Has the guinea project run its course? This is one of those decisions I mentioned last time.
I've been trying to decide whether to go out of my way to preserve the ones left. There's only 4. The 2 adult males and 2 half grown keets. Out of the 10 color keets I bought in the spring, there's only a royal purple hen and a blue. I'm not sure what sex the blue is. Until recently, there were 2 blues and one was a hen for sure. Then one of those disappeared, and the other hasn't made any noise to ID it. I'm trying to decide whether to start penning them up at night to maintain a breeding pair. The blue will have to ID itself as male for that to be worth the trouble.
Or do I just let the population die out. I've lost so many this year. I'm assuming the fox is still around and responsible for many of the losses. The 2 adult males are...well...not that nice to have around. They're really mean to the little chickens! I released 8 excess roosters to free range and all but 4 of those went gone. I've seen them grab the chickens by tail or wing and race around while the poor little bird tries to escape their grasp. Everyone gathers around when I'm out tending to the rabbits and chickens in the Summer House in case I toss some corn out to them, and they beat the bantams up. I'm sure that's what happened to the one I found dead out there. I quit tossing feed out to them so they don't crowd around so much. They don't really need it right now anyways.
There's pros and cons to having guineas.
Pros:
1. Insect control. I've seen very few ticks since I've had them. It's hilarious to watch them go after the Japanese beetles. They're very good at it, and there's much less damage in the gardens.
2. Income. There's a market for guineas and I'd have no trouble selling them. Especially if I had a variety of colors. Guineas don't cost much to raise, they take care of themselves very well.
3. Watch dog birds. They have very sharp eyes and ears and not much gets by them.
4. Snake control. I haven't seen any snakes in the yard since I've had guineas. I haven't actually seen the birds go after a snake, but there was always a large black Rat snake in residence before guineas.
5. Comedy relief. Guineas are funny looking birds and do amusing things.
Cons:
1. Loud. Really loud. That watch dog thing? Not necessarily. Often they go off for no reason that I can see, and they go on and on and on. They don't go off when they should.
2. Difficult to maintain a working population. They do best free range (that no-cost factor), but it's impossible to keep the population replenished unless penned. I got no eggs to hatch this year because I could never find the hen's nest. She set at least 3 clutches before she went missing during the last one.
3. Annoying. They do annoying things. Like come up on the porch and leave unpleasant packages all over. The poke weed berries are ripening and that means big gobs of purple yuck. Like going up on the roof of the house. I wonder if they are damaging it. They're pretty hefty birds to be constantly bouncing around up there. Like attacking the little chickens.
4. Smelly. Don't notice it much on the free range birds unless you're close to them, but you do if they're penned. They smell way worse than chickens.
5. Dig holes. They make wallows all over the yard for their dust bathing. I don't really mind that, I'm not a "lawn care" person, but you do have to watch your step or where the lawn mower tires go.
5 for 5. So how do the pros and cons balance?
Insect control is the main reason they are here, but maybe I have a handle on the tick problem? I treat the dogs with flea/tick drops, and they don't go out of the fence where they'd come in contact with other dogs and the overgrown areas where ticks hang out. The free-ranging chickens have learned Japanese beetles are tasty, although they aren't as efficient as the guineas at it. They aren't quite as fast. The confined chickens go after any insect that enters the pen. Since chickens are much more pleasant to have around, maybe they can take over that job?
Maintaining a population of guineas has become harder. At first I'd just lose a few here and there, but I got plenty of eggs to hatch. This year, it's pretty much every one that leaves the fence, and eventually, they all leave the fence, and no eggs. It doesn't make sense to buy new keets every year as they continue to disappear. It only works if I get hatching eggs, and that requires confining them. I'm not set up for it, and I'm not sure how or where to do it. I'm set up for the chickens, and have an idea for individual breeding pens. The small bantams will be easier to maintain in that respect.
The noise pollution. When they are content or begging, they make pleasant little whistling sounds. When they go off near me, I want to throw something at them. Bantam roosters can be pretty loud, but it's not a sustained loud. They can only crow once at a time, and the hens don't make that much noise. The guineas (both sexes) can go on for a long long time without taking a breath.
I guess I am leaning towards giving up on guineas. It's really hard to let the last blue and purple go as they wish since it took so long to get my hands on colors. But maybe it's time. I know I don't want to buy anymore to replace them.
tnt
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Summer's End
NICE days! I'm not sure if Hurricane Irene is responsible or what, but I'm so glad for the coolth. Although, it's only supposed to last for a few days and then heat up again. Hopefully not as bad as it's been. The only thing missing is some rain. I was hoping Irene would bring some, but not. It was a huge storm stretching all the way to here as it went up the coast, but all we got was the dry outer clouds. We can use some rain.
The media is having a field day, and the Weather Channel is happier than flies on cow pies to have something to go on and on about. I'm glad the hurricane turned out to be less dangerous than expected, but it's funny to watch the media milk it.
I'm addicted to AC now. I'm good until 85 degrees, and then I'm too uncomfortable. We've hardly seen below 85 all summer. The heat ran me inside well before noon, so the yard and gardens got minimal attention. It was too hot to stay outside for long or to do anything much. Saturday, I was able to open up the house and turn off the AC for the first time in I don't know how long. There was a lovely breeze to sweep out the stale air. I spent a good part of the day outside, playing catch up in the yard. I didn't have to turn on the fan for the buns.
It really improved my mood. I love outside. Right now, it's the season of the saw flies. You know, those things that sound like a buzz saw. They're annual cicadas, BTW. Dog Day Harvest Flies to be exact. Their name says it. They buzz during the dog days of summer and the harvest. And the birds...there's always bird song. My point is that I love hearing the outside and I can't if the house is closed up for AC. I like the outside inside.
In my less than content state of mind while avoiding the outside, I'd been attempting to make some decisions. Not the best thing to do when in an unhappy mood. More about some of that later.
I haven't attempted to release the rest of the chickens for daily free-range yet. There's a few problems in the yard and I don't want to risk the few hens I have. One being the roosters out there. I don't want to give them access to the pen again since they won't be part of any breeding program. Training the birds to return to their current roost at night means those other birds will get in, too. Then there's the guineas. They've become very territorial about the chickens and since they are so much bigger, they hurt them. It might be why some went missing. I also don't want the guineas in that pen and keeping them out will be just as hard.
It might be hard to keep some of them inside the fence. I clipped the roos' wings when I turned them out, but a few still managed to get over the fence. Spiffy is one who comes and goes as he pleases. He's such a light-weight bird, he learned to fly without full wing feathers. I'm afraid he would teach the light-bodied hens how it's done. I'm sure he taught the other roos that got out.
Another problem is Abby the cat. She stalks the birds out there and might be responsible for a few of the deaths. The guineas are big enough to stay out of her reach, but the little chickens are more vulnerable. I've begun feeding her a little more so her predator instinct isn't so driven by hunger. I still want her to hunt rodents.
I'm seeing the first signs of fall around here. Leaves are turning and thinning out. We also need some rain for a full fall color show.
tnt
The media is having a field day, and the Weather Channel is happier than flies on cow pies to have something to go on and on about. I'm glad the hurricane turned out to be less dangerous than expected, but it's funny to watch the media milk it.
I'm addicted to AC now. I'm good until 85 degrees, and then I'm too uncomfortable. We've hardly seen below 85 all summer. The heat ran me inside well before noon, so the yard and gardens got minimal attention. It was too hot to stay outside for long or to do anything much. Saturday, I was able to open up the house and turn off the AC for the first time in I don't know how long. There was a lovely breeze to sweep out the stale air. I spent a good part of the day outside, playing catch up in the yard. I didn't have to turn on the fan for the buns.
It really improved my mood. I love outside. Right now, it's the season of the saw flies. You know, those things that sound like a buzz saw. They're annual cicadas, BTW. Dog Day Harvest Flies to be exact. Their name says it. They buzz during the dog days of summer and the harvest. And the birds...there's always bird song. My point is that I love hearing the outside and I can't if the house is closed up for AC. I like the outside inside.
In my less than content state of mind while avoiding the outside, I'd been attempting to make some decisions. Not the best thing to do when in an unhappy mood. More about some of that later.
I haven't attempted to release the rest of the chickens for daily free-range yet. There's a few problems in the yard and I don't want to risk the few hens I have. One being the roosters out there. I don't want to give them access to the pen again since they won't be part of any breeding program. Training the birds to return to their current roost at night means those other birds will get in, too. Then there's the guineas. They've become very territorial about the chickens and since they are so much bigger, they hurt them. It might be why some went missing. I also don't want the guineas in that pen and keeping them out will be just as hard.
It might be hard to keep some of them inside the fence. I clipped the roos' wings when I turned them out, but a few still managed to get over the fence. Spiffy is one who comes and goes as he pleases. He's such a light-weight bird, he learned to fly without full wing feathers. I'm afraid he would teach the light-bodied hens how it's done. I'm sure he taught the other roos that got out.
Another problem is Abby the cat. She stalks the birds out there and might be responsible for a few of the deaths. The guineas are big enough to stay out of her reach, but the little chickens are more vulnerable. I've begun feeding her a little more so her predator instinct isn't so driven by hunger. I still want her to hunt rodents.
I'm seeing the first signs of fall around here. Leaves are turning and thinning out. We also need some rain for a full fall color show.
tnt
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Earthquake?
No, didn't feel it here, and I was bummed I didn't. There was an earthquake here a few years ago, and I definitely felt it. Just a little rattle and I wasn't sure if I imagined it. I actually tested the item that rattled to see if I bumped it. Earthquakes in TN? Turns out it was real and centered in NC just the other side of the mountains.
I have felt 3 other earthquakes in my life, and there was another that I didn't feel because of where I was at the time. All of them in Michigan while in the same house. Earthquakes in MI? Yep.
A little setup. It was sometime in the early 80s and I was living in a single-wide in a park. My place was at the back of a cul-de-sac with a wetland area behind it. The edge of the lot dropped off into this wetland depression. I began to think of that place is being on a "nerve line", maybe partially related to the lay of the land.
The 1st one, a friend was with me. I was doing something in the hallway and she was in the living room. I felt the shake which felt very strange, and came out to see if she felt it. She did and said my dog went on alert at the same time. I said, "Wouldn't that be weird if that was an earthquake?". A few minutes later they announced it on the radio. Wow.
I can't remember the time frame, maybe a few years later, but a friend was also with me for the 2nd. We were standing on either side of the kitchen bar talking. There was a large aquarium on the living room wall to his side. The water began to slosh around. We both looked at it in surprise. Again, the radio confirmed an earthquake.
I was at work in the factory for another shortly after that one. It would have been impossible to feel a tremor there. It was reported that it shook the stands at Tiger Stadium (Detroit) during a ball game. I have no doubt I would have felt it had I been home.
I was alone for the 3rd and that one was the eeriest. I was literally shaken awake at about 2 am. The bed shook that hard. I jumped up and the hairs on my arms stood straight up. I looked out windows to see if maybe there were kids messing around or something. I couldn't go back to sleep and turned on the TV to see if there was anything. There wasn't. I couldn't stand it and called the local police station to see if they had reports of an earthquake. They didn't and said it would have come over the ticker tape. I'm not sure if they thought I was a nutjob calling like that. I asked at work the next day if anyone had heard anything about an earthquake. Everyone teased me for dreaming things. A couple days later, there it was in the paper! It was centered in Ohio and I felt it all the way up in mid-MI. I knew I wasn't crazy!
Of course, if you live in an area in danger from a strong quake, it's reason to panic. I understand there was quite a bit of property damage in the vicinity of the VA quake because of its strength. But if you're in an area not known for it, a small tremor is kind of exciting and fun. So yeah, a little bummed I missed it this time.
I discovered a cool site shortly after the TN quake. Recent Earthquakes in Central US. You'd be surprised where and how many earthquakes are happening all the time. They're actually pretty common in TN.
tnt
I have felt 3 other earthquakes in my life, and there was another that I didn't feel because of where I was at the time. All of them in Michigan while in the same house. Earthquakes in MI? Yep.
A little setup. It was sometime in the early 80s and I was living in a single-wide in a park. My place was at the back of a cul-de-sac with a wetland area behind it. The edge of the lot dropped off into this wetland depression. I began to think of that place is being on a "nerve line", maybe partially related to the lay of the land.
The 1st one, a friend was with me. I was doing something in the hallway and she was in the living room. I felt the shake which felt very strange, and came out to see if she felt it. She did and said my dog went on alert at the same time. I said, "Wouldn't that be weird if that was an earthquake?". A few minutes later they announced it on the radio. Wow.
I can't remember the time frame, maybe a few years later, but a friend was also with me for the 2nd. We were standing on either side of the kitchen bar talking. There was a large aquarium on the living room wall to his side. The water began to slosh around. We both looked at it in surprise. Again, the radio confirmed an earthquake.
I was at work in the factory for another shortly after that one. It would have been impossible to feel a tremor there. It was reported that it shook the stands at Tiger Stadium (Detroit) during a ball game. I have no doubt I would have felt it had I been home.
I was alone for the 3rd and that one was the eeriest. I was literally shaken awake at about 2 am. The bed shook that hard. I jumped up and the hairs on my arms stood straight up. I looked out windows to see if maybe there were kids messing around or something. I couldn't go back to sleep and turned on the TV to see if there was anything. There wasn't. I couldn't stand it and called the local police station to see if they had reports of an earthquake. They didn't and said it would have come over the ticker tape. I'm not sure if they thought I was a nutjob calling like that. I asked at work the next day if anyone had heard anything about an earthquake. Everyone teased me for dreaming things. A couple days later, there it was in the paper! It was centered in Ohio and I felt it all the way up in mid-MI. I knew I wasn't crazy!
Of course, if you live in an area in danger from a strong quake, it's reason to panic. I understand there was quite a bit of property damage in the vicinity of the VA quake because of its strength. But if you're in an area not known for it, a small tremor is kind of exciting and fun. So yeah, a little bummed I missed it this time.
I discovered a cool site shortly after the TN quake. Recent Earthquakes in Central US. You'd be surprised where and how many earthquakes are happening all the time. They're actually pretty common in TN.
tnt
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
How to buy a Netherland Dwarf.
I've seen a few discussions lately about disappointment in purchased stock. Heck, I've had my own disappointments. Sometimes, it's a risk you take. But there are things you can do to minimize the risks. Convention is coming up and sale lists are going up, and a lot of people are shopping. So I thought I'd blog about what I've learned from experience and others' experiences.
Everyone should know this, but I'll start with the basics. Thoroughly examine the rabbit for health and soundness. Check teeth, genitals, eyes, nose, legs, toes, nails, spine, tail. Check for color DQs such as white spots, or incorrect nail or eye color. Also make sure the ear number (if it has one) matches the pedigree.
What if you're buying the rabbit sight unseen? This is not the wisest thing to do. Unfortunately, it might be the only way to bring in fresh bloodlines from outside your region or from breeders you admire. You have to trust the breeder to be honest with you, and you have to know the questions to ask. If the breeder is vague or evasive about answering your questions, consider looking elsewhere.
Here are some questions to ask.
Start with the health and soundness questions. It's possible for a breeder to forget to examine their rabbits regularly, and something could get past them. I don't think there is a breeder who has not been surprised by a DQ on the judging table. Asking will make them think about it.
Since this is about Dwarfs, let's talk about weight and ear length, 2 very important features. If you're buying a brood doe, weight and ear length are not as important, although, the longer and thinner the ears, the more you will struggle with it later. If you're buying a buck you want to show, it is. Even though the standard says 2-1/2" ears are allowed, no Dwarf looks good with ears over 2" unless he is also overweight. Ask for an ear measurement and current weight. The limit is 2-1/2 lbs, but if it weighs that much at 5-6 months, it will likely go overweight when fully mature.
My personal experience with overweight bucks wasn't good. That's pretty much what I got from them. When someone says this hefty bunny with ears over 2" will make a good brood buck, that raises red flags for me. The selling point that it has big bone is only slightly a consideration. While a massive buck can bring in heavier bone, he can also bring in weight issues that will hold you back.
It's a risk buying young jrs. Ears grow until about 3 months so that's the youngest you should buy a dwarf. Different lines develop differently and what looks good at 10 weeks might look awful at 6 months. It goes the other way, too. Some lines are horrendous at 3 months and come into themselves by 5 months. Ask the breeder what to expect from their lines.
Now let's talk about buying bucks and does for breeding stock.
As I said, it's a risk buying young jrs, and especially young bucks. It can be a year before they are fully developed. It's better to buy bucks 4 months or older. You should see their potential by then. If you need a breeding buck right now, of course, look for one that is already old enough to breed. That's usually 6 months. Older bucks are usually not a risk, they can produce much longer than does. Although, after 4 years, he might not be as studly as he used to be.
Now let's talk about does. Does can make or break your breeding program. If you can't get a litter, you aren't going anywhere. There are a lot of questions you should ask about sr does, and even jrs.
- How old is she? Be leery of anything over 2-1/2 years, unless you know and trust the breeder, and maybe even know the full history of that doe. While there are dwarf does producing past 3 years, it's the exception rather than the rule.
- Proven? Is she really? Some people call a doe proven if she had a litter, dead or alive. In my opinion, and reputable breeders agree, she's not proven until she raises a litter to weaning.
- How many litters, and what were the results? Dead, alive, weaned? A new breeder might also want to know about any Max Factors or hippos. Knowledgeable breeders aren't concerned about this, but it can be startling to someone who wasn't expecting such a thing.
- When was her last litter? This is an important question, especially if considering an older doe. The longer it's been since her last litter, the harder it will be to get her producing again.
- Has a show doe been bred before she's a year old? Most breeders retire a doe from showing by 8 months. If you wait any longer, you risk failure. One of the things to understand is how a doe distributes fat. If she's kept on show condition rations, she will begin to accumulate fat around the reproductive organs as she approaches her 1st birthday. This will affect conception and kindling. This is why you rarely see a doe with very many legs, unless she earned them all quickly. If she's still going out to the tables after 1 year without ever being bred, she's a risk. Unless you just want a show doe.
- Temperament and skills? Is she calm? Overprotective? Is she good about building a nice nest and putting the babies in it?
- If it's a jr doe, ask about the line's reproductive skills. Was her mother a good brood doe? This is a trait that can be inherited, and poor skills and instincts can be inherited as well.
Some other things to consider when buying unseen.
Price. Remember...high price does not guarantee high quality, or success in your breeding program. Some breeders base their prices on their show results and reputation. Sometimes it's valid, sometimes not. A buck with an impressive pedigree and show career can command a high price, but that doesn't always mean he's worth it. That can only be proven in his offspring. He could be a complete bust in your herd. A doe's price should reflect her success (or lack thereof) as a brood doe, and her age is a factor, too. A young proven doe is worth more than one that is getting up there in age.
I avoid breeders that don't state sale prices. They might say "inquire" or nothing at all. I wonder why that is. Is the price so outrageous, the breeder is embarrassed or afraid to state it openly? Is the price going to depend on who asks? Actually, that's my 1st thought. I want to see a set price for all. If it's not in my budget, I won't bother the breeder. For myself, I don't want a bunch of emails asking a question that can be answered before the buyer contacts me.
Buying a photo is risky. A good handler can make a rabbit look better than it is and minimize its faults. Usually, you'll only see one view (the profile) which doesn't give you the whole picture. You certainly can't tell how big it is, or how long the ears are. Research what a proper dwarf pose is supposed to look like, and how to spot faults in a photo. Ask questions about the things that concern you.
One last thought. Climate and environment. I've talked about this before and it bears repeating. Some rabbitries use air-conditioning, and sometimes to extremes. It's one thing to cool a barn so the rabbits are safe and comfortable. It's another to keep the barn abnormally cool at all times. Some breeders even state their rabbits are raised in a controlled climate and may not fair well otherwise. If your rabbits are kept in a more natural environment that fluctuates with the seasons and temperatures, a bunny raised in a constantly cool climate might not be a good choice.
Happy shopping.
tnt
Everyone should know this, but I'll start with the basics. Thoroughly examine the rabbit for health and soundness. Check teeth, genitals, eyes, nose, legs, toes, nails, spine, tail. Check for color DQs such as white spots, or incorrect nail or eye color. Also make sure the ear number (if it has one) matches the pedigree.
What if you're buying the rabbit sight unseen? This is not the wisest thing to do. Unfortunately, it might be the only way to bring in fresh bloodlines from outside your region or from breeders you admire. You have to trust the breeder to be honest with you, and you have to know the questions to ask. If the breeder is vague or evasive about answering your questions, consider looking elsewhere.
Here are some questions to ask.
Start with the health and soundness questions. It's possible for a breeder to forget to examine their rabbits regularly, and something could get past them. I don't think there is a breeder who has not been surprised by a DQ on the judging table. Asking will make them think about it.
Since this is about Dwarfs, let's talk about weight and ear length, 2 very important features. If you're buying a brood doe, weight and ear length are not as important, although, the longer and thinner the ears, the more you will struggle with it later. If you're buying a buck you want to show, it is. Even though the standard says 2-1/2" ears are allowed, no Dwarf looks good with ears over 2" unless he is also overweight. Ask for an ear measurement and current weight. The limit is 2-1/2 lbs, but if it weighs that much at 5-6 months, it will likely go overweight when fully mature.
My personal experience with overweight bucks wasn't good. That's pretty much what I got from them. When someone says this hefty bunny with ears over 2" will make a good brood buck, that raises red flags for me. The selling point that it has big bone is only slightly a consideration. While a massive buck can bring in heavier bone, he can also bring in weight issues that will hold you back.
It's a risk buying young jrs. Ears grow until about 3 months so that's the youngest you should buy a dwarf. Different lines develop differently and what looks good at 10 weeks might look awful at 6 months. It goes the other way, too. Some lines are horrendous at 3 months and come into themselves by 5 months. Ask the breeder what to expect from their lines.
Now let's talk about buying bucks and does for breeding stock.
As I said, it's a risk buying young jrs, and especially young bucks. It can be a year before they are fully developed. It's better to buy bucks 4 months or older. You should see their potential by then. If you need a breeding buck right now, of course, look for one that is already old enough to breed. That's usually 6 months. Older bucks are usually not a risk, they can produce much longer than does. Although, after 4 years, he might not be as studly as he used to be.
Now let's talk about does. Does can make or break your breeding program. If you can't get a litter, you aren't going anywhere. There are a lot of questions you should ask about sr does, and even jrs.
- How old is she? Be leery of anything over 2-1/2 years, unless you know and trust the breeder, and maybe even know the full history of that doe. While there are dwarf does producing past 3 years, it's the exception rather than the rule.
- Proven? Is she really? Some people call a doe proven if she had a litter, dead or alive. In my opinion, and reputable breeders agree, she's not proven until she raises a litter to weaning.
- How many litters, and what were the results? Dead, alive, weaned? A new breeder might also want to know about any Max Factors or hippos. Knowledgeable breeders aren't concerned about this, but it can be startling to someone who wasn't expecting such a thing.
- When was her last litter? This is an important question, especially if considering an older doe. The longer it's been since her last litter, the harder it will be to get her producing again.
- Has a show doe been bred before she's a year old? Most breeders retire a doe from showing by 8 months. If you wait any longer, you risk failure. One of the things to understand is how a doe distributes fat. If she's kept on show condition rations, she will begin to accumulate fat around the reproductive organs as she approaches her 1st birthday. This will affect conception and kindling. This is why you rarely see a doe with very many legs, unless she earned them all quickly. If she's still going out to the tables after 1 year without ever being bred, she's a risk. Unless you just want a show doe.
- Temperament and skills? Is she calm? Overprotective? Is she good about building a nice nest and putting the babies in it?
- If it's a jr doe, ask about the line's reproductive skills. Was her mother a good brood doe? This is a trait that can be inherited, and poor skills and instincts can be inherited as well.
Some other things to consider when buying unseen.
Price. Remember...high price does not guarantee high quality, or success in your breeding program. Some breeders base their prices on their show results and reputation. Sometimes it's valid, sometimes not. A buck with an impressive pedigree and show career can command a high price, but that doesn't always mean he's worth it. That can only be proven in his offspring. He could be a complete bust in your herd. A doe's price should reflect her success (or lack thereof) as a brood doe, and her age is a factor, too. A young proven doe is worth more than one that is getting up there in age.
I avoid breeders that don't state sale prices. They might say "inquire" or nothing at all. I wonder why that is. Is the price so outrageous, the breeder is embarrassed or afraid to state it openly? Is the price going to depend on who asks? Actually, that's my 1st thought. I want to see a set price for all. If it's not in my budget, I won't bother the breeder. For myself, I don't want a bunch of emails asking a question that can be answered before the buyer contacts me.
Buying a photo is risky. A good handler can make a rabbit look better than it is and minimize its faults. Usually, you'll only see one view (the profile) which doesn't give you the whole picture. You certainly can't tell how big it is, or how long the ears are. Research what a proper dwarf pose is supposed to look like, and how to spot faults in a photo. Ask questions about the things that concern you.
One last thought. Climate and environment. I've talked about this before and it bears repeating. Some rabbitries use air-conditioning, and sometimes to extremes. It's one thing to cool a barn so the rabbits are safe and comfortable. It's another to keep the barn abnormally cool at all times. Some breeders even state their rabbits are raised in a controlled climate and may not fair well otherwise. If your rabbits are kept in a more natural environment that fluctuates with the seasons and temperatures, a bunny raised in a constantly cool climate might not be a good choice.
Happy shopping.
tnt
Friday, August 5, 2011
Aah, August
Here in the south, I no longer dread the end of summer. The last few years, it's been so hot, it's a relief to get past it. September brings more perfect weather that will last almost to the end of the year.
Nestbox News:
I got a surprising litter from Chevelle this week. Sire is the borrowed black, Smith's BL4. I expected black selfs with a slight chance for dilute. She had 6 (1 was peanut), her biggest litter yet. 3 blacks and 3 not-black (the peanut was one of these). I can't call it yet. Kind of odd color on all of them. The blacks aren't deeply black, and the not-blacks really look like chocolate. I don't see that coming from the himi. A better guess is siamese sable but they're pretty dark for coming out of a himi. So I'm waiting for more clues. I'm documenting the color development with the camera and will post that later.
There was a recent forum discussion about self chin, and thanks to a knowledgeable member, I now understand what the heck that is. I fear this litter may be that. BL4 has mostly otters in his pedigree, but there is a silver marten back there. As a rule, a self out of himi x self is about as close to "pure" self as you can get. Meaning it doesn't carry shaded unless the self parent does. If it does, you're likely to get shaded. In the past, I used "clean" blacks with the himis with good results. This silver marten ancestor could throw a glitch in that. From the self chin discussion, I learned that it's not a "pure" self, and it's affected by the "chd/chl" gene from silver marten or shaded. It can cause off-color fur or eyes. Turns out all self blacks are not created equal, and not necessarily the all-purpose color I thought them to be.
So what do I do with this litter? I'm not working with shadeds and really don't want them. If the blacks are self chins, I shouldn't keep them either. Chocolate doesn't fit in the program anymore and they could also be self chins, so I kind of hope they are sables. At least I know what to do with shadeds. Darn. All I wanted was to bring BL's type to the himis. I suppose I can keep the best of the litter for that purpose, and breed back to himi. Only keeping himis from that next generation will remove the chd/chl gene.
In the other litters. Dreamcatcher's broken baby (x BL4) is so special! I love it, and it gets a lot of attention. Still haven't sexed for sure yet, but I'm leaning towards buck which is what I want. It's a drag that my eyes are getting old and I have a hard time focusing on a small kit's parts. Here's a couple photos I took last week.
In the one on the right, I'm holding the ears against the crown fur. This is a pretty good gauge for ear length at this age. If the ears are the same length as the fur, they will be good. I also wanted to show off the width on its round little head! Hindquarters are promising to be full and straight. Time will tell if there's improvement in shoulders and body length. Yeah, I'm pretty excited about this one. I was going to sell Dreamcatcher after this, but I think I'll repeat this one more time.
Dreamspinner's black and broken black are just opening their eyes. The broken is going to have a messy pattern. Very feathered on the head. That's too bad, but I hope type will make up for it.
Bird News:
All the chickens got their wings clipped the other day. I'm going to be turning some out to free-range and don't want them going over the fence. There's 3 roos who have been out for a while, and I'm thinking about kicking most of the roos out. I'm leaning towards just keeping the Cochins, the Rhode Island Red, and maybe a d'Uccle for breeding roos. I might have to import some Cochin hens. There's only the 1 buff hen. I'll include the Brahma hen in that group.
Spiffy will probably be one of the ones that gets kicked out. He's getting too cocky. The little dink won't fly up to my arm anymore, and he comes at me sometimes. I think I don't want to breed the Old English, although I'll keep the blue hen for her color.
I also managed to catch 3 of the guinea keets to clip theirs. The little trout fishing net I got this week really helped with that! Still have to catch the other 2. There's at least 2, maybe 3 hens. That's good, and one of the blues is a hen for sure.
Gorgeous pink sky this morning! It made the pinks of the crape myrtles and altheas intense, and a slight haze made it look ethereal. Uh oh. Red in the morning. Guess I better check the weather to see what's coming at us.
tnt
Nestbox News:
I got a surprising litter from Chevelle this week. Sire is the borrowed black, Smith's BL4. I expected black selfs with a slight chance for dilute. She had 6 (1 was peanut), her biggest litter yet. 3 blacks and 3 not-black (the peanut was one of these). I can't call it yet. Kind of odd color on all of them. The blacks aren't deeply black, and the not-blacks really look like chocolate. I don't see that coming from the himi. A better guess is siamese sable but they're pretty dark for coming out of a himi. So I'm waiting for more clues. I'm documenting the color development with the camera and will post that later.
There was a recent forum discussion about self chin, and thanks to a knowledgeable member, I now understand what the heck that is. I fear this litter may be that. BL4 has mostly otters in his pedigree, but there is a silver marten back there. As a rule, a self out of himi x self is about as close to "pure" self as you can get. Meaning it doesn't carry shaded unless the self parent does. If it does, you're likely to get shaded. In the past, I used "clean" blacks with the himis with good results. This silver marten ancestor could throw a glitch in that. From the self chin discussion, I learned that it's not a "pure" self, and it's affected by the "chd/chl" gene from silver marten or shaded. It can cause off-color fur or eyes. Turns out all self blacks are not created equal, and not necessarily the all-purpose color I thought them to be.
So what do I do with this litter? I'm not working with shadeds and really don't want them. If the blacks are self chins, I shouldn't keep them either. Chocolate doesn't fit in the program anymore and they could also be self chins, so I kind of hope they are sables. At least I know what to do with shadeds. Darn. All I wanted was to bring BL's type to the himis. I suppose I can keep the best of the litter for that purpose, and breed back to himi. Only keeping himis from that next generation will remove the chd/chl gene.
In the other litters. Dreamcatcher's broken baby (x BL4) is so special! I love it, and it gets a lot of attention. Still haven't sexed for sure yet, but I'm leaning towards buck which is what I want. It's a drag that my eyes are getting old and I have a hard time focusing on a small kit's parts. Here's a couple photos I took last week.
In the one on the right, I'm holding the ears against the crown fur. This is a pretty good gauge for ear length at this age. If the ears are the same length as the fur, they will be good. I also wanted to show off the width on its round little head! Hindquarters are promising to be full and straight. Time will tell if there's improvement in shoulders and body length. Yeah, I'm pretty excited about this one. I was going to sell Dreamcatcher after this, but I think I'll repeat this one more time.
Dreamspinner's black and broken black are just opening their eyes. The broken is going to have a messy pattern. Very feathered on the head. That's too bad, but I hope type will make up for it.
Bird News:
All the chickens got their wings clipped the other day. I'm going to be turning some out to free-range and don't want them going over the fence. There's 3 roos who have been out for a while, and I'm thinking about kicking most of the roos out. I'm leaning towards just keeping the Cochins, the Rhode Island Red, and maybe a d'Uccle for breeding roos. I might have to import some Cochin hens. There's only the 1 buff hen. I'll include the Brahma hen in that group.
Spiffy will probably be one of the ones that gets kicked out. He's getting too cocky. The little dink won't fly up to my arm anymore, and he comes at me sometimes. I think I don't want to breed the Old English, although I'll keep the blue hen for her color.
I also managed to catch 3 of the guinea keets to clip theirs. The little trout fishing net I got this week really helped with that! Still have to catch the other 2. There's at least 2, maybe 3 hens. That's good, and one of the blues is a hen for sure.
Gorgeous pink sky this morning! It made the pinks of the crape myrtles and altheas intense, and a slight haze made it look ethereal. Uh oh. Red in the morning. Guess I better check the weather to see what's coming at us.
tnt
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