Winding down

After some unfortunate events this last week, I'm thankful for this post that I am winding down in the rabbit hobby. I decided that I will jump back in when the time is right. I have 15 rabbits left, 4 of these are sold, 2 are retired pets. This leaves 9 rabbits, and 6 of those are for sale currently.

I do have a few babies & juniors on the ground, and depending on how they turn out in the next few months we might keep one or two. I could never get completely out of rabbits, but under 10 is reasonable.

School is cranking out. This week is dead week, I have a lab final and two finals next week. Next Thursday I will be DONE! I'm probably going to wind up with a B in one of my graduate courses, but no complaints -- it was worth it. I am taking 2 classes in addition to my research credits to remain full time to stay working and in my clubs. Spring break I will begin to plan my summer and get things straightened out for graduation (June 16th!). It's just so hard to believe it's almost already spring break. ^.^

Rough times

The Silver Martens left. The 4 does, Jack Daniels and 3 Junior Blues. All that is left are Pendleton & her daughter (sold) and Bacardi, who is for sale for WCC! My aunt kept the runt Black from Sin and Atlas. So we'll still have one around.

Baby status: We're going through them next weekend. Don't expect to keep much.

Selling some cages, so I can "officially" downsize. If I don't have the open holes, I don't breed and therefore can't increase my numbers.

Right now I think we're sitting on 17 with about 5 sold and 2 pets. :/

School is rough. Calving season is almost over with. 6 to go! and then life returns to a much happier state with more sleep! :)

More (and less) babies

Gouda has 4 babies by Zoolander.

The Silver Martens did kindle, were DOA though because of a mixup. (our fault). Feel horrible about it, though we are selling all of them so with no babies they can go sooner. :/

Do have some color in the boxes (lynx, lilac, chocolate), and Nell & Pickles's huge litters.

Next time I go home to pick up some ML's, I'll breed Rylee and Kirby.

Baby Update :)

Preston's Sin has 4 babies by Preston's Atlas

Milkhouse's Izzabella has 1 baby (fostered) by LHHR's Hank Tank

LHHR's Pickles has 10 babies (+1) by LHHR's Hank Tank

Velotta's Nell has 10 babies by LHHR's Hank Tank

LHHR's Guido has 5 babies by LHHR's Sergio

and a couple more to kindle, hopefully tonight :) -- but 30 babies in the box will certainly be fun to sift through! I see more Hank replacements are clearly evident.

Week 2 Disaster

Friday - Monday we got heavy snow. We're on the valley floor so this concept was alarming to the city. We didn't have school on Monday due to MLK, but Tuesday & Wednesday classes before 10am and after 5pm were cancelled. Wednesday it started raining and Thursday was simply wet, cold & very miserable. By Thursday afternoon many of our large rivers had flooded, closing many streets, evacuating many houses, and causing a lot of damage. School was cancelled on Friday.

Our basement flooded. We had ServPro come out and so far none is receeding back in, thankfully. It has continued to rain all of Friday and today, and tomorrow calls for heavy rains & wind as well. We still have power here on the west side of town.

Despite the crazy weather, Tuesday I have to make it out to the ranch to pick up about 30 heifers & cows for the calving season. They are set to start calving on Feb 1st, so we need them here on campus no later than Wed. A lack of sleep is in store for the next 4-6 weeks.

Not too many shows this year. Didn't get to CDA, won't make it to St. Helens. The first show I'll probably exhibit at might be Pear Blossom, as I doubt I can bring any other than sold animals to La Grande. Will be a light spring with my main focus on school and the activities here.

Other than that, I have no rabbits up here in Corvallis, thankfully. I do have a few does due here soon, I forget the dates but they should already have their boxes. I bred Gouda to Zoolander, Guido to Sergio, Nell to Hank, and I colony bred 2 or 3 Silver Martens, so I'm unsure of the results there. At any rate, I hope to have 3 nice Mini Lop litters though!! *crossing fingers*

So hopefully some baby updates in the next few days. :)

Welcome 2012!

Well since I hadn't posted in forever, I figured now would be a good time before I start school again.

Culled a bunch of rabbits, bred a bunch of does. Have some promising juniors for spring shows.

Website is completely updated. For Sale animals are likely available in March, or can be held for WCC. All of my colored Mini Lops are up for sale, as well as any senior. I am keeping just 3 Silver Martens, so any of my senior stock will be available.

I will be down to 10 by June 15th. So if there is an animal that has your attention, e-mail me about it now, so plans can be made.

In for the long run!

School!

Research started on November 11th, we're now at 23 calves, with a few more coming after the holiday. All has been well and just starting to work on my thesis. (what I can write for now).

Been doing the grad school search... so far there are 3 schools still in the running, with Michigan State, Kansas State & New Mexico State. Personal statement is being re-written & resume being edited.... then once I have that complete, I can get my Forms & Letters of Recommendation! yikes! I then have to send in Applications & GRE scores...

All seems like so much work, but I know by March or April I will be happy that this has been worth it. I'm currently in contact with NMSU that has a pretty good sounding project available!

Applied Reproduction is going well. AI'ing session was stressful (for many reasons, not related to school), but now that we're in Embryo Collection & Transfer, things have gone very well!

I have a midterm on Monday (I know, week NINE!), and two days of school. Then a break for a few days to pull it out for Dead & Finals week!

Wednesday when I get off work, I'll head north to pick up my carriers. And then leave and head all the way home (weather permitting) to spend the holiday with my family!!

I missed the Enumclaw show, and will be out of town for Monroe. I doubt I'll be able to head to Red Bluff, since getting additional hours at work is more important... I picked up 3 shifts today, so very excited about that :)

Not really sure where the rabbits sit at this point :/ I will definitely be letting go of some senior stock, just need to go through what I have and see what I can live without! I will be doing some breedings to keep these does active & working, probably just the Silver Martens for now. Though a ML might make the list.

We'll see. I'll know more on the 27th :)

A few Mini Lops for sale

I have 4 Mini Lops --possibly 5 for sale. Priced to sell!

One is a senior doe (Pickles) and a 2 or 3 junior bucks & a junior doe -- from the Milkhouse's Sneakin (brother to Smackin) and LHHR's Tomato (Twitch x Brianna) litter. Sneakin' is out of Harmon's Murphy, the BOS ARBA conv winner. The type was complementary and looks to have worked out well; the lineage is a complete outcross.

The litter of 4 was VERY consistent and look great, and where I tried to find one to cull -- I couldn't; so I retained them to try to place them in great show homes! Short, deep & wides with excellent heads coming! Due to their current transition period, they are a bit soft; but hopefully by the December shows they will be ready to hit the tables (~4.5 months).

The website & facebook has been updated with some photos; though better ones are to come.

They can be delivered to Enumclaw & Monroe (possible transport fee req'd), or to Red Bluff, CA. Also a trip to Ft Collins, Colorado is in order in December as well. Please e-mail me for any of these transport opportunities and/or about the juniors. :)

Busy!

I can't believe it's been over a month since I last blogged!

Simple answer, I've just been crazy busy!

RVRF show on 9/24. Nicole came down & she kicked butt. I gave her back Lincoln and she went home with Sergio and Kaylee. I received Nell, haven't decided who I will breed her to yet, but time will tell.

Bacardi won Best of Breed for his 3rd & granding leg! My first GC marten!

Also at that show, I came home with my Silver Marten Satin doe, CC.

Kennewick was on 10/15. The only bright things at the show were Sara & her family, Lisa & Diane to talk to. Talk about being glared at all around the show room, what a creepy feeling. Certainly other breeders must get lives! I met up with Maryann Preston and picked up my Martens. 4 does, 2 bucks. There are 4 GC's and the other 2 are registered. Very nice animals. I took them home on Thursday.

Dropped off my convention rabbits on Saturday morning; all 12 of them.

I will get back to breeding hopefully next week. Since their are a lack of shows soon, I will have to get these does into production! With feed now costing $19.50 a bag... there will certainly be some changes involved. Raising a meat breed is so much more promising than a fancy breed with prices this high.

Life!

Life is getting back to normal. I think going to work Sunday night really "snapped" that into me, as all of the new students were moving in on campus. It was a long night; our boss even had to help us out! LOTS of new students, as usual.

Work is going great! I got my schedule fixed finally so now I'm the happiest kid on the block. I have tomorrow off, to spend with the roomates. And then I work all day Wednesday, and head home on Thursday. I have a lot to get done at home, such as cleaning the barn and getting every single convention rabbit ready! This means cleaning ears, giving tattoos, cleaning vents, grooming, trimming nails & marking cages. At this point I don't know if either I or my mom will be dropping off the rabbits, but either way it needs to be clearly marked!

So that's Thursday & Friday ... Saturday I will be at a rabbit show :) I haven't attended the RVRF show (my HOME show) in 3 years because of college, but this year -- I'ma going. :) I entered Hank Williams, Hades' Houdini (just for comments, they are young!) and Bacardi. I'm just going to the show to hang out & chill!