What is that, you ask? In my barn, does are not always raising their own kits. I foster around to save valuable kits, singletons, etc. I have to make notes all over the place to keep track of who has what. The fact that I usually have a variety of colors makes it easier.
Nahani had a DOA litter. That was a drag, but it turned out ok.
Painted Lady (x Silverado) finally gave a live litter. Well, half live. She had 5, but only 2 were alive. I'd been trying to breed her to Garner's Gunn but it just wasn't working. She kept having gross failures. Switching bucks worked! The live are a broken blue or smoke blanket, and a charlie-marked dilute.
It was getting cold that night, so I took the box inside as usual. When I took it out in the morning, she fussed around but didn't get in the box to nurse. I don't think she had time to get to know her babies, and didn't understand this routine.
Nahani's litter was born the night before, and she pulled fur and all. I tried something new...fostering to a doe who didn't have live kits. I wasn't sure if Nahani would accept the strange box, especially a day later. I had already cleaned hers out. She sniffed around for a minute and then hopped right in and tended to the babies. Yay! She's an experienced doe and used to the routine of taking boxes in at night. I've only ever got 1 live kit at a time out of her, but she's fostered quite a few others. Such a good doe, she is.
Dreamboat Annie x Garner's Gunn (her sire) had 3 the next day. She was a day late. I don't trust Annie, we lost her last litter. She had 1 black, 1 choc, 1 broken choc. The broken choc has excellent markings so very valuable and it went to Nahani. This is also valuable to me for the line-bred daughter x sire factor. I hope that works out.
Later that day, Black Majik x Pandi dumped her litter in her box. Like PL, I had been trying to get from Garner's Gunn (her sire), but she just couldn't seem to handle it. Again, a different buck worked! At first I thought they were all DOA, but then saw movement under the hay at the front of the box. Awww, a little black spotted baby. Off it went to Nahani's box. Majik is one of my favorite does, both for type and temperment. I really needed get from her.
Then the nestbox juggle. I don't trust Annie, so gave her solid choc to Nahani. Nahani is a tiny doe so I gave PL's (from Nahani) charlie-mark to Annie so she has the 2 least valuable kits. If I lose them, no biggy.
So did you get all that? Nahani is now raising 4...none are hers. Broken blue(Painted Lady), solid & broken choc (Dreamboat Annie), and broken black (Black Majik). Dreamboat Annie has 2. Her black and PL's charlie-marked.
The lesson learned from all this: If a doe repeatedly has problems kindling, try a different buck.
Oh and I got lucky. It didn't get as cold as they said (deep freeze!), and the litters came during the day so I could save them.
tnt
Friday, April 10, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Moving Day
Yesterday, I moved the boys and youngsters out to the Summer House. Shouldn't see too much cold weather from here on in, so it's time. Takes half the cleaning work off me so I can spend more time in the gardens. That pretty much took the whole day. I had to decide who goes where, and then change my mind if a couple (like Black Tye) were being too randy with their neighbor. Can't have him splitting the lip of a show bunny. I clipped everyone's nails as I moved them, and whatever other grooming they needed. I carry them out 2 at a time in the little single carriers so about 9 or 10 trips to get it all done.
Then it was fun to just sit back and watch them check out the new digs. Bunnies really seem to enjoy a change of scenary and neighbors. They played with their wood and hay, but it might have been a bit of showing off for the others. Silly rabbits.
I wanted to set up a photo shoot for the babies, but kinda ran out of gas after that. They are about 4 wks old now, and that's the cutest age. I'll try to get to it today.
Got some promising babies and lots of does. Yay! Does have been scarce in litters lately. I think both BEWs are does, but haven't been able to sex the chestnut VMs yet. The black VM in Misty's litter (her only child) is a doe. There's several broken and solid black does. I'm pretty sure Black Dahlia's only child (x Axl) is a broken Sable Point doe. That's a first. Unfortunately, she doesn't have enough showable pattern, and Sable Pt might not show well as broken anyways. But she's a doe so probably a keeper. Iron Maiden's 2 smoke babies are bucks I think. I thought (hoped) one was a doe, and that could still change.
The 2 out of Hamilton's Infiniti (x Black Tye) are does. Ohyeah!!! These are special. This darn doe gave me fits (she's gone now). She missed and missed. When she finally had a litter, she ate on them. Gross! Her last litter I got lucky and she had them before night. I was able to save 2 of them. She had already taken the head off the 3rd. I whisked them into another doe's nestbox. The solid black is gianormous, but boy is she something! She has the signature import fur and is solid all over. The broken black is marked just like her daddy, and so far I'm loving her too. She might be small enough to be a show bunny. I hope Tye shortened them up. Looks like he might have. The dam was a big and long doe, although she was a true dwarf (threw peanuts). Tye was the best option for her being my shortest broken buck.
Got a few litters due this weekend. There's a NC show this weekend too, but have pretty much decided to take a break this week. Remembering the litters due has clinched it. I've been to shows 3 out of 4 wks this month, and 2 were in NC. I could use the break (and save the money) to work on some other things that need my attention. Next show will be the Knoxville (not in Knoxville this year) triple May 9.
tnt
Then it was fun to just sit back and watch them check out the new digs. Bunnies really seem to enjoy a change of scenary and neighbors. They played with their wood and hay, but it might have been a bit of showing off for the others. Silly rabbits.
I wanted to set up a photo shoot for the babies, but kinda ran out of gas after that. They are about 4 wks old now, and that's the cutest age. I'll try to get to it today.
Got some promising babies and lots of does. Yay! Does have been scarce in litters lately. I think both BEWs are does, but haven't been able to sex the chestnut VMs yet. The black VM in Misty's litter (her only child) is a doe. There's several broken and solid black does. I'm pretty sure Black Dahlia's only child (x Axl) is a broken Sable Point doe. That's a first. Unfortunately, she doesn't have enough showable pattern, and Sable Pt might not show well as broken anyways. But she's a doe so probably a keeper. Iron Maiden's 2 smoke babies are bucks I think. I thought (hoped) one was a doe, and that could still change.
The 2 out of Hamilton's Infiniti (x Black Tye) are does. Ohyeah!!! These are special. This darn doe gave me fits (she's gone now). She missed and missed. When she finally had a litter, she ate on them. Gross! Her last litter I got lucky and she had them before night. I was able to save 2 of them. She had already taken the head off the 3rd. I whisked them into another doe's nestbox. The solid black is gianormous, but boy is she something! She has the signature import fur and is solid all over. The broken black is marked just like her daddy, and so far I'm loving her too. She might be small enough to be a show bunny. I hope Tye shortened them up. Looks like he might have. The dam was a big and long doe, although she was a true dwarf (threw peanuts). Tye was the best option for her being my shortest broken buck.
Got a few litters due this weekend. There's a NC show this weekend too, but have pretty much decided to take a break this week. Remembering the litters due has clinched it. I've been to shows 3 out of 4 wks this month, and 2 were in NC. I could use the break (and save the money) to work on some other things that need my attention. Next show will be the Knoxville (not in Knoxville this year) triple May 9.
tnt
Friday, March 20, 2009
1st Day of Spring
Aaah, my favorite time of the year. Daffodils are in full bloom and some of the flowering trees and shrubs are popping. It's been real nice weather-wise. A little rainy, but we need rain. Altho, it dipped back into the low 30s this morning, and same is predicted for tomorrow.
The 3 wk old litters are hopping out of the box. The best age! I attempted to confirm the early teat-sexing yesterday, and I think most of my first impressions are correct. Looks like lots of does...yay.
A lot of promising babies. A pair of smoke pearls, lots of blacks and broken blacks. Unfortunately, none of the brokens out of my beloved Silverado have pattern. I'll keep trying him on broken does. I did get a real nice broken seal buck out of Silver, but I sold him. Just don't have room for too many unshowable bucks.
Oh yeah and BEWs! I finally got some BEW babies! It's been so long since there were blue eyes in the nestbox. Moonbaby x Ford's Parti Boy (her 3rd try) had 2 BEWs, 2 chestnut VMs. All very cute at almost 2 wks old. The chestnut VMs are fun. I haven't had agouti in the box since the beginning of the rabbitry. They have cool markings, too.
I wasn't sure she was feeding them at first. Black Dahlia had a litter in time to take on some of them. I gave the BEWs to Dahlia because I trust her. Dahlia's litter wasn't as good as usual. She has 1 live left, and I think it's a broken sable pt. That would be a first.
I'm in show mode for Mocksville today. I'm not showing as many buns as usual. Just 5 bucks. Don't really have anything else except for some in the same varieties. Not a lot of point in showing against myself. Or the ones who haven't done as well on the table. No sense wasting fees on them.
I should thin out the broken black bucks, but they each have something to offer so I'm not ready to let them go yet. They all have such fun personalities and a place in my heart. If they were unfriendly, it would be easier to move them on.
Show season is in full swing. I have another NC show next weekend, and again the 1st week in April. A couple TN shows in May.
I decided I needed another blog to cover the gardens, so news about that can be found at Natureschild Gardenworks. It's now under "Other Blogs" to the right.
tnt
The 3 wk old litters are hopping out of the box. The best age! I attempted to confirm the early teat-sexing yesterday, and I think most of my first impressions are correct. Looks like lots of does...yay.
A lot of promising babies. A pair of smoke pearls, lots of blacks and broken blacks. Unfortunately, none of the brokens out of my beloved Silverado have pattern. I'll keep trying him on broken does. I did get a real nice broken seal buck out of Silver, but I sold him. Just don't have room for too many unshowable bucks.
Oh yeah and BEWs! I finally got some BEW babies! It's been so long since there were blue eyes in the nestbox. Moonbaby x Ford's Parti Boy (her 3rd try) had 2 BEWs, 2 chestnut VMs. All very cute at almost 2 wks old. The chestnut VMs are fun. I haven't had agouti in the box since the beginning of the rabbitry. They have cool markings, too.
I wasn't sure she was feeding them at first. Black Dahlia had a litter in time to take on some of them. I gave the BEWs to Dahlia because I trust her. Dahlia's litter wasn't as good as usual. She has 1 live left, and I think it's a broken sable pt. That would be a first.
I'm in show mode for Mocksville today. I'm not showing as many buns as usual. Just 5 bucks. Don't really have anything else except for some in the same varieties. Not a lot of point in showing against myself. Or the ones who haven't done as well on the table. No sense wasting fees on them.
I should thin out the broken black bucks, but they each have something to offer so I'm not ready to let them go yet. They all have such fun personalities and a place in my heart. If they were unfriendly, it would be easier to move them on.
Show season is in full swing. I have another NC show next weekend, and again the 1st week in April. A couple TN shows in May.
I decided I needed another blog to cover the gardens, so news about that can be found at Natureschild Gardenworks. It's now under "Other Blogs" to the right.
tnt
Friday, March 6, 2009
In like a lion
We had another winter blast this week. That lion was white as we got an inch of wet snow March 1st. Dipped into low teens for 2 nights, and barely to freezing for the daytime. But it's better now and I hope that was the last of it. They say 70s for the weekend. Aaah. Just in time for the big Dalton, GA show.
There's quite a few babies in the boxes now. I learned a nifty new trick for sexing early thanks to a forum member. Look for teats which would be does. It was easier on dark bellies....they light up like little LED bulbs. I'm not commited to all the brokens' sex yet.
I've been bringing the boxes in at night because it's been so cold. Can't afford to lose any of these babies. Born Feb 24-26:
Angeni x Dot.com - 2 black buck & doe, 2 broken blacks. After rough first tries, Angeni is an excellent mom.
Misty Moon x Moonwalker - 1 black VM doe. Misty is also raising 2 from other litters. She's so funny. She's very vocal and complains loudly when I take her box in and out. Proving to be a very good mom.
Lorelai x Dot.com - 1 black doe, 1 broken black buck. She's also raising a fosterling.
Iron Maiden x Broken Rule - 1 blue doe, 1 smoke pearl buck, 1 broken buck. Can't tell the broken's color yet, doesn't have much pattern. This was Maiden's 2nd try and she's doing fine. She's a nice looking little doe, but wasn't shown much because she hated show biz. She's a calm brood doe. The broken was fostered to even out the numbers in the boxes.
Minerva x Silverado - 1 broken buck. Either blue or smoke. Not enough color to tell. It was fostered.
I can't remember who got which fosters. I made notes in the barn, but it's not in front of me right now.
Hamilton's Infiniti x Black Tye - 1 black doe, 1 broken black buck. Finally got a live litter out of this doe! She was frustrating. She ate her last litter to pieces and I couldn't tell if they were alive when born. She doesn't build a nest. I got lucky this time. She had them late in the evening and I caught them in time. Whisked them into other boxes. Misty has the black, and Lorelai has the broken. There was another broken but she had already taken its head off. Grrr and yuck!!! Trying to decide whether she's worth rebreeding. Leaning towards not.
Painted Lady and Black Majik failed again. DOA.
In the older litters, now about 6 wks old:
Nahani x Axl - 1 himi buck. I'm sure it's an "ee" (non-extension) himi....very little point color. Coming from 2 sable pts, it will probably have washed out points. But that's ok. If type is worthy, he will be useful with sable pts.
Ayasha x Dot.com - 2 black bucks, 1 broken black buck. The broken was fostered to Nahani. Has a nice blanket pattern and promising type. 1 of the solid blacks might be a keeper, the other is a BUB and will be petted out.
Jean Geni x Axl - 2 sable pt bucks. 1 is very small and cute, possible keeper. The other is a petable BUB. There was also a himi but it died of enteritis at 3 wks. Happened so quickly, wasn't time to attempt to save it.
Dreamboat Annie x Garner's Gunn - lost hers at various ages to fading. She raising a broken (charlie) black from Broken N Happy.
HBB's Broken N Happy x Dot.com - 3 broken black bucks. 2 with nice pattern fostered to Broken Trust. Broken Trust's kits died of fading. The other broken is now the lone survivor with Annie. I think it's a true charlie doe.
Dot.com is throwing excellent pattern. All of his babies have showable markings, but not the same cool dottiness. I wish he's throw some more dalmations.
I'll be rebreeding the open does today. Would have done so earlier but I was waiting so the litters are due the middle of the week. If I breed Fri - Sun, litters will be due Mon - Wed. That gives leeway for show weekends. Also waited for warmer temps.
Today, I'm in show mode for Dalton, GA tomorrow. Been over a month since the last show and I'm looking forward to it. This is a pretty big show. I also get to see friends I don't see much on the other side of the mountains.
Signs of spring:
Daffodils have buds, and daylilies have sprouted. I have to get dirty and take care of spring cleanup. One thing about the south is the winter weeds. Bluebirds are staking their claim on real estate. There's several bluebird houses scattered around the property to choose from. Robins have appeared, and for a few days, a huge flock would poke around the lawn. Robins don't usually flock, but these might be migraters on their way farther north. Goldfinches beginning to put on their bright yellow spring finery. Song Sparrows singing their spring songs, as well as other birds. I'll be opening the windows when it's warm enough to let in the fresh air and bird song. I love spring!
There's quite a few babies in the boxes now. I learned a nifty new trick for sexing early thanks to a forum member. Look for teats which would be does. It was easier on dark bellies....they light up like little LED bulbs. I'm not commited to all the brokens' sex yet.
I've been bringing the boxes in at night because it's been so cold. Can't afford to lose any of these babies. Born Feb 24-26:
Angeni x Dot.com - 2 black buck & doe, 2 broken blacks. After rough first tries, Angeni is an excellent mom.
Misty Moon x Moonwalker - 1 black VM doe. Misty is also raising 2 from other litters. She's so funny. She's very vocal and complains loudly when I take her box in and out. Proving to be a very good mom.
Lorelai x Dot.com - 1 black doe, 1 broken black buck. She's also raising a fosterling.
Iron Maiden x Broken Rule - 1 blue doe, 1 smoke pearl buck, 1 broken buck. Can't tell the broken's color yet, doesn't have much pattern. This was Maiden's 2nd try and she's doing fine. She's a nice looking little doe, but wasn't shown much because she hated show biz. She's a calm brood doe. The broken was fostered to even out the numbers in the boxes.
Minerva x Silverado - 1 broken buck. Either blue or smoke. Not enough color to tell. It was fostered.
I can't remember who got which fosters. I made notes in the barn, but it's not in front of me right now.
Hamilton's Infiniti x Black Tye - 1 black doe, 1 broken black buck. Finally got a live litter out of this doe! She was frustrating. She ate her last litter to pieces and I couldn't tell if they were alive when born. She doesn't build a nest. I got lucky this time. She had them late in the evening and I caught them in time. Whisked them into other boxes. Misty has the black, and Lorelai has the broken. There was another broken but she had already taken its head off. Grrr and yuck!!! Trying to decide whether she's worth rebreeding. Leaning towards not.
Painted Lady and Black Majik failed again. DOA.
In the older litters, now about 6 wks old:
Nahani x Axl - 1 himi buck. I'm sure it's an "ee" (non-extension) himi....very little point color. Coming from 2 sable pts, it will probably have washed out points. But that's ok. If type is worthy, he will be useful with sable pts.
Ayasha x Dot.com - 2 black bucks, 1 broken black buck. The broken was fostered to Nahani. Has a nice blanket pattern and promising type. 1 of the solid blacks might be a keeper, the other is a BUB and will be petted out.
Jean Geni x Axl - 2 sable pt bucks. 1 is very small and cute, possible keeper. The other is a petable BUB. There was also a himi but it died of enteritis at 3 wks. Happened so quickly, wasn't time to attempt to save it.
Dreamboat Annie x Garner's Gunn - lost hers at various ages to fading. She raising a broken (charlie) black from Broken N Happy.
HBB's Broken N Happy x Dot.com - 3 broken black bucks. 2 with nice pattern fostered to Broken Trust. Broken Trust's kits died of fading. The other broken is now the lone survivor with Annie. I think it's a true charlie doe.
Dot.com is throwing excellent pattern. All of his babies have showable markings, but not the same cool dottiness. I wish he's throw some more dalmations.
I'll be rebreeding the open does today. Would have done so earlier but I was waiting so the litters are due the middle of the week. If I breed Fri - Sun, litters will be due Mon - Wed. That gives leeway for show weekends. Also waited for warmer temps.
Today, I'm in show mode for Dalton, GA tomorrow. Been over a month since the last show and I'm looking forward to it. This is a pretty big show. I also get to see friends I don't see much on the other side of the mountains.
Signs of spring:
Daffodils have buds, and daylilies have sprouted. I have to get dirty and take care of spring cleanup. One thing about the south is the winter weeds. Bluebirds are staking their claim on real estate. There's several bluebird houses scattered around the property to choose from. Robins have appeared, and for a few days, a huge flock would poke around the lawn. Robins don't usually flock, but these might be migraters on their way farther north. Goldfinches beginning to put on their bright yellow spring finery. Song Sparrows singing their spring songs, as well as other birds. I'll be opening the windows when it's warm enough to let in the fresh air and bird song. I love spring!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
It's trying to be spring!
Aaah, such nice days we've been having. High 60s to 70, sunny, calm breezes. The daffodils have sprouted. A walk around the yard today found swelling buds on the young spring-flowering trees.
I got the Summer House all cleaned out and ready for the buns that will go out there when the weather breaks for good. I reworked the poop chute so it can be more easily cleaned out. There isn't enough pitch for everything to roll off, so it has to be pushed. The way I had it, there was barely room for a pushing tool. I added a support rail leaving plenty of room to push out. It's also much sturdier. It tended to sag wherever the rabbits piled their toilet. Got all the feed cups washed and mounted. We are good to go. I plan to move them outside around the end of March.
I have one more unit to build, but it won't take long. After all the other remodeling, I had some 18x24 cages left over. I'm going to make a single-wide 3-tier unit in the center of the Summer House and use it for groups of weanlings. I can fit up to 6 small bunnies in one of those holes. When I get that done, I'll put up a new photo on the Barn page.
I'm not using the bin system out there anymore. I decided I didn't like it. Even though there were drain holes in the bins, they got pretty heavy after 2 wks. It was a soupy mess, the smell was bad, and the worms couldn't get to it to help break it down. It was also a breeding ground for flies, and if I let it go for 3 wks, the flies were awful. I removed the bins early last summer, and the difference was amazing. Less odor, and the flies weren't rampant. Means I have to shovel it out, but I can let it go a month or so, depending on how much work I want to do in one cleanout.
The baby head count went way down this past week. I lost some of the newest ones. I don't know why. The boxes were coming in the house at nite so it wasn't due to cold. Dreamboat Annie's litter of 2 blacks and 1 choc is now just 1 black. The other 2 didn't look right from day 1, they moved oddly. Maybe she trampled them. She's big and clumsy and this is her 1st litter.
I juggled kits around and now have only 2 boxes full. All the brokens except the charlie are with Broken Trust. I'm afraid I'm going to lose her 1 broken. It's very skinny. She has the 2 brokens from Broke N Happy x Dot.com and they look fine. Looks like they are black and blue. Annie has her black, and Broke N Happy's charlie, and Broken Trust's black. Whew, I have notes all over trying to keep all that straight!
Then I lost a 3 wk old himi to explosive diarrhea the other day. That happened overnight. It was the mid-sized kit in that litter. There's just the 2 sable pts left. 1 tiny and 1 huge buck. I took the nestboxes away from the older kits today. 1 had a poopy butt and that usually happens when they are spending too much time in the box. It get impacted very quickly if they don't move away from their toilet. So I remove the box around 3 wks and I see much less of that.
Where are the doe babies??? I've sexed all but 1 of the 3 wk olds and they are all bucks! This is not good. I wanted to move some of the older does on, but I can't if I don't get does to replace them.
tnt
I got the Summer House all cleaned out and ready for the buns that will go out there when the weather breaks for good. I reworked the poop chute so it can be more easily cleaned out. There isn't enough pitch for everything to roll off, so it has to be pushed. The way I had it, there was barely room for a pushing tool. I added a support rail leaving plenty of room to push out. It's also much sturdier. It tended to sag wherever the rabbits piled their toilet. Got all the feed cups washed and mounted. We are good to go. I plan to move them outside around the end of March.
I have one more unit to build, but it won't take long. After all the other remodeling, I had some 18x24 cages left over. I'm going to make a single-wide 3-tier unit in the center of the Summer House and use it for groups of weanlings. I can fit up to 6 small bunnies in one of those holes. When I get that done, I'll put up a new photo on the Barn page.
I'm not using the bin system out there anymore. I decided I didn't like it. Even though there were drain holes in the bins, they got pretty heavy after 2 wks. It was a soupy mess, the smell was bad, and the worms couldn't get to it to help break it down. It was also a breeding ground for flies, and if I let it go for 3 wks, the flies were awful. I removed the bins early last summer, and the difference was amazing. Less odor, and the flies weren't rampant. Means I have to shovel it out, but I can let it go a month or so, depending on how much work I want to do in one cleanout.
The baby head count went way down this past week. I lost some of the newest ones. I don't know why. The boxes were coming in the house at nite so it wasn't due to cold. Dreamboat Annie's litter of 2 blacks and 1 choc is now just 1 black. The other 2 didn't look right from day 1, they moved oddly. Maybe she trampled them. She's big and clumsy and this is her 1st litter.
I juggled kits around and now have only 2 boxes full. All the brokens except the charlie are with Broken Trust. I'm afraid I'm going to lose her 1 broken. It's very skinny. She has the 2 brokens from Broke N Happy x Dot.com and they look fine. Looks like they are black and blue. Annie has her black, and Broke N Happy's charlie, and Broken Trust's black. Whew, I have notes all over trying to keep all that straight!
Then I lost a 3 wk old himi to explosive diarrhea the other day. That happened overnight. It was the mid-sized kit in that litter. There's just the 2 sable pts left. 1 tiny and 1 huge buck. I took the nestboxes away from the older kits today. 1 had a poopy butt and that usually happens when they are spending too much time in the box. It get impacted very quickly if they don't move away from their toilet. So I remove the box around 3 wks and I see much less of that.
Where are the doe babies??? I've sexed all but 1 of the 3 wk olds and they are all bucks! This is not good. I wanted to move some of the older does on, but I can't if I don't get does to replace them.
tnt
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