FINALLY mom leaves the computer alone!!
Its been a long couple of days and I have so many updates I want to share.
First of all - Thunder has been reinstated as Assitant Matron. She has "reduced" duties due to her "condition". She and I had a talk....well....let me start at the beginning.
Mom came outside the other night and sat on the porch with me. We were going to have a "mom & matron" conference and she brought an apple for us to share as we discussed the current situation.
By the time we were done with the apple - there were five flemish and one holland lop trying to eat off the apple (everyone got some). I got the most - of course...and I was feeling much better between the apple in my stomach and the pets mom had given me.
Thunder started grooming me (I still had apple juice on my chin - it was a VERY juicy apple) and as she groomed me - she apologized for her attitude the other day. She said that its horrible lately how she'll feel ok for a while and then suddenly feel a rage come over her for a bit and she wants to bite everyone and thump them off. She said she can't get over it - she'll be fine one minute- angry the next and an hour or so later - its like shes over it. She said she wants to hide all the time too because she feels big ... and grumpy...and she's tired of hearing the girls whisper behind her back.
By the time she apologized to me, mom had already helped me realize that part of the reason I was so upset with Thunder - was because I didn't know how I was going to tell my mom and dad that my daughter was having e-lop mixes! I also explained to her that it is hard enough in this world to be a purebred bunny....but to be a mixed breed bunny (or couple) makes things so much harder.
Anyway - the talk was good for us (mom later said that was why she brought the apple over) and we worked out a few things. Until she goes on "maternal leave" she will act as assistant matron but with no flirting duties. Instead, she will do quality control checks to see if the bucks are happy with the does and she'll do food patrol to make sure the food gets out to everyone (after she's had a chance to eat).
I also pulled the other flemish does aside and had a chat with them. I explained that sometimes a doe will make a mistake and hook up with the wrong guy or for the wrong reasons. I explained that no matter whether the babies had ears that lop or ears that are up ears...we will LOVE those babies and accept them and love on them once they get playtime. The girls complained some and griped that I wouldn't take the same attitude if THEY were the ones who got pregnant - but I reminded them that we are a herd and we stay together and support one another and that Thunder needs our support during this time.
Once the does had scattered - I talked to the bucks and explained the situation to them. Needless to say - the flemish bucks were VERY VERY upset that they did not get to breed with Thunder and they offered to take Brady Hawkes out back and beat him up. But I explained that Brady wasn't totally at fault...and reminded them that we are a herd....so we will support Thunder and not laugh at her or the babies.
I still heard snickers after I hopped away. I suspect it was because dad was saying "Flemmie X e-lop cross = flee-lop" or "flea-lop".
In addition - when I talked to the bucks - both Rudy and Dukey made a recommendation for an assistant to the assistant herd matron. They recommend Cindy's daughter "Dotty".
I explained that I wasn't prepared to give a lop the responsibilities of a herd matron and that it should be the role of a flemish giant because we are more gentle and patient.
But Dukey was quite insistent - to the point that he sat up and periscoped for over 10 minutes while he argued his point.
It seems like Dotty has been spending several hours per day between their two cages. She chins one cage for 10 minutes and then chins the other cage for 10 minutes. She lays by Dukey a lot - but will also lay by Rudy if he says he'd like some attention. Both boys said she gives good groomings too....and is very patient with them as they try to tell her where to groom on their noses and cheeks.
I had a talk with Dotty. She has no desire for power...she just likes those two boys. She said she would consider being "lop herd matron" if I wanted to give her that role....but the holland lop bucks are up too high for her to flirt with right now. We decided to table the discussion for now and come back to it later.
Dukey is quite excited though - it is the first time one of his suggestions has come up for SERIOUS consideration.
Finally - everyone here is all excited and I'm trying to help them see reason. It seems like next weekend mom is going to have a "tattoo and weighing" party. Those bunnies that are in show condition will get weighed and if they weigh enough - they'll get tattooed for the state show in April. (Mom has to send in the registration by March 22nd).
Harmony is definitely going and I think Athena is too. I've already told mom - don't expect to tatto ANYTHING in my ear....I will kick and fight. I've tried telling the girls that it hurts to get a tattoo.
But Harmony's girls are bound and determined that they want to go see what a "show" is. Cindy keeps talking about how she got to talk to all these cute bucks from all over Texas....and how much fun it was (that's where she met mom). She also brags a lot that she has two "best of breeds" for the holland lop from another show she went to.
So the girls are scarfing down all the food and hay that they can so they'll weigh enough to be able to go. One of Harmony's girls wants to beat out her mama - but honestly - there is NO WAY she can do that. Let's face it - Harmony is almost 17 pounds....and if I do say so myself...she is in very nice shape.
Of course -it didn't help that mama said that the show rabbits were gonna be having their food supplemented with other stuff...like wheat germ (to make their fur shiny) and other stuff.
I don't care. My fur is just fine for me.
Besides....my grandbabies will be almost a month old by then...a good age to get to know them and watch them play.
So that is an update here from the rabbitry.
Oh - and rumor has it that we have a new rabbit coming in tomorrow...but he (yep - a buck) might live in the office. We'll have pictures once he gets here...if all works out. I understand he's....white. (Like Zeus - my nemesis).
One last thing - why is it that when a gal is starting to show that she's having babies - humans keep wanting to pat her tummy?
Sheesh...its enough to drive Thunder crazy.
No wonder she keeps digging in the bathtub and threatening to have her kids in there!
Its been a long couple of days and I have so many updates I want to share.
First of all - Thunder has been reinstated as Assitant Matron. She has "reduced" duties due to her "condition". She and I had a talk....well....let me start at the beginning.
Mom came outside the other night and sat on the porch with me. We were going to have a "mom & matron" conference and she brought an apple for us to share as we discussed the current situation.
By the time we were done with the apple - there were five flemish and one holland lop trying to eat off the apple (everyone got some). I got the most - of course...and I was feeling much better between the apple in my stomach and the pets mom had given me.
Thunder started grooming me (I still had apple juice on my chin - it was a VERY juicy apple) and as she groomed me - she apologized for her attitude the other day. She said that its horrible lately how she'll feel ok for a while and then suddenly feel a rage come over her for a bit and she wants to bite everyone and thump them off. She said she can't get over it - she'll be fine one minute- angry the next and an hour or so later - its like shes over it. She said she wants to hide all the time too because she feels big ... and grumpy...and she's tired of hearing the girls whisper behind her back.
By the time she apologized to me, mom had already helped me realize that part of the reason I was so upset with Thunder - was because I didn't know how I was going to tell my mom and dad that my daughter was having e-lop mixes! I also explained to her that it is hard enough in this world to be a purebred bunny....but to be a mixed breed bunny (or couple) makes things so much harder.
Anyway - the talk was good for us (mom later said that was why she brought the apple over) and we worked out a few things. Until she goes on "maternal leave" she will act as assistant matron but with no flirting duties. Instead, she will do quality control checks to see if the bucks are happy with the does and she'll do food patrol to make sure the food gets out to everyone (after she's had a chance to eat).
I also pulled the other flemish does aside and had a chat with them. I explained that sometimes a doe will make a mistake and hook up with the wrong guy or for the wrong reasons. I explained that no matter whether the babies had ears that lop or ears that are up ears...we will LOVE those babies and accept them and love on them once they get playtime. The girls complained some and griped that I wouldn't take the same attitude if THEY were the ones who got pregnant - but I reminded them that we are a herd and we stay together and support one another and that Thunder needs our support during this time.
Once the does had scattered - I talked to the bucks and explained the situation to them. Needless to say - the flemish bucks were VERY VERY upset that they did not get to breed with Thunder and they offered to take Brady Hawkes out back and beat him up. But I explained that Brady wasn't totally at fault...and reminded them that we are a herd....so we will support Thunder and not laugh at her or the babies.
I still heard snickers after I hopped away. I suspect it was because dad was saying "Flemmie X e-lop cross = flee-lop" or "flea-lop".
In addition - when I talked to the bucks - both Rudy and Dukey made a recommendation for an assistant to the assistant herd matron. They recommend Cindy's daughter "Dotty".
I explained that I wasn't prepared to give a lop the responsibilities of a herd matron and that it should be the role of a flemish giant because we are more gentle and patient.
But Dukey was quite insistent - to the point that he sat up and periscoped for over 10 minutes while he argued his point.
It seems like Dotty has been spending several hours per day between their two cages. She chins one cage for 10 minutes and then chins the other cage for 10 minutes. She lays by Dukey a lot - but will also lay by Rudy if he says he'd like some attention. Both boys said she gives good groomings too....and is very patient with them as they try to tell her where to groom on their noses and cheeks.
I had a talk with Dotty. She has no desire for power...she just likes those two boys. She said she would consider being "lop herd matron" if I wanted to give her that role....but the holland lop bucks are up too high for her to flirt with right now. We decided to table the discussion for now and come back to it later.
Dukey is quite excited though - it is the first time one of his suggestions has come up for SERIOUS consideration.
Finally - everyone here is all excited and I'm trying to help them see reason. It seems like next weekend mom is going to have a "tattoo and weighing" party. Those bunnies that are in show condition will get weighed and if they weigh enough - they'll get tattooed for the state show in April. (Mom has to send in the registration by March 22nd).
Harmony is definitely going and I think Athena is too. I've already told mom - don't expect to tatto ANYTHING in my ear....I will kick and fight. I've tried telling the girls that it hurts to get a tattoo.
But Harmony's girls are bound and determined that they want to go see what a "show" is. Cindy keeps talking about how she got to talk to all these cute bucks from all over Texas....and how much fun it was (that's where she met mom). She also brags a lot that she has two "best of breeds" for the holland lop from another show she went to.
So the girls are scarfing down all the food and hay that they can so they'll weigh enough to be able to go. One of Harmony's girls wants to beat out her mama - but honestly - there is NO WAY she can do that. Let's face it - Harmony is almost 17 pounds....and if I do say so myself...she is in very nice shape.
Of course -it didn't help that mama said that the show rabbits were gonna be having their food supplemented with other stuff...like wheat germ (to make their fur shiny) and other stuff.
I don't care. My fur is just fine for me.
Besides....my grandbabies will be almost a month old by then...a good age to get to know them and watch them play.
So that is an update here from the rabbitry.
Oh - and rumor has it that we have a new rabbit coming in tomorrow...but he (yep - a buck) might live in the office. We'll have pictures once he gets here...if all works out. I understand he's....white. (Like Zeus - my nemesis).
One last thing - why is it that when a gal is starting to show that she's having babies - humans keep wanting to pat her tummy?
Sheesh...its enough to drive Thunder crazy.
No wonder she keeps digging in the bathtub and threatening to have her kids in there!
