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HHR (Holly's Hollands Rabbitry) is now on Pinterest! I have many boards filled with rabbit care, breeding and raising rabbits, training rabbits, and so much more!
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Sorry it's been so long since my last blog! Almost two weeks, looking back on it now. I've been pretty busy, but not much busier than usual (besides lots of boarding), so there's really not much excuse except that...I forgot. Anyway, I realized that I haven't posted Saige's birth story yet! I know a lot of people like hearing the birth stories. Each one is so special and unique. So, to get the point, Saige went into labor around 10:00 AM Wednesday morning, the 17th (almost a week ago). She started pulling fur. Her labor was extremely quick, or maybe Saige just postponed the nest-building until she actually about to have them, instead of doing it at the first signs of labor. Most does, I think, typically start pulling fur a half hour or so before they deliver. But just 5 minutes later when I went on checked on her again, she was in her box delivering. Her labor lasted about a half hour, which is a pretty long time for only delivering 3 kits. Her sister, Rosie, delivered 5 kits within twenty minutes. I think Saige had trouble on one of them (one was HUGE), but I'm so glad it was delivered quickly. She was in labor for a week with a stuck kit with her last litter, I'm so happy nothing like that happened again. Two of Saige's kits were DOA (Dead on Arrival). One of them was a peanut, so it would've died anyway within the first couple days. Our remaining baby is a week old tomorrow and so fat and precious. Saige just loves being a mommy. She's been a little jumpy, but that's typical of my does after delivery. They usually don't return to normal until after a week. If it's a girl, we're thinking of naming her (I know, I know, already lol), Peaches. I've been obsessed with peaches this summer and I love them. They just make me really happy. If he's a boy, we'll name him Momo, which means "peach" in Japanese (how do I know this? Avatar: the Last Airbender, check it out).
Look for my next blog post: Why Fruits, Veggies & Herbs are Important and learn about my bunnies' favorite snacks! It's important to go through your herd from time to time and evaluate where you stand. I'm going to be writing a blog hopefully soon (Lord willing), on evaluating my herd as a whole, but today I'm going to take the time to list my evaluations of my new juniors; Butterfly and Wicket. Holly's ButterflySTRENGTHS: ~Big head ~Nice head shape ~Awesome head width (between the eyes) ~Might have a butt skirt (she's shedding right now so hard to tell) ~Nice ear shape ~Nice chest and body width ~Nice round body ~Nice bone ~No slipped crown! FAULTS: ~Ears slightly long ~Lacking in crown height (also shedding so hard to tell) ~Slight weak ankles Holly's WicketSTRENGTHS:
~Awesome h/e/c! No slipped crown, ears are wonderful shape/substance/length, head is nice size/great shape. ~Width everywhere! Body/head/HQ/chest. ~Thick bone ~Nice round body FAULTS: ~Longer front legs ~Slight weak ankles I am SO excited to watch these two mature! I found some great articles while researching on this subject. I'm going to quote them here. From http://catalayarabbitry.weebly.com/blog/black-oil-sunflower-seedsboss: The use of Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS) is more commonly used by rabbit breeders of show rabbits but did you know that there are more benefits then just a nice coat? It is widely known that BOSS helps give your rabbits a nice shiny coat for showing but in the colder months BOSS can also help keep your rabbits warm. BOSS is a high calorie and high fat feed therefore we only feed in the winter months. The added weight helps to keep your rabbit warm in the winter months. From http://riseandshinerabbitry.com/2012/11/25/feeding-rabbits-black-oil-sunflower-seeds/: Rabbits love black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS). They are a great winter tonic! I only feed BOSS to my rabbits in the cooler months, as it is a high calorie, high fat, “hot” feed. So it keeps them warm and shiny, great for a dry winter coat. This helps by putting the oil back into their coats. ![]() Can rabbits make friends with other species, such as dogs, cats, and guinea pigs? YES! With careful, slow introductions, rabbits and other species can become lifelong friends. A really good book I like on the subject is Living With A House Rabbit by Linda Dyke and Helen Flack. It has chapters on introducing cats and dogs to your rabbit, as well as great potty training/house training tips and advice. RABBIT/DOG: Dogs are one of rabbit's natural enemies. Needless to say, if your dog goes chasing after squirrels and attacks birds, chances are it'll try to do the same thing to your rabbit. A puppy or young dog can just play to roughly with the rabbit and unintentionally kill it. The dog and rabbit don't necessarily have to be bonds - what you are aiming for is that they will at least not care about each other and leave each other alone. RABBIT/CAT: Rabbits and cats can be good friends, as they have very similar body language. However, a cat that brings small rodents to your doorstep may be tempted to do the same to your new pet. With introducing both of these pets to your rabbit, always take your time and make sure to NOT force the bunny and resident pet to be friends. Do NOT under any circumstances, leave the rabbit and other pet (cat or dog), alone together. Without you there to enforce safety for the rabbit's sake, bad things can happen. Make sure you also give the same amount of attention and love to each pet, as one can become jealous and act out. One of my new bunny owners had a resident dog and two cats before they bought their rabbit from me. They have 4 "phases" that take the bonding of the animals slow and steady. Phase number 1 is smelling each other, but not having any access to each other. Phase 2 is being able to see and smell each other (one of their cats seems pretty interested in Effie below). Phase 2 is in process for several weeks before Phase 3, which is having the rabbit out of cage, with the cats and dog, seeing, smelling and touching each other, supervision during the whole procedure. I think everyone should introduce their rabbit to their resident pets this way. I'm only a month late on posting pictures from the show. That's ok, though, right?!
This will be the last interview with Emma for a little while. I hope to do some more in the near future. This has been really fun, Emma!
Visit my last interview on Emma's blog HERE. My questions are below and her answer is in bold :) Q: What is your daily care routine for your rabbits? A: About 7:30-8:30 I go out to the bunny barn, and I even care for them in a certain order!. Not on purpose, just happens haha. So first I go to 'Dana' I refill hay, feed and water, make sure she's acting ok. Then Ashe and Shen (sharing cage), same thing, then Annie, Dragon Fly, Goose and Sivir :) All refill hay feed and water, make sure they are acting ok. Then around noon, I come out bring the babies out to the exercise pen for daily exercise, then I pose the babies, I try and get each baby to hold pose for at least 10 seconds, so far they are doing OK with that. I visit whenever I am bored in the day, posing adults, playing with babies, and I also pick dandelion greens daily. Around 6:30-7:30 I go out, water for the night and give a tad more feed if needed, and then close the shed. Repeat next day :D Q: What all goes into designing someone else's website? Do you just design it or do you write in the text as well? How much do you make designing someone's website for them? A: A lot of stuff goes into it, but it's fun and I enjoy it! There is different website 'packages' like, I'll make 10 pages and put content on 5 of them for you, is in the standard package. The premium I'll do 10 out of 15 pages, ect. I will also give you a shoutout on my FB page if you want, and possibly my blog! I also provide a certain amount of free pictures that I took of my bunnies in each package, and extra pictures are $.50 to $5 each, depending on picture. I'll add on extra pages for $2 each, put content on extra pages for $5 each (if the page has a small amount of content I may do a discount), you can get Weebly sized banners for $10 each. After a while if you feel like you need a updated look or need help with your website, I'll update it once, whatever you want updated for $20. I do lots of stuff designing, I'll put all the pictures in, go and edit the font/theme if you have a particular color, write in the text, make sure it looks nice if viewed from mobile, and all the other aspects of designing, every little thing! Like I said above, I do put content on some pages. The first website I did, I didn't get paid for, because my group reached 100 members and I did a giveaway of the standard package, even though Turtle Run's website had a few extra things not included...guess I was having to much fun! I have to hold myself to my rules lol. If you look at my page: http://pocketfulofbunniesrabbitry.weebly.com/website-building.html you can read more and see the pricing there! -Emma @ Pocketful Of Bunnies If you need a website designed and don't want to do it yourself, I highly suggest getting one designed by Emma! She does really nice work :) IT'S TIME!!!! Babies are 6 weeks old and 1 day (this blog was half-written YESTERDAY!!! Babies are 6 weeks and 2 days old today), so I thought it was due time to put them up for reservation! Here are the available babies! Visit the For Sale page for more info! Holly's Zuzu ~ Hazelnut's baby ~ DOE ~ $75 This precious little girl only has one ear. Her right ear was bit off by mama when she was only minutes old. She doesn't let that stop her. She's very sweet, and super energetic and playful. Holly's Misty ~ Rosie's baby ~ DOE ~ RESERVED! Misty is a sweetheart! She has already been reserved and was just listed for sale last night! Bramblehedge's Hazelnut ~ $60 w/o pedigree ~ $80 w/ pedigree Hazel is not a baby, but she is available. See more details on her on my For Sale page. The following rabbits are not for sale. I am only listing them here because some people may be curious about who I'm keeping and why. Holly's Ares ~ Rosie's baby ~ BUCK ~ RESERVED! I am not keeping Ares, he is being sold to a friend! Holly's Cisco ~ Rosie's baby ~ BUCK ~ WATCHING Cisco is a really promising little buck. He has an awesome topline and body, but his crown and ears....I hope those continue to develop in the right direction! Right now they're crazy! He has nice bone and ankles, which my herd needs! He has nice width in his chest, but his head is lacking in width. Hopefully it matures well in the next couple months. Holly's Butterfly ~ Rosie's baby ~ DOE ~ WATCHING This little sweetie reminds me so much of her mom, Rosie! She also has nice bone and ankles, nice width, and a nice body. She's developing really nicely for being so young. Her h/e/c (head, ear, crown), is better than her brother! Holly's Azula ~ Hazel's baby ~ DOE ~ WATCHING
My brother is buying Azula from me to show, and, eventually, breed. Even if he wasn't purchasing her, I'd be keeping her! Azula is looking super WIIIDE and has everything I hoped from this cross. Her daddy's head, ears and crown, and her mommy's body. This week I asked Emma:
What are the top 5 things, in your opinion, that it takes to breed and raise Holland Lops? 1- A lot of cage space! Well not a lot, but at least 2+ extra cages, because babies have to grow out before you can tell their true potential! And you'll always want more. always. 2- A strong stomach. Some babies are genetically deformed, and they cannot possibly live/shouldn't live. Peanuts will normally not live past 2 weeks, and Max Factors you would have to kill yourself if you got any. Sometimes you have to help pull a stuck kit, a mom dies during labor, and other things that can happen. It's worth it to me! 3- Time. Hollands need attention, they need fed and watered at least twice a day, in hot weather you need to check on them and water them more. When a doe is near her due date, you should be there, and check on her often. In a shed your Hollands would need the doors closed and opened, night and morning. 4- Money. Ok, ok, no you don't need to be rich, but a good Holland is generally expensive! Then the feed bill, cages, supplies...it all adds up! If your looking at raising Hollands to make money, well that might not happen. Most of the money goes back into the rabbits! You should save up and make sure you have all the supplies before your first Hollands enter the barn! 5- Backup Plans. Who will take care of your rabbits on vacation? If your sick? If you get hurt? What about spending the night with a friend (if your a youth), will your parents take care of them for you? These are all things to take into consideration before starting to raise and breed Hollands.. Below is the Q&A Emma and I had over the weekend. In bold are my questions, and her answers follow! How long have you had rabbits?
I have had my Hollands since Jan 31st 2015. I did have a mix that I got for Christmas a year or two ago, but she wasn't even kept at my residential house, and I didn't take care of her, my stepmom did for me. I knew nothing about rabbits, so I hardly think that counts. How long have you been breeding Hollands? I have been breeding Hollands since I got them! The first pair I got, the doe was pregnant but delivered one DOA (dead at arrival) sadly :( Tell me about your first rabbit. You mean my first pair? Sure! I got them at the same time from someone in Maryland, for $10 each. They were no pedigree and only petsbut for her, but she said one had been shown. They were cute and I didn't know any better. The buck was a smaller guy, a busy buck indeed, but he got agressive at me and I had to sell him. The doe was decently friendly, but I never weighed her, but she was big! She was pet quality for sure. Plus her first litter the one DOA and her second was 6 live and one DOA but she killed them all the next day..not mom material, right? What are all the rabbit breeds you have owned? Well the first one was a meat mix, or she would be good for making meat rabbits, not sure on her breed, but she was a bigger rabbit but still on the medium/small scale. Then I also have Hollands. How many rabbits do you currently own? In my dreams or real life? Ok, I know what you mean! I own...1 buck, 2 does and 4 babies...so 7! Not all are staying though...not enough cage space. If you could get another rabbit breed, besides a Holland Lop or any breed you've had before, which breed would you have? Oh the possibilities! Hmm, the Britannia Petite is one I like. My step mom raises them and really, they aren't what they are rumored to be! They are more high strung, but they don't attack you! But I also like Netherland Dwarves! They are like Hollands with normal ears. I like dutch too! See, I'm not sure! I think Netherland Dwarves or Britannia Petite. How much money, on average, do you spend per month on your rabbits? Oh gosh. I don't know lol! Bag of feed around $20, extra cages whenever I can..I spent $90 at the Ohio Mini Convention this year...and still have a list of stuff I want/need! I mean, after I get enough cages I'd say around $30. I always need/want stuff. What is your favorite thing(s) about owning Holland Lops? I adore their floppy ears and their upright pose! I kinda don't like rabbits without the upright pose very much..it just doesn't look right! And the babies are ADORABLE! Why did you start your rabbit-related blog? Holly's Hollands! She has an amazing website and I really like the rabbit blog idea. So I decided to try it, I never thought of it before really! I mean, Holly is the only Holland breeder with a rabbit blog that I know. But so far it's working well for me, and I really enjoy it. What's your main goal with your rabbit-breeding venture? Well, to have fun, learn more and improve the type! Eventually I'd like to work on improving a color, Like Chocolate, Orange, Siamese Sable or Cream. I really like all those ones, just have to figure out which one to work with! My herd buck carries chocolate and so does my current litter I am growing out. Fingers crossed for a good brood doe! Do you have a favorite rabbit book? I have not read enough yet! Rabbit Smarties books seem good, I bought one at the Ohio Mini Convention this year and I am enjoying it! But I have not read enough to say. What's your advice to a first-time rabbit owner? Don't trust everything the internet says. Don't feed any carrots, keep treats small, like a few times in tablespoon or less amounts per week. Most rabbits adore dandelion greens! Work up to where you can feed them as much as they want! Don't breed just for pets or for the heck of it. Don't mix breeds! If you are starting into rabbits for breeding, PLEASE research the breed first and get good stock, I don't advise when you start to do a color project with rare colors! You'll never have enough cage space. Emma also has the Q&A interview she did with me up on her website/blog. Check it out! www.pocketfulofbunniesrabbitry.weebly.com/blog If you have any comments, leave them below! |
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