Wow..the last 4 days have really been horrible for me. My yearling horse, well she'll be a year old on Monday. Her leg swelled up really bad on Easter. Monday morning I got Tuft's out with the xray machines. We got her all drugged up and everything. She's been cold washed several times a day, on meds for the swelling, which has not gone down much but a little. Well today the vet was out again, after he took the xrays to Tuft's (Grafton surgery section doctors looked them over).
Luna has a bone chip...which needs removal. Part of her joint chipped off somehow Easter morning. She isn't limping or acting like anything is wrong but she's confined to her stall in the barn to make sure it does not get any worse until I can get to her Tufts in Grafton MA for the surgery. The downside is, it is a several thousand dollars I do not have and somehow need to come up with. I already exhausted my emergancy horse money this year when my older horse injured her nose (she was playing with her waterbucket and got her nose stuck in the bucket and paniced... ripping her nostil off... after about 50 stitches and 5 weeks of ...restiching..she has an interesting scar but is in one piece (though it looks funny...). That was a my emgancy equine fund though..which probably wouldn't have covered this but was close.. humbug.. I just feel horrible because I had planned ahead but I guess I didn't plan enough...ahead).
Anyways.. my vet assured me it was nothing I did, as I've always been very careful with this babies feeding program and everything. She was a huge foal. She was even stuck when she was born and I had to repossion her to get her out of the birthing canal. We've actually always tried to slow her growing rate.
The downside of the whole thing is, her recovery is going to eat up time I didn't have to begin with. The surgery needs to be done in the next 3 weeks. After which she'll be on stall rest for several weeks. And then after I'll still need to attend to her for another couple of months very often durring the day. She's going to require injections into the joint and of course cleaning of the surgery site and general care and rehabilitation.
So now I'm weighting the options of my time with my other animals and trying to decide what to do. I think right now I'm go to let go of some of the adorable little babies I had planned to keep from my spring litters.
In some probably good news, the couple of litters I had planned for this month, did not happen, so no new babies. Which is for the best since I won't have the time they deserve right now. I'm hoping for the fall I can plan and devote some time to some baby bunnies though. :)
Sometimes life is interesting... I'm just hoping all goes well and my filly makes an okay recovery from all this mess.
In bunny news, I'm happy to report that bunnies have been going to amazing homes with some of the nicest people I have ever met recently!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Couple of available bunnies
First up is this handsome "Teddybear" of a boy. He really a smooshy toy looking type of bunny. He is just under five months of age. He is one I have been spending some time deciding on what to do with. He has beautiful bone, width, thickness, depth and body to him. Overall he is a lovely and typy bunny. His head is already huge! He has a nice personality too, a total ham to watch run around and play. He would very much enjoy being someones house bunny. He would also do quite nicely as a show bun. He is currently living in a puppy pen with a litter box. He very much enjoys his space and his bed, toys and extra lovins. ^___^
Our second bunny here is also a buck. He is three months old. Another I have been on and off about keeping, as I very much love his parents. His mother is my poster child (the tiny bunny on the right on the blog and bottom on the main page, she is now almost 6 years old). I've sort of been waiting for this little guys head to come in and it just hasn't yet, though it should soon, as he's about to molt out (icky!). He's still really cute though. Tiny little ears! Super smooth, wide and full body. Fantastic bone and depth. Good shoulder and headset, I just really wish he had a boulder head already..and maybe that his crown was higher but it should come with some age, this is normally the "ugly" age. hehe. He's still cute. He is calm and easy going, easy as pie to work with and pose too. :) I think he would love to be spoiled with goodies and a fluffy bed though, though he would make a nice show bunny as well.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Zues
This is Zues, one of the babies featured in the last blog post actually. :) Updated photo's of him, now that he is a little older. Cute as a button huh? Some of his littermates will be available for sale, but this little guy is just my cutie pie.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Baby Bunnies
Too cold for outside photos.. poohie..so indoor photo op.. of babies. :) Five weeks old. Two bucks and two does. At least two (one buck and one doe) will be available for new homes, and contacts are welcome if you would like to get in touch with me for more photos and information. These of lovely babies and just super sweet!
Little black buck on left and little fox doe on right! I love the little doe! She's a darling little girl :) These babies are sired by an otter buck (whom carried blue and chocolate, so 25% chance these babies have blue and/or chocolate genes as well).
Blackie and foxie again, pretty little heads for young babies huh? Loppy ears already too! I just love baby hollands.. hehe
Tortie babies! Look at those muggies! I just want to squishie them! hehe. Little buck on the left and doe on the right. Such chunky monkey's. Fantastic bone and structure even at a young age. :) Nice little bunnies. It'll be interesting to post photo's of them next week. This is when I start working with them the most, I start teaching them to "post" now, so they sit pretty for a few seconds. They are handled so much they just turn into mush anyhow. Even my boyfriend has been holding them. He likes the little fox doe since she just sit with him. She's a cute pie but I love the little tort buck. hehe. Babies are so darling. This is my first baby bunny litter in almost half a year so quite a long time and so much fun to have baby bunnies again! I just wish I could have taken nicer photo's of them ... humbug. For reference sake, they are teddy bear hamster size currently.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
New Years bunnies
New Years free time finally gave me a little extra motivation to take a few photo's of bunnies once again. The little adorable buy above already has a home but I wanted to post his photo's (both one above and one below) because he was so stinking cute. He is a 14 week old little buck that found a fantastic home with a great family. I wish them all the best in the new year with lots of bunny kisses!
The next little guy, shown in the toy photo's below (one with and without the tophat) is a really nice little buck that well...is turning out he'll be staying here. I had a couple come up from NYC last weekend, under a huge amount of miss communication I (I'm sorry but things are done on a first come first serve basis, simply because if a great home comes along for a bunny and it is just such a good match.. I refuse to let the chance slip away for the bunny to have a great home, and there is no way of telling whom will be a good home until I meet them in person for the most part). Anyhow..back to the bunny story.
So this couple came, and I felt extremely sorry. I had tried to get a hold of them before they came to tell them that the particular bunny we had chatted about was already adopted but it didn't work out. They were of course very unhappy with the news when they arrived. So I offered them this little guy. Now he's not a baby so much, he's about six months old. I liked him as a baby but as he got older I didn't look at his type much and figured he wasn't such a stunning rabbit (gosh! I was wrong...). He's also very sweet, a little shy at first but he's a total love bug when you hang out with him for a bit and he loves to be petted and sit in my lap. hohum..
Anyhow, so I offered him to this couple, however...this little guy didn't like them. Actually, NONE of my rabbits like these people. They seemed like extremely nice people but my rabbits were not friendly with them. I'm not sure if it's because they were unhappy about the bunny situation and perhaps the bunnies sensed that or if the bunnies truly thought they were not good people. I'm not sure... boggled me, but the bunnies were stand offish and generally unfriendly with them. So they left...without a bunny, which is fine. They were previous bunny owners and I think they had in their minds replacing the bunny they had and were just very particular in what they want, which is fine, I wish them luck, however I'm happy they didn't like any of mine since I would have had to have let them go home empty handed anyways.
However, as it turned out, I would have been crushed for letting this bunny go and didn't even know it. These photo's were taken the day AFTER the NYC couple visited and I really got to see what a wonderful rabbit I could have let go of. He's a total ham, so calm and sweet.. He sat on this chair for over a half hour while I was looking for the tophat (it was in a box with dolls...hehe). He's just so easy to work with too, he has lovely confirmation (although, not perfect..he's quite nice though) and willing put up with my posing him, sticking hats on him and primping him in general.
He does have a lot of maturing left to do before I consider adding him to my breeding herd, however he has a wonderful foundation of what I look for and I'm very blessed he's still here. I'll admit though, he's a little gangly right now but I think he's going to be quite the cutie pie when he's older! So hooray! Another bunny for me to obsess over. He's officially been named Keyper (Keeper).
Friday, December 19, 2008
Snow flakes
So photo's finally got a chance today. Thankfully it only lightly started snowing when I got to it. Each bunny had a one minute tops photo shoot, so do not expect any great photography skills taking place here. My camera does best in outdoor light (only way I keep it from looking very blurry) but it's A) too cold for me and the bunnies and B) either lack of daylight or good weather to really ever get to photo's in my spare time. Alas, I got some..and they are adorable!
The following bunnies are all bucks, and .....all available. I did a bunny search last night, since I've had some lovely people inquire to me for bunnies and came up with this little group. I'm not in the business of selling bunnies or anything, in fact I love all of these too! But when lovely homes come along and if I can give them a fantastic match, then I feel that's best. No matter how much I love them all here, I can't give them a full families worth of attention each. :) Anyhow... onto the bunnies!
This first little guy here, is well..kinda shy. He opens up, no worries there. He's a really cutie patootie also. His head is starting to mature and oh my goodness, I just want to kiss his cheeks. He's a lovely chunky monkey in body style and just all over a beautiful little rabbit. I am keeping his brother (expect to see photo's of him in a post soon too!) so I decided to let him go. His mom is one of my lovely old gals, Althea. His sire is Belkin. Just a super little mix and a really cute little bunny. He'll mature nicely to a good three pounds (he loves food and he's pudgy right now), but he's small and will continue to mature and fill out into a very pretty bunny.
This second little guy, is Mr. Lap bunbun. He's, well...very reserved. He enjoys being petted but is not highly into exploring and forgetting about you. He would rather munch on fruit puffs and sit in your lap all day long. Because of that, my short photo session was a flop. He kept trying to come on the chair and back to safety. Poor little guy. He needs a really loving and calm home I think, he would just adore that. He's also pretty small, well under three pounds. His half butterfly or mustache adds to the cuteness factor. He's a mix of bloodlines, but his sire is EP and he shares many of EP's cute qualities.
Next up is Tiny Timmie.. maybe? Timmie isn't a really cute name but oh well, for today...he's Timmie. Timmie here is eight weeks old and just looks downright silly next to these slightly older boys. He's gangly..and well...silly looking in general. He's such a cutie though! I know exactly what he'll look like, but it's a little hard to see it right now unless you watch these bunnies do this (yep, they all get a little goofy looking at this age, which is why...I normally don't photograph them when they are this old..hehe). Timmie here is tiny! I can sit him in my hand. He's be pretty small grown up too but he's a pudgy little guy. Look how fat and round his head is! Oh my! And his body is like a softball. So cute...
I saved the best for last... a fuzzy Holland. Honestly he's only available because I do not have enough time to seriously brush him weekly and it is just not fair of me. I'd name him Chewy, for lack of a better name but I'm gonna go with dust bunny right now. Basically, yes...he's not named either (if I name them, then I have serious issues letting them go..figures). Fluffy here is just so freaking cute! He needs to be brushed about twice a week for an hour or so. His angora fur picks up hay, dust, whatever your feet dropped when you walked in the door... so basically he's a bunny Swiffer. He's honkin' cute though. His daddy is Posidian, and his momma is Molly. He's a beautiful little mix up (the fuzzy gene is a whoopie show up gene...so I didn't plan on a fuzzy, but got one...he's awfully cute none the less). He's maturing really nice and I feel temped to snap little barrettes and bows on him... I might do it. He loves people too! He's really friendly and social, which is awesome. He looks a lot bigger than he his, mostly due to the 2"+ of fluff he's carting around on him. His feet have extra fluff too, so it makes me laugh when I see the fuzz sticking out from between his toes.. he sleeps on his belly, back and sides...he's sometimes lazy but will explore if given the chance. Can you tell I like him? We have play time a lot, but I'm bumming over the fact he really needs more. Aw shucks though... he's available only to an adult or young adult owner...that will brush him and love him and pretty much assure me they will spoil him (well same for all my bunnies, they all need spoiling but you get the idea).
The following bunnies are all bucks, and .....all available. I did a bunny search last night, since I've had some lovely people inquire to me for bunnies and came up with this little group. I'm not in the business of selling bunnies or anything, in fact I love all of these too! But when lovely homes come along and if I can give them a fantastic match, then I feel that's best. No matter how much I love them all here, I can't give them a full families worth of attention each. :) Anyhow... onto the bunnies!
This first little guy here, is well..kinda shy. He opens up, no worries there. He's a really cutie patootie also. His head is starting to mature and oh my goodness, I just want to kiss his cheeks. He's a lovely chunky monkey in body style and just all over a beautiful little rabbit. I am keeping his brother (expect to see photo's of him in a post soon too!) so I decided to let him go. His mom is one of my lovely old gals, Althea. His sire is Belkin. Just a super little mix and a really cute little bunny. He'll mature nicely to a good three pounds (he loves food and he's pudgy right now), but he's small and will continue to mature and fill out into a very pretty bunny.
This second little guy, is Mr. Lap bunbun. He's, well...very reserved. He enjoys being petted but is not highly into exploring and forgetting about you. He would rather munch on fruit puffs and sit in your lap all day long. Because of that, my short photo session was a flop. He kept trying to come on the chair and back to safety. Poor little guy. He needs a really loving and calm home I think, he would just adore that. He's also pretty small, well under three pounds. His half butterfly or mustache adds to the cuteness factor. He's a mix of bloodlines, but his sire is EP and he shares many of EP's cute qualities.
Next up is Tiny Timmie.. maybe? Timmie isn't a really cute name but oh well, for today...he's Timmie. Timmie here is eight weeks old and just looks downright silly next to these slightly older boys. He's gangly..and well...silly looking in general. He's such a cutie though! I know exactly what he'll look like, but it's a little hard to see it right now unless you watch these bunnies do this (yep, they all get a little goofy looking at this age, which is why...I normally don't photograph them when they are this old..hehe). Timmie here is tiny! I can sit him in my hand. He's be pretty small grown up too but he's a pudgy little guy. Look how fat and round his head is! Oh my! And his body is like a softball. So cute...
I saved the best for last... a fuzzy Holland. Honestly he's only available because I do not have enough time to seriously brush him weekly and it is just not fair of me. I'd name him Chewy, for lack of a better name but I'm gonna go with dust bunny right now. Basically, yes...he's not named either (if I name them, then I have serious issues letting them go..figures). Fluffy here is just so freaking cute! He needs to be brushed about twice a week for an hour or so. His angora fur picks up hay, dust, whatever your feet dropped when you walked in the door... so basically he's a bunny Swiffer. He's honkin' cute though. His daddy is Posidian, and his momma is Molly. He's a beautiful little mix up (the fuzzy gene is a whoopie show up gene...so I didn't plan on a fuzzy, but got one...he's awfully cute none the less). He's maturing really nice and I feel temped to snap little barrettes and bows on him... I might do it. He loves people too! He's really friendly and social, which is awesome. He looks a lot bigger than he his, mostly due to the 2"+ of fluff he's carting around on him. His feet have extra fluff too, so it makes me laugh when I see the fuzz sticking out from between his toes.. he sleeps on his belly, back and sides...he's sometimes lazy but will explore if given the chance. Can you tell I like him? We have play time a lot, but I'm bumming over the fact he really needs more. Aw shucks though... he's available only to an adult or young adult owner...that will brush him and love him and pretty much assure me they will spoil him (well same for all my bunnies, they all need spoiling but you get the idea).
Friday, December 5, 2008
Winter bunnies
Ah, it has been a heck of a long time since I've been able to do anything with my website or blog. I'm so sorry. Bunny happenings have been very slow here, no breedings or anything of the like. The bunnies on my sale page, well the little broken doe is living with my friend and the others..well are either sold or ended up staying here anyways. Mabel is my baby of course now, I adore her. She's just soo darn cute!
Anyhow, back to rabbitry stuff. Since molting season is pretty much over I've been powerwashing the cages each day. It is a little too cold for it and it takes me about an hour a stack to really clean them well but it needs to be done.
I've been weaning some juniors and trying to go over some of the others and see if there are any I can part with. I came up with one to find a new home for today and another I'm edgy on. Both junior bucks. Very cute.
First up is the little guy I'm undecided about. He's a small little buck but I think he has quite a bit of potential if I'm right about him. His head is developing a little slowly, which might be part of my reasoning for maybe letting him go. Although I'm not sure yet, if you may be interested in him, let me know (might help sway me anyways! hehe).
He's overall a nicely balanced boy for being so small. A cute little solid tortoiseshell. His head I think will widen quite a bit with age, so that's not really a worry of mine. His bone is good and his shoulder short, although maybe his headset is a tad tiny low. He's Saynora, FRR and Pitney bloodlines.. a good mix of the countries top completing lines.
He's just finishing up his junior/fall molt, so his coat looks a little rough on the side. Yikes..sorry about that. I just wanted to get his photo's today but you can see below near his shoulder his molting fuzz. hehe. On the plus side he has a nice thick coat too boot.
Second up is the guy I will be posting as available (he is available if you read this and like him, email me, as it may take a couple of days before I get to my website updates). He is ready to go now.
He is an adorable broken tortoiseshell. His dam was from Saynora rabbitry and his sire is FRR and Pitney lines from a rabbitry in WA. Cute cross of top bloodlines in the country. He is available as a pet only to an indoor loving home of course. He is not available a a breeding buck, I'd like him to go to a wonderful home to be spoiled.
He's very well balanced and a beautiful bunny. His head is just starting to come in, and as you can see in the middle photo, it has wonderful shape and is just a fantastic bold and CUTE head. Overall great bone, good substance and cute as a button. He's a small buck, probably only going to mature at about three pounds. He's very inquisitive and loves to explore. He's friendly but a little shy when you first meet him, no worries though as he warms up quick and will jump all over you and hang out for some Cheerios's or applepuffs if you're willing to give in to him.
Other rabbitry news. I finally switched to ANOTHER feed, after three switches since the deadly Manna pro, I've finally settled for a while on one I like and helped create...still fine tuning and adding my own to it though. We'll see. The bunnies are doing better and several are back in condition, just some left to work on. The get to run in puppy pens and move around gaining muscle.
Lots of other bunny options and rabbitry ideas are spinning in my head of course, but time and funding will denote which if any of those get done..oh my.
Anyhow, back to rabbitry stuff. Since molting season is pretty much over I've been powerwashing the cages each day. It is a little too cold for it and it takes me about an hour a stack to really clean them well but it needs to be done.
I've been weaning some juniors and trying to go over some of the others and see if there are any I can part with. I came up with one to find a new home for today and another I'm edgy on. Both junior bucks. Very cute.
First up is the little guy I'm undecided about. He's a small little buck but I think he has quite a bit of potential if I'm right about him. His head is developing a little slowly, which might be part of my reasoning for maybe letting him go. Although I'm not sure yet, if you may be interested in him, let me know (might help sway me anyways! hehe).
He's overall a nicely balanced boy for being so small. A cute little solid tortoiseshell. His head I think will widen quite a bit with age, so that's not really a worry of mine. His bone is good and his shoulder short, although maybe his headset is a tad tiny low. He's Saynora, FRR and Pitney bloodlines.. a good mix of the countries top completing lines.
He's just finishing up his junior/fall molt, so his coat looks a little rough on the side. Yikes..sorry about that. I just wanted to get his photo's today but you can see below near his shoulder his molting fuzz. hehe. On the plus side he has a nice thick coat too boot.
Second up is the guy I will be posting as available (he is available if you read this and like him, email me, as it may take a couple of days before I get to my website updates). He is ready to go now.
He is an adorable broken tortoiseshell. His dam was from Saynora rabbitry and his sire is FRR and Pitney lines from a rabbitry in WA. Cute cross of top bloodlines in the country. He is available as a pet only to an indoor loving home of course. He is not available a a breeding buck, I'd like him to go to a wonderful home to be spoiled.
He's very well balanced and a beautiful bunny. His head is just starting to come in, and as you can see in the middle photo, it has wonderful shape and is just a fantastic bold and CUTE head. Overall great bone, good substance and cute as a button. He's a small buck, probably only going to mature at about three pounds. He's very inquisitive and loves to explore. He's friendly but a little shy when you first meet him, no worries though as he warms up quick and will jump all over you and hang out for some Cheerios's or applepuffs if you're willing to give in to him.
Other rabbitry news. I finally switched to ANOTHER feed, after three switches since the deadly Manna pro, I've finally settled for a while on one I like and helped create...still fine tuning and adding my own to it though. We'll see. The bunnies are doing better and several are back in condition, just some left to work on. The get to run in puppy pens and move around gaining muscle.
Lots of other bunny options and rabbitry ideas are spinning in my head of course, but time and funding will denote which if any of those get done..oh my.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Bunnies... hats...
Yes.. Strawberry Shortcake hats fit on bunnies so perfectly! This is little Chiyo, whom loves the little hat very much! Chiyo is a 6 month old little doe that I love to pieces. Isn't she darling?
Aneko here though, is not happy about hats...she just wasn't very happy about the entire ordeal. It's okay though, she's still very cute and was very kind to put up with this. Aneko is a five month old little and really is turning into a stunning little doe as well.
Sometimes ungreat events lead to great results
It has been a long time since I have actually been able to update, and you can probably thank the cold weather for that right now. I have a nerve disease that leads to my circulation being very bad when it is not about 85 degrees outside. Couple that with the dampness, and I'm pretty much stunk inside, outside of my barn chores. I can not even ride a horse even. I went out this morning, in a hat, gloves, long socks, jeans and coat. It's really quite funny, I would enjoy laughing at myself over it, except I remember the fact that four years ago I loved the winter and cold weather.
Although this isn't really a post about my health, I thought I might mention it a bit. One of my greatest reasons for breeding my bunnies for fantastic personalities, is because of my physical condition. I was in a life threatening accident three and a half years ago. I was in a trauma unit for weeks. I results in cracking my skull, braking five vertibrae and many many other issues (a bonus also being I severed all the nerves in my left ear, not only can I not hear out of it, I have constant ringing..like when you go to a concert your ears hurt and ring..mine doesn't go away though). My basic point is that a lot can happen to someone. I had a very long recovery and my doctors tell me I won't know the extremes of my injuries for another five to six years yet.
While I was recovering (I could not walk or move much for several months), it about the time I realized how much I needed to cuddle and love my bunnies. And although at the time, I already had been breeding for good temperaments, this is when I started to really want and have a goal towards producing super house bunnies. The bunnies were a huge part of my recovery. I always had a bunny with me on my bed. They slept and cuddled with me. It was fantastic!
When I was in highschool I would take naps after school on my bed and my lovely little ruby eyed white Holland doe, named Kissakei, would sleep next to me. I wanted to return to that. I had gotten so hyped about six years ago about breeding for color and show type that I lost a better goal of breeding for a loving animal as well.
I always kept a good eye on personality in my bunnies and refused to breed overly hyper or territorial bunnies but I've since just been fine tuning things even more. And I'm so very happy to have gotten as far as I have. In fact, it is a huge part of why I have such trouble letting my babies go. ^___^
I think it is fantastic, but there are some downsides. I've relapsed and been in the hospital several times since my accident and my bunnies, although cared for and all at home, do not get much attention when I'm not here or able to be with them. I've since been a-okay for over a year now, but it is a little scary knowing my brain might just pull a fast one on me. I also have to me careful to not hit my head, since even small bumps can cause issues. In fact if I hit it hard enough I may not wake up the next time...which may be a problem. hehe.
I just wanted to write a little bit about me, so whomever reading this can understand why I've become so worried with personality and why in the past on my own blog I really posted about how upset I was about people just breeding for the sake of breeding and not having good goals for the breed. These little bunnies helped me to heal and stay sane, to which I really owe them so much more and I really want other people to feel how important and how loved these little bunnies should be.
Personality is just one part of course, I still am breeding strongly for beautiful show quality animals, with lots of cuteness of course too! You will see however, that I am not what many people call a "color" breeder. Color happens here mostly by default, if at all. Bunny color genetics are easy (I'm happy to answer any questions one may have). I've probably had every colored Holland lop in the last 15 years and I'm just not interested in color, since I do not believe the color makes the bunny. The mind and type do. :)
Although this isn't really a post about my health, I thought I might mention it a bit. One of my greatest reasons for breeding my bunnies for fantastic personalities, is because of my physical condition. I was in a life threatening accident three and a half years ago. I was in a trauma unit for weeks. I results in cracking my skull, braking five vertibrae and many many other issues (a bonus also being I severed all the nerves in my left ear, not only can I not hear out of it, I have constant ringing..like when you go to a concert your ears hurt and ring..mine doesn't go away though). My basic point is that a lot can happen to someone. I had a very long recovery and my doctors tell me I won't know the extremes of my injuries for another five to six years yet.
While I was recovering (I could not walk or move much for several months), it about the time I realized how much I needed to cuddle and love my bunnies. And although at the time, I already had been breeding for good temperaments, this is when I started to really want and have a goal towards producing super house bunnies. The bunnies were a huge part of my recovery. I always had a bunny with me on my bed. They slept and cuddled with me. It was fantastic!
When I was in highschool I would take naps after school on my bed and my lovely little ruby eyed white Holland doe, named Kissakei, would sleep next to me. I wanted to return to that. I had gotten so hyped about six years ago about breeding for color and show type that I lost a better goal of breeding for a loving animal as well.
I always kept a good eye on personality in my bunnies and refused to breed overly hyper or territorial bunnies but I've since just been fine tuning things even more. And I'm so very happy to have gotten as far as I have. In fact, it is a huge part of why I have such trouble letting my babies go. ^___^
I think it is fantastic, but there are some downsides. I've relapsed and been in the hospital several times since my accident and my bunnies, although cared for and all at home, do not get much attention when I'm not here or able to be with them. I've since been a-okay for over a year now, but it is a little scary knowing my brain might just pull a fast one on me. I also have to me careful to not hit my head, since even small bumps can cause issues. In fact if I hit it hard enough I may not wake up the next time...which may be a problem. hehe.
I just wanted to write a little bit about me, so whomever reading this can understand why I've become so worried with personality and why in the past on my own blog I really posted about how upset I was about people just breeding for the sake of breeding and not having good goals for the breed. These little bunnies helped me to heal and stay sane, to which I really owe them so much more and I really want other people to feel how important and how loved these little bunnies should be.
Personality is just one part of course, I still am breeding strongly for beautiful show quality animals, with lots of cuteness of course too! You will see however, that I am not what many people call a "color" breeder. Color happens here mostly by default, if at all. Bunny color genetics are easy (I'm happy to answer any questions one may have). I've probably had every colored Holland lop in the last 15 years and I'm just not interested in color, since I do not believe the color makes the bunny. The mind and type do. :)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Picking rocks
I've been temping to create just a single farm blog, as most of my daily life seems to involve something more to do with farming at this time. But we'll see, for the most part things are smooth sailing here. Last Sunday, my Dell laptop, with everything I had on it, kicked the bucket. It was a birthday gift from my brother three years ago, but it's untimely death was not terribly welcome. Because I'm become so completely dependent on a computer I was in bad shape. Not only had I lost all my files, but I lost my emails and all contacts, which was hard. I know I had several bunny replies to send and follow up on, and I've been trying to find them all but I'm having trouble of course.
Anyhow, a bright light to everything was I found a new computer. Walmart (of all places) had a decent Toshiba laptop on sale, that very Sunday. Each store was given a handful or two to sell as a promotional event, and my local Walmart (Ware) I guess had no one interested in them that morning. So at 7pm, I made the goofy drive to the store and purchased it. It's nothing fancy, no major bells or whistles but I just need something that works for email, web and website silliness. So hooray!
Bunnies are currently doing quite well. We had a lot of storms this past week so no bunnies went outside in puppy pens to munch on fresh grass and get a good romp, but they are pretty happy I think. Yesterday I sold some of my very beloved bunnies to a friend breeder, it was really hard to see them leave and it's hard to be in the rabbitry and realize they are not there, but I know that once I sort out some larger animal time commitments, that I'll be able to devote more time to bunnies. Right now, I just can't devote enough love and time to everyone and it makes me feel bad. I love petting and playing with them and just hanging out watching them, but horses have really taken over. This is the soul reason why I have many bunnies listed for sale, granted they will only be going to very loving homes I approve of.
After the horrible feed issue of last month, I finally have a couple of babies in the rabbitry! Three litters were born this past week, and although their timing is not great, they are beautiful babies and I hope they all grow up happy and healthy! Crossing fingers here. Holland lops are extremely hard to raise sometimes and rabbits in general are just very fragile creatures. Although they have a high mortality rate, mine tend to do pretty good, but I always hope for a little help from some higher power to make sure they thrive and grow up happy. Now its only a handful of babies but it really lifted my spirit none the less.
The feed company is still "looking into" the feed lots and problems. I somewhat feel they are just hoping I forget about it or let it go. I guess I also feel frustrated as other people that had issues with the feed, did nothing. They did not call and report, they just moved on. It makes me wonder if anyone else even bothered to report it, so the company really has little to fuss over with one breeder nipping at their heels once and a while. Quite a bummer, but I'm learning to move on. I plan to rebreed the parents of that beautiful otter buck I lost (see his photo's on a blog post from last month).
I had a bunny I was bunny sitting go home recently. His owner also adopted another bunny as well. I feel stupid over the entire ordeal though. His owner is having some money issue (college students...I feel the pain too!) so I told her it was okay to pay me at a later time for the bunny and also watching her other bunbun while she was away. She also borrowed two carriers for the ride home. I've not heard from her since.... and I'm a little boggled. She was a lovely girl that called me nearly weekly, if not several times a week about her bunbun and other things. She said she'd call me that evening or the day after. I guess I'm just sad. I feel a little taken advantage of as well.
Granted it's not the first time. I've been listing extra horse supplies and collectibles on craigslist recently (and likely ebay soon...yikes) to try and make some of the funding for my horses veterinary bills. I've had people come and try to swindle deals at me and normal under pressure I cower and just agree. Confrontation of any sort is just not my specialty.
On another note, horses are pretty depressing when it comes down to the basics of it. I bought two breeding's last year for two mares (before the economy went into the bucket). One of the mares has been the very ill mare, the other mare refuses to develop a nice follicle and ovulate at all. After several hundreds of dollars on trying to get the mare with a good follicle, we've reach an end point, it's not happening. No matter the medications or anything, just nothing is going quite right. The breeder has said I can move the breeding's to next year, but the costs of doing that alone is another $500. Basically, it means I spent a few thousands dollars and will be expecting no babies next year and no chance of even thinking of making it back. I know horses do not make money, but it is not suppose to get worse and more difficult each year.
To my original title, if I had some powers to create anything right now, it would be a rock eating critter. Something cute with an uncanny taste for granite and slate. Either that or a school bus load of kids whom collect rocks. I spent the better part of the afternoon clearing a 10' x 12' area of rocks. And not just the handful or larger size, the small ones too. Because although the horses (and people) trip over the bigger ones, the small ones get stuck in shoes and hooves.
It's only 4pm and it means my short brake is over, so hi-ho its back to rock moving I go. :)
Anyhow, a bright light to everything was I found a new computer. Walmart (of all places) had a decent Toshiba laptop on sale, that very Sunday. Each store was given a handful or two to sell as a promotional event, and my local Walmart (Ware) I guess had no one interested in them that morning. So at 7pm, I made the goofy drive to the store and purchased it. It's nothing fancy, no major bells or whistles but I just need something that works for email, web and website silliness. So hooray!
Bunnies are currently doing quite well. We had a lot of storms this past week so no bunnies went outside in puppy pens to munch on fresh grass and get a good romp, but they are pretty happy I think. Yesterday I sold some of my very beloved bunnies to a friend breeder, it was really hard to see them leave and it's hard to be in the rabbitry and realize they are not there, but I know that once I sort out some larger animal time commitments, that I'll be able to devote more time to bunnies. Right now, I just can't devote enough love and time to everyone and it makes me feel bad. I love petting and playing with them and just hanging out watching them, but horses have really taken over. This is the soul reason why I have many bunnies listed for sale, granted they will only be going to very loving homes I approve of.
After the horrible feed issue of last month, I finally have a couple of babies in the rabbitry! Three litters were born this past week, and although their timing is not great, they are beautiful babies and I hope they all grow up happy and healthy! Crossing fingers here. Holland lops are extremely hard to raise sometimes and rabbits in general are just very fragile creatures. Although they have a high mortality rate, mine tend to do pretty good, but I always hope for a little help from some higher power to make sure they thrive and grow up happy. Now its only a handful of babies but it really lifted my spirit none the less.
The feed company is still "looking into" the feed lots and problems. I somewhat feel they are just hoping I forget about it or let it go. I guess I also feel frustrated as other people that had issues with the feed, did nothing. They did not call and report, they just moved on. It makes me wonder if anyone else even bothered to report it, so the company really has little to fuss over with one breeder nipping at their heels once and a while. Quite a bummer, but I'm learning to move on. I plan to rebreed the parents of that beautiful otter buck I lost (see his photo's on a blog post from last month).
I had a bunny I was bunny sitting go home recently. His owner also adopted another bunny as well. I feel stupid over the entire ordeal though. His owner is having some money issue (college students...I feel the pain too!) so I told her it was okay to pay me at a later time for the bunny and also watching her other bunbun while she was away. She also borrowed two carriers for the ride home. I've not heard from her since.... and I'm a little boggled. She was a lovely girl that called me nearly weekly, if not several times a week about her bunbun and other things. She said she'd call me that evening or the day after. I guess I'm just sad. I feel a little taken advantage of as well.
Granted it's not the first time. I've been listing extra horse supplies and collectibles on craigslist recently (and likely ebay soon...yikes) to try and make some of the funding for my horses veterinary bills. I've had people come and try to swindle deals at me and normal under pressure I cower and just agree. Confrontation of any sort is just not my specialty.
On another note, horses are pretty depressing when it comes down to the basics of it. I bought two breeding's last year for two mares (before the economy went into the bucket). One of the mares has been the very ill mare, the other mare refuses to develop a nice follicle and ovulate at all. After several hundreds of dollars on trying to get the mare with a good follicle, we've reach an end point, it's not happening. No matter the medications or anything, just nothing is going quite right. The breeder has said I can move the breeding's to next year, but the costs of doing that alone is another $500. Basically, it means I spent a few thousands dollars and will be expecting no babies next year and no chance of even thinking of making it back. I know horses do not make money, but it is not suppose to get worse and more difficult each year.
To my original title, if I had some powers to create anything right now, it would be a rock eating critter. Something cute with an uncanny taste for granite and slate. Either that or a school bus load of kids whom collect rocks. I spent the better part of the afternoon clearing a 10' x 12' area of rocks. And not just the handful or larger size, the small ones too. Because although the horses (and people) trip over the bigger ones, the small ones get stuck in shoes and hooves.
It's only 4pm and it means my short brake is over, so hi-ho its back to rock moving I go. :)
Monday, July 7, 2008
Massively behind on updates
Oh my gosh things have just been crazy here. It is coming closer to the end of equine breeding season, so things are all in a rumple trying to get a couple of mares fully ready to go and bred AI to a couple of stallions in the southern states. It's a fine balance of trying to catch the mares folicials at the right time and getting the stallions shipment here in time. It's not a quick and easy process in the least.
I'm also facing a scare with a mare with some major gastro upsets. We're started her on an ulcer medication this week, as all her blood panels and physicals have everyone stumped. Everything is normal and well, besides her insides being gassy. And though owning horses is expensive, it becomes particularly more stressful when a few thousand in unplanned veterinary bills pops up on the radar. It's pretty much a fact of life, we love our animals but sometimes extra care and emergencies happen.
Back to the bunny front, things have been alright here, although they could have been perfect. I did have some major issues with a brand of feed I had been using for the last two years. I switched feeds after several bunnies started to not look well, in fact I lost a great deal of youngsters because of the contaminated feed. I have calls into the company and feed samples from the bad batch sent. It's somewhat of a fruitless effort but should be done. Many of these feed mills for different companies process many types of animal feeds in the same machines. If the machines are not cleaned properly between types of feeds, mixes can be made. There is also a chance of inferior or contaminated ingredients being used.
Playing with the rabbits recently has been on the back burner. I've mostly been checking them and giving a few pats before focusing myself back on the horse barn. Its been painful to see the bunnies after having some pass away. I lost the beautiful little otter buck I posted on this blog a few weeks ago. He was one of my pride and joys. I plan to rebreed his parents once everyone is back up to snuff. In some ways, I wish I could have done more to prevent something like this. After raising these rabbits for fifteen years, every three to five years I run into a bad feed lot with the brand I am feeding. It's tough, and the feed companies offer little sympathy. I think they tend to focus on the fact I'm a breeder and not on the fact that I love my animals dearly and this just isn't right. I think it also is related to it being rabbit food and in their eyes, not a extreme investment in the first place.
I know this because recently I opened a bag of my horse feed (completely different company mind you, one that actually only mills equine feed) the bag had some odd looking chunks in it, which ended up being not well ground beat pulp. Not a huge issue but enough that a horse could possible choke or that the amount of water needed to fill the beat pulp could lead a horse to colic/impaction. (When horses are fed beat pulp it is soaked in water, as the pulp absorbs a great deal of water , great stuff, but if it is fed dry you risk making the horse quite ill when the digestive tract slows to a halt without the movement of fluids and the amount of space the swelled beat pulp takes up). Anyhow, the company flat out told me they had a problem with their supplier for beat pulp and have since cut off business with them. They then over nighted me a bag from a different one of their mills. Then also sent my local store two more bags for me to pick up, until they get the supply in the store restocked with non chunky beat pulp feed. They were nice and understood it wasn't just a empty concern. It is possible my tummy upset mare I wrote about above may have her problem due to the possibly chunky beat pulp feed, but we're pretty sure it's not the feed. I was impressed and confident with McCaulley's feeds for their response and actions. The rabbit food company on the other hand, not on my good list. It's a big name in animal feed and plan not to disclose it until I have things settled out with them. However, I can say they have an extreme amount of recalls on all feeds for other animals (from household to farm). So, in the mean time, I've opted for a feed made locally, by actually, some farmers I've met in passing and that are known by my boyfriend. I have been purchasing it from the mill, but feel better knowing where the ingredients are from and where it was made, because if I have any sort of problem I can be at their doorstep too boot. hehe.
On a more important note I suppose, breeding season for bunnies has halted here. With the bad feed, any does I had bred, aborted early (major issue I had with the bad feed). I am waiting to rebreed any bunnies until they have been on the new feed for at least two months. This means no babies until the fall, which is pretty depressing for me. It's better for the bunnies to wait though. I have some really fantastic juniors though, so I'm hoping that something in there will be nice.
Mean while, I'll be needing to go through the herd for downsizing possibilities. Because I keep so many of my litters, I've hit a road block of having, well....too many bunnies. And no it's not impossible to have too many. I feel it's too many when I do not get to spend time and love for each bunny. So a major downsizing will need to come into play. Of course, it couldn't hurt for my veterinary budget either at this point.
Other things keeping me overly busy.... opening a small business of selling gourmet dog treats. I love to bake and love making fabulous little treats for puppies, which have been well approved by many doggies to date. I've also been playing with the idea of making kitty treats and possibly adding bunny treats to the list as well (I've always made them, but perhaps there is a market for them?). In my lack of spare time, I fantasize about learning to crochet. I have the books, the hooks, the yarn....and patterns but no time. Someday...it will happen. Till then, my dream.. is well a dream.
I've also dabbled with painting and drawing once again. I did portraits in college of animals and such, and would like to get back into the idea of doing so. I think with the economy the way it is, that many of my joys and passions are really just not probable, as individuals are not really focusing on the "extras" in life right now. I know, I'm the same. I've become quite a penny pincher in some ways, although I'm going to brake my rule and give myself a treat. I'm going to watch a afternoon showing of Wall-E. It just looks so cute and I don't want to wait for it to come out on DVD right now.
Give your bunnies all a big hug and a kiss on the nose, and horses too. ^__^
I'm also facing a scare with a mare with some major gastro upsets. We're started her on an ulcer medication this week, as all her blood panels and physicals have everyone stumped. Everything is normal and well, besides her insides being gassy. And though owning horses is expensive, it becomes particularly more stressful when a few thousand in unplanned veterinary bills pops up on the radar. It's pretty much a fact of life, we love our animals but sometimes extra care and emergencies happen.
Back to the bunny front, things have been alright here, although they could have been perfect. I did have some major issues with a brand of feed I had been using for the last two years. I switched feeds after several bunnies started to not look well, in fact I lost a great deal of youngsters because of the contaminated feed. I have calls into the company and feed samples from the bad batch sent. It's somewhat of a fruitless effort but should be done. Many of these feed mills for different companies process many types of animal feeds in the same machines. If the machines are not cleaned properly between types of feeds, mixes can be made. There is also a chance of inferior or contaminated ingredients being used.
Playing with the rabbits recently has been on the back burner. I've mostly been checking them and giving a few pats before focusing myself back on the horse barn. Its been painful to see the bunnies after having some pass away. I lost the beautiful little otter buck I posted on this blog a few weeks ago. He was one of my pride and joys. I plan to rebreed his parents once everyone is back up to snuff. In some ways, I wish I could have done more to prevent something like this. After raising these rabbits for fifteen years, every three to five years I run into a bad feed lot with the brand I am feeding. It's tough, and the feed companies offer little sympathy. I think they tend to focus on the fact I'm a breeder and not on the fact that I love my animals dearly and this just isn't right. I think it also is related to it being rabbit food and in their eyes, not a extreme investment in the first place.
I know this because recently I opened a bag of my horse feed (completely different company mind you, one that actually only mills equine feed) the bag had some odd looking chunks in it, which ended up being not well ground beat pulp. Not a huge issue but enough that a horse could possible choke or that the amount of water needed to fill the beat pulp could lead a horse to colic/impaction. (When horses are fed beat pulp it is soaked in water, as the pulp absorbs a great deal of water , great stuff, but if it is fed dry you risk making the horse quite ill when the digestive tract slows to a halt without the movement of fluids and the amount of space the swelled beat pulp takes up). Anyhow, the company flat out told me they had a problem with their supplier for beat pulp and have since cut off business with them. They then over nighted me a bag from a different one of their mills. Then also sent my local store two more bags for me to pick up, until they get the supply in the store restocked with non chunky beat pulp feed. They were nice and understood it wasn't just a empty concern. It is possible my tummy upset mare I wrote about above may have her problem due to the possibly chunky beat pulp feed, but we're pretty sure it's not the feed. I was impressed and confident with McCaulley's feeds for their response and actions. The rabbit food company on the other hand, not on my good list. It's a big name in animal feed and plan not to disclose it until I have things settled out with them. However, I can say they have an extreme amount of recalls on all feeds for other animals (from household to farm). So, in the mean time, I've opted for a feed made locally, by actually, some farmers I've met in passing and that are known by my boyfriend. I have been purchasing it from the mill, but feel better knowing where the ingredients are from and where it was made, because if I have any sort of problem I can be at their doorstep too boot. hehe.
On a more important note I suppose, breeding season for bunnies has halted here. With the bad feed, any does I had bred, aborted early (major issue I had with the bad feed). I am waiting to rebreed any bunnies until they have been on the new feed for at least two months. This means no babies until the fall, which is pretty depressing for me. It's better for the bunnies to wait though. I have some really fantastic juniors though, so I'm hoping that something in there will be nice.
Mean while, I'll be needing to go through the herd for downsizing possibilities. Because I keep so many of my litters, I've hit a road block of having, well....too many bunnies. And no it's not impossible to have too many. I feel it's too many when I do not get to spend time and love for each bunny. So a major downsizing will need to come into play. Of course, it couldn't hurt for my veterinary budget either at this point.
Other things keeping me overly busy.... opening a small business of selling gourmet dog treats. I love to bake and love making fabulous little treats for puppies, which have been well approved by many doggies to date. I've also been playing with the idea of making kitty treats and possibly adding bunny treats to the list as well (I've always made them, but perhaps there is a market for them?). In my lack of spare time, I fantasize about learning to crochet. I have the books, the hooks, the yarn....and patterns but no time. Someday...it will happen. Till then, my dream.. is well a dream.
I've also dabbled with painting and drawing once again. I did portraits in college of animals and such, and would like to get back into the idea of doing so. I think with the economy the way it is, that many of my joys and passions are really just not probable, as individuals are not really focusing on the "extras" in life right now. I know, I'm the same. I've become quite a penny pincher in some ways, although I'm going to brake my rule and give myself a treat. I'm going to watch a afternoon showing of Wall-E. It just looks so cute and I don't want to wait for it to come out on DVD right now.
Give your bunnies all a big hug and a kiss on the nose, and horses too. ^__^
Friday, June 20, 2008
Silly blogging
Oh gosh. I've become an addict in my search for replacing my old toys. If you're reading this... please let me know if anyone will part with their older toys. hehe. I lost several of my toys in a move and to our basement flooding when I was younger and have recently been trying to find them at Thrift shops and tag sales, with little to no luck. Although I did score a really cute Strawberry Shortcake juice glass this morning! I just love it! Forgive me though, as my search has limited my website updates and my email replies a little bit as well. I'm just a little over zealous in my search right now and hoping maybe someone will read this that has them.
Of course, I am happy to pay for them or...even trade bunnies! Or other things (I bake gourmet dog treats and make lots of other little things for animals. Heck, I have lots of horse stuff too! Mostly new items, but thats another story. I have a mini tack shop in my house by default from my buying habits the last few years). Anyhow... I guess this is a plea, to hope in finding some older toys. So please forgive me for being so off topic and needy. I think with the current economy and worries I've just been taken in trying to find the nostalgia and innocents of my childhood.
So, I beg anyone that is willing to part with them to please let me know. I'm looking for anything to has to do with these, from dolls, plush, toys, cookware, dishes, books, video...you name it! :)
Late 70's to early 90's toys: Rainbow Brite, My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, Herself the Elf, Rose Petal Place, Charmkins, Care Bears, She-Ra (Princess of Power), Moondreamers and Glo Worms. Maybe even some Holly Hobbie or other 80's characters that are not ringing a bell right now.
90's to 2000's: Cardcaptor, Hamtaro, and Sailormoon.
Long list huh? I know.. I'm asking a lot but I'll cross my fingers. :) Thanks so much and next post will be back to bunnies of course. And to make this bunny related, I had a fantastic new owner take some an adorable little doe yesterday, which really overjoyed me that the little doe went to such a fantastic house bunny home! Hoor-ay for awesome owners!
Of course, I am happy to pay for them or...even trade bunnies! Or other things (I bake gourmet dog treats and make lots of other little things for animals. Heck, I have lots of horse stuff too! Mostly new items, but thats another story. I have a mini tack shop in my house by default from my buying habits the last few years). Anyhow... I guess this is a plea, to hope in finding some older toys. So please forgive me for being so off topic and needy. I think with the current economy and worries I've just been taken in trying to find the nostalgia and innocents of my childhood.
So, I beg anyone that is willing to part with them to please let me know. I'm looking for anything to has to do with these, from dolls, plush, toys, cookware, dishes, books, video...you name it! :)
Late 70's to early 90's toys: Rainbow Brite, My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, Herself the Elf, Rose Petal Place, Charmkins, Care Bears, She-Ra (Princess of Power), Moondreamers and Glo Worms. Maybe even some Holly Hobbie or other 80's characters that are not ringing a bell right now.
90's to 2000's: Cardcaptor, Hamtaro, and Sailormoon.
Long list huh? I know.. I'm asking a lot but I'll cross my fingers. :) Thanks so much and next post will be back to bunnies of course. And to make this bunny related, I had a fantastic new owner take some an adorable little doe yesterday, which really overjoyed me that the little doe went to such a fantastic house bunny home! Hoor-ay for awesome owners!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Never enough... hours that is
Time becomes more and more of a special ..well gift in our life. I can not remember right now the last time I sat down for a meal without rushing through so I could run off to get something done. Worse yet, I mostly eat while on the go. I'm trying my best to slow things down, but my gosh...sometimes things just get really difficult.
Bunnies do however, add lots of stress relief. I smile EVERY day I see my bunnies and kiss them on the nose and cuddle them. I'm hoping that everyone has the same reaction to them. I enjoy hanging out with my little bunnies and just petting them can be enough. Right now, I have a little doe, actually one I just posted for sale, sitting next to me. She's actually snoozing, with her hind feet kicked out and her front legs stretched out with her head between them. I wish my camera was within reach, because it would be a cute photo, but alas, I'll have to leave some cute idea images in your mind for now.
This is one of my up and coming stars, a little black otter buck. I just... love him! His overall balance and type look great already but his personality is just as nice too.
One of the most pleasing parts of my breeding program has been because of my focus on personality. I just love it when I end up with an extremely friendly baby, one that will follow you all over the place and sit on your feet, but as an overall, every single one of my babies has been downright.... fantastic! I'm so happy to have so many friendly and cuddly bunnies. I'm overjoyed when I receive updates from owners or even when I hear people visiting and seeing my bunnies, how they are just amazed at their personalities. My bunnies will sit in laps, be petted, be picked up and ...it makes me giggle a bit now. I've not had any of my bunnies bite me, so I think sometimes when people ask me if they do, or tell me when either a past bunny or their other house bunny nips them, I feel a little odd, as I'm not always sure how to reassure them that not all bunnies are like that. Maybe I should just say their personality is as cute as they are?
I've always felt a lot goes into how a bunny is raised, but genetics seem to be just as important. The old nature vs nurture debate of course. I can understand from a breeders point of view though, I tend to be quite picky about placing bunnies, and yes...I do turn down quite a few people, but above all else, my bunnies are for me. I'm not interested producing top show animals over personality. Personality with the cuteness is just a total added bonus for me. At the end of every day, my bunnies are truly pets. And normally at the end of every day, they get little good night treats and kisses or pats or cuddles...
Bunnies do however, add lots of stress relief. I smile EVERY day I see my bunnies and kiss them on the nose and cuddle them. I'm hoping that everyone has the same reaction to them. I enjoy hanging out with my little bunnies and just petting them can be enough. Right now, I have a little doe, actually one I just posted for sale, sitting next to me. She's actually snoozing, with her hind feet kicked out and her front legs stretched out with her head between them. I wish my camera was within reach, because it would be a cute photo, but alas, I'll have to leave some cute idea images in your mind for now.
This is one of my up and coming stars, a little black otter buck. I just... love him! His overall balance and type look great already but his personality is just as nice too.
One of the most pleasing parts of my breeding program has been because of my focus on personality. I just love it when I end up with an extremely friendly baby, one that will follow you all over the place and sit on your feet, but as an overall, every single one of my babies has been downright.... fantastic! I'm so happy to have so many friendly and cuddly bunnies. I'm overjoyed when I receive updates from owners or even when I hear people visiting and seeing my bunnies, how they are just amazed at their personalities. My bunnies will sit in laps, be petted, be picked up and ...it makes me giggle a bit now. I've not had any of my bunnies bite me, so I think sometimes when people ask me if they do, or tell me when either a past bunny or their other house bunny nips them, I feel a little odd, as I'm not always sure how to reassure them that not all bunnies are like that. Maybe I should just say their personality is as cute as they are?
I've always felt a lot goes into how a bunny is raised, but genetics seem to be just as important. The old nature vs nurture debate of course. I can understand from a breeders point of view though, I tend to be quite picky about placing bunnies, and yes...I do turn down quite a few people, but above all else, my bunnies are for me. I'm not interested producing top show animals over personality. Personality with the cuteness is just a total added bonus for me. At the end of every day, my bunnies are truly pets. And normally at the end of every day, they get little good night treats and kisses or pats or cuddles...
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Bunnies on the mind!
I've been a bad blogger recently, mostly spending my free time surfing other blogs rather than updating my website or posting on my own little blog. Tsk tsk, I know. Baking has taken over my free time, as I've been trying out many vegan ideas. I've also been terribly busy with farm projects and taking care of all the little creatures here. Rabbitry prep for remodeling is underway as well, all materials purchased (phew!) but installation is slow....very slow. Hopefully to be completed in the next few weeks, as I've very excited to start painting.
I have been trying to take all new updated photos, so no worries there. Above is a little tort doe out of Foxfire, my fox colored buck and actually, a doe I have listed as available. Of course, after watching this little cutie grow up, her momma may just have reserved herself a spot here, this doe is beyond cute!!
A new website design is in order I believe, so I've started thinking of new ideas. And of course, with my crazy life and never ending ideas, I have been wanting to start something that I'm hoping to get up under way soon!! Expect the cutest of cute and the yummiest of yummy things....to be available, someday this summer!
Friday afternoon I spent washing and (sneaking into the dishwasher...hehe) floor mats from the bunnies cages. I have EZ cage rest mats in with every bunny, but they need a bi-weekly washing. Which was easy to swing this week, since my mother is in California and the dishwasher is not under a keen eye right now. I also started washing bowls and crocks, but at 11pm last night I just could not do anymore. It helps that I keep a few sets of bowls around, so I can change them often but not wash them all right away.
Keeping a clean rabbitry is more work than really anyone would think. I spend a few hours a day, at least, cleaning, feeding, watering, checking on and loving all the little residents. But I still feel as though I am behind or am lacking in some ways. I think redoing the entire rabbitry will help with that, as it'll be a beautiful, bright and homely area to hang out and spend more relaxing time with all the little ones.
I have been trying to take all new updated photos, so no worries there. Above is a little tort doe out of Foxfire, my fox colored buck and actually, a doe I have listed as available. Of course, after watching this little cutie grow up, her momma may just have reserved herself a spot here, this doe is beyond cute!!
A new website design is in order I believe, so I've started thinking of new ideas. And of course, with my crazy life and never ending ideas, I have been wanting to start something that I'm hoping to get up under way soon!! Expect the cutest of cute and the yummiest of yummy things....to be available, someday this summer!
Friday afternoon I spent washing and (sneaking into the dishwasher...hehe) floor mats from the bunnies cages. I have EZ cage rest mats in with every bunny, but they need a bi-weekly washing. Which was easy to swing this week, since my mother is in California and the dishwasher is not under a keen eye right now. I also started washing bowls and crocks, but at 11pm last night I just could not do anymore. It helps that I keep a few sets of bowls around, so I can change them often but not wash them all right away.
Keeping a clean rabbitry is more work than really anyone would think. I spend a few hours a day, at least, cleaning, feeding, watering, checking on and loving all the little residents. But I still feel as though I am behind or am lacking in some ways. I think redoing the entire rabbitry will help with that, as it'll be a beautiful, bright and homely area to hang out and spend more relaxing time with all the little ones.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Kitties
Miyu, one of my rescue feral kitties I brought home six years ago. She will be seven soon. She is a total sweet heart and is a total blessing on the farm. She would never bother a bunny or a chicken. She, as well as the other feral kitties, all live in the house at night, but also lack normal feline actions, such as bringing "presents" to their humans. Although much appreciated.
They also have a series of various growls and noises that normal kitties seem to lack, and then...their size. These feral kitties range from 10 pounds to 19 pounds.
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