Texan Tales (& Tails) - by TinysMom

[TinysMom]

No pictures - hopefully I'll do some soon. However, today I went through the top 7 "kids" that are in cages and wrote down their weights, special things I noticed, ear length, etc.

My absolute favorite is a buck that is 7 pounds and 7 1/2 ounces. I LOVE his type and he is developing a lot like his daddy.

There is also a doe that is 6 pounds and 2 ounces - she has very nice type and ring color.

One of the other ones (a girl if I remember right) - is 6 pounds and 14 ounces and she has very nice ring color, nice type and I know this will sound funny to non-breeders...but a nice full rear.

Of the seven, I will probably be keeping 5 or 6 for another month or two to see how they continue to develop. Three of them I'm pretty sure are staying - two are does and one is a buck.

I intend to weigh them every few days and go from there.

I have to say that I'm very happy with this litter - and I'm also happy with 2 or 3 out of Nyx's litter (so far) - but I'm wondering if they're steel. I'll have to take photos again soon.

 

[Never2ManyBunnies]

That's wonderful that you have 5-6prospects out of 7 - at least for another month or two anyway. What does the term "ring color" refer to? Is it the overall color of the rabbit?

 

[wabbitmom12]

Ring color affects the overall color of the rabbit, but it refers to bands of color that are on each individual strand of the rabbit's fur. You blow gently on the fur to see the bands. For example, steel gray will have a band ofblue next to the skin.

Having not worked with steels very much....I can't remember what the other color bands are, lol. Black and white, I believe, so that with steel gray, each hair has3 color bands.

I'm sure Peg will set this straight if I got it backwards.

 

[TinysMom]

wabbitmom12 wrote:

Ring color affects the overall color of the rabbit, but it refers to bands of color that are on each individual strand of the rabbit's fur. You blow gently on the fur to see the bands. For example, steel gray will have a band ofblue next to the skin.

Having not worked with steels very much....I can't remember what the other color bands are, lol. Black and white, I believe, so that with steel gray, each hair has3 color bands.

I'm sure Peg will set this straight if I got it backwards.

I really am NOT good with ring color discussion - but here goes.

There are different "families" of colors. One of them (the most dominant one on the "A" gene - there are 5 genes that affect color) is the "agouti" family. You can find chestnut agouti (which is the color of a wild rabbit) along with many other colors in that family. One of them is the "light gray" color.

In the agouti family - the individual hair shafts have rings of color or "bands" of color in them. Here is a brief description:

Agouti: bands of color occur on each hair - the colors of these bands vary depending on the type of agouti coloration.

​

In the light gray agouti - here is what you should see:

Light gray: agouti with slate blue at base, off white in middle, and light gray at tip, with black tipped guard hairs.

​

If you blow into the coat - you will see the various "bands" on the shaft of the hair. You want clear definition between the colors and not see them all muted together.

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/rabbits/a/rabbitcolors.htm

​

In the steel family - you do not have bands throughout the fur. Instead - you have a solid color base with flecks on top. These flecks are like a "ticking" throughout the top coat - but they don't go down to the base of the hair itself.

When you go to a show and are showing a rabbit in the agouti family of colors - the judge will blow into the coat to check for ring color and how "defined" it is.

I hope this helps.

 

[Never2ManyBunnies]

Thank you Peg and Wabbitmom12! Your explanations do help. I had heard of the bands before, but not as ring color. Peg, thanks for the link. Wow, so many colors/variations. I have plenty to read-up on.

 

[TinysMom]

Rabbit color genetics is a fascinating subject. I do pretty good with the A, B and D genes. C & E are tough for me sometimes and I have to reread on them to really understand them.

Just so you know...you won't find the bands/rings in shaded colors like torts, sable points, siamese sable, etc. or in the "selfs" like black, chocolate, blue and lilac.

Now have I totally confused you?

Oh - we just had a bad scare a few minutes ago. I'm not sure if the baby was up on Nyx's shelf and was trying to jump down (which is what I suspect) or if it was trying to jump up on her shelf.

But it got its leg caught and was hanging upside down and just SCREAMING up a storm. It took me a minute or so to get to it and it was screaming the whole time and mama was looking at me like, "Help?"

It did hop a bit afterwards - but I think I need to fix her shelf a bit better.

Oh well - off to bed - tomorrow I work with someone from KRAFT (the company I represent even though I work for another company).

 

[Never2ManyBunnies]

Rabbit color genetics is a fascinating subject. I do pretty good with the A, B and D genes. C & E are tough for me sometimes and I have to reread on them to really understand them.

Just so you know...you won't find the bands/rings in shaded colors like torts, sable points, siamese sable, etc. or in the "selfs" like black, chocolate, blue and lilac.

Now have I totally confused you?

I'm confused, but I don't think I can blame you! I think I understand about the rings and they only being on some colors. As for the genetics - now that confuses me!! I have read about the color genetics on a few sites in the past and realized it would take a good amount of studying to really understand all of it. Do you have any recommendations on books and/or websites that are your favorite reference for this subject?

I guess things are never boring with the babies around. How truly scary that must of been hearing the screaming. Hope he/she is okay.

 

[TinysMom]

Well - Glenna Huffmon was an expert on this subject but I just googled her and I think she passed away last year. I can't find her books anymore on bunnyrabbit.com. Here is a link that you can read a bit about genetics...

http://www.debmark.com/rabbits/genetics.htm

There is a new book out that I'm thinking of getting at the next show. Here is a link to the cover of it.

https://www.bunnyrabbit.com/equipmentpix/abcColorbook.jpg

 

[TinysMom]

I may have my first lead on a home for one of the "kids". I will be talking to the person tomorrow on the phone and/or via. email to find out a bit more about them - their situation, etc.

It is a person looking for a pet rabbit and she doesn't care about color. She gave me some information when she replied to my ad.

This is going to be hard - but I know it will be the best thing for the kids to go to homes of their own. While they were able to have playtime together today ok...that won't always be the case.

I also have to share about Crosby...aka Calamity Jane.

Her eyes are totally clear and she is not blind at all.

She is missing a patch of fur on the top of her head - she'd had an infection and it drained (long story) - so she's getting triple antibiotic cream on it - but she has perfect vision. I've been in shock - but also very relieved.

She's currently 5 pounds, 5 1/2 ounces, has fairly nice type and long ears but she needs to molt out as her coat is horrid.

Also - another short story. On Wednesday we were cleaning out the cages for Athena, Sophia & Nyx - so I put them in the dog kennel/run area outside. I put Sophia in first - then Nyx and they were there together for maybe 20 minutes or so...maybe longer. Sophia was obviously very grumpy but Nyx had learned to give her space when she's like this. (She also wanted to breed - badly).

When I brought Athena out - Sophia was upset (they used to get along fine). I'd get Sophia settled down and calm and she'd lay in the corner and then the next thing you knew - Athena was right in front of her - teasing her. Sophia would get upset and chase her off and look at me. I'd talk to her softly and she'd settle down again.

Athena would sit off in the distance and watch her. About the time Sophia was really relaxed - there Athena would go ahead...dancing right in front of her and teasing her to get her upset.

Robin watched them while I got the cages cleaned - and since Sophia and Nyx were out first - they got brought in and then Athena had some time alone.

I don't think she enjoyed it as much as she enjoyed teasing Sophia.

 

[wabbitmom12]

TinysMom wrote:

I don't think she enjoyed it as much as she enjoyed teasing Sophia.

LOL, Naughty bun!!

:shock:Wow, what wonderful news about CJ/Crosby! It is truly amazing what some buns can endure with their health, and still live normally afterward.

 

[TinysMom]

Here are the questions I sent to the person inquiring about buying a kit...


Are you looking for a male or female?


Will the rabbit be living inside or outside?


What type of cage arrangements do you have (or are you willing to make) for the rabbit? (Please note that they can not live on wire flooring - I use extra large dog crates for them and then let them have playtime in the house. A hutch outside would work IF the floor was not wire).


How many children and what ages are in the home?


Who will be providing the main care for the rabbit?


Do you have a source locally for buying pellets and hay?


What other animals will be around the rabbit?


Have you ever had a rabbit before?


Have you done any research about having rabbits? If so...where/what?


Why are you interested in a flemish giant?


edited to add: There was more in the email - but these were the questions I needed to discuss with them either via. phone or email before I could send them photos or discuss a sale.

Am I being too hard on screening people?

 

[wabbitmom12]

No, I don't think you are being too hard on people. If nothing else, your questions will get them thinking about aspects of taking care of a rabbit that they may never have considered before. And, just because a person doesn't have an immediate answer for one of the questions (or they have a rather poor answer), doesn't mean you will forever refuse to sell to them. It just means they need a little more education and planning. Any willing potential owners will probably be very open to learning from you, the breeder. Those who aren't...well, I guess they're the ones your questions are intended to weed out!

 

[TinysMom]

[align=center]:bunnydance::bunnydance::bunnydance::bunnydance::bunnydance:
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[align=center]arty:arty:

[align=left]I'm so happy. I think I've found the PERFECT home for one of the flemish giants. I've been so scared about talking to people and selling my BABIES....but I really enjoyed my phone call with this person and I think any of the "kids" would be happy in this home - I could walk away from them and feel confident that I did the right thing.

As a breeder - that is such a great feeling and I'm hoping it all works out. If I could binky - I'd be doing so right now.

So this weekend I need to take pictures of everyone - show and non-show.

Meatloaf's litter is ready to go too....well - once I take her away from them this weekend. Some of them are almost bigger than mama.

Now come the part where I need your help. This weekend I'm going to post pictures of the three rabbits that I'm definitely keeping. One is a buck and two are does.

[align=center]I hate naming animals.

[align=left]I want to go with some sort of Texas/Wild West type theme. I could go with Texas towns...people from Texas....Wild West characters.

One name I sorta like for the buck - is Dryden - which is a town about 100 miles from here - a mostly dead town. I don't know why it sticks in my mind. But I don't know that is what I'm going to be calling him.

So be prepared to help with suggestions.


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[irishbunny]

Oh I have one already lol!

 

[TinysMom]

irishbunny wrote:

Oh I have one already lol!

so share.....

 

[irishbunny]

I was going to wait till you put up the pictures, but Ennis popped into my head straight away for some reason. It's my home town and a town in Texas

 

[Never2ManyBunnies]

http://www.debmark.com/rabbits/genetics.htm

There is a new book out that I'm thinking of getting at the next show. Here is a link to the cover of it.

https://www.bunnyrabbit.com/equipmentpix/abcColorbook.jpg

Thanks for the links.

Regarding all your questions for perspective adopters, I think its great. If I was the interviewee, I would find it reassuring that you are asking these questions. It tells me thatyou are a breeder that cares about who and where your rabbits will be going. That indicates you are a quality breeder and it would give me comfort in adopting a rabbit from you. After all, both parties should be interviewing/questioning the other, to be sure it is the right match. More importantly, they are your babies and you have every right to ask as many questions as you desire!

Enjoyed the story of Sophia, Nyx, and Athena getting along (or not ) outside. Gosh, how dealing with multiple rabbits is so similar to dealing withkids. It seems to never fail that when everyone is content, one of them has to try to stir things up!

 

[TinysMom]

Well Cindy - in many ways rabbits are like "kids" and we often joke about how it feels like I have a "daycare" of bunnies when they're out getting playtime.

I didn't get photos taken today - hopefully tomorrow. Right now Meatloaf and her kids are out playing. Meatloaf is going to be separated from them when we shut them back up - they're over 8 weeks old now and can live away from her.

I'm struggling with getting rid of the three girls in the litter...but I will probably rehome them. The struggle I'm REALLY having is rehoming CJ (Calamity Jane). You say her name (or even just CJ) as you are by her cage and she starts sticking her nose out of the cage door for pets...for as long as you pet her. She sticks her nose out as far as she can too...its gotta hurt at some point - but no - she wants the pets. We go to feed her and she would rather have pets than food...and she asks you to pet her for a few minutes.

If she didn't have a spot on her head which doesn't have fur from the abscess draining - I'd offer her as a pet to the woman who is looking for a rabbit because she would make an AWESOME pet. But the idea of rehoming her is just tearing me up inside.

Still yet - I have to think about what is best for her...

I just looked over and one of the flemish girls is sleeping and moving her mouth and lips as she dreams...I wish I knew what she is dreaming about.

Oh well - more of an update later - hopefully tomorrow I will get pictures of the "Kids", the "tinies" and the "itty bitties".

 

[TinysMom]

Grace - I like that name - I will consider it and all the others that folks give when I put up the pictures.

 

[TinysMom]

First of all - the buns that are being added to the herd. As you can tell - I haven't edited the pictures at all.

Doe #1:

The Buck:

The 2nd doe: