Maukin
Well-Known Member
Wow....
Just, Wow.
I've just gotten done reading this extremely passionate thread on breeding and the heated opinions on the do's and don't's. It's amazing to see some of the knowledge and dedication to the different breeds.
I'll admit, when I started out wanting to raise Flemish Giants, I did not research. I knew there was "show quality" and "pet quality". I did not know, nor cared about what went into the breeding of these rabbits. Rabbit mate, they have baby rabbits, simple. You want a specific breed, you breed the same breed together. So I found a breeder of Flemmies and I went and bought a couple, then went looking for another breeder so I could get does for my guys.
Then I began to notice that other Flemish did not look like the ones I had. There were only "seven colors". Which one was mine?? All of these pics that I see of Flemish have ears that don't droop, but myone guy's ears droop, why is that? So I began to ask questions. Cathy, you have been a rock for me during my research and your patient answers to every innane question I've had for the past two months has been cataloged into my "rabbit diary". I've been to the Farm Show, I've been waving around pictures and pestering many of the breeders here in PA for opinions on my bucks and most have given me the same answers "I would probably not breed that". I've looked up their color,(opal) I've printed out and studied what goes into the different coat genetics. I've found so many faults in my bucks that now, I've got them up for sale as pets because they "are not part of my breeding program".A hard lesson, and an expensive one. Why?
First thing many of the articles on breeding is: "Don't buy until you know what you want." In other words, research BEFORE you buy. Don't base your farm on your heartstrings.
If you want to have a reputation as a back yard breeder, that's on you. If you want to earn the respect of the breeding community, you need to get it by showing your devotion to improvement of the breed and by showing that you are serious. That you can cull when you need to and know when and WHEN NOT to breed an animal.. And base it on hard genetics, not "because you want a litter from this one".
One dog unneutered can turn into over a thousand in less than three years. I can't imagine how short a time it takes for one rabbit to turn into a thousand. I'm not going to be the one responsible for flooding my area with inferior stock.
So what am I doing?? Reading. Reading, reading, READING. Asking. Going to shows. Getting a plan. And LISTENING. Listening to those that have more experience, that know and love the breed and can add more knowledge to kindle the fire of my enthusiasm.
I wanted to buy a quality doe from one of the better breeders in my area. (This is a funny story!!) I met her at the Farm Show. I wanted a Sandy doe. She bred Sandies. I liked the look of her stock. She told me she would bring one to the Farm Show for me. My six year old, James, and I went to pick her up. We stopped at Superpetz to pick up a carrier. I got a small animal carrier, big enough for an "eight week old rabbit". (Those of you reading this that are experienced Flemish breeders are chuckling right about now) Well, Bracken, whom I had gotten at eight weeks, was a tiny thing. So I'm expecting a.... well... tiny thing. Er--umm.. Well, I finally get to the rabbit section FIND the breeder and when I pick up my carrier, she just stares and says "You have a bigger cage in the car, I hope. She's not going to fit in that!" And she pulls out this HUGE, I mean HUMONGOUS doe-child. I thought to myself, that that there is ABSOSMURFLY no way that that was an eight week old rabbit. I asked if she was friendly and the breeder said "She needs some work". Great thinks I. Another antisocial rabbit to poo on my floor and then run.
From moment one, Arwyn (since she is the princess, she needed a royal name) has been a love and a joy. Her personality is sweeter than sweet potato pie. I can see the difference between my bucks and Her Royal Highness. Arwyn's whole being is different. She's built better, sturdier. More balance. And she seems to have more confidence in herself. It took seeing her and all of the rest of the show Flems at the Farm Show to make me see that what I was looking at home was not what I wanted to breed. Again. Experience.
I'm not trying to say that I don't love my boys. I love them enough to shove two scoops of pellets plus all the hay they can eat, oranges and apples down their greedy little gullets until I can find homes that I feel suits them. I'd love to keep them, but I can't. I don't have the space.
And so goes my lesson in breeding. I have to give up two lovely boy buns because I did not do the research needed at the time. Now they are not bad rabbits. But do I want a rabbitry or a house zoo? Do I want animals that are relative to my breeding program, improving the breed, or do I wan to be a back yard operation pushing inferiorly bred animals to those ignorant of what they should look and act like? Do I want good tempered buns, or do I want ones that are antisocial and wil probably have their family getting tired of them shortly and giving them to an auction or shelter?
What I want is to become part of my rabbit breeding community. And part of that is to learn from my mistakes and to go on. Part of that is to take every opinion seriously, weigh it, and then make my decisions carefully, not rashly and based more on heart than practicality and finance.
The heart is a powerful thing. It can lead you on all sorts of adventures. But what I'm learning is keeping your head is what's best for your farm.
Just, Wow.
I've just gotten done reading this extremely passionate thread on breeding and the heated opinions on the do's and don't's. It's amazing to see some of the knowledge and dedication to the different breeds.
I'll admit, when I started out wanting to raise Flemish Giants, I did not research. I knew there was "show quality" and "pet quality". I did not know, nor cared about what went into the breeding of these rabbits. Rabbit mate, they have baby rabbits, simple. You want a specific breed, you breed the same breed together. So I found a breeder of Flemmies and I went and bought a couple, then went looking for another breeder so I could get does for my guys.
Then I began to notice that other Flemish did not look like the ones I had. There were only "seven colors". Which one was mine?? All of these pics that I see of Flemish have ears that don't droop, but myone guy's ears droop, why is that? So I began to ask questions. Cathy, you have been a rock for me during my research and your patient answers to every innane question I've had for the past two months has been cataloged into my "rabbit diary". I've been to the Farm Show, I've been waving around pictures and pestering many of the breeders here in PA for opinions on my bucks and most have given me the same answers "I would probably not breed that". I've looked up their color,(opal) I've printed out and studied what goes into the different coat genetics. I've found so many faults in my bucks that now, I've got them up for sale as pets because they "are not part of my breeding program".A hard lesson, and an expensive one. Why?
First thing many of the articles on breeding is: "Don't buy until you know what you want." In other words, research BEFORE you buy. Don't base your farm on your heartstrings.
If you want to have a reputation as a back yard breeder, that's on you. If you want to earn the respect of the breeding community, you need to get it by showing your devotion to improvement of the breed and by showing that you are serious. That you can cull when you need to and know when and WHEN NOT to breed an animal.. And base it on hard genetics, not "because you want a litter from this one".
One dog unneutered can turn into over a thousand in less than three years. I can't imagine how short a time it takes for one rabbit to turn into a thousand. I'm not going to be the one responsible for flooding my area with inferior stock.
So what am I doing?? Reading. Reading, reading, READING. Asking. Going to shows. Getting a plan. And LISTENING. Listening to those that have more experience, that know and love the breed and can add more knowledge to kindle the fire of my enthusiasm.
I wanted to buy a quality doe from one of the better breeders in my area. (This is a funny story!!) I met her at the Farm Show. I wanted a Sandy doe. She bred Sandies. I liked the look of her stock. She told me she would bring one to the Farm Show for me. My six year old, James, and I went to pick her up. We stopped at Superpetz to pick up a carrier. I got a small animal carrier, big enough for an "eight week old rabbit". (Those of you reading this that are experienced Flemish breeders are chuckling right about now) Well, Bracken, whom I had gotten at eight weeks, was a tiny thing. So I'm expecting a.... well... tiny thing. Er--umm.. Well, I finally get to the rabbit section FIND the breeder and when I pick up my carrier, she just stares and says "You have a bigger cage in the car, I hope. She's not going to fit in that!" And she pulls out this HUGE, I mean HUMONGOUS doe-child. I thought to myself, that that there is ABSOSMURFLY no way that that was an eight week old rabbit. I asked if she was friendly and the breeder said "She needs some work". Great thinks I. Another antisocial rabbit to poo on my floor and then run.
From moment one, Arwyn (since she is the princess, she needed a royal name) has been a love and a joy. Her personality is sweeter than sweet potato pie. I can see the difference between my bucks and Her Royal Highness. Arwyn's whole being is different. She's built better, sturdier. More balance. And she seems to have more confidence in herself. It took seeing her and all of the rest of the show Flems at the Farm Show to make me see that what I was looking at home was not what I wanted to breed. Again. Experience.
I'm not trying to say that I don't love my boys. I love them enough to shove two scoops of pellets plus all the hay they can eat, oranges and apples down their greedy little gullets until I can find homes that I feel suits them. I'd love to keep them, but I can't. I don't have the space.
And so goes my lesson in breeding. I have to give up two lovely boy buns because I did not do the research needed at the time. Now they are not bad rabbits. But do I want a rabbitry or a house zoo? Do I want animals that are relative to my breeding program, improving the breed, or do I wan to be a back yard operation pushing inferiorly bred animals to those ignorant of what they should look and act like? Do I want good tempered buns, or do I want ones that are antisocial and wil probably have their family getting tired of them shortly and giving them to an auction or shelter?
What I want is to become part of my rabbit breeding community. And part of that is to learn from my mistakes and to go on. Part of that is to take every opinion seriously, weigh it, and then make my decisions carefully, not rashly and based more on heart than practicality and finance.
The heart is a powerful thing. It can lead you on all sorts of adventures. But what I'm learning is keeping your head is what's best for your farm.
