Expanding our rabbitry

[CoolWaterRabbitry]

Yes so we are "expanding" our rabbitry, really we're adding my fiance's new rabbits to it. We're either going to adding them to under my rabbitry, or he might be opening his own line under his own rabbitry name...still working on that.

Anywho,he'sbeen talking to breeders for weeks about different breeds, and he decided to get into the running breeds, since there isn't as big of a hype about posing and such, plus, most of them are bigger breeds and thus easier for him to handle (better than my 2.5lb dwarf breeds ^.^)

So he has decided on Rhinelanders, after he glanced over my shoulder one day while I was reading Pam's post about adding rhinelanders to her barn and he fell in love with the breed.

So after an 8 hour day of driving, we ended up bringing 6 of them home. Really, we thought that we'd only be bringing home 3 or 4... but the breeder had wonderful stock so we settled on 2 bucks and 4 does. The breeder has shown and placed very well at nationals, has a huge herd of G. Champs, and has bloodlines from nearly all of the rhinelander breeders in the surrounding area, plus has imported from germany. All the stock we bought today has german lines and besides one or two of the does having minor coloration faults, they are all wonderful in type and lineage.

I'm settled with my havanas and dwarf hotots, and now my fiance is bouncing off the walls with his breed.

Just thought I'd share as we're both very very tired, but thrilled as well!

*will get pics up tomorrow after they all settle in

 

[mewlingcricket]

Very cool, congrats on the new arrivals. When I first started out my husband said the bunnies would be my thing, he would build cages and exercise runs for me but that was his only part in the whole thing. Now he helps me cut their nails, and feed them, he also pets and talks to them.....it is so cute (although it would drive him nuts to hear me say that!) Its awesome when it is something u can do together.

 

[lelanatty]

Congratulations on the Rhinelanders! Looking forward to seeing pictures. I haven't ever seen one except the ARBA web site's breed picture.
Good luck to your husband in all his bunny endeavors! And to you also!

 

[Silver Star Rabbitry]

Congratulations! Who did you get them from?

Emily

Silver Star Rabbitry
Raising and Showing Quality Silver Martens in North Louisiana

http://silverstarsilvermartens.webs.com/
http://silverstarrabbitry.blogspot.com/

[email protected]

 

[CoolWaterRabbitry]

Thanks!

We bought them from Evelyn Cunningham of Top Note Calico Rabbitry,who lives about 4 hours north of us But she has really nice stock.

Along with the german lines, her herd consists of the Halsey family bloodlines, who have been breeding rhinelanders for a good...20 years I think and run a rabbitry of somewhere over 200 holes, of rhinelander, tan, english spot etc. She also has Courtney DuCharme's bloodlines.

I believe she also does have Lorena Ferchaud, of Rough and Ready Rhinelanders out in california bloodlines as well.



So far we are loving this new breed, they aren't afraid of really anything which can be good or bad:biggrin: To prove that, on the car ride home, which a few of them have never been in a car since they're still young jrs, we pulled over to double check water and hay, the second I opened the carrier one of the does popped out and jumped onto of the boy's carrier. Needless to say we had fun catching her.

But they are also very sweet too and love the attention, just with a big naughty side too. :devil

 

[CoolWaterRabbitry]

Picture time!

Bare with me, I had to use my phone camera, and deal with 6 'teenage' rabbits that had better things to do then sit for their pictures, and being a breed that is not shown posed...yeah well they know it too.



Haley: She is the oldest jr out of the group, she's a tad bit 'messy' with her spotting, but has nice type and we have a buck that should clean the spots up a bit.

Zandra: She'sconsidered a "marked charlie"with only having one black/orange spot on either side, but her face is clean, spine strip is good and has a nice background and lovely type.

Lacey: Isa bitoffin a way that she has black on both sides, but only one little orange spot on her right side. But like the others, she's clean faced and lovely type.

Claire: Now Claire is a full charlie, but had two wonderfully marked parents, from what I've heard, Charlie's spots are hidden, so hopefully a nicely spotted buck will bring them out, some breeders curse them, others use them like any other...a learning process I guess.

Left side:

Right Side:

Now the bucks:

Bo: He has a ton of color on both sides that we're hoping can even out the girls that have very few, he's a big boy with be ears that, when he's relaxed, he likes to try and make himself a lop.

Right Side:

Left Side(don't really know what he's looking at in this one):

Owen: He's the younger jr (they all are jrs) with cleaner spots for our doe that is a bit 'messy' in her side markings. He's not as brave as the rest, but I'm sure he'll get there in a matter of days.

hehehe his head moved in the pic

I don't know why some only have onne picture, as I took two pics of each..ah well.

Overall, they all have wonderful pedigrees, lovely clean faces and spine stripes and all hold a good amount of orange and black, and beautiful type. Markings just need to be cleaned up a bit.

That's all for now.

 

[mewlingcricket]

Wow, I had never seen this breed before, they are really cool. I love the stripe! You guys got some beautiful bunnies, which makes the 8 hr round trip seem not so bad. (I understand, when I was getting my ND's I went on an 8 hour trek around my state, when I got home i was exhausted and thrilled) Best of luck with your new buns!!

 

[CoolWaterRabbitry]

Thank you, lol yes it was tiring but very worth it. I believe the breeder said that the rhinelander came about by crossing an english spot with a harlequin..not 100% sure if I remembered it right though lol

 

[lelanatty]

Wow they are great! Again best of luck!

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

Congratulations!! Your new bunnies look so pretty! Rhinelanders are such a cool looking breed.

Emily

 

[woahlookitsme]

YAY more running breeds Be sure to practice with the babies. I will start at about 3-4 weeks of age to make them comfortable on the table.

Congratulations on your new breed. Rhinelanders are very scarce in Texas, but it sounds like you got a really nice deal.

 

[butsy]

i love the markings, they are beautiful !