a vacancy, so it took the secretary a week to get me an answer of where to take my rabbits, but it was just the number of a wildlife rehabilitator. After numerous phone calls, I finally found that my lab was in Wytheville, VA. I took 2 samples to them on June 27, 2007.
- What I Learned: there are six regional labs in Virginia. I was able to call our state vet's office to find out which lab serves my area.
I mentioned to the lab vet that I planned to test my water. He replied that everyone always wants to do that, but that's never the problem. So, I decided to put that low on my to do list. That was a mistake.
- What I Learned: "Never" is too hard a word to use. It is sometimes the water. I've heard from two other breeders who have had water problems. If you are having problems with your rabbits and its intestinal, have your water tested. If there are no problems, you can just rule it out.
Although I have a long list of things that are not the problem, the final report after five weeks was "no diagnosis." An unrevealing and unhelpful presumptive diagnosis of mucoid enteropathy or dybacteriosis is included in the report. "Treatment is often unrewarding," it says - tell me about it !!!
According to the report the cause was not salmonella, not campylobacter, not a lung problem presumably (eliminating pastuerella Sp.), not a liver problem, not K99 E coli, not clostrial organisms (spiroforme or difficile), not enterotoxemia, and not Tyzzer's.
Feed was tested for Aflatoxin (5.8 ppb) and vomitoxin (2 ppb). Aflatoxin would have to be 20 ppb before it could be considered a cause of illness. But I wondered if it contributed.
- What I Learned: labs have to set the sensitivity for these mycotoxins - and there are more than two types - to a level low enough for rabbits. Levels that can be tolerated by other species can kill a rabbit.
After a few days into the necropsy, it was confirmed that the problem was indeed lower intestinal and not coccidia, I took my rabbits off of feed and put them on hay and water treated with probiotics. The deaths continued for several days more and then stopped.
- What I Learned: the information from a necropsy doesn't come in all at once, if the lab is being responsive to the needs of an ongoing problem. They can tell fairly soon which major system of the body/bodies are being affected.
During the next three weeks, I had them entirely off of feed for 9 days, gradually added back feed over the period of five days, and then had them on full feed for a couple of days before backing them back down 1/3 normal rations. (I had changed lines of feed to a 16% protein (previously on a 17% extruded); both were made by the same company.) I noticed unformed cecal matter throughout the barn and wanted to force them to eat more hay.
- What I Learned: I should have kept my rabbits on hay and water for three weeks. Because my rabbits were in poor shape, I was worried about malnutrition, though, and probably started them back on pellets too soon.
Then I lost 3 orphans. The first two I attributed to being orphaned, though they were old enough to possibly survive without a mother when the dam died (at 3 ½ weeks). But the third clearly had symptoms like the others (swollen, fluid filled abdomens).
I continued to lose rabbits from my youngest group (born between May 30 and June 2). They were in the nest box when this began. That group started dying when they got out of the nest box and started eating pellets. Then when I took every bunny off pellets, they stabilized. When pellets were reintroduced, that group started dying again, so I took every bunny off of pellets again. More hay and water.
I had 18 rabbits butchered out in late July or early August. At that point, I felt that a rabbit had to be really worth fighting for to stay in the barn. Some of those rabbits were so out of condition that I didn't think they'd ever make it back to any kind of smooth condition.
Sixteen showed no problems, all 18 showed no liver or lung problems, but two had swollen, fluid filled intestines. None of these rabbits were from my youngest group of rabbits, the ones that have been dying over the last five weeks.
In early August, I switched brands of feed and started flushing my water system every day while trying to get my water tested. I haven't had any deaths since then.
I had the feed tested. It was supposed to be a 16% protein. The test said it was 10.4%. It also said the acid detergent fiber was 55%. My research finds that levels over 25% can be problematic. The total available nutrients were 48%.
- What I Learned: when you have extruded feed tested, you should make sure that the lab is quite aware that it is extruded. Labs know how to handle extruded feed differently than pellets, but they often don't think of a rabbit feed as possibly being extruded.
We finally got our water tested. The first sample was used for the wrong test. The second sample sent arrived after the 30-hour limit. Finally the third sample was tested. The water in the house was clear, but the barn water showed coliform, but not E coli, at a level of 2.0.
This past weekend, we drained our water system and filled it with a Vanodine solution. After three hours, we flushed it out. We'll wait a couple of weeks and have the water tested again. If it's clear, fine and dandy. If not, I guess we'll be digging up water lines to see where we might have a breach.
So I spent my summer shoveling manure to keep a non-existent coccidia outbreak down, bleaching cages, sanitizing feeders & crocks & my feed can, changing out hay, changing feed, changing feed, changing feed, changing feed, talking to labs, driving samples back and forth, reading everything I can think of on the internet, reading veterinary medicine books, and mourning my losses. In my spare time, I tried to recover from being shocked by lightening while in the barn.
But this summer officially ended on Labor Day. We're into a totally new season. I'm expecting much greater things from this season.
Atlhough I have few ra