Happy New Year!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and may you all be richly blessed in 2009!

Tribute to our Jersey Woolies

As one door closes, another opens. This post is dedicated to our woolies, I will miss them dearly as we've had so many memories. Best wishes to all who have purchased our woolies, may you be blessed with successes in 2009!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Day 6

New Look

It won't be long and we'll have our Dwarf Hotots! So I just had to change the look up a little. I think I'll blog on black since the little bandits stand out better.:-) Pics of our big kit will be up later today or tomorrow-he's growing so fast!

The making of a logo

As per request, (*wink* to Ali) I've deceided to dedicate a post to the making of our logos. It's really quite simple actually. I have the Photoshop CS3 software that I use, but if you have any program that can cut and paste a picture onto another and do text it should work out just fine.

1. Okay, the first thing to do is to find a logo template. I found mine at www.istockphoto.com Type in 'floral vector' in the search box and look for something that you like. You can do several searches but I'd probably include the word, 'vector' everytime so you don't get stock images.

2. Once you find one and buy it(it shouldn't be too expensive-like $5). Open up your photoshop program and open the vector image from istock.

3. Then, open up any pictures you want on your logo. Resize them to 4"x3" or to whatever you are satisfied with. Your picture may be much larger than the logo template, so it will probably need to be resized.

4. Use the magnetic selection tool to outline the rabbit with. Once the entire rabbit is selected, the line should start blinking(it is telling you that it's selected).

5. Then use the drag tool to drag the selected rabbit onto the logo. Move the bunny to where you like it. You can put as many different bunnies as you want, just remember to 'flatten' the layer(go to layer tab> flatten) before doing text.

6. Now you're ready for text.

7. That's really it! Save it and upload.

See, all that fancy digital tooling on the logo wasn't me-I'm not that talented. LOL!

The Cost of a Rabbitry

What is the general cost for a rabbitry start-up? I was curious as to how much I had spent on supplies/bunnies. ...Now I just pray that my husband doesn't read this post-heehee! I'm just kidding-he's well aware of all the expenses.;-)

Here we go:
Our expenses so far...

Barn: estimated $500 for insulation/sheetrock/ new flooring - (a new barn is about $1500 and will need insulation/sheetrock/flooring. We've deceided to fix up the old barn. LOL)
Cages: 7 holes- $250 (we need 14 more holes-$490)
Air Conditioner: $200
Tattoo pen/grooming supplies: $70
Carriers: $70 for 4-hole and used 6-hole
Feed: $13
Groom Table: $35
Feeders/waterbottles: $50
Rabbits- my woolies were $275 total for 6 rabbits

Total: $1463

Wow. It adds up so quickly. Anyone want to share how much you have invested in your rabbitry? LOL I don't mind looking like the idiot who overpaid.;-) I think it's all worth it and have no regrets. Last but not least, here are some pictures of the baby-he's got hair!!

The Unpredictability of rabbit raising

Who would have thought that raising rabbits could be compared to a roller coaster ride. There are ups and downs, excitement and fear, anticipation and..disappointment. I suppose life is just the same, you just never know what may become of the day. It could change in an instant. As one of my bunny friend's spouse said, "rabbits are like time bombs", my husband totally agrees and adds..."raising rabbits is so full of drama!". I guess it certainly can seem that way sometimes.

The reason this has been on my mind is that we are once again at a critical period for Zita's kit. Yes, we just have one now, the peanut passed away on Christmas.:-( Sadly, Zita wouldn't feed the kit in the house, I think with all the noise of my kids she was a little tense being inside. So I moved her out back into her own familiar cage out in the barn. I was so frustrated with her yesterday as she wouldn't pay any attention to the baby. I was just in tears. She was acting like she was rejecting the kit and I just couldn't understand why. So, I left her kit out there with her, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Well, last night at feeding time I noticed that her nestbox was flattened and hair had been moved. I couldn't stop smiling knowing that she had possibly fed her baby.:-) I've prayed for this little miracle baby to make it and so far he's doing fine. It also looks like God is going to be gracious and give us spring like weather for the next two days...enough for this baby to get stronger and some fur. If he can make it a week from now, I will be so relieved!! Each day is a milestone for this baby, we're just taking it day by day.:-)
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**Update!** I just checked on the baby and is is doing FANTASTIC!!:-D He is soooo big and round, definately not having any problems getting enough milk. Things are looking really, really good at this point.


Meet our first and last little wooly baby:

Merry Christmas to all!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas this year! I won't be posting tomorrow, but would just like to wish you all a warm holiday filled with love and family. Give a Christmas kiss to bunny noses too.:-)

Updates/News/Happenings

I really didn't want to post this today but tomorrow is Christmas eve and the festives will be in full swing. So I just wanted to give a quick update on everything that's going on at 4KR!:-)

All woolies have been sold. Zita is the only one I plan to keep for a while. We'll be going to the Waxahachie show on Jan. 10 to do the big switch.

We found an amazing Dwarf Hotot trio!!!!!! It's highly likely we'll pick them up at the show on the 10th......*squeal with excitement!* The buck is out of this world-he is tiny tiny with short ears, under 2". Thin and balanced bands, and has the body of a nethie. The owner stated that he paid $225 for this buck (whoa!). The two does are proven mommas that have had several litters and even produce Chocolate bands!! I thought of TLR when he mentioned they carry chocolate.;-) He's selling the trio for much, much less that what I'm selling my woolies for, so we'll even have enough money left over to purchase some supplies. Which is wonderful because I really need a tattoo pen for our babies(hope to get the RabbiTatt pen).

Other DH news: we have a transport arrangement finalized to bring a nice breeding pair from J. Mingus in Ohio at the end of march. He has raised hotots for many, many years with several national BOB wins. His stock are amazing. I don't know anything about what he might have available then but hopefully it will work out to bring a pair home.

Last but not least, miss Zita is perched in the corner and her babies are snuggly warm in the nestbox. I'm going to have to get them out tomorrow night when Hannah goes to bed and take a Christmas picture.:-)
"Back off!"...Zita is being super protective of her babies:

Two heads! This was as good as I could get without being bit.:


Oh! One more thing...I think we've deceided to use the #3 logo on our site for now. It's a different look. We'll still use #1 logo as the background for the printed pedigrees. I'll post next week how I made them-it's very simple!

WE HAVE BABIES!!!!

I've been up throughout the night checking on Zita, as she started acting stressed last night before I went to bed. Just grunting, hopping around as if she were nervous-so I got her out to palpate her and see what was going on. I could tell that there was a kit near her vent/pelvis and she her vent was pretty swollen. So we went to bed, I woke up at 1:45am-checked, nothing. Again at 4:50am- nothing. I didn't go back to sleep, but left her be. Hubby came home at 6:30, said "you got babies back there"...lol, my husband always jokes with me so I thought he was making this up because at 5am she was eating her food as if nothing was going to happen. I run back there to check and wow, she had them! I'm going to give her a couple of hours to rest and then I'll check on babies and re-palpate to make sure she's done.

What a blessing it is to have this litter! I'm praying that they make it, that would be even a greater blessing.

**Update** We have 2 babies, both REWs! One is much smaller than the other. I'll try to get good pics of them tomorrow or the next day-sorry! I don't want to risk anything with these guys-we've lost too many kits before.

Need your opinion

I'm needing a new logo for our DHs, pictures are used with permission-one 'DH' is really Gemini with some photoshop work-lol. Any suggestions?? Pick your favorite and post a comment.:-) Click on picture to enlarge...
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Vote!

Zita's indoors

I brought her inside yesterday evening and so glad I did! The low was around 19 degrees, all the water bottles were frozen solid. She hasn't kindled yet, but hopefully it won't be much longer.:-)

Waiting game

Zita's re-made her nest this morning and even pulled some hair! It's not a lot of hair, I'm suspecting she'll pull it all once the babies are born. Please cross fingers for a safe delivery.

Bye Big Daddy, McLovin and Piper

I'm gonna miss these guys but they have gone to a good home. The young lady that will be showing/breeding them was so excited. I wish her all the best with them!

Now we've got a show trio available(M&Js Delaney, M&Js Sophie, and M&Js Ice Gem), and Kasey/Tony's Baby Face(Autumn) for now. I will keep Zita for a while and let her raise her kits, if they make it. Please email me for more info about the bunnies for sale.

Babies are Kicking!

I feel them! For the longest, I couldn't feel a thing, then this morning I got Zita out to palpate one more time and I felt the jerks of movement. I know she has at least one in there.:-) Shouldn't be too much longer...

Memories of the past...

I miss my Hotots. It has been such a tough decision to make, but I've deceided to switch breeds. I'm going to miss my woolies and all the breeder friends I've made, I do hope we can still keep in touch.

My first love has always been Dwarf Hotots, when I looked to get back into them in January of this year, I had no luck at all. So, I tried to find another breed that was common in this area so it would be 'convienient' to accquire bunnies. Now, I know that DHs are the breed for me, I miss them too much...

As far as leads, thank you Tammy for the info, I've contacted Tonna and she won't have anything available until next summer-which is fine, I'm in no hurry actually. We may get a little show doe next month...I'm taking my time finding stock, if there is one thing I've learned with the woolies, it is to Not be in a rush to get stock, buy in person, and LOVE the rabbits type before you buy...if you buy just to 'have that breed' I think you'd be wasting your time in the long run. So, off my soap box now-lol I'm hoping by next summer we'll have some foundation bunnies from Mingus and Thomas bloodlines.:-) *squeal* Here is a scrapbook page I made when I was younger-aren't DH babies the cutest?! The little buck in the coffee mug was our homegrown national winner. I wonder where he is today if he's still living...


In the mean time, all woolies are for sale! I'm selling what I have paid and will breed does to either buck if desired. We have a show trio, breeding trio, and Autumn which is due in January by the way!:-) For more info, please email me.

Zita's busy nest building-we're so excited!

Dwarf Hotots?

Alright, I'm crazy, it's offical-my husband has deemed. Lol! I'm really thinking about getting a trio of Dwarf Hotots. I used to raise this breed exclusively for about 3 years when I was a youth. I LOVED it, my little buck won 1st in the jr buck class at Nationals and we always took home BOB and BOS with our stock. It was so much fun and the bunnies were full of personality. So...I'm in the middle of a crossroad here. I cannot do two breeds with our limited space-what should I do??

I got into Woolies in the first place because I wanted a colored wool rabbit and it was easy to find breeders here in Texas. Now, after raising them, the cages I have are waaay too small. They will need A/C the rest of their life, and hair is everywhere. But, I sure do have some nice bunnies to start the 'herd' with. I have put a lot of time and work into getting the rabbits we have now.

The Dwarf Hotots are tiny little rabbits-only 1-2 pounds, so my 18x24 cages are perfect! They are great moms, don't require A/C(of course I'm going to have it in the barn though), don't moult long hair, and eat less. They are so rare, I'd have to import from the northeastern US.

Any comments about all this? I either need some sense knocked into me or support on changing breeds-gradually that is.
Photo from: http://www.adhrc.com/ADHRC%20Web2%20About.htm

Meet Gemini and McLovin

I haven't had time to take their 'official' pictures so here are a few snapshots of them.

M&J's Ice Gem- WOW, what a gorgeous doe! She is by far the best one we have, even better than Sophie. I actually cannot find fault with her. Her head is perfect, ears just 2", gradual curve over topline, lots of depth, smooth hindquarter that is full to the table, thick coat too. She's amazing.:-)


Lone Oak's McLovin- He's sweet. He's also a pretty big boy, I'm not sure if I'm going to keep him actually, I don't like his type that much. I'm sure he'll outproduce himself though.



On a side note, we're facing some tough decisions...a couple of the buns may be sold, and I'm even toying with the idea of getting some Dwarf Hotots. More on that tomorrow.

Pictures to come!

I'm sorry for the lag...my life has come to a pause until after wednesday-the *big* exam. McLovin is home and is...er...well, lets just say he is one BIG boy.:-/ I'll post more after wednesday.

Keep warm everyone!

December-an exciting month!

Hey Everyone,

Wednesday is the big day I will be DONE with school...for at least a month, but the break is much anticipated. lol We've got lots going on in the rabbitry pretty soon.

Today we get a new REW doe that looks to be an amazing little show girl. Her name is M&J's Ice Gem, out of the famous IceMan!! This little doe is the replacement doe for M&J's Ice Follie, who passed away this september. Marie is so kind to do this for us. My sister has had 'Gemini' for two weeks in her downtown highrise apartment(She picked her up at a show for me and will be bringing her in tonight). LOL So she's been a city girl for a little while. Here's some pictures my sister has taken:



Also, on Sunday we'll be getting Lone Oak's McLovin, I can't wait to see this guy, he'll be the only rabbit that is all northern US bloodlines. We need 'new blood' in the barn.;-)
Litters due almost a week from now! Can't wait to see what happens.... Alright, I'll post tomorrow some pics of everybody.

Updates! I'll be silent for a while too...

Update time! I'll call roll:

Delaney-Moulting! His hair fell out while we were away this week-my mom(who fed the bunnies for us) said that he must have been a nervous wreck missing me. I hope it grows back soon, he looks pitiful. lol

Big Daddy-going to new home soon...

Thor- Sold. I loved this buck's head/ear but his pointy pin bones bothered me too much. He was also a little too long for my taste too. So why in the world would I have bred two does to him? He's got incredible parents and grandparents...we'll see what happens-if anything (see below-lol)...

Piper- Palpated positive! At least two kits felt, we're crossing fingers for this go-around.

Zita- Not pregnant. Palpated negative and her vent is purple again, she's raising the back end too. I'm afraid that this doe is too fat to concieve right now. She's almost 5 pounds(woolies should be under 3 pounds). I'm putting her on a diet, she actually has a dewlap forming now-heehee.

Sophie- Gorgeous, not much else I can say about her, she's getting bigger and looking more like a nice Sr. doe every day.

Autumn- Oh dear. LOL This girl is a hoot, she makes me laugh all the time with her antics. She perchs on top of her feeder like a bird all day long-only getting down to potty and then gets right back on top of it. What's going to happen when she grows up and can't so daintly fit up there. heehee

Sorry I don't have pictures to share! I will try to do so in a few weeks, yes weeks.:-( I have 3 weeks of nursing school left this semester and it is going to have to be my main focus for now. I will still get online occasionally and read my favorite blogs. I probably won't reply to them, but do know I'm still reading!:-) If anything major occurs I'll be sure to take a quick moment to post.

Happy Holidays everyone!

I know it's early, but I just have to share

This morning we got out all of the Christmas decorations and decorated early as we will have a lot going on next week. I saw that Rabbitsonline.net are having a photo contest of 'holiday bunnies' so I just had to try to get some shots.:-) Here's a few from the session. Happy early Thanksgiving everyone!

Due Dec. 22

Piper and Zita are both due on December 22nd, we're thrilled! Both girls are bred to Thor and I'm looking forward to seeing what he produces. Also, I want to make a note that Noobie of Tru-Luv Rabbitry will be due on the 22nd too! I'm praying that we'll both have a Christmas filled with healthy kits.;-)

Thor:


Zita begging to be a momma:

Full House and part Holland??

At feeding time today, I just had to stand back and see how blessed we are to have so many bunnies.:-) It's definately a full barn, but there's always room for more in my heart. We'll just have to wait to expand until after the move next summer.


Okay, just a side note, I've heard that the broken Jersey Woolies were created by using broken holland lops to jersey woolies to get the color and wool and then to netherland dwarfs to improve ear carriage. Not sure if that's a myth or really the truth but take a look at Zita...LOL!! If she's a good momma, I'm gonna have to believe she's got Holland Lop waaaay down the line. ((big Grin))

Just some favorite quotes...

Nothing really important to say but I thought I'd share some of my favorite quotes.:-)

"Be thankful that you don't have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to?"

"Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times, you grow."

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift~this is why it's called the present."

Meet Thor, Zita, and Autumn

Took pictures this morning! Enjoy!;-)

This is Zita, she is a proven brood doe and an awesome mom! She's long, but that's okay for a brood doe. I've seen her son and he is absolutely gorgeous-she definately outproduces herself.


This is Autumn, she is in her UGLY stage!!!! LOL, I saw her dad at the show yesterday and I was speechless. I hope she gets his head...her ear is only 2.5"-it looks longer in the picture.


This is Thor. If I wouldn't have known any better I would say this is Big Daddy's TWIN!!! He has a *massive* head and thick ears-less than 2.5". Thor is still a JUNIOR-I can't wait to see how much more he will develop!:-D


Here's some updated pictures of Sophie and Delaney-I'm so impressed with these two.

LRBA Youth Scholarship Show

Here are several quick pictures I took while at the show this morning.:-) Hannah loved it! We picked up 3 new bunnies too, can't wait to post pics later tonight or tomorrow.