Ranui Aviary & Farm

2008-09-12T12:23:00.002-07:00

Well, for news and happenings not much going on.

We lost both Bicardi and Skittles recently, so we were down to two bunnies and we decided that we needed to add some more. Bliss and Windy have come back and Bliss just delivered a litter of 9. So are buns are going up in numbers. Also looking for another doe or 2 for Keaton. Might get something from Crystal if I can get transport to Edmonton. That is up in the air so will see.

Kiley is going to be going back to Lisa this month as she has taken a strong hatred for Cola. Will be getting a trade/replacement next year, not sure as to what yet... Sorry to see Kiley go, but they just can't stay together.... And one of the times they are really gonna get hurt. So best for both dogs and me.

I have moved again, just to a place in Fort St John for now, the cats stayed in Charlie Lake and the dogs are at Brianna's as I was supposed to be in camp for three weeks, but ended up doing a service rig for a week. I'm waiting on hearing what I'll be doing next.

Not much else for news

General Updates

2008-08-21T16:18:00.002-07:00

Well, I'm writing this from camp so not too detailed.

We are down to four bunnies, two harlies and two mini lops. Though that could go down to three as Bicardi has an injury to one of his hind legs. I've told Curtis to keep him comfortable and not to move him much. Hoping that it is not a break. But I will know more next week when I get out of camp.

I've got the birds I have left for sale as I just don't have the time for them and I don;t think it is fair to keep them. I'm very picky on where they go and most people who have contacted me about seem to think I should be giving them away to them... Not what I will be doing!

I will be keeping the four buns, the two dogs and Peaches, probably the llama, but if the right home comes up he will be going. Everything else I am giving up for now. Hard choice, but the best for now I am thinking, especially when I am uncertain with how much I will be home this winter. I have taken the plans on how the few I have left will be cared for, but don't want to have too much to deal with either.

Will write again when out of camp next week!

Back from Edmonton & other news

2008-08-07T21:33:00.004-07:00

Well, I went down to the EARS quad show in Edmonton on the August long weekend. Was going more to deliver buns and visit than anything. I did enter Keaton and two of the Fuzzies that I co-own with Brianna. I didn't figure I would get anything as Keaton was finally losing that condition he had held for so long and the Fuzzies were more to make numbers. Well, Keaton surprised me again by picking up another 4 legs. 2 for breed and two for opposite. And the big surprise he was picked by Jake as the Best of Best Opposites! Was a total shocker! Keaton was supposed to be sold to a youth breeder in Washington State, but part of his transport was not confirmed, so he ended up coming home again with me. I have basically no bunnies left, babies that Brianna has, Keaton, and two harlequin juniors. Yes, two harlequins, I was bad, I picked up a very nice little blue magpie buck from Barb Adams, but he is super clean in his markings, hopefully he crosses well with the sweetie I kept back. I am considering keeping one of the Mini Lop jr does from Obsidian and Smudge, but that is yet to be decided.

Also from the trip in Edmonton, I picked up Ms Kiley, who is a new Canadian Champion. She will be going back to Calgary in the spring/late winter as I believe Lisa will have a handsome beau lined up for her then.

Other news, on a personal level, when I got out of camp this time the young man that I had been dating, surprised me by proposing! We haven't set a date(next summer), but needless to say I am very happy!

Not much else going on

Janine

Hard Decisions

2008-07-11T12:46:00.002-07:00

Well, things have changed a lot for me again. I decided last time I was out that with me being gone 3/4 of the month I just couldn't keep the rabbits and cavies. The Harlequins, American Cavies and my French Lop buck went to Laura-ann in Taylor. I gave them the Harlequins with the agreement that I will get back babies when I have time again to be able to bred. The French Lop does are going to Maple Ridge and they are staying in Grande Prairie with the Mini Lops, the English Lop and the pile of babies I have. Brianna is dealing with selling them. Some very nice babies in the lot too!

For animals I have right now, I have the five pet birds, one cat, two dogs(one in Calgary still), a llama and a horse. Though I kinda decided to keep a harlie baby, she's a real sweetie, but is unshowable.

I know I will get back in the rabbits again, just not sure how soon. I do I know I will have the Harlequins, do a few Fuzzy Lops with Brianna, maybe a few Americans, and either a few French or Mini Lops again...Though I did love my English Lop...

I'm gonna leave my webpage up for the time being, not going to change much for now either...

Been a While!

2008-06-25T20:14:00.002-07:00

Well, it has been a long while since I posted a blog entry. Since my last entry I have attended the show in Chestermere, downsized my animals, worked way too much and moved to Charlie Lake.

I worked basically all of March as First Aid Attendant which actually decided me to downsize what I have for animals. Also was a factor in downsizing is that I intended to move. I decided in my downsizing to not keep the Holland Lops, the American rabbits, the longhair cavies, chinchillas, all my birds but 5(including the ducks, chickens etc), all the horses but Denny and give Savvy back to her breeder. They were all hard decisions but with my time being not as free as before it was the best.

I ended up going to Chestermere with Laura-ann and Brianna and we again had a fun time. I took more sold animals than I did anything. I took Keaton, the broken blue buck from Kim, Windy, Barbie and showed my new French Lop buck from Sarah. Besides him I picked up 6 American cavies from Dillon. I was happy with the results I got and also picked up two more harlequins. Keaton picked up another 3 legs and since I forgot his pedigree could not register him again! I will have to drag his butt to another show just to register him.

After the show, I managed to find a place to move in Fort St John(actually Charlie Lake). So the first weekend in May I moved to Charlie Lake with a much reduced criiter herd. I moved under 20 rabbits, 8 cavies, 2 hedgehogs, 1 cat, 1 dog and 5 birds. I was very lucky to find a place that let me keep my animals, though my llama and horse are at the family farm in Dawson Creek right now. I was also very lucky that my roomie feeds my critters when I'm gone.

I'm currently back to work and this time it is camp work. Sounds like I'll be busy until break-up next spring. Kinda sucks right now because I have pregnant does and everything right now. When I left this last time I had three litter of buns in the boxes, 1 harlequin, 1 french and 1 french x english lop litter. I also have 4 or 5 more does due while I'm gone so I could have a lot more babies when I get back.

Well, that is the last few months in a nutshell

Janine

Back from the Show

2008-02-18T15:49:00.003-08:00

Well, I'm back from the show and as always it was great fun. Long trip, but Brianna was good company.

We ended up taking for rabbits:

G Gordans Rarity -American Blue Sr Doe

Rainstar's Emerald - French Lop Brkn Sr Doe

Posey's Squirrelly - French Lop Solid Sr Doe

Takara's Nettie - English Lop Solid Sr Doe

Cutie Patootie's Iggy - Holland Lop Brkn Sr Buck

Posey's Larkspur - Mini Lop Solid Jr Doe

Velotta's Keaton - Mini Lop Solid Sr Buck

Mitchell's T271 - Mini Lop Solid Sr Doe

Wildwood's Barbie - Harlequin Sr Magpie Doe

Highwood's Wild N Windy - Harlequin Sr Magpie Buck

Maya - Fuzzy Lop Jr Doe

Kyoto - Fuzzy Lop Sr Doe

Cavies:

Sr TSW American Boar

Jr TSW American Sow

Jr GA/Red/White Peruvian Boar

For results:

G Gordans Rarity -American Blue Sr Doe - DQ'd for weight twice 1 BOB
Rainstar's Emerald - French Lop Brkn Sr Doe - 2/2 twice and 1/2 once
Posey's Squirrelly - French Lop Solid Sr Doe - 2/3 twice and 1/3 once and BOB(leg)
Takara's Nettie - English Lop Solid Sr Doe - DQ'd once for weight, only English there so BOB the other two
Cutie Patootie's Iggy - Holland Lop Brkn Sr Buck - near the end of the class twice and 2/13(?)
Posey's Larkspur - Mini Lop Solid Jr Doe
Velotta's Keaton - Mini Lop Solid Sr Buck - BOB x4(specialty as well)(leg)
Mitchell's T271 - Mini Lop Solid Sr Doe - BOB youth show
Wildwood's Barbie - Harlequin Sr Magpie Doe - BOB x3 BOS 1
Highwood's Wild N Windy - Harlequin Sr Magpie Buck BOS x3 BOB 1 -only two harlies in show
Maya - Fuzzy Lop Jr Doe - RIS once BOB
Kyoto - Fuzzy Lop Sr Doe - RIS youth BOB
Cavies:
Sr TSW American Boar -DQ'd weight good comments
Jr TSW American Sow - 1/1 good comments
Jr GA/Red/White Peruvian Boar - DQ'd for blue eye good comments

Almost Ready!

2008-02-14T09:03:00.003-08:00

Well, we are leaving for Wetaskiwin in the morning. I have 3 pigs entered and 9 buns. Might be bringing two-three more to add to the specialties if it might add legs...

Brianna is coming down with me and I'm not sure how many buns she is bringing.

Weather has warmed up and is so much nicer! Took the girls for a little ride on Denny and they thought that was great!

Not much else going on here! Will post after I get back from the show!
Janine

Some other news

2008-02-01T19:03:00.000-08:00

Still too darn cold out! I'm sick of the cold and still nothing warm on the long range.

In news, I talked to Laura-ann and she will not be making it to Wetaskiwin this year. I'm still planning on going, but it is on the iffy side... Other news with Laura-ann she is taking the Mini Rex trio I have. I'll miss them, but I know it's for the best. I'm still thinking about the hollands, I like them, but honestly I don't like showing/selecting them.

I was looking at my French Lops and I've decided to sell Robbie, Kibby and Charcoal. Robbie and Kibby I think are more pet quality and Charcoal is brood quality.

The buns and cavies from the island should be arriving in Grande Prairie in a few hours and when Brianna lets me know when she isn't working I'll pick them up...

Winter Blahs

2008-01-31T08:57:00.000-08:00

Well, its been a while, but nothing much ever happens around here in the winter. Right now we are in a real cold spell, animals are doing well, but I wish it was over and I imagine they do as well! Not supposed to warm up any time soon though.

I will be heading to Grande Prairie this week-end. Visit Brianna and to pick up some critters from a shipment that we are bringing up from the island. I'm getting a few mini lops from Cristina and 4 pigs from Dillon. Really looking forward to seeing them and Brianna's new fuzzies. I'm also talking to Jess and Taryn about Mini Lops as they are sadly selling all of their rabbits. Some nice buns in dilute available!

In other buns news, I am considering cutting back to 3-5 hollands. I love the breed and the ones that I have, but they are not my favorites in the barn... Mini Lops and the French Lops are my main breeds and I want to be able to focus more on them. Mini Lops were my first rabbits and they will always be number one is the barn. French Lops are a close second, but they are bigger so I don't want nearly as many of them so they get culled a little harder. I love the Harlequins and they are not going anywhere, especially when they are Samantha's! The Mini Rex I have cut back to three and I don't see getting more than 5 in the barn again... I like them , but not to be a main breed for me. The Americans I have 4 and they are not going anywhere either. I enjoy them and they need more breeders so badly. I have one English Lop, Nettie, my tort doe, her brother lives with Laura-ann and is a pampered house bunny... I have cut back lots already this year, but something has to give and I don't enjoy showing the hollands as much as the other breeds... Not sure if I will or who will stay if I do...

Other news I have to get pics of Denny posted. I'll post three here, but we'll have to wait for it to warm up before I get good ones to put on the website. He got dropped off when I was at work and its been so cold that I haven't had a chance to get good pictures. I am looking forward to having a horse that I can ride again. I just forget how tall he was from when I looked at him back in August!

Kiley will be heading down to Calgary pretty soon, not sure if she is flying or if she will be going part way in February when we head to the bunny(and cavies!) show in Wetaskiwin. She is going to visit her mom and get some shows under her belt. She will also have her health testing done when she is down there.

I have plans to go to Wetaskwin in February, just no idea what I will be driving and how many buns... Plus dog(s)...

that is about it for now...

Janine

Snow and other stuff

2007-11-10T16:35:00.000-08:00

Well, we finally got snow that stuck longer than a day. Be nice if it leaves, but considering it is November I imagine it will be here until spring now. Kinda wish that it had put off a little longer, but I guess I should be happy with how long it did put off.

I'm not going to make it to the Grande Prairie dog show now, Laura-ann isn't sure if they are going and I have homework to do. I start my Advanced Level 3 First Aid Course on Monday and have a pile of things to get done.

I think we will have goat kids next spring. That will be nice and I am hoping that both does have been bred. I know that the one doe was bred, but I never saw the other doe actually in heat. I guess we will find out in the spring!

Not much else going on here other than the winter prep
Janine

French Lops & other stuff

2007-11-07T20:25:00.001-08:00

Well, I am currently talking with Sarah McCrea of Rainstar Rabbitry in getting a few more buns from her. If everything works out Laura-ann and I will be bringing up 3 or 4 buns. Sarah has some very promising litters in the box right now. I have my eye on a few of the babies, so I'm sure the hardest part will be picking! The litters are a rainbow of colors too so that part is nice, but they are a typey bunch of babies :-)

We have just about got to our winter numbers, there are a few that need to decided on whether they will be staying. I have 5 French Lop babies that have to be decided on. 2 from Bailey and 3 from Lucie.

I have plans to go to the Grande Prairie Dog Show on Sunday. I'm going to be catching a ride with Laura-ann and her mom, so I won't have to drive all the way to Grande Prairie. Just to Dawson Creek. Considering the funny weather that we have been having, I'm glad to only have to drive that far. The show is supposed to have a couple Tollers and a Brittany. Should be a fun show to watch.

I moved the Chinchillas into the shed and have set up the guinea pigs in a better configuration. All I have left to move into the shed is the english lops. Still have to insulate the shed better, but not too worried about it right now as we have had pretty mild weather. I am keeping an eye on the forecast to make sure that there are no major dips in the temperature.

I've been looking at a horse and I have found one that I like. Just depends on if I think I can swing the purchase money right now. Susan(lady from 7-11) and I are planning on attending the Nov 24 sale in Dawson Creek. Just to look mainly, but you never know what you could find there!
well, enough for now
Janine

Some Website Updates

2007-11-07T09:55:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday I managed to get some pictures taken. There are now pictures of most of the rabbits. I got pictures of most of the new buns from this summer and some of the young stuff. A few didn't get pics because they are chewed and looked more like a skinny pig than a rabbit.

Also got pics of the chinchillas and just need a new one of Ebby, I somehow missed her yesterday. Also need new pics of everything else that eats around here ;-P Most of the pigs need pics, few I took last night I didn't like how they looked, so will have to redo them as well.

Winter has started to show itself around here and I'm not looking forward to the months that we will have of snow and cold weather...

Well, have to run and pick up Sam at school, might post more later...
Janine

Some Improvements

2007-10-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

Well, things are looking a little better around here. The whatever happened seems to be over. I hope that I never have to go through something like that again. It is very hard to deal with something like that as you feel so powerless to do anything to help.

This week-end I have off(YA!) and the weather looks to be nice, so I think we will be doing quite a bit around here.

I want to get the bird/cavy room winterized by giving it a good cleaning and re-organized. Plus I need to move the chinchillas in and insulate a few spots so that it is warmer. Also need to look at the roof as it leaked a little on the one side after it was removed from the trailer(it was my very tiny addition before)

I have goats to go on a truck Sunday so there will be two less mouths to feed. If I get really miffed at the rest before Sunday, there might be more on the truck!

I need to fix a few cages so that I can seperate the rest of the young keeper buns and also need to build some more supports so I can get the 12-hole off the ground again(and use it again!)

Need to replace the tarp covering the goat shed and hopefully get the sides draped to help cut the wind this winter. Might try to lift the shed, just depends on how much work it looks like to be!
Well, enough for now
Janine

What to do.....

2007-09-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

Well, today is not getting any better. When things like this start to happen, I'm really tempted to get out of the animals entirely. It is soo hard to deal with losing animals that I am attached to, I know all my buns even the babies. So far I have lost 4 Mini Rex, 10 hollands, 5 Mini Lops... Lost 5 pigs as well now. It doesn't look to have run its course yet either... So I'm not sure what to think. I work so hard on my buns, this is hitting me hard. It is getting hard to want to even go out and check them when I then have to remove another body. My Frenchies are the only buns that seem to not be touched by this. I don't know what I should do and as much as I love my buns and everyone else this is harder....

I just started working again, so I am feeling guilty that I wasn't checking them as much. Maybe if I hadn't fed them soo much grass, maybe if I had weaned the babies from the mom's at the first sign of trouble....

Having Issues in the rabbit barn

2007-09-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

Past few days I have been trying to figure out what is going wrong in my barn. I have lost a few babies, but in past few days I have lost everything that was still with mom and a couple of my older weaned ones. I don't know if it is a feed issue or a weather issue or a combination of both. I lost one older one today, so I am getting desperate to figure out what is going on. I am getting a round bale in today, so I will cut out the pellets and feed hay for a couple days to see if that helps. I will also feed a little grain (my top dress) to see if that helps any. I have never had issues like this before and it is very discouraging to lose any like that. It is even harder when they are fine when I check them and next time are dead. I have wormed this fall already, but I think I will be doing that again to see if that helps. I might treat for cocci, but they don't have any systems... In the few that seemed to be a bit under, they seemed to not eat as much, but nothing serious. I have had a little trouble with the pigs as well, so I am thinking maybe a bad batch of pellets(I am hoping!)
Janine

Trip and other

2007-09-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back from my trip to Edmonton and Calgary. Was a lot of driving, but the weather wasn't too bad. The highway between Calgary and Edmonton was crazy, as was driving in Calgary.

I left Thursday afternoon, picked up carriers from Laura-ann and managed to get to Fox Creek. I was gonna tent, but the campground had a bear warning up, so we slept in the car. I wish I had got there eariler as I would of got more sleep. The campground was full of oilpatch workers and they start their diesel trucks at 5am(4am where I'm from!) and again at 6am.

We made it to Calgary and dropped off Cola Friday afternoon. Lisa said Cola is settling in like she never left. I miss my nutty girl, but will have my hands full when she is gone. We drove back to Wetaskiwin. I tented there and I realized how big my new tent was! It is a huge tent and definately would have room for another queen and a single or double in it... I had a lot of empty space with me and just Kiley in it.

Saturday was to be more of my running around day.

At first I stopped in Millet and picked up Reddiamond Aviatrix Savvy(pending). Savvy is my newest addition and is a very cute Brittany puppy! She will keep me pretty busy and is already considered an important part of the family.

Next stop was Helga's where I was sad to learn that she had a dog attack the night before and lost some important buns. I picked up some Mini Rex from Sharin for Laura-ann(Harlies and tris). A very nice opal buck for her mum from Helga. I picked up three Mini Rex from Helga(black doe, broken tort doe and tort buck) I also looked at a blue tort doe from Sharin and a black doe from Lisa. I ended up taking them both, they look to be promising brood does. Helga has some neat rabbits and I spent way too much time at her house. She is such an interesting person to talk to and has so much knowledge. I really enjoyed my visit with her and was sad that it was a bad day for her. Helga is a very gracious host and even though it was an horrible event she still had time to show me all her rabbits and talk about her rabbits.

Next stop was Gayle's, I looked at some her rabbits that she had for sale. I ended up picking up three Dutch rabbits for Laura-ann. A very nice Tort buck, a very nice gray doe and a brood chocolate doe.

After that was home and Sunday had my mum and dad come out to visit. Monday we went to Taylor to drop off the the bunnies I had picked up for them. I was also picking up a couple Mini Rex from them and showing off Savvy. I picked up a broken black doe, a blue doe, blue tort doe and a broken blue buck. Next we went to the airport in Fort St John to say good-bye to my parents. They were leaving for Australia and I figured they would like the company before they went through the scans etc. The girls were a little sad too see them go, especially when they won't be back until May.

Went through some babies, decided to keep a frosty doe from May/Tucker and a black buck from Ella/Iggy. Think I will keep the solid buck from Pearl/Wetaskiwin, though the one broken doe is pretty nice as well..... Still deciding on which doe to keep from Lucie's litter. The one left out of the three remaining is definately pet, but the other two... We will just have to wait and see when they are a bit older.

I need to setup the 12 hole cage and get to my stackers. Also need to get my pigs better organized so I can fit the chinchillas into the shed. On the topic of the chinchillas, Obsidian's two little babies are cute! Looks to be two ebonies. One is most likely a homo eb and the other might be a medium eb or light eb. Cuties whatever they are. I think they are both girls when I looked at them, so even better!

Well, that is about all for now

Janine

End of Summer

2007-08-28T19:43:00.001-07:00

Well, September is almost upon us and I have some things to do to get ready for winter. My breeding season is basically over with everything except the cavies. I can breed them year-round, but everyone else gets winters off as it is way to much work for me and them to try to get babies during the winter. I have a few more does that are due, but they will be last litters for the year.

Couple days before I head for Calgary and Edmonton. Will be taking down Cola, picking up buns and driving a lot! Thankfully it should be kid-less, that will be much nicer as the trip would not be that fun for them. Will be stopping at Gayle's and Helga's mainly.

The broiler chickens are just about out of time, we should get them done next week.

Also have to get a visit in with my mum and dad as they leave for Australia next Monday. Think they are planning on coming out Sunday.

Had a surprise litter of cavies. The little red/white Texel sow had a pair of babies. Cute, but I don't really have an idea to who the dad is!

Not much else going on here
Janine

Edmonton Show

2007-08-24T18:50:00.000-07:00

Well, the show went well. I took a pile of animals and brought a few home. My little car was crammed! From my very foggy(rushed) memories of the show, I did well. Squirrely got another leg, Nibbles got one, Buttercup got one, Iggy got one, I think Windy got one, Ginger I think got one... I'm waiting on the official results because I don't remember a lot! I did get the Best of the Best Opposites with a little Peruvian boar. I am hoping that there is a cavy show at Wetaskiwin as I may continue to coat the little guy out. I brought home 4 American rabbits(thanks Gayle!) 2 English Lops(thanks Andrea & Heather!), 1 Holland Lop(thanks Crystal!) and 4 Mini Lops(thanks Jess, Taryn & Dennis!)

I have gone through my babies that I have weaned(except the Frenchies) and sold everyone except a fawn doe from Petunia/Cole, a blue chin buck from Calla/Willow, a doe from Adam/Eve. Have a few litters upcoming and looks to be some lookers in the bunch! Have a couple litters of cavies as well, two American and one Silkie(peruvian baby). Had a little surprise of a three peachicks. Cute little gaffers!

I am still plagued by big, fat broiler chickens AKA bottomless pits. They are waiting to be butchered, just the weather is not cooperating. Hoping next week, and then my feedbill should drop a lot as the amount they can put away is amazing.

My next show is next year in Wetaskiwin, I am hoping that they have a cavy show as the one at the Bonnie Doon was great, but Cliff is so much fun anyway :-)

I will be heading down to Edmonton/Calgary at the end of the month again. Taking Cola down, might pick up some buns for Laura-ann and pick up a surprise! Laura-ann might come with me, just depends if she can get a day or two off.

Not much else going on here that I can think of at this time!

Chainsaw Charving for the upcoming EARS show!

2007-07-20T23:26:00.000-07:00

This cutie is a prize that I have sponsored for the EARS Quad Show that is coming up the first week-end in August. He was carved by Ken Sheen of Pine River Chainsaw Carving and is approx 32-33 inches tall.

What's been happening

2007-07-17T22:43:00.000-07:00

It has finally cooled down enough that I can stand the heat. Supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow, maybe Thursday and then be nice(well what I consider to be nice) at 20-23C Anything warmer than that and I am miserable. Lost a couple rabbits to the heat. One I am still mad about as it was Posey's Willow. I'm not sure what happened with her, she was fine, didn't seem to be as hot as some of the others and checked again in 30 minutes and it looked like she was laid out sleeping. Lost a mini lop doe after she kindled, not exactly sure there either, but she could of had something go wrong with her labour. She had delivered the litter, scattering most of them on the wire and then it looked like she just fell over. Lost two cull pen animals as well, but at least I had decided to cull them.

Well, we have downsized our rabbit herd considerably. I am bringing a few new animals in to replace/revitalize my herd. Some changes were planned and others were not. I am picking up a trio of Americans at the Aloha show, two Mini Lop does from Jess/Taryn and a Frenchie doe(half-sister to Willow) and a broken blue Mini Lop from Kim/Cristina.

Laura-ann is coming down with me to the show and Brianna was going to, but due to a family emergency we will only taking her buns.

We had a new chinchilla born here, a little beige. Not sure on the sex, but the little fellow just about gave me a heart attack when he shot out from under the up-side down feed dish. I'm hoping that it is a female, but a male would be nice as well.

Have a few new litters, Bailey has five by Jackson, Southern Classic has three by Comox, Calla has two by Willow, Petunia has 6 by Cole, Cobalt had three by Jordan(not sure if they are peanuts though) and Tammy has four by DandyLion. Star is due any day by Adam. Have to palpate a bunch of does to see if there is a bunch of litters coming up. I also bred Buttercup so she will be due about a week after the Aloha show. Have some does that need to be re-bred as I fostered the babies off, but am waiting until a little bit for that.

I have entered some of the rabbits in the upcoming show, have a few left to decide on but entries don't have to be in until the 29th so I do still have lots of time to decide. Have to decide on the pigs as well.
Janine

First Florida Litter! & some other news

2007-07-02T22:44:00.000-07:00

Well, after a few screw-ups(on my part) we finally have a Florida White litter on the ground. There is six babies in Eve's nest tonight. As she was also bred to Wetaskiwin, there are some brokens in the litter. Star is due in two weeks about, so our meat bunny program is on the way.

Looked closer at Lucie's and Skittles litters today. Lucie has two opals, six chestnuts and one that I think is a broken fawn. Skittles litter is opals as far as I could tell, though they could be blue chins.

I bred Skywishes to Jordan, Ella to Iggy, May to Tucker and Pearl to Wetaskiwin. Will try to rebred tomorrow -Bluejeans(Prince Eric) and Pansy(Jordan). Will also try Cassie as I don't think she caught the first time. I think I might put her in with Levi as the types compliment each other. She has loads of depth and is narrow. He is wide, but needs more depth, so we could maybe get the best of both. Though the way that breeding works, I'll get narrow with no depth!

Looked through the pigs agin today and I might have one more Silkie and Texel I could show. Just depends on how many I want to take and if they make the minimum requirements to show.

I added a few more rabbits to the cull list. Phoebe and Lots of Heart. Our numbers are on paper are getting closer to where I want them.

Cavies & Litters

2007-07-01T22:39:00.000-07:00

Hi

I looked at the cavies today and sorted them a little more. Have some in breeding and others seperated to try to grow out the coats of.

I would like to show the r/w Peruvian boar from Dillion, the tsw Silkie sow from Dillion, ga/w boar from Kim, black Texel boar, and the r/w sow from Sherri. I might see if I can find another Silkie or Texel to coat out as well. They are all younger animals and will hopefully make weight.

Have a few Americans that I would like to show as well. They will be more decided on the weight as to who I can show. I have some nice home-bred Americans that I would like to show and there is some nice ones in the new group that could be shown.

I looked at Lucie's litter today. There are two opals, six chestnuts and one unknown (rew, fawn, cream maybe?) Lost the chilled one of Squirrelly's, left her chestnut baby. Pansy has a tort and something light-colored. Moved the three Hollands to Skittles litter. She had six and look to be opals and/or blues. Might also be some blue chins, will have to see what they are!

Few more does left to go in this group and then a new group starts next weekend about.

Pepsi kindled as well, but she squished her litter, she is on the cull list now. Skywishes kindled as well, but she over-cleaned the kit. As this is her second litter here, first being a fetal giant we will give another chance.
Janine

New Critters = VERY long day yesterday

2007-06-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

We went to Fort St John yesterday and picked up some new rabbits and guinea pigs. They were from Kim, Cristina and Dillion. The pigs from Sherri are coming up at a later date with two of her Fuzzy Hollands for another breeder. Everyone looks pretty nice, one change in the French Lop department though, Kim decided to not send Charity. She send Tamashanter's Mozambique. A broken black Mini Lop buck from Tammi.

We stopped at Laura-ann's place on the way home. Delivered two hollands from my place and bred Laura-ann's Frenchie doe to Nibbles. Had a good, long visit with them.

Today I have to move everyone around as last night the buns just got stuck in whatever hole was empty and handy. Also have to get the cavies organized as they are still in the shipping crates.

Janine

Always so much to do!

2007-06-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

I have to do a list of what needs to be done around here, it never ends and there is always so much that could be done.

I have to fence the area that I want to for the birds. It will hopefully stop them from sleeping on my lawn so much! Have to dig fence post holes and I'm not looking forward to that job.

Have to finish fencing in two spots and repair the winter pasture fence as it is sagging. I also have to get the electric wire put up on the top of the goat fences. I also would like to run another fence line on the other side of the driveway and around the trailer to the rabbit shed. It would join up with the chicken fence there and that would separate the driveway and house from the third pasture. Lots of work as posts have to be dug for that job as well.

I need to get the bird/cavy shed finished up as well. I need to add more shelves and insulate the one wall. Plus I need to look at the roof, as it is leaking a little as it was damaged when the shed was taken off of the house(was my addition).

Need to go through more of the stuff that I have around and get rid of more stuff. Plus, I need to figure out where more of the stuff can go. I need more storage or less stuff. I think less stuff would be easier and I am continuing the arduous job of going through all my stuff.

I need to repair some cages and get the extras put away where they would be easy to get at , but out of the way. I also need to replace the bottom wire on all my stacking cages and that means actually getting them apart. They seem to seize together and are so hard to pry apart.

I have to process the rabbits that need to go, but that is always a job I put off as I don't like doing it. I would like something better to hang them with and was thinking of fiddling with a wire hanger to see if that would work.

The chicks are getting big and they eat so much. The broilers are a good size and they should be ready to butcher in 3-4 weeks. Will be nice when they are gone as there are not that many layers and they will eat a small fraction of what the broilers do.

Today it is raining, so it will be more of a housework day. That is good as it will help de-clutter our closets of all the extra clothes. Plus the birds have been messy lately and the floor around/under their cage needs a sweep and a good scrubbing.

Sounds like I have to go to Fort St John tomorrow. Will be be picking up new critters and dropping off a few. Will be a long day as the shipment is going in on two different flights. Also have to run to Dawson Creek, so will be doing a lot of miles. I think the kids will be with me, and they will not enjoy the long day either, but they will enjoy getting to see some of the people that we have to stop and see long the way.

Janine

Texels, Alpacas, Coronet

2007-06-25T22:56:00.001-07:00

We are getting a few more Texels and adding some Alpaca's. Kim is also adding a TSW Coronet Sow. Not pictured are a TSW Alpaca Sow and the Coronet Sow.

Broken Cream Alpaca Sow from Sherri

Broken Cream Alpaca Sow 2 from Sherri
Red White Texel Sow from Dillon
Tortoiseshell White Texel Boar(mismarked) from Kim