The Nature Trail Rabbitry BLOG
Friday, November 30, 2007
Happiness Is
In the big scheme of things, rabbits are not the most important in my life. Of course God must always be the most important to me. Then there's my wonderful husband, my gaggle of children, friendships, extended family, and much more.
But rabbits do make my top ten list and they give me a lot of joy. So just thinking of my rabbits, here's a list of what makes me happy.
Happiness is
But rabbits do make my top ten list and they give me a lot of joy. So just thinking of my rabbits, here's a list of what makes me happy.
Happiness is
- Seeing a strong kit emerge from the nest box, head up, curious eyes looking around, with a "look at me, World, I'm here" kind of attitude.
- Reaching my hand into a pile of fur to fell the warmth from a healthy litter of kits.
- Having a rabbit that I really like finally get its due on the show table.
- Being caught up on my barn chores.
- Seeing my rabbits eating heartily and eagerly anticipating their treat.
- Having a doe have her first live litter, especially if it is her first litter ever.
- Seeing a rabbit in a totally prime "can't touch that" coat.
- Having a buck reach his head so far out of the cage for a head rub that he almost falls out.
- Hearing a buck hum to me.
- Seeing and feeling someone else's really great rabbit.
- Finding that junior that suddenly turned from an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan.
- Saving a litter of chilled kits.
I know that raising rabbits isn't all happiness and light. But when I have some dark period in the rabbitry, maybe I'll come back and read this list to help me remember why I raise my Hollands in the first place. They slow me down and give me time to enjoy some of life's simple pleasures.
Laurie
¶ 9:07 AM 1 comments links to this post
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Bunny Christmas
Christmas is coming and I like to do something special for my rabbits. Usually, I give them a baby carrot, a treat they don't often get. But this year, I'm thinking about a toy. I've been concentrating so hard on the basics this year that I've fallen down on the fun factor.
Holland have a basic curious personality. But if they never have anything interesting to do, they can turn into a lump that just sits, sleeps, and eats. And also poops. We all know about that.
To keep your rabbit's personality intact, give him or her interesting toys and rotate them. I know that, but I've really fallen down on the job here.
So, what am I considering getting my bunnies this year? Here's a list:
Holland have a basic curious personality. But if they never have anything interesting to do, they can turn into a lump that just sits, sleeps, and eats. And also poops. We all know about that.
To keep your rabbit's personality intact, give him or her interesting toys and rotate them. I know that, but I've really fallen down on the job here.
So, what am I considering getting my bunnies this year? Here's a list:
- Ping pong balls
- Fruit tree branches
- Round oatmeal boxes for the young ones
- Hard cat toys
- Hard infant toys
- Pinecones
- Toilet paper rolls
- Practice golf balls
- Hard rubber balls
I think I might get some of each so I can rotate the toys. Walnuts, toilet paper rolls, pinecones, and boxes are one-shot deals. But the others can be sanitized and moved around. I usually just toss them into the dishwasher. But they could be soaked in a Vanodine or bleach solutions and rinsed well. With the bleach method, you'll want to give the toys several days to lose their bleach smell before giving them to your rabbits. They don't tend to like bleach much.
One of the best bargains I ever found was a hard plastic set of alphabet letters. I got 26 toys for one price. My favorite cat toy has a bell inside, plastic disks on the ends, and little bars around the sides. The rabbits can get their mouths around those bars and love to toss the toy.
There's an argument that rabbits that have interesting things to do live longer. I'm sure that's true with people and it makes sense with rabbits, too. I have no facts to support this idea, but at least I know that rabbit toys never fail to please.
Laurie
¶ 11:54 AM 0 comments links to this post
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Husbandry, Grooming, and Faking
There's sometimes a thin line between husbandry or grooming, and faking. Two of these are necessary practices - one can get you disqualified. In fact, faking can get your whole exhibit disqualified. And it could totally ruin your reputation, including your ability to sell rabbits.
Section 47 of the show rules states that rabbits are to be exhibited in is "nature condition." Examples include:
Section 47 of the show rules states that rabbits are to be exhibited in is "nature condition." Examples include:
- dyeing
- plucking
- trimming
- any other action designed to deceive
That last one is the heart of the matter. When you aren't sure whether you are grooming or faking, asked yourself if you are hoping to deceive the judge. That will generally give you your answer.
So, you are grooming your black rabbit. He has a couple of long white hairs that are pointing in the wrong direction. They appear to be dead. Can you remove them? Is that faking? Ask yourself whether you are trying to make a black rabbit with a few scattered white hairs appear to have none or whether you truly are removing dead hairs, which would fall under grooming. Now you know what to do.
I had a black rabbit with what appeared to be a tiny nip on the tip of her ear. It caused a cluster of about six white hairs that could have been called a spot. A friend of mine pulled them out because they bothered her. Several weeks later, the white hairs had not grown back in. In fact, they never came back. Was that grooming or faking? I think that if they had grown back white and I continued to pluck them to show her, that would be faking. If the dead hairs were removed once and never grew back, then I think that is grooming. It would not have been a good idea for me to show her the day she was plucked, however.
As for teeth, we all know that it is faking if you trim teeth and then show the rabbit. That's trying to make a rabbit with bad teeth look as though they have good teeth. That's faking. However, if you trim the teeth of a rabbit in hopes that they will come back in straight, that's husbandry. It's just very important not to show the rabbit until the teeth have grown back out again. Just ask yourself, am I trying to pass off a rabbit with bad teeth as one with good teeth or am I trying to give the teeth a chance to correct?
I really can't think of any reason to ever dye a rabbit. Some things are clearly wrong. Ditto with trimming. That doesn't mean you can't trim your rabbit and then let the wool grow back in before showing. It just means that you can't trim a rabbit to make it appear to have shorter fur than it does.
In the long run, faking hurts the exhibitor the most. Aside from the fact that the exhbitor would be mortified if caught (or should be), it's too easy to start thinking that a rabbit that has to fake to win is actually a good rabbit. If you breed a rabbit with a fault or disqualification that you cover up, you are just asking for more of the same. Do you really want to have to trim teeth on the majority of your herd? That's what could happen if you decide to fake rather than cull.
It may be tempting to cover up some small fault. I often think of the time that Roxie came in 11th at Convention. The judge said that he had to fault her for the scattered white hairs. Do I wish I had plucked. Sometimes I'm tempted by that thought. But when I showed her son MLK at Convention this year, he went with his few scattered white hairs, too.
So, refrain from cutting nails down to a nub to hide a white toenail. Don't even think about using a black marker on a toenail. If scattered white hairs really bother you, cull them out (I don't particularly care if the rabbit is good enough otherwise). Try to breed a lionhead that really does have a break between the main and sidewool. Wait until teeth grow totally back in before showing the rabbit again. You'll be glad you did.
Laurie
¶ 12:34 PM 0 comments links to this post
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Breeding and Genetic Problems
Here's a quick little exercise to do before you read this post. Think of three genetic problems in rabbits.
. . .
. . .
. . .
Okay, time's up. What did you think of? Butting teeth, white nails, split penis, eye spots, pigeon breast? Did you list narrow shoulders? undercut and/or pinched hindquarter? thin ears? temperment? thin fur? You didn't? Why not? These, too, are problems that are genetically passed down to the next generation.
My point is that we tend to treat certain genetic problems differently than others. But the results are the same: you want to cull out those characteristics. So why do you still breed rabbits with genetic faults? Probably because you don't have two perfect rabbits to breed together. I know that I don't. My reasoning is that I'll breed in the good qualities and breed out the bad ones, ending up with a better product down the road.
So now let's think about the list of genetic problems that we tend to think of as genetic. First of all, I don't think there's total consensus on some of these that they are indeed genetic. I'm not sure that a split penis is always genetic. Sometimes it does run in lines. That would give more support to that line having a genetic predisposition to it. But other times, there's no real pattern. In fact, I have a friend who bred a split penis to a doe that produced a split penis. She was unable to replicate the problem in the young. That's not enough trials to base any conclusion on, but one would have expected half of the males to have a split if we are talking about a simple dominant-recessive situation.
I would love to see some more research on that.
As for eye spots, I'm convinced that many are caused by e cuniculi. That could appear to run in lines if dams continue to pass e cuniculi down to their young. Before you process an entire herd for eye spots, treat for e cuniculi. See if that stops further eye spots in new generations. I use fenbendazole (found in Safeguard) to treat my rabbits for e cuniculi.
As for other problems, some may indeed be genetic. But how much of a problem is that in breeding?
Well, it depends. First of all, the nearer you are to the beginning of developing your herd, the greater affect genetic problems will have on the future generations. However, you are also less likely to have great specimens to breed together, which makes a great rabbit with a problem more desirable. So here is my litmus test. If I wanted to try to breed a rabbit with butting teeth (butting since it was a kit), for example, I would have to ask myself whether the good qualities of that rabbit were so good that it would be worth breeding out the tooth problem for possibly generations to come.
I wouldn't even think of breeding an average rabbit with any type of genetic problem.
Or, if the line were already developed and I start to see a problem in the offspring, I have to ask myself how many keepers that line produced versus how many rabbits with that problem. Now, you already know that I breed tightly, so if there is a problem, I'll see it in many places.
So let's say that I decided to breed a rabbit with long shoulders. I did this because the head, hindquarter, bone, and fur are outstanding. After two or three generations, I find that that line has produced 100 rabbits, 10 of which are grand champions, another 30 of which were worthy of pedigreeing, and 60 of which were pet quality. Now I can ask myself whether it is worth it to continue working with this line, seeing that the ratio of different kinds of rabbits are reproduced.
Some people feel that they are making a great decision by getting rid of a "genetic problem" with a rabbit that could produce 30% keepers while they continue to breed rabbits with no genetic red light items that have yet to produce anything worthwhile.
I once decided to work with a line that I thought had a tooth problem. I had calculated that a certain buck's offspring had produced teeth problems 1/3 of the time (though it was a small sample). That sounded genetic to me. But he had also produced grand champions and a buck that was second at Convention. Because of the possibility of really nice rabbits from the line, I worked it for a while.
However, I worked it in seclusion from the rest of my herd, meaning that I just bred the two rabbits together or with their offspring. If I had seen a tooth problem, then I could have eliminated that branch of my rabbitry without halting the progress across the board.
So I bred half brother and sister together. Neither had teeth issues themselves. They eventually had 10 kits, 8 of which were pedigreeable (just 2 were pets). One was a grand champion. What a great keeper rate! Two had teeth problems. One self-corrected by six months and the other went from bad to just barely, barely butting by six months old. It was so close that judges would probably only catch it part of the time (I processed her anyway, though).
I kept in touch with the new owner of the patriarche of this line. I was told that he had produced over 100 offspring with no teeth problems.
Because I lost the doe that was the flagship of my project, I eventually sold off everything in that project. But I did so knowing that there was no huge tooth problem after all. And the keeper rate was very, very good.
As a side, I gave away the 2nd place at Convention boy to a friend with advanced coursework in genetics. He has beaten the pants off of me with two different sons. And he reports no teeth problems whatsoever. Did I throw out the baby with the bathwater?
If you have produced a rabbit yourself that has a problem, let's say light nails, what do you do? If you have siblings that do not have the problem, that's certainly the way to go, assuming the rabbits are good enough to deal with an occasional problem cropping up. That way, you may luck out and get clean genes from the beginning (at least on that issue). Still, you have to know that you've chosen to work out any potential genetic problem down the sibling line.
But what if the rabbit is your only chance to work with a certain gene pool? Suppose you need the qualities that the rabbit has? If you can't get that gene pool any other way and you really want it, go for it. Just know that you have taken on a multi-generation project, that you need to keep this rabbit's line separate from your main line until you are convinced it is clean. And don't forget to evaluate the value of the keepers against the risk of dealing with a known genetic problem. Many rabbits that seem so promising just don't produce up to your expectations.
Yes, I've bred a doe with a fantastic front and a weak lower hindquarter. Now I get to work with her grand champion daughter who has a lovely hindquarter. Normally, I skip anything without a great hindquarter, but her front end was so good it was worth the risk.
You certainly should give genetic problems that affect a rabbit's quality of life differently than you do other types of genetic problems.
One last item: if you are working on a line with a genetic problem in hopes of eradicating it, please do not sell any of these rabbits to others without full disclosure until/unless you have determined that the line is clean. You may have chosen to work hard to clean up that line, but don't force that process on someone else without their consent.
I believe that you will find as your herd develops that you have less and less need and desire to work with anything even remotely suspicious. Once you have a base to work from, you don't need to take as many chances.
Laurie ¶ 10:42 AM 0 comments links to this post
. . .
. . .
. . .
Okay, time's up. What did you think of? Butting teeth, white nails, split penis, eye spots, pigeon breast? Did you list narrow shoulders? undercut and/or pinched hindquarter? thin ears? temperment? thin fur? You didn't? Why not? These, too, are problems that are genetically passed down to the next generation.
My point is that we tend to treat certain genetic problems differently than others. But the results are the same: you want to cull out those characteristics. So why do you still breed rabbits with genetic faults? Probably because you don't have two perfect rabbits to breed together. I know that I don't. My reasoning is that I'll breed in the good qualities and breed out the bad ones, ending up with a better product down the road.
So now let's think about the list of genetic problems that we tend to think of as genetic. First of all, I don't think there's total consensus on some of these that they are indeed genetic. I'm not sure that a split penis is always genetic. Sometimes it does run in lines. That would give more support to that line having a genetic predisposition to it. But other times, there's no real pattern. In fact, I have a friend who bred a split penis to a doe that produced a split penis. She was unable to replicate the problem in the young. That's not enough trials to base any conclusion on, but one would have expected half of the males to have a split if we are talking about a simple dominant-recessive situation.
I would love to see some more research on that.
As for eye spots, I'm convinced that many are caused by e cuniculi. That could appear to run in lines if dams continue to pass e cuniculi down to their young. Before you process an entire herd for eye spots, treat for e cuniculi. See if that stops further eye spots in new generations. I use fenbendazole (found in Safeguard) to treat my rabbits for e cuniculi.
As for other problems, some may indeed be genetic. But how much of a problem is that in breeding?
Well, it depends. First of all, the nearer you are to the beginning of developing your herd, the greater affect genetic problems will have on the future generations. However, you are also less likely to have great specimens to breed together, which makes a great rabbit with a problem more desirable. So here is my litmus test. If I wanted to try to breed a rabbit with butting teeth (butting since it was a kit), for example, I would have to ask myself whether the good qualities of that rabbit were so good that it would be worth breeding out the tooth problem for possibly generations to come.
I wouldn't even think of breeding an average rabbit with any type of genetic problem.
Or, if the line were already developed and I start to see a problem in the offspring, I have to ask myself how many keepers that line produced versus how many rabbits with that problem. Now, you already know that I breed tightly, so if there is a problem, I'll see it in many places.
So let's say that I decided to breed a rabbit with long shoulders. I did this because the head, hindquarter, bone, and fur are outstanding. After two or three generations, I find that that line has produced 100 rabbits, 10 of which are grand champions, another 30 of which were worthy of pedigreeing, and 60 of which were pet quality. Now I can ask myself whether it is worth it to continue working with this line, seeing that the ratio of different kinds of rabbits are reproduced.
Some people feel that they are making a great decision by getting rid of a "genetic problem" with a rabbit that could produce 30% keepers while they continue to breed rabbits with no genetic red light items that have yet to produce anything worthwhile.
I once decided to work with a line that I thought had a tooth problem. I had calculated that a certain buck's offspring had produced teeth problems 1/3 of the time (though it was a small sample). That sounded genetic to me. But he had also produced grand champions and a buck that was second at Convention. Because of the possibility of really nice rabbits from the line, I worked it for a while.
However, I worked it in seclusion from the rest of my herd, meaning that I just bred the two rabbits together or with their offspring. If I had seen a tooth problem, then I could have eliminated that branch of my rabbitry without halting the progress across the board.
So I bred half brother and sister together. Neither had teeth issues themselves. They eventually had 10 kits, 8 of which were pedigreeable (just 2 were pets). One was a grand champion. What a great keeper rate! Two had teeth problems. One self-corrected by six months and the other went from bad to just barely, barely butting by six months old. It was so close that judges would probably only catch it part of the time (I processed her anyway, though).
I kept in touch with the new owner of the patriarche of this line. I was told that he had produced over 100 offspring with no teeth problems.
Because I lost the doe that was the flagship of my project, I eventually sold off everything in that project. But I did so knowing that there was no huge tooth problem after all. And the keeper rate was very, very good.
As a side, I gave away the 2nd place at Convention boy to a friend with advanced coursework in genetics. He has beaten the pants off of me with two different sons. And he reports no teeth problems whatsoever. Did I throw out the baby with the bathwater?
If you have produced a rabbit yourself that has a problem, let's say light nails, what do you do? If you have siblings that do not have the problem, that's certainly the way to go, assuming the rabbits are good enough to deal with an occasional problem cropping up. That way, you may luck out and get clean genes from the beginning (at least on that issue). Still, you have to know that you've chosen to work out any potential genetic problem down the sibling line.
But what if the rabbit is your only chance to work with a certain gene pool? Suppose you need the qualities that the rabbit has? If you can't get that gene pool any other way and you really want it, go for it. Just know that you have taken on a multi-generation project, that you need to keep this rabbit's line separate from your main line until you are convinced it is clean. And don't forget to evaluate the value of the keepers against the risk of dealing with a known genetic problem. Many rabbits that seem so promising just don't produce up to your expectations.
Yes, I've bred a doe with a fantastic front and a weak lower hindquarter. Now I get to work with her grand champion daughter who has a lovely hindquarter. Normally, I skip anything without a great hindquarter, but her front end was so good it was worth the risk.
You certainly should give genetic problems that affect a rabbit's quality of life differently than you do other types of genetic problems.
One last item: if you are working on a line with a genetic problem in hopes of eradicating it, please do not sell any of these rabbits to others without full disclosure until/unless you have determined that the line is clean. You may have chosen to work hard to clean up that line, but don't force that process on someone else without their consent.
I believe that you will find as your herd develops that you have less and less need and desire to work with anything even remotely suspicious. Once you have a base to work from, you don't need to take as many chances.
Laurie ¶ 10:42 AM 0 comments links to this post
Monday, November 26, 2007
Goodbye, Mercedes, 9/7/2004 to 11/22/2007
On Thanksgiving evening, I received the news that Mercedes had died due to complications of kindling. I am so sad for Mercedes, Peter Bachmann (her owner), and for me, too. Peter and I loved Mercedes. She was a beautiful doe with a killer body and indestructible coat.
Mercedes, who was my very first grand champion, died with 24 legs to her credit. She earned her last leg - a BOS - just a few weeks ago for Peter. Her greatest accomplishment on the table was 4th place at Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.
I was so pleased to be able to give Mercedes to Peter. He had loved her since she was a junior. The first weekend I met Peter, he helped me put my rabbits on the table. I got my juniors mixed up, but Peter knew exactly who Mercedes was. Good thing he kept me straight!
We had both hoped that Mercedes would have some babies for Peter. It was very sad to learn that she had had three babies just before she died, but they chilled and died also. Peter had been checking her every two hours. It was just bad luck that he didn't get them in time to revive them.
I, of course, am still very fortunate to have Mercedes' line still alive and growing in my barn. She produced a grand champion daughter for me, GC The Nature Trail's Lexus. Though Lexus is no Mercedes, she did pass that wonderful body and coat down to her grand champion son, GC The Nature Trail's Lex, 13 legs. Lex is just over a year old and has started producing offspring of his own. He and Lexus have two solids and a Charlie in the nest box right now.
I recently got word that Mercedes' younger sister Nina had to be put down. But Mercedes littermate sister Porche is still living, and hopefully producing some wonderful offspring.
So Mercedes lives on - in our memories, in our hearts, and through her offspring. But she will still be missed.
Goodbye, Mercedes, I love you.
Laurie ¶ 12:42 PM 0 comments links to this post
Mercedes, who was my very first grand champion, died with 24 legs to her credit. She earned her last leg - a BOS - just a few weeks ago for Peter. Her greatest accomplishment on the table was 4th place at Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.
I was so pleased to be able to give Mercedes to Peter. He had loved her since she was a junior. The first weekend I met Peter, he helped me put my rabbits on the table. I got my juniors mixed up, but Peter knew exactly who Mercedes was. Good thing he kept me straight!
We had both hoped that Mercedes would have some babies for Peter. It was very sad to learn that she had had three babies just before she died, but they chilled and died also. Peter had been checking her every two hours. It was just bad luck that he didn't get them in time to revive them.
I, of course, am still very fortunate to have Mercedes' line still alive and growing in my barn. She produced a grand champion daughter for me, GC The Nature Trail's Lexus. Though Lexus is no Mercedes, she did pass that wonderful body and coat down to her grand champion son, GC The Nature Trail's Lex, 13 legs. Lex is just over a year old and has started producing offspring of his own. He and Lexus have two solids and a Charlie in the nest box right now.
I recently got word that Mercedes' younger sister Nina had to be put down. But Mercedes littermate sister Porche is still living, and hopefully producing some wonderful offspring.
So Mercedes lives on - in our memories, in our hearts, and through her offspring. But she will still be missed.
Goodbye, Mercedes, I love you.
Laurie ¶ 12:42 PM 0 comments links to this post
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
We Need A Volunteer
With some hobbies, you pay money and then services are provided to you by professional for-profit companies or individuals. Consider golf, a common hobby. In golf, the caddy is not a volunteer. Neither are the people who maintain the equipment and grounds. You are strictly a consumer and have a right to demand good services for your payment.
But with our hobby, very little could ever happen without thousands of volunteers each year. Just think about it. Only the judges are actually paid at a local show. And their net profit hardly covers the time commitment required to judge a show. We have extremely few paid employees in our main office. Everyone else is a volunteer.
Unlike those who go to the golf course, we are not actually paying for all of the services we receive when we go to a rabbit show. We get a lot of services for free. Ever had to tip a writer? Ever pay for set-up or clean-up? How much does your local show catalog cost you? How much do you give your local show superintendents in their Christmas envelope?
What you pay for is the right to have your non-vicious rabbit or cavy judged, get comments, and receive a written report about it. That's it. All of the other services you receive at a rabbit show are complimentary, courtesy of a volunteer.
Now I'm sure that many of you volunteer. Thank you. I hope you know how much your services are appreciated and needed by all of us.
But for those who don't volunteer, what stops you? Perhaps you were under the impression that you are strictly a consumer, paying for services. Now you know that is definitely not the case. Perhaps you don't know how to help. Join a club and you will get tons of support. Want to write, but don't know how? No problem. Why not assist someone who knows or ask someone experienced to work with you a couple of times. I'm sure you'll find someone willing.
Everyone has different skills and talents. Not everyone needs to be a writer, judge, show superintendent, or show secretary. No problem. Can you design a logo? create a website? stuff envelopes? sweep floors? store equipment? make hotel arrangements? pick up judges from the airport? build judging coops? write rules and bylaws? teach a workshop? organize a youth team? empty trashcans? help make ear number changes? call classes to the table? make sure the judges have something to drink? search for showroom buildings to rent? purchase awards for the club? set up equipment? haul judging tables? staff the raffle table? put out signs showing the way to the showroom? verify directions to the show? organize fun activities like costume contests? monitor children's behavior? serve as ramrod?
Take some time to think about how you can best volunteer. Find a place to plug in to the wonderful network that makes showing rabbits and cavies possible. Do not give in to the temptation to be simply a taker in our hobby. Be a giver, too. You'll get so much back in return.
Laurie ¶ 11:10 AM 0 comments links to this post
But with our hobby, very little could ever happen without thousands of volunteers each year. Just think about it. Only the judges are actually paid at a local show. And their net profit hardly covers the time commitment required to judge a show. We have extremely few paid employees in our main office. Everyone else is a volunteer.
Unlike those who go to the golf course, we are not actually paying for all of the services we receive when we go to a rabbit show. We get a lot of services for free. Ever had to tip a writer? Ever pay for set-up or clean-up? How much does your local show catalog cost you? How much do you give your local show superintendents in their Christmas envelope?
What you pay for is the right to have your non-vicious rabbit or cavy judged, get comments, and receive a written report about it. That's it. All of the other services you receive at a rabbit show are complimentary, courtesy of a volunteer.
Now I'm sure that many of you volunteer. Thank you. I hope you know how much your services are appreciated and needed by all of us.
But for those who don't volunteer, what stops you? Perhaps you were under the impression that you are strictly a consumer, paying for services. Now you know that is definitely not the case. Perhaps you don't know how to help. Join a club and you will get tons of support. Want to write, but don't know how? No problem. Why not assist someone who knows or ask someone experienced to work with you a couple of times. I'm sure you'll find someone willing.
Everyone has different skills and talents. Not everyone needs to be a writer, judge, show superintendent, or show secretary. No problem. Can you design a logo? create a website? stuff envelopes? sweep floors? store equipment? make hotel arrangements? pick up judges from the airport? build judging coops? write rules and bylaws? teach a workshop? organize a youth team? empty trashcans? help make ear number changes? call classes to the table? make sure the judges have something to drink? search for showroom buildings to rent? purchase awards for the club? set up equipment? haul judging tables? staff the raffle table? put out signs showing the way to the showroom? verify directions to the show? organize fun activities like costume contests? monitor children's behavior? serve as ramrod?
Take some time to think about how you can best volunteer. Find a place to plug in to the wonderful network that makes showing rabbits and cavies possible. Do not give in to the temptation to be simply a taker in our hobby. Be a giver, too. You'll get so much back in return.
Laurie ¶ 11:10 AM 0 comments links to this post
Monday, November 19, 2007
Weekend Recap
To answer your question - no. No, I did not get nearly all of that done this weekend (see Friday's post). In reality, my weekend went a lot differently. Yes, I did get one coat of paint on Anna's trim and Lydia's room is finished. Andrew did move all of the work supplies out of Anna's room, so It is looking a lot more like a bedroom again instead of a work area. But that's about it.
So how did I spend my weekend?
Friday went according to plan. My sister and I went to a romantic light comedy and to my favorite restaurant - Thai. We have decided to go out about halfway between our birthdays each year as our way of celebrating. I'm not much into gifts - I hate shopping and I'm happy if I never get a gift.
After that, things went very differently. I got up later than I should have. I did get the painting started, but then a ballroom dance friend called and we talked about our club and dancing for over an hour. She mentioned that there was a dance that night. That's when all bets were off.
We had to dress and leave by a little after 6:00 p.m. and got home around 3:00 a.m. I may as well have been driving home from Conyers, GA! But we had a great time and ballroom dancing includes Andrew for more than cleaning and loading, so that was wonderful.
Of course, I slept too late on Sunday. As for barn chores, I did wash enough crocks to swap out water dishes for every bunny. I checked on May's singleton (we lost one on the wire and the other two were peanuts). I have a nest box warmer under the box and it is working well. Until I put it in, May sat in the box all day long. I wondered if it was because it was comfy or if she was actually trying to keep the kit warm. Since the nest box warmer has been in there, she's been sitting atop the box and not in it. Hmmmm. Maybe she was trying to protect her baby. It seems so anyway.
I needed to start breeding again, but I didn't get to it.
A good deal of my afternoon was spent finishing up a proposal on sale rabbits at Convention to be presented to the ARBA board of directors. I sent it to Eric Stewart this morning via email (my district representative). You can read the proposal by clicking here. I used the results from a recent survey on the new rabbit survey Yahoo! Group to guide and support the proposal.
Whether you agree or disagree with the proposal, please let your district director know how you feel about the issues.
If you are an ARBA member and want to be part of future surveys, please join us. Simply include your ARBA number in the message part of the process for joining.
So, I wrote, danced, painted, and cleaned the weekend away. It was actually very delightful, including getting the proposal done. There's nothing like checking off a task complete.
But in reality for the proposal, it is just the beginning.
Laurie ¶ 12:02 PM 0 comments links to this post
So how did I spend my weekend?
Friday went according to plan. My sister and I went to a romantic light comedy and to my favorite restaurant - Thai. We have decided to go out about halfway between our birthdays each year as our way of celebrating. I'm not much into gifts - I hate shopping and I'm happy if I never get a gift.
After that, things went very differently. I got up later than I should have. I did get the painting started, but then a ballroom dance friend called and we talked about our club and dancing for over an hour. She mentioned that there was a dance that night. That's when all bets were off.
We had to dress and leave by a little after 6:00 p.m. and got home around 3:00 a.m. I may as well have been driving home from Conyers, GA! But we had a great time and ballroom dancing includes Andrew for more than cleaning and loading, so that was wonderful.
Of course, I slept too late on Sunday. As for barn chores, I did wash enough crocks to swap out water dishes for every bunny. I checked on May's singleton (we lost one on the wire and the other two were peanuts). I have a nest box warmer under the box and it is working well. Until I put it in, May sat in the box all day long. I wondered if it was because it was comfy or if she was actually trying to keep the kit warm. Since the nest box warmer has been in there, she's been sitting atop the box and not in it. Hmmmm. Maybe she was trying to protect her baby. It seems so anyway.
I needed to start breeding again, but I didn't get to it.
A good deal of my afternoon was spent finishing up a proposal on sale rabbits at Convention to be presented to the ARBA board of directors. I sent it to Eric Stewart this morning via email (my district representative). You can read the proposal by clicking here. I used the results from a recent survey on the new rabbit survey Yahoo! Group to guide and support the proposal.
Whether you agree or disagree with the proposal, please let your district director know how you feel about the issues.
If you are an ARBA member and want to be part of future surveys, please join us. Simply include your ARBA number in the message part of the process for joining.
So, I wrote, danced, painted, and cleaned the weekend away. It was actually very delightful, including getting the proposal done. There's nothing like checking off a task complete.
But in reality for the proposal, it is just the beginning.
Laurie ¶ 12:02 PM 0 comments links to this post
Friday, November 16, 2007
A Weekend Off
A rabbit show weekend for me is normally more hectic than my week. It takes planning. It takes preparation. There's packing, loading, unloading, reloading, unloading again. Usually there's driving - from the rare two-hour weekend to the upper end 17-hour weekend. I'm always glad I go to shows, of course, but I'm always exhausted.
So, in keeping with my attempt to cut down on showing this year, I've decided to stay home this weekend. None of that hectic-ness for me. And no exhaustion either.
Instead, I'm starting off my weekend by babysitting my grand nephew. It started at 6:00 a.m. this morning, or rather, about 20 minutes before. He's a good baby, nearly 4 months old. Unfortunately, he wants to play at 6:00 a.m. instead of nap. But I eventually got a quick nap before 10:00 a.m. So did he.
And got my breakfast about 11:00 a.m.
He's sleeping now, or there would have been no BLOG today at all.
Around 4:30, after I've gotten him fed and changed, my sister is coming by and we're going to the movies - with the baby. That should be fun. And then we'll grab a bite to eat, if I know my sister. That's a good start to a relaxing weekend.
That, of course, will mean feeding the rabbits late in the evening, when it's cold and I'm tired. But that's nothing like driving 7 hours to Conyers, GA.
Now tomorrow, I hope to sleep a little late - but not too late. We've been working on a painting job for weeks now and we have to finish up this weekend. We can't bring in a Christmas tree with shelves everywhere, tools everywhere, paint cans everywhere, and the floors covered with plastic. We've nearly finished Lydia's room. So I guess we'll start by moving her back in to her room. Anna's room needs the trim painted - twice. Then we can put up her wallpaper boarder and princess decoration. Her closet is a bit complicated. And there are doorknobs and outlet covers to replace.
Then we can start painting the hallway and linen closet. Talk about trim! There are 6 doors leading to the hallway and complicated corner-curving shelves in the closet.
I don't even want to think about the kids' bathroom. We have taken down the border, but there's a lot of patching and sanding to do there before we even get to start painting. That's not going to be fun.
And then there are a few chores in the barn to tend to. We need to sanitize the water system again and get it back on-line. I got the all's clear report back before Convention, but we haven't had the time to get the bunnies back on the system. I'll keep crocks in each cage until I observe the rabbit drinking from the system. A few never learn or never do well, so I have to sort out who can and cannot use the system. That will really cut down on the watering chores. I can't wait!
Andrew got the plastic over the northern windows, but we now need to cover the southern ones, too. That shouldn't be too bad. I'm sure we'll have time.
I have a couple of rows of empty cages. That seems like a perfect situation for taking out cages and pressure washing them. The water lines will have to be unclipped for sanitizing anyway so the cages can be propped away from the water lines. We don't want any rabbits drinking the Vanodine solution (by the way, I'm sanitizing again because the system has been open and empty for several weeks - just a precaution).
I think Andrew is going to have to take Monday off in order to get all of this done. Because after everything else, we're going to have to do a deep cleaning on the house. After all, next week is Thanksgiving and the family will all be gathering. We're bound to have some company.
Oh, and I forgot, I need to assemble LaForge's new cage. He's Lydia's pet now, of course. And Daniel has claimed Rio for his own. Now he wants a fancy cage, too. He likes Rio because he can pet him like a dog, he says. I think Rio will like his new situation a lot. And Anna's two new Jersey Woolies need to be moved to the barn. They've been in the house for quarantine.
Then we'll need to clean the six stacking cages we have and put them in the house. I lost too many kits to the cold this last go round, so I'm going to be bringing in my kindling does. My numbers are just too low right now to sustain unnecessary losses. I lost 4 Roxie x Rio babies and yes, they were all black.
One last task (I think) - we need to clean my carriers for the December 1 show in Columbia, SC. By "we," I mean Andrew, of course. Andrew is out of town on business the week after Thanksgiving, so we need to be caught up before he leaves and I'm the single parent of four for the week.
Well, thank goodness I'm not going to that tiring show. I really needed a weekend off to rest and get away from it all. Andrew is right. I need to stay home more often and take it easy.
On the other hand, after this weekend, he may be very happy to see me get back on the road again!
Laurie ¶ 1:13 PM 0 comments links to this post
So, in keeping with my attempt to cut down on showing this year, I've decided to stay home this weekend. None of that hectic-ness for me. And no exhaustion either.
Instead, I'm starting off my weekend by babysitting my grand nephew. It started at 6:00 a.m. this morning, or rather, about 20 minutes before. He's a good baby, nearly 4 months old. Unfortunately, he wants to play at 6:00 a.m. instead of nap. But I eventually got a quick nap before 10:00 a.m. So did he.
And got my breakfast about 11:00 a.m.
He's sleeping now, or there would have been no BLOG today at all.
Around 4:30, after I've gotten him fed and changed, my sister is coming by and we're going to the movies - with the baby. That should be fun. And then we'll grab a bite to eat, if I know my sister. That's a good start to a relaxing weekend.
That, of course, will mean feeding the rabbits late in the evening, when it's cold and I'm tired. But that's nothing like driving 7 hours to Conyers, GA.
Now tomorrow, I hope to sleep a little late - but not too late. We've been working on a painting job for weeks now and we have to finish up this weekend. We can't bring in a Christmas tree with shelves everywhere, tools everywhere, paint cans everywhere, and the floors covered with plastic. We've nearly finished Lydia's room. So I guess we'll start by moving her back in to her room. Anna's room needs the trim painted - twice. Then we can put up her wallpaper boarder and princess decoration. Her closet is a bit complicated. And there are doorknobs and outlet covers to replace.
Then we can start painting the hallway and linen closet. Talk about trim! There are 6 doors leading to the hallway and complicated corner-curving shelves in the closet.
I don't even want to think about the kids' bathroom. We have taken down the border, but there's a lot of patching and sanding to do there before we even get to start painting. That's not going to be fun.
And then there are a few chores in the barn to tend to. We need to sanitize the water system again and get it back on-line. I got the all's clear report back before Convention, but we haven't had the time to get the bunnies back on the system. I'll keep crocks in each cage until I observe the rabbit drinking from the system. A few never learn or never do well, so I have to sort out who can and cannot use the system. That will really cut down on the watering chores. I can't wait!
Andrew got the plastic over the northern windows, but we now need to cover the southern ones, too. That shouldn't be too bad. I'm sure we'll have time.
I have a couple of rows of empty cages. That seems like a perfect situation for taking out cages and pressure washing them. The water lines will have to be unclipped for sanitizing anyway so the cages can be propped away from the water lines. We don't want any rabbits drinking the Vanodine solution (by the way, I'm sanitizing again because the system has been open and empty for several weeks - just a precaution).
I think Andrew is going to have to take Monday off in order to get all of this done. Because after everything else, we're going to have to do a deep cleaning on the house. After all, next week is Thanksgiving and the family will all be gathering. We're bound to have some company.
Oh, and I forgot, I need to assemble LaForge's new cage. He's Lydia's pet now, of course. And Daniel has claimed Rio for his own. Now he wants a fancy cage, too. He likes Rio because he can pet him like a dog, he says. I think Rio will like his new situation a lot. And Anna's two new Jersey Woolies need to be moved to the barn. They've been in the house for quarantine.
Then we'll need to clean the six stacking cages we have and put them in the house. I lost too many kits to the cold this last go round, so I'm going to be bringing in my kindling does. My numbers are just too low right now to sustain unnecessary losses. I lost 4 Roxie x Rio babies and yes, they were all black.
One last task (I think) - we need to clean my carriers for the December 1 show in Columbia, SC. By "we," I mean Andrew, of course. Andrew is out of town on business the week after Thanksgiving, so we need to be caught up before he leaves and I'm the single parent of four for the week.
Well, thank goodness I'm not going to that tiring show. I really needed a weekend off to rest and get away from it all. Andrew is right. I need to stay home more often and take it easy.
On the other hand, after this weekend, he may be very happy to see me get back on the road again!
Laurie ¶ 1:13 PM 0 comments links to this post
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Children At Rabbit Shows
One thing that can ruin a rabbit show very quickly is disorderly children at a show. Whether they are running between the carriers, scaring rabbits, tromping around on equipment making noise, or destroying the bathroom, it's bad news.
At one show, I had a puppy in a carrier that I was delivering after the show. A friend of mine was watching after my things while I worked with a judge. A child kept sitting on my carriers and she had to repeatedly ask him not to. Then he took the puppy out without permission. All of this was done in full sight of the parents. This sort of thing makes a show very uncomfortable. I don't go to shows to have to deal with other people's children and neither does my friend. And we are still both baffled at the behavior (or lack thereof) of the parents.
Often the parents are tied up showing rabbits and don't notice the behavior. As a parent of four, I know that I had to learn to tune out racket just to survive. I simply don't hear as much as other people do. And people certainly vary in how much rowdiness they tolerate. Obviously, people vary in what they think it is okay for their kids to do, too.
Rabbit shows are multi-generational and that's one of their strengths. In a world where kids go to school and adults go to work, kids go to soccer, adults socialize together, we simply don't have enough multi-generational activities in our society. Rabbits shows are one place where we can enjoy the different generations and learn to appreciate them.
So how do we accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative?
Rabbit shows are generally very casual and it's not necessary to behave as if you are at a tea party. But what are the expectations?
First of all, I think that the host club has to set the expectations. The expectations can be communicated in a non-threatening, positive way. Compare these two:
At one show, I had a puppy in a carrier that I was delivering after the show. A friend of mine was watching after my things while I worked with a judge. A child kept sitting on my carriers and she had to repeatedly ask him not to. Then he took the puppy out without permission. All of this was done in full sight of the parents. This sort of thing makes a show very uncomfortable. I don't go to shows to have to deal with other people's children and neither does my friend. And we are still both baffled at the behavior (or lack thereof) of the parents.
Often the parents are tied up showing rabbits and don't notice the behavior. As a parent of four, I know that I had to learn to tune out racket just to survive. I simply don't hear as much as other people do. And people certainly vary in how much rowdiness they tolerate. Obviously, people vary in what they think it is okay for their kids to do, too.
Rabbit shows are multi-generational and that's one of their strengths. In a world where kids go to school and adults go to work, kids go to soccer, adults socialize together, we simply don't have enough multi-generational activities in our society. Rabbits shows are one place where we can enjoy the different generations and learn to appreciate them.
So how do we accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative?
Rabbit shows are generally very casual and it's not necessary to behave as if you are at a tea party. But what are the expectations?
First of all, I think that the host club has to set the expectations. The expectations can be communicated in a non-threatening, positive way. Compare these two:
- We expect children to walk inside the showroom and stay on the floor. The bleachers are off-limits today. There is an area outside where children can run and yell. Please know where your children are and what they are doing throughout the day.
- If I catch your children running or yelling, I will call them down. If they don't quit, you will be asked to leave. Last year they left a huge mess and that's not going to happen this year.
Second, now that parents know what is expected at this show, they should make sure that their children follow the rules. Especially if you are the type of parent who will not allow anyone else to correct your child, you must take responsibility and ensure their compliance with expectations.
Third, well, I have to say that yes, I'm a Democrat, and yes, I think it takes a village. But when you speak to someone else's children, you still have no right to berate or threaten. Generally with children, if you simply state the rules and make a request, they will comply. They just forget to walk and forget to use an indoor voice.
A child was outside a show once wielding some sort of large tool. Several adults were concerned and somehow I got elected to speak to the child (still not sure how that happened). Anyway, I simply asked him if his parents knew what he was doing. He said, "yes," which surprised me. But at that moment his father walked up and told him to put down the tool.
Fourth (and maybe this should have been first) a club, while not required to do so, may want to think of activities for children. A show day is a long time to wait, especially if the child just has a few rabbits to show. I've seen videos set up at shows. Games can be arranged. Educational activities can be planned. Crayons and coloring sheets may be the answer, depending on the age group.
My children always pack a bag when they are traveling. It may have books, toys, pencils and paper, or other items in it. That gives them something to occupy themselves no matter when they might find some down time.
Yes, I still have to remind Anna not to run on the risers. I check with her to make sure she's not climbing on equipment. I tell her when she cannot participate in some game that I believe is bothering rabbits or exhibitors. And sometimes, she might need someone else to remind her of the rules. No one is perfect. But I feel that I do my part to keep her from becoming an issue. And I hope that other parents would do the same thing.
We can all work together by setting realistic expectations, providing children with acceptable alternative activities, watching our own children, and, if the need arises to speak to someone else's child, speaking without threats or anger.
Laurie
¶ 10:19 AM 1 comments links to this post
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Vent Disease
Have you ever had someone tell you that they cure vent disease with an ointment? I've heard it, but find the treatment lacks a basic understanding of vent disease, the rabbit form of syphillis. No ointment can cure it. If you think you've cured vent disease with an ointment, either you cured hutch burn or your rabbit has just become an asymptomatic carrier. Ointment is not the acceptable protocol for vent disease.
I believe hutch burn is often confused with vent disease because many people have never seen the actual lesions, ulcerations, and scabs caused by vent disease. When they see vent irritation, they assume vent disease.
Vent disease is caused by and spread through a spirochete, Treponema paraluicuniculi (T. paraluiscuniculi for short). This spirochete travels through the blood system of the rabbit. Thus no ointment can eradicate vent disease.
Besides lesions, ulcers, and scabs on and surrounding the genitalia, rabbits can infect themselves on the nose, eyelids, and mouth with the same lesions, ulcers, and scabs. Bucks often have a start-shaped scar on their scrotum. In addition to the sores and scars, rabbits experience physical interference with breeding, decreased conception rates, more retained placentas, and greater nest box losses (neonatal deaths). Uterine infections can also increase. And remember, these more serious problems can occur with no sores whatsoever.
Interestingly, does that have had six or more litters are often seropositive as are bucks that have been breeding for 6 to 12 months. That means that an active breeding history means your rabbit is likely to have vent disease, whether or not you see symptoms.
According to Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery by Katherine E Quesenberry and James W. Carpenter, my source for this article, penicillin G benzathine-penicillin G procaine (sold as Combi-Pen and commonly referred to as pen B) administered at 7-day intervals for 3 injections (42,000 to 84,0000 IU per kilogram of rabbit weight given subcutaneously) is an appropriate treatment.
My Combi-Pen has 300,000 IU per milliliter. A 4-lb. rabbit weighs 1.8 kg. The range for a 4 lb. rabbit is therefore 75,600 to 151,200 IU or 1/4 to 1/2 mililitters or cc's. The convention many breeders use is 1/10 cc per pound. Please make your own calculations and consult your vet before administering medications.
If you use Pen G, then you must give it for 5 to 7 days straight intramuscular. I find this treatment harder on the rabbit's GI tract, though, and harder to administer. Other breeders have found that vent disease is more likely to reoccur with the Pen G treatment.
There are many things that can affect nestbox outcomes: the weather, fluctuations in feed, the season, and your rabbits' genetic predispositions. But if your herd once produced well and is experiencing many of the problems associated with vent disease over a period of time, considering treating your herd.
Laurie
¶ 9:24 AM 0 comments links to this post
I believe hutch burn is often confused with vent disease because many people have never seen the actual lesions, ulcerations, and scabs caused by vent disease. When they see vent irritation, they assume vent disease.
Vent disease is caused by and spread through a spirochete, Treponema paraluicuniculi (T. paraluiscuniculi for short). This spirochete travels through the blood system of the rabbit. Thus no ointment can eradicate vent disease.
Besides lesions, ulcers, and scabs on and surrounding the genitalia, rabbits can infect themselves on the nose, eyelids, and mouth with the same lesions, ulcers, and scabs. Bucks often have a start-shaped scar on their scrotum. In addition to the sores and scars, rabbits experience physical interference with breeding, decreased conception rates, more retained placentas, and greater nest box losses (neonatal deaths). Uterine infections can also increase. And remember, these more serious problems can occur with no sores whatsoever.
Interestingly, does that have had six or more litters are often seropositive as are bucks that have been breeding for 6 to 12 months. That means that an active breeding history means your rabbit is likely to have vent disease, whether or not you see symptoms.
According to Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery by Katherine E Quesenberry and James W. Carpenter, my source for this article, penicillin G benzathine-penicillin G procaine (sold as Combi-Pen and commonly referred to as pen B) administered at 7-day intervals for 3 injections (42,000 to 84,0000 IU per kilogram of rabbit weight given subcutaneously) is an appropriate treatment.
My Combi-Pen has 300,000 IU per milliliter. A 4-lb. rabbit weighs 1.8 kg. The range for a 4 lb. rabbit is therefore 75,600 to 151,200 IU or 1/4 to 1/2 mililitters or cc's. The convention many breeders use is 1/10 cc per pound. Please make your own calculations and consult your vet before administering medications.
If you use Pen G, then you must give it for 5 to 7 days straight intramuscular. I find this treatment harder on the rabbit's GI tract, though, and harder to administer. Other breeders have found that vent disease is more likely to reoccur with the Pen G treatment.
There are many things that can affect nestbox outcomes: the weather, fluctuations in feed, the season, and your rabbits' genetic predispositions. But if your herd once produced well and is experiencing many of the problems associated with vent disease over a period of time, considering treating your herd.
Laurie
¶ 9:24 AM 0 comments links to this post
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Busy Buck
Now that all of my bred does have either kindled or missed (mostly missed), I can start planning my next breedings. This time it is easy. I'm going to breed my brokens to LOV's Cody and my solids to LOV's Top Hat. Cody is pretty much out of luck. I only have May, Lexus, Hope, and Belle in brokens, and May and Lexus were the only two to have a litter this last time. So he just gets Hope and Belle, though I plan to breed Belle several times to increase her litter size.
Top Hat, on the other hand, will be bred to Padme, Rizzo, Arabica, Fabrizia, Roxie, Evita, Francesca, and Jamillia. Yes, I only have 12 does in my breeding program right now, 8 solids and 4 brokens. It's scary.
I'm trying to dodge due dates around my busy December schedule. I have such a small barn these days that I can't afford to lose kits that could have been saved with just a little attention. I also don't want to wear out Top Hat. He's got a lot of work to do. I suppose I'll breed him to one or two does per day, depending on his energy level. I hope he's an enthusiastic breeder.
Nestbox outcomes have been very poor this fall - not just for me but for a lot of breeders. I'm hoping that things will go back to normal with this breeding. I'm hoping to produce some does that I can use to breed back to these LOV bucks. Whatever comes of these breedings will be their harem. Bucks would have to be something else to remain in the herd. I'm looking for does.
I plan to go back to my normal breedings next time, just as if these new bucks had never arrived. I want to breed Evita to her father/grandfather Rio. I'll be looking for a daughter to breed back one last time. I'm dying to get babies from Padme and Padawan. The one I have from last time is gorgeous and huge, but I'm guessing that means it is a false dwarf. We'll see. I think I'd also like to try Padawan with his grandmother May. I really want to see some babies from Rizzo and MLK. I had an adorable Rio x Roxie pre-junior that died this summer. I hope to repeat that breeding and get one to keep this time. And of course, I want some Belle babies that survive.
I guess I've set myself up to have to have a lot of patience, haven't I? It will be months before any LOV daughters are old enough to breed. I've delayed my regular breeding plans by up to three months, too. But I'm hoping that the payoff will come down the line when I feel I'm ready for new genes and I've got a second line already started and ready to blend into my main line. That is, if all goes well.
Laurie ¶ 11:09 AM 2 comments links to this post
Top Hat, on the other hand, will be bred to Padme, Rizzo, Arabica, Fabrizia, Roxie, Evita, Francesca, and Jamillia. Yes, I only have 12 does in my breeding program right now, 8 solids and 4 brokens. It's scary.
I'm trying to dodge due dates around my busy December schedule. I have such a small barn these days that I can't afford to lose kits that could have been saved with just a little attention. I also don't want to wear out Top Hat. He's got a lot of work to do. I suppose I'll breed him to one or two does per day, depending on his energy level. I hope he's an enthusiastic breeder.
Nestbox outcomes have been very poor this fall - not just for me but for a lot of breeders. I'm hoping that things will go back to normal with this breeding. I'm hoping to produce some does that I can use to breed back to these LOV bucks. Whatever comes of these breedings will be their harem. Bucks would have to be something else to remain in the herd. I'm looking for does.
I plan to go back to my normal breedings next time, just as if these new bucks had never arrived. I want to breed Evita to her father/grandfather Rio. I'll be looking for a daughter to breed back one last time. I'm dying to get babies from Padme and Padawan. The one I have from last time is gorgeous and huge, but I'm guessing that means it is a false dwarf. We'll see. I think I'd also like to try Padawan with his grandmother May. I really want to see some babies from Rizzo and MLK. I had an adorable Rio x Roxie pre-junior that died this summer. I hope to repeat that breeding and get one to keep this time. And of course, I want some Belle babies that survive.
I guess I've set myself up to have to have a lot of patience, haven't I? It will be months before any LOV daughters are old enough to breed. I've delayed my regular breeding plans by up to three months, too. But I'm hoping that the payoff will come down the line when I feel I'm ready for new genes and I've got a second line already started and ready to blend into my main line. That is, if all goes well.
Laurie ¶ 11:09 AM 2 comments links to this post
Monday, November 12, 2007
Things Can Go Very Wrong
A successful rabbit show takes effort on the parts of every single person involved. It takes a club that has planned well and executes its part on time. It takes exhibitors who send in accurate entries and only make ear number changes that are necessary. It takes folks to get their rabbits on the table on time (and take them off in a timely manner, too) and it takes judges to use all of their skill to judge well and keep things moving along.
But things can go very wrong if one or more parties fails to do their part. Let's say that a judge is dropped off at the hotel with no way to get dinner and is picked up before breakfast. Who can blame a judge for being a little more grumpy than usual? Then exhibitors drop in whole new entries on the show secretary who has also made some mistakes in the paperwork. Now the show starts late and the judge is still hungry.
Paperwork is messed up and exhibitors aren't coming to the table. Or there are too many rabbits on the table. Now things slow down further. The judge is encouraged to speed up to make up for the lost time and misses DQs. Now exhibitors are angry. Folks leave without scratching their entries, causing more delays.
Things can go very wrong, very quickly.
And it's no one's fault in particular, but rather a group effort. Perhaps the person who picked up the judge at the airport was only asked to do that. Perhaps the judge should have put Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast in the bid, leaving nothing to the imagination. May the errors the show secretary made were because of confusing entries or simple miscommunication.
Exhibitors show up with cash in hand and expect to be treated as a paying customer. But judges are well aware that their pay for the day is very minimal. Even though it costs a lot to bring in a judge, most of that money goes to food, hotel, and transportation. Even if the judge is handed a nice pile of cash, a lot of that goes into the gas tank and for food while on the road.
The solution is for all of us to be mindful of the part we play in making a show a good show. When we see things are backed up, let's jump in and lend hand. When tempers flare, we can be the voice of reason. We can try to make an accurate entry, be on time, and listen for our class to be called. We can all do a lot to make a rabbit show go very smoothly indeed. All it takes is a little forethought and a little effort.
Laurie
¶ 11:30 AM 0 comments links to this post
But things can go very wrong if one or more parties fails to do their part. Let's say that a judge is dropped off at the hotel with no way to get dinner and is picked up before breakfast. Who can blame a judge for being a little more grumpy than usual? Then exhibitors drop in whole new entries on the show secretary who has also made some mistakes in the paperwork. Now the show starts late and the judge is still hungry.
Paperwork is messed up and exhibitors aren't coming to the table. Or there are too many rabbits on the table. Now things slow down further. The judge is encouraged to speed up to make up for the lost time and misses DQs. Now exhibitors are angry. Folks leave without scratching their entries, causing more delays.
Things can go very wrong, very quickly.
And it's no one's fault in particular, but rather a group effort. Perhaps the person who picked up the judge at the airport was only asked to do that. Perhaps the judge should have put Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast in the bid, leaving nothing to the imagination. May the errors the show secretary made were because of confusing entries or simple miscommunication.
Exhibitors show up with cash in hand and expect to be treated as a paying customer. But judges are well aware that their pay for the day is very minimal. Even though it costs a lot to bring in a judge, most of that money goes to food, hotel, and transportation. Even if the judge is handed a nice pile of cash, a lot of that goes into the gas tank and for food while on the road.
The solution is for all of us to be mindful of the part we play in making a show a good show. When we see things are backed up, let's jump in and lend hand. When tempers flare, we can be the voice of reason. We can try to make an accurate entry, be on time, and listen for our class to be called. We can all do a lot to make a rabbit show go very smoothly indeed. All it takes is a little forethought and a little effort.
Laurie
¶ 11:30 AM 0 comments links to this post
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Taylorsville, NC, Show, November 10, 2007
On the 12th day of my horrible cold, I had no business getting up early and going to Taylorsville for a show, but that's exactly what I did. I'll probably regret it tomorrow. Well, maybe not.
I entered the four senior classes. In the first show, under Roger Bustle, Padawan was BOG, Evita was BOS, and Lex was BOB. I was extremely happy to grand Evita so that I can get her bred in the very next round.
Congratulations to Alison Fulbright who was BOSG and also granded her doe.
In the second show, under Helen Brose, I took just one class and came in second for the other three. Talk about near misses. That's okay because that one that took his class was also BOB and BIS! It was Lex again.
Congratulations to Janice Jones who was BOG and to Malena Hamilton who was BOS and I believe also granded her doe. It was a great day for the girls.
Laurie ¶ 11:26 PM 0 comments links to this post
I entered the four senior classes. In the first show, under Roger Bustle, Padawan was BOG, Evita was BOS, and Lex was BOB. I was extremely happy to grand Evita so that I can get her bred in the very next round.
Congratulations to Alison Fulbright who was BOSG and also granded her doe.
In the second show, under Helen Brose, I took just one class and came in second for the other three. Talk about near misses. That's okay because that one that took his class was also BOB and BIS! It was Lex again.
Congratulations to Janice Jones who was BOG and to Malena Hamilton who was BOS and I believe also granded her doe. It was a great day for the girls.
Laurie ¶ 11:26 PM 0 comments links to this post
Friday, November 09, 2007
Warm In The Nest Box
I have nine does due tomorrow. Since I have just one kit in the barn, you can bet that I am very excited about the possibility of new babies.
A number of breeders have been reporting poor nest box outcomes. My last breedings yielded just the one live baby and two dead ones. Everybunny else missed. (Belle was not my breeding - and I lost her baby on the wire - what a heartbreaker.) I'm hoping that things are looking up. You never know what Mother Nature has in mind.
Now that the weather is getting colder, I have not only nature's fickleness in nestbox production to contend with, but also the cold.
It's time to start putting paper in the bottom of my wire-bottomed nest boxes or to put hay under them. With the hay under, even if a dam gets too enthusiastic about digging down, I know that the bottom will be kept warm and drafts will be kept out since she can't dig beyond the wire. I also like the paper bottom. Few does dig it out, though I've had a few who seemed to be offended by it.
I also have two nest box warmers. I need to decide which litters I value the most and get those under the boxes. Once babies are born, I may switch them warmers to small litters or to does with poor milk. The warmers seem to increase her time in the nest box and improve the quantity of milk from the extra nursing.
I always regret it when I don't use the nest box warmers in cold weather. If I lose kits to the cold, it's like losing at "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" when you didn't use any of your lifelines.
If I need to raise any babies on the shelf, I will cover their nest boxes with hardware cloth when they are away from mom. I keep mine in the house. We keep our house much too cool for newborn kits. Most houses are, no matter how comfortable the temperature is to you. If the babies get hungry a half hour before you return to take them to mom, you could find them out of the box, off the shelf, and in the floor - dead or dying.
Babies in cold weather require a lot more checking than August babies. Being dragged even to the front of the nest box could mean death. Poor nest builders have to be checked on. Sometimes they can be very stubborn about wanting to take nest material out of the box.
I also being in borrowing from the rich and giving to the poor when it comes to fur pulling. Often the good pullers will replace what you take anyway. And the borrowed fur can make a big difference to another nest.
I've successfully raised babies in the barn even during the coldest part of winter, so I know it can be done. Of course, the dams do most of the work! But a little extra dilligence on my part can increase the number of bunnies who graduate the nest box. And that's what I want to see.
Laurie ¶ 10:39 AM 0 comments links to this post
A number of breeders have been reporting poor nest box outcomes. My last breedings yielded just the one live baby and two dead ones. Everybunny else missed. (Belle was not my breeding - and I lost her baby on the wire - what a heartbreaker.) I'm hoping that things are looking up. You never know what Mother Nature has in mind.
Now that the weather is getting colder, I have not only nature's fickleness in nestbox production to contend with, but also the cold.
It's time to start putting paper in the bottom of my wire-bottomed nest boxes or to put hay under them. With the hay under, even if a dam gets too enthusiastic about digging down, I know that the bottom will be kept warm and drafts will be kept out since she can't dig beyond the wire. I also like the paper bottom. Few does dig it out, though I've had a few who seemed to be offended by it.
I also have two nest box warmers. I need to decide which litters I value the most and get those under the boxes. Once babies are born, I may switch them warmers to small litters or to does with poor milk. The warmers seem to increase her time in the nest box and improve the quantity of milk from the extra nursing.
I always regret it when I don't use the nest box warmers in cold weather. If I lose kits to the cold, it's like losing at "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" when you didn't use any of your lifelines.
If I need to raise any babies on the shelf, I will cover their nest boxes with hardware cloth when they are away from mom. I keep mine in the house. We keep our house much too cool for newborn kits. Most houses are, no matter how comfortable the temperature is to you. If the babies get hungry a half hour before you return to take them to mom, you could find them out of the box, off the shelf, and in the floor - dead or dying.
Babies in cold weather require a lot more checking than August babies. Being dragged even to the front of the nest box could mean death. Poor nest builders have to be checked on. Sometimes they can be very stubborn about wanting to take nest material out of the box.
I also being in borrowing from the rich and giving to the poor when it comes to fur pulling. Often the good pullers will replace what you take anyway. And the borrowed fur can make a big difference to another nest.
I've successfully raised babies in the barn even during the coldest part of winter, so I know it can be done. Of course, the dams do most of the work! But a little extra dilligence on my part can increase the number of bunnies who graduate the nest box. And that's what I want to see.
Laurie ¶ 10:39 AM 0 comments links to this post
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Speed Judging
I think it's great if a judge has an organized mind, knows what he or she is looking for, and stays on task for the most part, taking breaks only between breeds and not just very few minutes to chat instead of judge. But I'm seeing a trend of speed judging that troubles me. Yes, I know that time is important. It is a problem if a show isn't over until 9:30 p.m. or 3:30 a.m., in the case of night shows. But is speed judging the answer?
I think that speed judging is a problem because too many big DQs are missed (I'm not for digging for every possible judgment call), and too many nice rabbits get passed over. Consistently suffers tremendously. Sure, the winner is usually pretty nice and should be proud of the placement, but what about very nice rabbits that are skipped altogether? I think that's a problem.
In my opinion, speed judging takes place because exhibitors complain about needing to go home. That causes clubs to hire speed judges. That causes judges to hone their speed skills - maybe over other skills that I - and probably you - would value more.
So it really does start with exhibitors. We started it, we can change it.
So what can we do about it? First, we can be ready to go to the table. We can get our judged rabbits off of the table. If you have more than one breed, please secure someone to help you. Judges often complain that they can't get rabbits to the table all day long and then are criticized for being slow. Let's give the judges more time to judge by eliminating most of the down time in between.
Second, if we really need to get home early, then we should consider only entering the A show. Or, pick a time that you need to leave and scratch your remaining entries and leave peaceably.
Third, and I'm really guilty here, make sure your tattoos are legible so the judging doesn't come to a halt every few seconds. I hate tattooing, so it will take a lot of effort on my part to improve in this area. But I'll try.
I'm sure there are people who just want their rabbits judged, quickly if not accurately . In breeds where there is a dominant breeder or single breeder who is going to win anyway, they may not care which they pick as long as they pick one so they can go home. But for the sake of breeds with lots of competition and where the differences can be subtle, we need to slow down a bit. It takes more time to sort through 23 solid senior bucks or to measure English Lop ears or to run certain breeds.
I'd love to see us all work together to give the judges the time they need to make the fine distinctions and really put the rabbits in their best order. I'd like to see time as only one consideration in a rabbit show and not THE consideration. I think that by making time the most important issue, we do ourselves a disservice and we cheat deserving bunnies of their due credit.
Laurie ¶ 11:39 AM 0 comments links to this post
I think that speed judging is a problem because too many big DQs are missed (I'm not for digging for every possible judgment call), and too many nice rabbits get passed over. Consistently suffers tremendously. Sure, the winner is usually pretty nice and should be proud of the placement, but what about very nice rabbits that are skipped altogether? I think that's a problem.
In my opinion, speed judging takes place because exhibitors complain about needing to go home. That causes clubs to hire speed judges. That causes judges to hone their speed skills - maybe over other skills that I - and probably you - would value more.
So it really does start with exhibitors. We started it, we can change it.
So what can we do about it? First, we can be ready to go to the table. We can get our judged rabbits off of the table. If you have more than one breed, please secure someone to help you. Judges often complain that they can't get rabbits to the table all day long and then are criticized for being slow. Let's give the judges more time to judge by eliminating most of the down time in between.
Second, if we really need to get home early, then we should consider only entering the A show. Or, pick a time that you need to leave and scratch your remaining entries and leave peaceably.
Third, and I'm really guilty here, make sure your tattoos are legible so the judging doesn't come to a halt every few seconds. I hate tattooing, so it will take a lot of effort on my part to improve in this area. But I'll try.
I'm sure there are people who just want their rabbits judged, quickly if not accurately . In breeds where there is a dominant breeder or single breeder who is going to win anyway, they may not care which they pick as long as they pick one so they can go home. But for the sake of breeds with lots of competition and where the differences can be subtle, we need to slow down a bit. It takes more time to sort through 23 solid senior bucks or to measure English Lop ears or to run certain breeds.
I'd love to see us all work together to give the judges the time they need to make the fine distinctions and really put the rabbits in their best order. I'd like to see time as only one consideration in a rabbit show and not THE consideration. I think that by making time the most important issue, we do ourselves a disservice and we cheat deserving bunnies of their due credit.
Laurie ¶ 11:39 AM 0 comments links to this post
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Living In A Carrier
I really do hate for rabbits to have to be in carriers for a long period of time. It doesn't bother me so much for a weekend, even a long one, because I know they will come out to be groomed and to be judged two or three or even four times. But having them living in a carrier for a week or more really bothers me.
So, I asked a rabbit savvy veterinarian about that this week. Her response was that it was okay as long as the carrier is big enough for the rabbit to be able to consume cecotrophes (night poops). See, I was thinking about this all wrong. I was worried about the exercise point of view and forgetting about the most important concern.
So when you are sizing carriers, keep the rabbits' nutritional needs in mind. Also, if you are treating a rabbit for a spinal problem or broken bone, consider their need for cecotrophes even as they are being immobillized for their own good.
I'm also a bit concerned that the carriers I have are too short for my rabbits. When I first got started in rabbits, I assumed that the carriers were made to some industry standard or some legal minimums. I trusted that they were tall enough. I later found out that the model I bought was based on the request of a particular breeder based on what fit neatly into their bunny van!
I have learned that by placing the feed dish in one corner and the water in the other, that I provide my rabbit with the diagonal - the longest point in their compartment - for stretching out.
And I do love a built-in hay rack. I'm a big hay feeder anyway, but especially rely on it during travel.
I prefer puppy pads in my carrier trays. I don't care for the strong smell of shavings. I also can't handle the extra weight. And empty trays smell too much. I know they cost a bit more, but to me, a pack of extra large puppy pads every now and then is a small price to pay for a lighter, better smelling carrier in the car. I do change them for long weekends, but leave them in for one- or two-night trips.
The one problem with puppy pads is that you have to be careful to get them tucked in or a bored rabbit will pull the whole thing into their compartment from just one tiny, tiny corner. I've had it happen more than once!
So, I'll worry less about all of those rabbits that spend a week at Convention in a motel room - assuming the carriers are of the larger sizes. I'll buy taller carriers next time I buy some. I want some that fit into those big wheel garden carts anyway. I'll continue to try to outwit the rabbits by tucking those puppy pads. And continue enjoying my wonderful, portable hobby!
Laurie ¶ 11:16 AM 0 comments links to this post
So, I asked a rabbit savvy veterinarian about that this week. Her response was that it was okay as long as the carrier is big enough for the rabbit to be able to consume cecotrophes (night poops). See, I was thinking about this all wrong. I was worried about the exercise point of view and forgetting about the most important concern.
So when you are sizing carriers, keep the rabbits' nutritional needs in mind. Also, if you are treating a rabbit for a spinal problem or broken bone, consider their need for cecotrophes even as they are being immobillized for their own good.
I'm also a bit concerned that the carriers I have are too short for my rabbits. When I first got started in rabbits, I assumed that the carriers were made to some industry standard or some legal minimums. I trusted that they were tall enough. I later found out that the model I bought was based on the request of a particular breeder based on what fit neatly into their bunny van!
I have learned that by placing the feed dish in one corner and the water in the other, that I provide my rabbit with the diagonal - the longest point in their compartment - for stretching out.
And I do love a built-in hay rack. I'm a big hay feeder anyway, but especially rely on it during travel.
I prefer puppy pads in my carrier trays. I don't care for the strong smell of shavings. I also can't handle the extra weight. And empty trays smell too much. I know they cost a bit more, but to me, a pack of extra large puppy pads every now and then is a small price to pay for a lighter, better smelling carrier in the car. I do change them for long weekends, but leave them in for one- or two-night trips.
The one problem with puppy pads is that you have to be careful to get them tucked in or a bored rabbit will pull the whole thing into their compartment from just one tiny, tiny corner. I've had it happen more than once!
So, I'll worry less about all of those rabbits that spend a week at Convention in a motel room - assuming the carriers are of the larger sizes. I'll buy taller carriers next time I buy some. I want some that fit into those big wheel garden carts anyway. I'll continue to try to outwit the rabbits by tucking those puppy pads. And continue enjoying my wonderful, portable hobby!
Laurie ¶ 11:16 AM 0 comments links to this post
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
The Numbers Game
The father of a prominent youth breeder once told me that in Hollands, it all comes down to a numbers game. How many kits you can produce and how many you can put on the table will be the difference in your success.
I wasn't sure that I agreed with that. After all, there are some very small rabbitries that do very well. But after I thought about it a while, the small ones that I know of that do well either have operated a long time or were large at one time.
Maybe he was right.
When I breed ten does, I expect 20 live kits. Of those live kits, 1/3 of them will be false dwarfs. So I'll have 13 or 14 rabbits that even possibly could be show quality. My rate of keepers has improved, but still just one or maybe two good ones in every ten kits you produce is a reasonable expectation. Another one or two might make nice breeding stock, too, but I'm talking about producing competitive animals in this case. The rest may have nice parts or be useful in other ways.
So if I keep 16 working does in my barn, I may be breeding ten of them in any given month (considering that some each month are nursing or getting back into shape to breed). And I'm producing just one or two really nice rabbits per month.
Compare that to a barn that has 48 or more producing does in the barn. They can produce three times the number of nice rabbits, perhaps 6 per month.
None of this takes into consideration, of course, the quality of the starting herd or the breeder's expertise and downright luck. As they say in car commercials, your actual results may vary.
So now we come to the show table. Each exhibitor has some seniors that they've collected over time. Luckily in our breed we have long shelf life. But the smaller barn puts up one junior they are really excited about and the larger barn puts up six really nice ones. Judges being human just miss a certain percentages of good rabbits over time. Who has the best chance of winning?
Maybe that father was right, it comes down to a numbers game.
But on the other hand, the Best of Breed at Convention has come from a very small rabbitry where he was the only entry. Can quality make up for quantity?
I have to believe so. I have to believe that it's not just sheer numbers that determines who wins. I've had 178 rabbits in my barn and I've had 28 (actually, I have 27 plus a kit right now). The smaller number really suits my lifestyle better. I don't want to be a slave to my barn. I have a lot of life outside of bunnies and a lot of life inside bunnies that doesn't involve my barn.
I'm not a patient person, so I'm glad I went through a high number time. That let me produce more keepers in a shorter amount of time. That helped me sort out what I wanted my line to be like. I hope that I've collected up all of the cream of that period of time and can now work with a smaller number and have success. I know I won't like just having one or two nice rabbits per month. I'm used to having a larger show string. But I'll have to be satisfied with it. And I have to believe that bigger isn't always better. Sometimes the little guy can win, too.
Laurie ¶ 10:15 AM 0 comments links to this post
I wasn't sure that I agreed with that. After all, there are some very small rabbitries that do very well. But after I thought about it a while, the small ones that I know of that do well either have operated a long time or were large at one time.
Maybe he was right.
When I breed ten does, I expect 20 live kits. Of those live kits, 1/3 of them will be false dwarfs. So I'll have 13 or 14 rabbits that even possibly could be show quality. My rate of keepers has improved, but still just one or maybe two good ones in every ten kits you produce is a reasonable expectation. Another one or two might make nice breeding stock, too, but I'm talking about producing competitive animals in this case. The rest may have nice parts or be useful in other ways.
So if I keep 16 working does in my barn, I may be breeding ten of them in any given month (considering that some each month are nursing or getting back into shape to breed). And I'm producing just one or two really nice rabbits per month.
Compare that to a barn that has 48 or more producing does in the barn. They can produce three times the number of nice rabbits, perhaps 6 per month.
None of this takes into consideration, of course, the quality of the starting herd or the breeder's expertise and downright luck. As they say in car commercials, your actual results may vary.
So now we come to the show table. Each exhibitor has some seniors that they've collected over time. Luckily in our breed we have long shelf life. But the smaller barn puts up one junior they are really excited about and the larger barn puts up six really nice ones. Judges being human just miss a certain percentages of good rabbits over time. Who has the best chance of winning?
Maybe that father was right, it comes down to a numbers game.
But on the other hand, the Best of Breed at Convention has come from a very small rabbitry where he was the only entry. Can quality make up for quantity?
I have to believe so. I have to believe that it's not just sheer numbers that determines who wins. I've had 178 rabbits in my barn and I've had 28 (actually, I have 27 plus a kit right now). The smaller number really suits my lifestyle better. I don't want to be a slave to my barn. I have a lot of life outside of bunnies and a lot of life inside bunnies that doesn't involve my barn.
I'm not a patient person, so I'm glad I went through a high number time. That let me produce more keepers in a shorter amount of time. That helped me sort out what I wanted my line to be like. I hope that I've collected up all of the cream of that period of time and can now work with a smaller number and have success. I know I won't like just having one or two nice rabbits per month. I'm used to having a larger show string. But I'll have to be satisfied with it. And I have to believe that bigger isn't always better. Sometimes the little guy can win, too.
Laurie ¶ 10:15 AM 0 comments links to this post
Monday, November 05, 2007
Volunteer For Convention
I've always thought that only people who lived right around Convention were the ones who put on the show. But really, there are lots of jobs that go on during Convention that can be handled by folks who travel to Convention from far away. You don't have to attend months of meetings to help out at Convention.
For example, the host clubs could use volunteers to handle the feed and shavings. Someone needs to make sure that there's a big of each type of feed at each feed station all of the time. If you've got a strong back and a few hours you can squeeze out of your Convention experience, then please volunteer. Concerned about security? Volunteer to take a shift helping out. Live close by? Your plane not leaving until late Thursday or Friday? Volunteer to help with checkout.
The Kentucky State RBA, our host for 2008, is currently developing a list of volunteers that will be needed to cover all of the various activities. The list of things they must do to put on the show is overwhelming for any group. But the rule of thumb that many hands make light work definitely applies here.
Go to http://www.arbaconventions.com/ and click on "contact us." Let them know you will volunteer and give them an idea of what your skills, experience, and/or interest is. For example, I have a weak back, so don't assign me to feed!
I think that most people who have worked on a Nationals or Convention remember their time fondly, meeting new people, developing new relationships, and enjoying the team spirit of working together. Volunteer and see if you don't receive even more than you give!
Laurie ¶ 9:25 AM 0 comments links to this post
For example, the host clubs could use volunteers to handle the feed and shavings. Someone needs to make sure that there's a big of each type of feed at each feed station all of the time. If you've got a strong back and a few hours you can squeeze out of your Convention experience, then please volunteer. Concerned about security? Volunteer to take a shift helping out. Live close by? Your plane not leaving until late Thursday or Friday? Volunteer to help with checkout.
The Kentucky State RBA, our host for 2008, is currently developing a list of volunteers that will be needed to cover all of the various activities. The list of things they must do to put on the show is overwhelming for any group. But the rule of thumb that many hands make light work definitely applies here.
Go to http://www.arbaconventions.com/ and click on "contact us." Let them know you will volunteer and give them an idea of what your skills, experience, and/or interest is. For example, I have a weak back, so don't assign me to feed!
I think that most people who have worked on a Nationals or Convention remember their time fondly, meeting new people, developing new relationships, and enjoying the team spirit of working together. Volunteer and see if you don't receive even more than you give!
Laurie ¶ 9:25 AM 0 comments links to this post
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Elizabethtown, KY, Show
I know, going to Elizabethtown, KY, was absolutely crazy. With a couple of driving errors, it took us nine hours to get there and eight hours to get back. And we were at the showroom for fourteen hours yesterday.
I'm exhausted. I believe that's my record for longest show. I guess it averages out with that quickest show ever I had back a couple of months.
But I'm glad I went. I don't get to see that group of exhibitors very often. It was a lot of fun. It was great to have different judges and different competition. Especially since I got to see my local friends last week and will see them again next weekend.
There were unexpected, record-breaking entries at the show yesterday. So, I spent the first half of the first show assisting in making ear number changes and adding day of show entries. They had a pile of changes/additions six inches thick!
They also had a judge cancellation. They were able to get a substitute, but if they hadn't had the cancellation, they could have had an extra judge instead. Too bad.
By 3:30, we hadn't started show B for Hollands. And we still had a specialty show to go! I knew then that I wouldn't be making it home around midnight, as I had a couple of years before. By the middle of the specialty show, I called Andrew and asked him to make an internet reservation at the same place we'd stayed the night before. We weren't going anywhere that night.
The coop of Dedrick/Grasso pretty much owned the day. Congratuations ladies. They racked up two best of breeds and three best opposite sexes. We split the specials evenly, but they got most of the better ones!
In the first show under George Raisor, Java was 3rd out of 23 solid senior bucks. Evita, a sable point doe that is a Rio daughter and granddaughter, was BOSG for solids while Crazy Horse for BOSG for brokens.
The second show, under Randy Waggoner, was my best show. Lord was 1st place solid senior buck, barely beating out his son Padawan, who was second (and I think it was MLK who was fifth). Lord was BOG for solids. Evita was BOSG again. Lex, my broken Java son, was BOB. He's in really nice shape right now. I'm sure he won on body and fur.
In the specialty show under Carla Wilson, only Myrrdin did well. He was BOG for brokens, barely beating out Crazy Horse. Carla went back and forth between them several times. Evita was down in the class and didn't place. Drats.
The Nature Trail's Megan was BOS in youth for her new owners. I hope she does very well for them.
All of us - judges, exhibitors, and rabbits - were exhausted by the end of the day. I think that everyone did a great job of keeping a good attitude about things. Thankfully Carla was still able to joke and keep things light, even as we passed 9:00 p.m.
Anna and I pulled out of the parking lot at 9:44 p.m. last night, headed for a late supper and another night at Motel 6.
Laurie
¶ 4:53 PM 0 comments links to this post
I'm exhausted. I believe that's my record for longest show. I guess it averages out with that quickest show ever I had back a couple of months.
But I'm glad I went. I don't get to see that group of exhibitors very often. It was a lot of fun. It was great to have different judges and different competition. Especially since I got to see my local friends last week and will see them again next weekend.
There were unexpected, record-breaking entries at the show yesterday. So, I spent the first half of the first show assisting in making ear number changes and adding day of show entries. They had a pile of changes/additions six inches thick!
They also had a judge cancellation. They were able to get a substitute, but if they hadn't had the cancellation, they could have had an extra judge instead. Too bad.
By 3:30, we hadn't started show B for Hollands. And we still had a specialty show to go! I knew then that I wouldn't be making it home around midnight, as I had a couple of years before. By the middle of the specialty show, I called Andrew and asked him to make an internet reservation at the same place we'd stayed the night before. We weren't going anywhere that night.
The coop of Dedrick/Grasso pretty much owned the day. Congratuations ladies. They racked up two best of breeds and three best opposite sexes. We split the specials evenly, but they got most of the better ones!
In the first show under George Raisor, Java was 3rd out of 23 solid senior bucks. Evita, a sable point doe that is a Rio daughter and granddaughter, was BOSG for solids while Crazy Horse for BOSG for brokens.
The second show, under Randy Waggoner, was my best show. Lord was 1st place solid senior buck, barely beating out his son Padawan, who was second (and I think it was MLK who was fifth). Lord was BOG for solids. Evita was BOSG again. Lex, my broken Java son, was BOB. He's in really nice shape right now. I'm sure he won on body and fur.
In the specialty show under Carla Wilson, only Myrrdin did well. He was BOG for brokens, barely beating out Crazy Horse. Carla went back and forth between them several times. Evita was down in the class and didn't place. Drats.
The Nature Trail's Megan was BOS in youth for her new owners. I hope she does very well for them.
All of us - judges, exhibitors, and rabbits - were exhausted by the end of the day. I think that everyone did a great job of keeping a good attitude about things. Thankfully Carla was still able to joke and keep things light, even as we passed 9:00 p.m.
Anna and I pulled out of the parking lot at 9:44 p.m. last night, headed for a late supper and another night at Motel 6.
Laurie
¶ 4:53 PM 0 comments links to this post
Thursday, November 01, 2007
November - Already?
I simply cannot believe it is November already, but from the trail of candy wrappers around my house, I have to face the fact that yesterday was indeed the last day of October.
Cooler weather is finally permanently here, I believe, and it's time to think seriously about winter. Don't put it off. In a few weeks, it will be Thanksgiving and then all will be a blurr until New Year's Day.
I lost Belle's baby yesterday. I found it on the wire. I wonder whether Padme had quit feeding it as her own kit was four times the size and eating from the feeder extremely well. Or maybe it spent the night on the wire and neither bigger bunny helped keep it warm. I fear that it may have been injured with all of the activity of the bigger baby. I'll never know. But it reminds me that days are coming when just a very few minutes on the wire will spell death for newborns.
Speaking of Padme's kit, it is the cutest thing I've seen in a long, long time. Those are the types that will just break your heart when their ears grow to their knees or they end up to be 4 1/2 lb. bruisers. But for now, I'm enjoying watch it enjoy life. It's so full of spunk!
This is the time of the year that we cover our hardware cloth and mesh windows with clear plastic. The eaves are still open as are the small ridge vent and turbine vent in the roof. Please remember that ventilation is still important, even as you are trying to close off drafts.
It's also time to shovel the barn and pressure wash cages. Those jobs can be brutal in February. I'll be sanitizing the water lines again and getting ready to turn on the heat tapes soon. They are controlled by a thermostat, but I keep the whole system switched off during the warm months. I love having no frozen water in the winter.
Winter is the time for great fur and good appetites. After the dreadful summer I had, it is so delightful to see the rabbits excited again to be fed. If you use hotter supplements during the winter, it's probably just about time to add those, if you haven't already.
Don't forget to prepare yourself for winter showing as well. Pack your car with blankets when you travel to wintry shows in case of traffic problems or car trouble.
Make sure your barn boots are serviceable for another year.
I think there can be a temptation to spend less time in the barn when the weather is severe. Enjoy the relatively moderate weather we have at this time of the year. Play with your babies and spend as much time handling your rabbits as possible. The day is coming when you will want to dash out and feed and get back into the warmth as soon as possible.
Laurie
¶ 10:56 AM 0 comments links to this post
Cooler weather is finally permanently here, I believe, and it's time to think seriously about winter. Don't put it off. In a few weeks, it will be Thanksgiving and then all will be a blurr until New Year's Day.
I lost Belle's baby yesterday. I found it on the wire. I wonder whether Padme had quit feeding it as her own kit was four times the size and eating from the feeder extremely well. Or maybe it spent the night on the wire and neither bigger bunny helped keep it warm. I fear that it may have been injured with all of the activity of the bigger baby. I'll never know. But it reminds me that days are coming when just a very few minutes on the wire will spell death for newborns.
Speaking of Padme's kit, it is the cutest thing I've seen in a long, long time. Those are the types that will just break your heart when their ears grow to their knees or they end up to be 4 1/2 lb. bruisers. But for now, I'm enjoying watch it enjoy life. It's so full of spunk!
This is the time of the year that we cover our hardware cloth and mesh windows with clear plastic. The eaves are still open as are the small ridge vent and turbine vent in the roof. Please remember that ventilation is still important, even as you are trying to close off drafts.
It's also time to shovel the barn and pressure wash cages. Those jobs can be brutal in February. I'll be sanitizing the water lines again and getting ready to turn on the heat tapes soon. They are controlled by a thermostat, but I keep the whole system switched off during the warm months. I love having no frozen water in the winter.
Winter is the time for great fur and good appetites. After the dreadful summer I had, it is so delightful to see the rabbits excited again to be fed. If you use hotter supplements during the winter, it's probably just about time to add those, if you haven't already.
Don't forget to prepare yourself for winter showing as well. Pack your car with blankets when you travel to wintry shows in case of traffic problems or car trouble.
Make sure your barn boots are serviceable for another year.
I think there can be a temptation to spend less time in the barn when the weather is severe. Enjoy the relatively moderate weather we have at this time of the year. Play with your babies and spend as much time handling your rabbits as possible. The day is coming when you will want to dash out and feed and get back into the warmth as soon as possible.
Laurie
¶ 10:56 AM 0 comments links to this post
