Want to start breeding Dutch wondering about price

[djluster]

I am looking at starting to breed Dutch. After my problems with Bella my Flemish and the question if she is a purebred or not I want to start out right. I contacted a breeder in my area with very nice stock. I want to start with a really nice buck and doe. So my question is price since I am new to breeding I don't know how much I's to much for good breeding stock. I am wanting to breed for show quality.

I got a email back from here on two bucks that she would sell.
 
Black buck- has three jr legs, one of which is for a BOS. He is from the same litter as my doe Stiletto whose been winning a lot for me (4 jr legs, 2 BOB, 1 BOS). He's out of Rogue (RGC/5 legs) and Diego (RGC/4 legs). He has nice markings and a nice head. Type wise, I'd like his shoulders to be a bit better.
 
Blue buck- has 4 jr legs, one of which is for a BOB. He's out of Jada (Reg/1 leg) and I believe his sire is Stryker (RGC/20 legs, 3 BIS). Very nicely marked and typed buck. He just peaks a bit too soon in the hindquarters.
these bucks are 5-6 months old
She is asking 75-100 dollars each so I am wondering if this is a good price or is it high.
She has a few Jr does as well that I might get one of those they are less money.
Most of her Dutch go very fast
 

 

[TinysMom]

Wow - well - I know nothing about Dutch prices and its important to remember that prices are going to vary all over the country based upon how many breeders are in the area and how hard it is to find that breed - plus how well the breeder does at shows, etc. I think that the fact her Dutch go fast says something.

I will say that you want to focus first on getting the very best herd buck that you can afford. In this case - price isn't as important (I mean - it is - you will probably have a limit of what you can spend) - but you sorta need to really get some opinions on the buck and buy the best you can get.

I'd also get TWO does from the same breeder (more likely to have compatible lines) and ask her if she can help you pick the does based upon the faults and strengths of the buck you're buying.

Then - I'd try to breed both does at the same time so you have a backup doe for fostering, etc.

Are you familiar with the standards for Dutch? I don't know what it is - but you would want to study that first and see how the points are distributed so that you know what you need to place the most emphasis on for buying a buck.

Pictures would help!

 

[djluster]

I dont know if I can post pictures of her rabbits, they are on her website but since I don't have promisson to use them if I can post them or not. I don't know how breeder feel about that. If it's not a problem with most then I will post them.
There is also a state convenction comming up the end of next month. So I will either get one of these bucks or buy another one

 

[djluster]

here are the pictures that were on the website

the first one is the black buck the second is Blue Buck

 

[SNM]

What's the breeder's name. Reputation,sweepstakes, wins, lines, color,age, and location play a huge part on prices. She might give you a discount for a trio if you ask.

Those are fair prices, and she's been extremely honest with you. Up north around the mid-west the prices of Dutch are huge compared to in the south. I never paid over $60 for my Dutch back when I had them.

 

[Must_Love_Pets]

Over here we see Dutch from really good lines go for $90. It is insane!! They are very popular over here. Very compact and show very well.

 

[djluster]

Ok so then if this breeder Dutch's are alway showing well and most are RGC then that price may not be to bad. She has been very helpful to me.I don't know if I want to put a deposit on one of these buck or there is a state show June 25 that is where I will be getting him or a breeding pair. So I am not sure if I should wait tell I go there or get these ones. From talking to this breeder she said there will be over 100 Dutch there and breeders all over the state but she said her usually are sold before she get to a show.
I am really thinking I should get one if these bucks and then wait for the show to see if I can find two does from another good breeder. Since I think the one with the bucks only have one maybe two does available.
I know I am rambling it can be a hard dission making sure to get the right rabbits.

 

[Must_Love_Pets]

I would put a deposit down on them. She sounds pretty honest and you always have the option to sell them if you find better or keep them and just add another breeding pair. Not sure how you feel about that. If they are your pets it is not so easy to buy then sell because you found better. When breeding, I see it all the time.

 

[djluster]

If I was to get two does do you alway want them from the same breeder or can you get two from two different breeders

 

[SNM]

When I had my dutch, I wanted certain varieties from certain lines. EX: My grey lines were all out of LAYA lines. It just worked out better. You can get two different does from two different breeders. The main thing is that the does will be compatible fur and type wise

If there are going to be hundreds of dutch at the show, there will be plenty for sale. A lot of breeders will cut back the prices too just so they won't have to haul them back. I would get one of the bucks now. Ask her or around to see who else will be there that will have some available

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

I'm pretty sure I'm familar with the breeder. Her Dutch do go extremely fast and she is known around here for her Dutch. You would be starting off on a good foot with some rabbits from her. She's a judge also, and has been at this for a while so she really knows her stuff.

Good luck! I'll be at the State Convention over there at the end of this month as well. Stop by my carriers if you wanna chat! I'll have a sign out front of my grooming table with my rabbitry name on it.

Emily

 

[CCWelch]

Sounds like you are getting a good deal for some good solid Dutch stock. Ask her if she will give you a deal on the trio and ask her if the buck is unrelated. Personally I like the look of the black one more just because the blue ones eye looks a little unusual in that photo

 

[djluster]

thank you everyone for your input. BlueCamasRabbitry I am sure you know who it is as well. And yes she is a judge and has been very helpful so far. I emailed her tonight to let he know I am wanting one of her buck and I know she only has one junior doe avalible right now and she is only 3 months so if I get the doe from her I will have to wait a little while to start breeding. So i will not be able ot get a trio from her. my other though is to just get a buck and find two nice does from the another breeder. But having not been to any shows before I dont know if there are other breeders with as nice as dutch's as hers

 

[CCWelch]

If you get a young doe, you know her "quirks" before you breed her and she knows and trusts you. I personally would rather have young stock and raise them mostly myself for breeding then to buy a ready to breed doe or worse a ready bred doe.

 

[djluster]

I just sent the breeder an email that I want the black buck and her blue doe but I don't want to send deposit tell I see pictures of the doe. Also in talking to her today by email she has a younger doe that I's not breeding well atleast her first try so she offered to give it to me free and will try to rebreed her before I get her with one of her reg. Grand champions she said that she has given others away that were not doing good breeding and they do great for the new owner. She also gave me the email of another breeder/judge that there rabbits work good together since there line cross. I will not be getting them tell end of June plus in a few week I will be selling Bella and her kits

 

[Blaze_Amita]

Before I moved south, I raised Dutch while I lived in NY, I got some good dutch and just talk to the other breeders, tell them what you've got and that you are looking for something capatible with them.

On the two bucks, Personally I like the blue dutch's ears, headshape, and stops better, but the black morso over all. I had a soft spot for blues, so I'd have gotten the blue. :biggrin: I obught one from a judge, he was a gorgeous buck, did very very well for me, and I had a 'blue hen' blue dutch doe that crossed to MANY lines and threw good quality showable babies, so sometimes you might strike out with a doe from a little known bloodline(like mine) and get something good then. Just gotta know your body type and markings. I know a TON ofbreeders just look past me because I'm not a big name like others, but I do have qualitybunnies from quality breeders that I'm working with. So just be aware of all the 'little breeders' as well as the 'big breeders' talk to them all see what they all have.

As for giving away a rabbit that won't breed for someone, Try it! worse comes to worse you pet her out later. I Had a Holland breeder that I've bought a few rabbits from give me this one doe, she had driving to Michigan for her and couldn't get her to breed, so she gave her to me. On my thrid attempt to get her bred, I got a litter out of her and I kept two of the babies and traded the doe back to her. I haven't heard anything yet as to weither or not she rebred the doe or not. You could get some nice babies out of the doe she's giving away. I didn't have to trade the doe back, but she enjoyed pulling my hair and was downright irratating to me, an dnot exactly something I wanted in my herd, so I kept 2 of her babies that I liked instead.