I'm not even sure where last year went, but it's gone!
This year, in regards to rabbits I just hope to stay in. I'm down to 9 rabbits with a litter of 5.
I have three does bred:
Cucumber x Zachary on 12/28
Annihilator x Storm on 1/6
Michelle x Storm on 1/8
Hoping some babies will get things moving along.
First show probably won't be until March or our local show in April at best. Just isn't a great time for traveling to shows, plus there's a lack of them this time of year anyways.
Everyone is doing good, just really cold (we've had snow & freezing temps lately) and lots of work. So haven't had time to work with the rabbits or do anything fun.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Friday, November 30, 2012
Whoa!
It's so hard to believe my last post was in September!
Sept 29th was my local RVRF show, Zachary picked up 2 legs. October 21st was the TCRA show in Albany, OR. Zachary picked up another 2 legs to grand.
Convention rabbits left for their homes at that show as well. All made it to Kansas safely. All left safely except for LHHR's Ruger Gold Label, who passed away the morning of checkout. We now have 5 babies by Michelle out of him, so we were glad we were able to get her bred to him before he left.
Old Bat's litter, still deciding on which doe to keep. They're both very nice and only time will tell in which doe we'd like to keep for ourselves.
Culled a few rabbits last week, not sure how many lbs we put in the freezer, but with a "freeze" in sales, it was the right decision to keep feed costs down.
Trying to get a couple does bred this winter, tougher than it seems!
So... just down to the 10 rabbits and the litter. Been busy working and general life stuff!
Sept 29th was my local RVRF show, Zachary picked up 2 legs. October 21st was the TCRA show in Albany, OR. Zachary picked up another 2 legs to grand.
Convention rabbits left for their homes at that show as well. All made it to Kansas safely. All left safely except for LHHR's Ruger Gold Label, who passed away the morning of checkout. We now have 5 babies by Michelle out of him, so we were glad we were able to get her bred to him before he left.
Old Bat's litter, still deciding on which doe to keep. They're both very nice and only time will tell in which doe we'd like to keep for ourselves.
Culled a few rabbits last week, not sure how many lbs we put in the freezer, but with a "freeze" in sales, it was the right decision to keep feed costs down.
Trying to get a couple does bred this winter, tougher than it seems!
So... just down to the 10 rabbits and the litter. Been busy working and general life stuff!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
August led into September
July & August really flew by, not sure where the time went.
Carmelizer's litter is growing up. Guido has 2 does we're growing out. Bell Pepper's litter, we kept 2 of the 5 does (and know which one we will keep), and grew out the REW buck as well but we will probably part with him.
We're going to breed 2 does next month; Bell Pepper x Zachary & Michelle x Ruger Gold Label;
Convention sales went great, we are sending 6 pre-sold to Wichita, Kansas at the end of next month.
Labor day came & went. We skipped Crescent City show for the 2nd year in a row simply because we have nothing to show and no money. :( Our next and most likely last show of the year will be our local RVRF show in Grants Pass. Not sure what we will show yet.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
*RIP* Rylee
Friday, July 13, 2012
Babies!!!
I usually stray from summer litters, but a month ago when I bred these does the temperatures were cold and I wasn't thinking ahead... Thankfully the weather has been rather decent lately and we hope it will continue to be mild.
Yesterday, Bell Pepper continued her family tradition and gave us 10 kits, no issues, all live, two in which are REW's!
Today, Guido kindled to 4, 2 broken, 2 solid & nothing dilute :(
All we have left to kindle is Carmelizer, who is due on the 23rd.
Have picked through and sold a couple of the juniors from Kirby and Houdini. All that will be available is a SJB & a SJD from Kirby. These & the seniors we have left for sale is all we are likely to offer for Kansas.
Going to be cleaning the barn, bringing back in some cages on my days off. The barn got a little disorganized and it's our plan to fix it back the way it used to be. :)
Yesterday, Bell Pepper continued her family tradition and gave us 10 kits, no issues, all live, two in which are REW's!
Today, Guido kindled to 4, 2 broken, 2 solid & nothing dilute :(
All we have left to kindle is Carmelizer, who is due on the 23rd.
Have picked through and sold a couple of the juniors from Kirby and Houdini. All that will be available is a SJB & a SJD from Kirby. These & the seniors we have left for sale is all we are likely to offer for Kansas.
Going to be cleaning the barn, bringing back in some cages on my days off. The barn got a little disorganized and it's our plan to fix it back the way it used to be. :)
Friday, July 6, 2012
Rest in Peace Stitch
Stitch passed away yesterday after a long life that only gave me the best. Nicole sent him my way at 10 weeks old, and by that winter he was already winning the big shows, he even traveled to Grand Rapids, MI in 2007. He produced 11 litters, that produced 11 known Grand Champions (there are more that I lost track of). 8 of 13 my current herd rabbits descend out of him & 3 of my current litters & the 2 upcoming descend out of him as well. This weekend he has GG & GGGGG children due. On the 23rd the most direct/latest will be GGG children due to Carmelizer. He will never be forgotten ♥
Kokomo *GC; 1st Best in Show winner
Mr.
Miami *GC
Pacific Pride
Hades
Brianna
Tomato
Pickles
Bell
Pepper
Matthew
Hank
Tank *GC
Zach
Old
Bat
Houdini
Lela
*GC
x
Easy Summer
Dominic – 3rd SJB Mini
Lop Nationals
Nemo
Kirby
Last Minute – 7th SJD
Mini Lop Nationals
x
Maid Dignified
Theodore *GC
Money Maker
Titan *GC
Wall
E
Guido
Carmelizer (due 7/10)
Lyra
Impulse *GC
Remus *GC
Remington *GC
Envy *GC
Wyatt Earp
*GC
Zeke
+
several others that he studded out
Friday, June 29, 2012
Life
Life since Oregon State ...
I had my last final of my collegiate career. I graduated on Sunday the 17th with my bachelors in Animal Science. Moved home on Monday. Had family visiting the entire week.
Rabbits....
I picked up my black doe from Lisa & bkn opal buck from Sara on Wednesday. They were picked up at Washington State Convention and brought down to Corvallis.
I sorted through Kirby & Houdini's litter & found 4 to keep from each (for now). Im going to try to not look at them for a week, and go through them again.
Bell Pepper, Guido & Carmelizer are all bred. We might hold off breeding our last 2 does until September.
Have my Convention Sales list ready & posted. Can't believe it's already that time of year!
I had my last final of my collegiate career. I graduated on Sunday the 17th with my bachelors in Animal Science. Moved home on Monday. Had family visiting the entire week.
Rabbits....
I picked up my black doe from Lisa & bkn opal buck from Sara on Wednesday. They were picked up at Washington State Convention and brought down to Corvallis.
I sorted through Kirby & Houdini's litter & found 4 to keep from each (for now). Im going to try to not look at them for a week, and go through them again.
Bell Pepper, Guido & Carmelizer are all bred. We might hold off breeding our last 2 does until September.
Have my Convention Sales list ready & posted. Can't believe it's already that time of year!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Oregon State Convention!
60 is 40 more than 20, which is what Velotta's Twitch gained this weekend, his 60th leg. Nicole also picked up a Best in Show & Reserve in Show with her Twitch daughter, Cherie! (among many other wins). Congrats Nicole on all of your winnings!
I gained 2 legs on my Solid Jr Doe, whom I had named Zealia but became Tracy's Old Bat on Sunday. I originally had not entered her, but had a SJD scratched so thanks to Nicole for making me enter her!
Zachary was 1st in his class and received amazing comments from all judges. Natalie, placed as high as 3rd in the BJD classes but isn't as solid of a doe as I thought she was, so we are going to go with our original feeling and go ahead and sell her. She would make a great Breeding doe, or a pretty competitive show rabbit (in open), or a great Youth rabbit! Bell Pepper came as high as 2nd in her class on Sunday, but with her molt she just didn't have that icing on the cake.
Oh, other than winning.
I had a lot of FUN! I brought up some rabbits to look at since we all get "barn-blind" occasionally and I was right originally to keep Old Bat and part with Natalie. I was already getting Crush (Grizz x Danger) from Nicole, but when she looked at my Lilac GT Steel Doe she decided she wanted her :) I was going to keep her home, but I ended up bringing her because I just kept second guessing myself. But Nicole needed her more in her herd, than I needed her in mine. That's what's important, to recognize what you need to improve ;)
I ended up keeping Guido and breeding her to Remington. Remi's depth will balance out all of Guido's width, so I'm asking for a nicely typed dilute buck that carries chocolate. Wouldn't that be cool?!
Went out to dinner on Saturday, had a nice hotel to stay in that night. It seemed more pleasing than driving an hour back home to return the next morning. I chatted with breeders whom I hadn't seen in forever and met a few judges I only knew by name.
I got home pretty early on Sunday. Enough to go get hay and rabbit feed. I had 3 free bag coupons so I only paid $57 for 6 bags!!!
I bred Bell Pepper and Guido, Rylee is due on the 14th. Houdini's litter is 3 seals, 1 chin & 1 Blue chin.
I graduate on Sunday! Life sure gets interesting from here on out!
I gained 2 legs on my Solid Jr Doe, whom I had named Zealia but became Tracy's Old Bat on Sunday. I originally had not entered her, but had a SJD scratched so thanks to Nicole for making me enter her!
Zachary was 1st in his class and received amazing comments from all judges. Natalie, placed as high as 3rd in the BJD classes but isn't as solid of a doe as I thought she was, so we are going to go with our original feeling and go ahead and sell her. She would make a great Breeding doe, or a pretty competitive show rabbit (in open), or a great Youth rabbit! Bell Pepper came as high as 2nd in her class on Sunday, but with her molt she just didn't have that icing on the cake.
Oh, other than winning.
I had a lot of FUN! I brought up some rabbits to look at since we all get "barn-blind" occasionally and I was right originally to keep Old Bat and part with Natalie. I was already getting Crush (Grizz x Danger) from Nicole, but when she looked at my Lilac GT Steel Doe she decided she wanted her :) I was going to keep her home, but I ended up bringing her because I just kept second guessing myself. But Nicole needed her more in her herd, than I needed her in mine. That's what's important, to recognize what you need to improve ;)
I ended up keeping Guido and breeding her to Remington. Remi's depth will balance out all of Guido's width, so I'm asking for a nicely typed dilute buck that carries chocolate. Wouldn't that be cool?!
Went out to dinner on Saturday, had a nice hotel to stay in that night. It seemed more pleasing than driving an hour back home to return the next morning. I chatted with breeders whom I hadn't seen in forever and met a few judges I only knew by name.
I got home pretty early on Sunday. Enough to go get hay and rabbit feed. I had 3 free bag coupons so I only paid $57 for 6 bags!!!
I bred Bell Pepper and Guido, Rylee is due on the 14th. Houdini's litter is 3 seals, 1 chin & 1 Blue chin.
I graduate on Sunday! Life sure gets interesting from here on out!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Long time, no post!
Well, it's JUNE!
I submitted my thesis yesterday. I present next Friday the 8th. After I'm done I have to jump in my car and drive to my parents house to load up the rabbits for Oregon State Convention! I'm excited!
I graduate on June 17th. It's all a scary thought, really!
Rabbits ...
I'm starting to build back up the herd. I cut down quite a bit this spring in plans for graduate school. I currently have 10 breeding/show stock, and 2 litters
Kirby has a litter of 9 (5 does, 4 bucks), all chestnut to Remington.
Houdini has a litter of 5, all solids to Remington.
Rylee is due 6/13 to Remington. She missed last go around and this is a test breeding to see if she can still produce.
I'm adding in a Blue Chinchilla Jr Buck from Nicole next weekend. He's an outcross buck, but he's out of two stunning rabbits, a DeSurra buck and Harmon doe! I also am adding another surprise coming from the WA State Convention, but I'll discuss that later.
I will be breeding Bell Pepper next weekend. To what buck is to be decided. But I won't get to any shows until the fall and I'd like to get her started right away on motherhood.
That's really about it, except that we have 5 does for sale (contact me) and a couple promising juniors that we're growing out. I'll be doing a huge barn clean/rearrangement hopefully before the end of the month.
I submitted my thesis yesterday. I present next Friday the 8th. After I'm done I have to jump in my car and drive to my parents house to load up the rabbits for Oregon State Convention! I'm excited!
I graduate on June 17th. It's all a scary thought, really!
Rabbits ...
I'm starting to build back up the herd. I cut down quite a bit this spring in plans for graduate school. I currently have 10 breeding/show stock, and 2 litters
Kirby has a litter of 9 (5 does, 4 bucks), all chestnut to Remington.
Houdini has a litter of 5, all solids to Remington.
Rylee is due 6/13 to Remington. She missed last go around and this is a test breeding to see if she can still produce.
I'm adding in a Blue Chinchilla Jr Buck from Nicole next weekend. He's an outcross buck, but he's out of two stunning rabbits, a DeSurra buck and Harmon doe! I also am adding another surprise coming from the WA State Convention, but I'll discuss that later.
I will be breeding Bell Pepper next weekend. To what buck is to be decided. But I won't get to any shows until the fall and I'd like to get her started right away on motherhood.
That's really about it, except that we have 5 does for sale (contact me) and a couple promising juniors that we're growing out. I'll be doing a huge barn clean/rearrangement hopefully before the end of the month.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
West Coast Classic -- take 2
This year was our 2nd year to attend the WCC personally. I was asked to judge last year and knowing I would be there for the MLRCA national, I gladly accepted the bid.
I left Corvallis on Thursday afternoon. I picked up a transport rabbit on the way, and two when I got home. That night I cleaned all my carriers and loaded the 10 rabbits (3 transport, 3 showing, 2 sold and 2 for sale) into my car.
Friday morning I left around 8:30 am. It is a 6 hour drive, about 2 of it being on I-5 and about 4 off the beaten path. I nearly died once on highway 89, but after readjusting the carriers everything was just fine. I got into Reno about 2:45pm, where it was very, very hot. I quickly got the rabbits unloaded into the cool show room.
I cooped my 3 Mini Lops and found a spot out in the general show room to keep my bunnies. Paid my dues and got ready for the Friday night specialty.
Remington was a NP, which was to be expected. (I'm not sure how Houdini did in any of the shows.)
Friday night Bell Pepper was 3rd jr doe, loosing out to Chris DeSurra's does. Not too shabby for the 4 month old. Judge was Joe Lugo.
Jill got in about 8pm and helped her unload. Got into our hotel room and was in bed before midnight.
Saturday I was given the show line up of Thriantas (O/Y), Flemish Giant (90 Open), Palominos (60 Open) and the Angora Specialty (55 for 3 breeds). It was a nice opportunity to judge the FG's, with such high numbers and the BOB being a very, very nice Fawn doe. My main goal accomplished here was proper handling. To flip nearly a hundred 13-14lb animals of muscle, is no easy task. Thankfully I got them 2nd show and they were rather well mannered.
After a long day of judging, I quickly re-dressed for the MLRCA banquet. It was not held at the Grand Sierra casino & resort and rather at a restaurant roof top (which was kinda neat!). I had only ever been to 1 banquet before in 09, so I really wasn't sure what to expect. I landed myself between Briony and Johnny and across from Brian, Val and Heidi. I manged to laugh uncontrollably and shared a lot of good stories. The auction was fun, and it was there I found out Bell Pepper placed 7th in the SJD's.
Sunday was a bit more of the draggin feet. I was given Holland Lops (O/Y), American (O/Y), Lilac, Beveren, Youth Fuzzy Lops and the Lionhead specialty. Holland Lops were fun, I managed to pick Becky/Allan Ormond's rabbits for BOB/BOSB. They were some very nice rabbits.Tambria Lugo did a great job of keeping rabbits going up and off the table so it went by a lot quicker than I imagined!!! A nice youth breeder won BOB/BOSB and another variety win for youth. Lilacs were fun, the breeders thanked me for my good handling skills. The Beveran were small in numbers but pretty good American numbers. Youth Fuzzy Lops a very nice group of kids who had great rabbits! and the Lionhead people got their animals to the table, clerked well and had a pretty solid set of animals to represent.
After I was finished I loaded some things to my car, was loading up some animals when Randy asked me to judge Youth Best in Show for C. I've only had a few honors of judging BIS as a new judge but Judy Rosnik and I both agreed on the Himalayan and the Havana. I then loaded my cooped rabbits and off I was!
Met up with Jill and Kathyrn in Susanville. They had stopped for gas and dinner and we drove the 4 hours of the boonies/highway 89 together. Nearly hit a deer. Once we got on I-5 I moved out to get home. Coming up Siskyou summit I nearly ate it from a semi-truck, so stopped in Ashland to get my bearings back. Drove the rest of the hour home and got home just before midnight. Not bad!!!
What I'm happy with: The show venue was excellent. Big, breathable, good temperature. Spacious enough for everyone. High numbers, great judges. GREAT show crew. Not a doubt they were the best. A good bed to sleep on. I met a lot of Mini Lop people from Michigan, South Carolina, Kansas and Missouri. I met a lot of great breeders at the tables exhibiting their rabbits! The MLRCA banquet... unforgettable. My rabbits -- my junior doe did good, that's all that mattered.
Not so happy: I didn't sell either of the 2 I took down there, so they traveled for nothing. The drive, it was long and scary. The weather, it was hot in Reno!!! Other than that -- everything was excellent! It's in Reno again next year, so we'll know later this year if we can make it again. Perhaps next year we can go just for fun!
I left Corvallis on Thursday afternoon. I picked up a transport rabbit on the way, and two when I got home. That night I cleaned all my carriers and loaded the 10 rabbits (3 transport, 3 showing, 2 sold and 2 for sale) into my car.
Friday morning I left around 8:30 am. It is a 6 hour drive, about 2 of it being on I-5 and about 4 off the beaten path. I nearly died once on highway 89, but after readjusting the carriers everything was just fine. I got into Reno about 2:45pm, where it was very, very hot. I quickly got the rabbits unloaded into the cool show room.
I cooped my 3 Mini Lops and found a spot out in the general show room to keep my bunnies. Paid my dues and got ready for the Friday night specialty.
Remington was a NP, which was to be expected. (I'm not sure how Houdini did in any of the shows.)
Friday night Bell Pepper was 3rd jr doe, loosing out to Chris DeSurra's does. Not too shabby for the 4 month old. Judge was Joe Lugo.
Jill got in about 8pm and helped her unload. Got into our hotel room and was in bed before midnight.
Saturday I was given the show line up of Thriantas (O/Y), Flemish Giant (90 Open), Palominos (60 Open) and the Angora Specialty (55 for 3 breeds). It was a nice opportunity to judge the FG's, with such high numbers and the BOB being a very, very nice Fawn doe. My main goal accomplished here was proper handling. To flip nearly a hundred 13-14lb animals of muscle, is no easy task. Thankfully I got them 2nd show and they were rather well mannered.
After a long day of judging, I quickly re-dressed for the MLRCA banquet. It was not held at the Grand Sierra casino & resort and rather at a restaurant roof top (which was kinda neat!). I had only ever been to 1 banquet before in 09, so I really wasn't sure what to expect. I landed myself between Briony and Johnny and across from Brian, Val and Heidi. I manged to laugh uncontrollably and shared a lot of good stories. The auction was fun, and it was there I found out Bell Pepper placed 7th in the SJD's.
Sunday was a bit more of the draggin feet. I was given Holland Lops (O/Y), American (O/Y), Lilac, Beveren, Youth Fuzzy Lops and the Lionhead specialty. Holland Lops were fun, I managed to pick Becky/Allan Ormond's rabbits for BOB/BOSB. They were some very nice rabbits.Tambria Lugo did a great job of keeping rabbits going up and off the table so it went by a lot quicker than I imagined!!! A nice youth breeder won BOB/BOSB and another variety win for youth. Lilacs were fun, the breeders thanked me for my good handling skills. The Beveran were small in numbers but pretty good American numbers. Youth Fuzzy Lops a very nice group of kids who had great rabbits! and the Lionhead people got their animals to the table, clerked well and had a pretty solid set of animals to represent.
After I was finished I loaded some things to my car, was loading up some animals when Randy asked me to judge Youth Best in Show for C. I've only had a few honors of judging BIS as a new judge but Judy Rosnik and I both agreed on the Himalayan and the Havana. I then loaded my cooped rabbits and off I was!
Met up with Jill and Kathyrn in Susanville. They had stopped for gas and dinner and we drove the 4 hours of the boonies/highway 89 together. Nearly hit a deer. Once we got on I-5 I moved out to get home. Coming up Siskyou summit I nearly ate it from a semi-truck, so stopped in Ashland to get my bearings back. Drove the rest of the hour home and got home just before midnight. Not bad!!!
What I'm happy with: The show venue was excellent. Big, breathable, good temperature. Spacious enough for everyone. High numbers, great judges. GREAT show crew. Not a doubt they were the best. A good bed to sleep on. I met a lot of Mini Lop people from Michigan, South Carolina, Kansas and Missouri. I met a lot of great breeders at the tables exhibiting their rabbits! The MLRCA banquet... unforgettable. My rabbits -- my junior doe did good, that's all that mattered.
Not so happy: I didn't sell either of the 2 I took down there, so they traveled for nothing. The drive, it was long and scary. The weather, it was hot in Reno!!! Other than that -- everything was excellent! It's in Reno again next year, so we'll know later this year if we can make it again. Perhaps next year we can go just for fun!
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