Thank goodness my first year of college is over! It was not easy to keep up with the rabbits during this past semester, I meant to breed rabbits, I meant to do this, I meant to do that, did it happen? Heck no! Ah well, that’s the way things go.
This past weekend I went down to Statesville/Taylorsville NC to the Greater Appalachian Alliance Show. It was a double youth / double open show, and while the venue was beautiful (loved the drive and scenery), it was HOT. I only took 3 rabbits down to show and I picked up my newest Self herd buck, Wonder’s Kokopelli a youngish senior black who took 3rd place Self Jr. buck at the 2009 ARBA Convention in San Diego. This little boy is by Bluestar’s Sterling (broken blue buck with 15 legs) who took BOSG at the 2009 JW Nationals in Columbus Ohio!
In Show A, I took BOG AOV with WWR Sisily and BOG Shaded with Keep’s Dallas. WWR Alladin took 1st place Agouti Sr. Buck, but did not advance. The Agouti’s took the breed wins, but the judge (I cannot remember his name!) really REALLY liked Dallas and said that he really wanted to have him go on, but he lacked in coat today.
In Show B I took BOG AOV with WWR Sisily and BOSG Agouti (may have been BOG, can’t quite remember) with WWR Alladin. I was helping to make sure that all the group winners were on the table and that the others were off that I missed the judge announce the Best of Breed. I clapped, not knowing why, and then he announced Best Opposite. Brandi was helping Lisa write for the youth show and said congrats, and I didn’t know what for! Turns out WWR Alladin took BOS for a leg! I was very pleased with my little boy, as there are usually not enough in the class for group wins, so legs can be hard to come by.
I really enjoy the time I get to spend just talking bunnies with my good friends in North Carolina, so it was great to see Brandi, Joni and Kristen! I also got the chance to chat a bit with Laura, and of course spend time with a very close friend who travels down to NC quite a bit for rabbit shows who is a local 4-H buddy.
I haven’t bred any woolies yet that have produced viable litters, so these upcoming two weeks I am planning on breeding every doe. Yes, all 8 of them! I’m doing the breedings that make the most sense genetically, based on genetics and type. Here are the planned breedings:
WWR Alladin x WWR Rowyn - Chestnuts, Opals
WWR Alladin x Keep’s Dreamer - Chestnuts Opals
WWR Alladin x Lyle Creek’s Charmed - Chestnuts, Opals
Keep’s Dallas x Wooligan’s Arabella - Siamese Sable, Seal
Keep’s Dallas x Bluestar’s Candy - Siamese Sable, Seal (Brokens)
Keep’s Dallas x Keep’s High Spirits - Siamese Sable, Black
Keep’s Dallas x Sisily - Siamese Sable, Pointed White
WWR Micro Ears x Keep’s Raleigh - Chestnut, Black
Wonder’s Kokopelli x WWR Audrey - Black (Brokens)
I’ve also got some Hollands to breed for a friend, but the does are then going back to her house, so I won’t have any of those kits. My hopes are to get at least two kits from each litter to pick from, and will weed down to my favorite 6 to hang onto grow out. I’ll be culling very hard for my own purposes, and watching closely for genetic DQs. I’ve got limited holes or else I would be growing out more, but because I want to try each doe with each compatible buck before I move her on, I have to be picky. If you are interested in being notified about a particular litter, let me know, but I’m going through these kits with a fine toothed comb and picking out what I want first and foremost.
Our last show before my trip to Sweden will be June 12th, it’s a midnight madness show down in West Virginia, so it should be a fun close little show. I’ll probably only show 3-4 woolies, depending on coat and when they were bred.
Keep a look out on my website for updates coming over the summer, giving it a complete overhaul and my “goal” from now on is to update it on a bi-monthly basis.
Until next time,
Kelsey Nelson
