Summer heat

The summer heat is hitting us hard again. I remember the 110 degree days last August...spraying down the barn and keeping it in lockdown. I fear for those August days already. With temps already 100-105 and heat index of 107, it's already prompted me to lock down the barn again. :-(

Can you just feel the heat from that window? With blinds closed and curtains pulled, the fan is on full blast to circulate the cool air.

Jordan cooling off.

Amelia stretched out trying to cool off as well.

The boys and their sister on the end....who is out of line. LOL

All the girls! :-)

New Litter-5 does!

Lucy had her litter yesterday, she usually only has 2, this time she had 5 banded baby does!! Wow, I needed that...so hopefully I will have some juniors to take to Kansas, we'll see.

My little jr bucks for KS....well one of them, because I caught a streaker pass my lens! LOL

Keep cool everyone!!! Will be 104 here today. :-( The bunny barn is on lock down to conserve the cool air. No one in or out until tonight after dark. I've got my remote thermometer so I can see how cool it is in there.  Whew! I'm ready for winter. Don't like the 'lock-down' days of summer.

RIP Tin Man

Sad to say that Tin Man didn't make it. :'-( He had a severe case of GI stasis and they just can't pull out of that despite all of the measures we do. Rest in Peace little Tin... I did do an autopsy and it was incredible what I saw. I won't post pictures here as the pictures may be disturbing to some, but if you really want to see, send me an email.

On another note, the life cycle is going back around as Lucy is due today. She's holding them in so far, fingers crossed for a successful delivery!

raspberry leaves!

Mom it may be 100 degrees outside but we're cold! The adopted child is in the corner....

"I'll keep you warm"

Love these little guys, they have awesome bodies, heads/ears...not so much. We'll see.

So I'm getting antsy...its been since February since I've kept anything from my litters. Just waiting on that 'wow' baby to come. So far, Diva takes the title.... :-)

Compact/wide!

love her little head!

kinda got this at an angle-oops! She's pretty wide for her age, hope she gets better with time!

My little helpers

Nothing like spending a hot day inside the cool environment of the bunny barn! Hannah and Hayden love to spend their time out there but we all have an agreement, you come in, you care for the buns. Sure, you can play with the babies but the floors need sweeping(never-ending job) and they need hay in the evenings. It's so cool to see them so excited to care for the bunnies. Maybe one day they'll do the pans once a week so mom can have a day off. LOL

3 little cuties!

Tin, not doing well, still not eating and no poops. He has Nutri-Cal on his lips and look at all that yummy hay he won't touch. Need bunny prayers for this guy everyone!

Hannah and her 'pick' of the litter

It's a battle as to who get the babies out sometimes....oiy!

Hayden...sorry he's in his undies...the TX heat will cause my kids to shed clothes. LOL

Hayden doing his daily brushing (like the babies need it but that's okay)

Sweeping the floor of hay...a constant job with bunnies around!

He likes to feed them one straw at a time. :-D But when he leaves, I give them their handful.

ADHRC District 4 Director

I am so excited to announce that I have been elected for the ADHRC District 4 Director position! What an honor it is to be more involved in my national breed club. Policy and politics are something I am not all that familiar with but since our district has been so inactive and with the former director resigning, someone need to step up and get us going again. District 4 includes, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. So it's official, I am married to my breed. Total dedication from here on out. :-)

Sierra Valley Hay

Well it looks like the bunnies are in the black in their bank account (lol)... So being their personal financial manager, I decided to splurge and let them buy themselves a special treat. I found a website that sells quality hay out of California. After hearing raving reviews I took the plunge and have been quite pleased with the quality of it. It is a first cutting so there are a lot of stems but it makes for easy clean up! There is also a tiny bit of alfalfa mixed in...not too excited about that but the buns l-o-v-e it.

Smells sooooo good!!

What a difference-timothy hay on the left and ??? Tractor supply bought hay on the right.

Abby approves.

babies approve!

Check them out at http://www.sierravalleyhay.com/

Rabbit Genetics 101 website

A photo of our babies are going to be featured on a new rabbit genetics website. Pretty cool! I was asked to photograph young week old babies and so I had a go at it. Generally, I don't think babies at this age are cute to photograph because their eyes are closed but it turned out really cute. 

Here's the site picture, no link yet as its still in progress. 

Oh the cuteness!

The babies are growing and starting to look more like baby bunnies than hairless mice. Heehee! Can't wait for those eyes to open, just a couple more days.

Jordan's litter...as you can see she doesn't have hair in there, not sure what happened, maybe they made a bed out of it all and its under them.

She decided they needed more! LOL

Amelia's babies, 1 tiny runt and the other is a normal kit.

Little runt baby, he needs a cool name to go with his mohawk!

Tin Man...come on baby, grow that head out! If he had a large head to balance those ears he would be Ah-mazing and it will earn him a spot at Convention.

Holly giving them a bath.

Poor Diva....yup that's her under mom.

Oh the cuteness!!!

ETRBA Show

Wow! What a fun show! I was able to write for Tonna Thomas at the show yesterday and I learned a lot. So glad I did it. I really have a new found respect for ARBA judges because they are on their feet for long long hours and have to pull rabbits from the coops, turn, twist, lean over. Talk about a work out! I just stood there and I was tired. LOL

The bunnies did great! There was a good turnout. 11 DH and 4 exhibitors. Percy's XEO won BOB and 4King's Jennie won BOSB in show A under Tonna Thomas. In show B, 4King's Boss won BOB and Christina's Chloe won BOSB! Wow, they did great.

Judge Ken McCracken judging the DH

Makes me happy to see so many! Yay TX breeders!!

DH breeders

My first homegrown that earned a leg. 4King's Boss

Boss with his BOB ribbon

Muffy is a GC now! 3rd leg earned, he's doing the happy dance!

Christina's Chloe won BOSB

4King's Jennie won BOSB

 I also came home with a new buck, I love his body, just had to have him. :-D

T's Tin Man

Just a baby, I really think he'll be nice!

That's all for now, I hope to make an Exciting announcement soon. Just have to see if its voted on. :-)