I don't know where to start on this one. I see my last blog was the 23rd, no idea what day that was. I do know that we bought a newer truck last Friday, then on Saturday we had company for dinner, and I can't remember what else. Sunday we insured the new truck(since we had to scrimp for the money to pay the PST and the insurance with the price of the truck etc!)(and payments on top of it). Oh well, we love it.
So Sunday we spent playing with the new truck. Monday we had more company come, we played more with the truck. And visited with the company. Tuesday was my birthday and we had friends over, and a big lunch, and a really busy day going here and there. Wednesday was spent I don't even remember? Between company and rabbits and animals and everything else. Oh, and then Luke ran into Harley while playing knocked him on all fours. It really hurt his back end, and we've been keeping a close eye on it.
back to that after.
Then Thursday we spent doing more running around and company and rabbits and working, and well the list goes on. Friday we had vet certificates to get, which went fine. When we went to book the shipment the airline(Frontier) will only let you book the flight 24 hours in advance. Well, we called and they were closed(Mountain hours) so the shipments didn't get booked for Monday. Now I've contacted the person we are picking the chicks up for to see if they can come in later in the week.
Back track to Thursday we took the company to the new walmart, then we had all kinds of hiccups and just a really crazy day. Had to help take our grandma to the doctor etc.
Then we had dog obedience last night, supposed to have it at 8am this morning for luke but had to cancel due to funds because we had to go to the vet with Harley. He really hurt his back end with that hit from Luke. He is on anti-inflammatorys. If it is not better by Monday he will need to have X-rays. We have to all pray that the Anti Inflammatorys(which he will have to take a pill for the rest of his life) work. If not, they have X-rays($200) and if it is a slipped disc it would be $3000 which we could not afford. So.. We just need to pray that this works out better for Harley. He is in great spirits. He loves life, and is just an awesome dog so putting him down unless crucial is NOT an option either. The vet at first was skeptical about a 135lb Rottweiller. He soon learned Harley is not a rottie you have to watch. He is just a big suck. Anyway, so we did that this morning. Had to cancel our Rabbits BC meeting as that was more important.
Then we had all kinds of hiccups the past couple of days. We are also cutting way back on our rabbits. We dont have the time to spend with this many, and quite honestly we just aren't enjoying having this many anymore.. I think in the next year we may downscale to only 40. 20 each. Who knows..
Anyway I have 10 Jersey woolies for sale- all the last of the Jerseys. $350 for all. Some really nice ones, a gorgeous sable point buck, and 2 gorgeous blue bucks, and a nice black buck. 6 does. All the does can be bred to Cowboy before they go as well... $350 for all, can be priced indivually as well.
We will have a for sale list of Mini lops soon.
We also have a 4 hole stacker, a 3 hole JW size carrier, a 4 hole JW size carrier. And 6 nestboxes(wooden) and 2 metal nestboxes. $80 stacker, $30 for the 3 hole carrier, $40 for the 4 hole carrier, $6 for the wooden nestboxes(brand new condition, only used once each! and 2 metal nestboxes are $15 for both.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Upcoming show, litters etc
I think we have 5-7 does due this next week, we have to get nestboxes in for them this weekend. I need to double check but they are either due the 27th or the 28th.
We have our next show on June 7th in Victoria. We have tattooing and figuring out what we are entering over the next week, two weeks. It is a day of show entry so that is nice, because I don't know how we would even have time before the 7th to figure out entries.
4:00 last night we called about taking an old coin collection in to see about appraising and selling it. We sold it, for just under $1000. None of us collect coins and had no idea where it came from, it was in a box in the attic. We sold it to a coin collector that is a close friend of the family. He said it was worth the $1000 and he would only make another $60 off it, a little more if silver goes up in the next couple of weeks. So, we were happy as that will go towards the truck fund. Now I have to go to the bank at 9:30 to pull money out to put towards a truck, and then we are going to Ladysmith sometime today to look at another truck.
We looked at a truck last night(the one we are going back to today). And then we will start looking at other vehicles. We decided to give mom our truck, as she could use a truck and sell her car. So, we will be going out to start cleaning out her car, to put it up for sale. Then she will take over our truck(worth 3 times as much as her car) and then we will hopefully be able to trade the van in towards a truck as well..... So crossing fingers this all works out! If it isn't the right truck today we will keep looking. I don't want to jump into something that has problems. I would love to buy new.. But the payments would be $500 a month($472, plus insurance another $85-90 a month) on payments and that is just too much right now.
Maybe in the next year or two.
Anyway to the rabbits, so we took the coin collection in and didn't get to the barn until almost 8:30, so we fed and watered rabbits and had to go back to the car dealership at 9:30/quarter to 10 to get the number for the dealer today.
Rabbit wise all is well, babies are all doing great. Panaches babies are SO cute, same with the sable point buck from Ms Sierra- very nice! Mini lop babies are all doing well, just a few litters left now. Have lots more expected!
We have our next show on June 7th in Victoria. We have tattooing and figuring out what we are entering over the next week, two weeks. It is a day of show entry so that is nice, because I don't know how we would even have time before the 7th to figure out entries.
4:00 last night we called about taking an old coin collection in to see about appraising and selling it. We sold it, for just under $1000. None of us collect coins and had no idea where it came from, it was in a box in the attic. We sold it to a coin collector that is a close friend of the family. He said it was worth the $1000 and he would only make another $60 off it, a little more if silver goes up in the next couple of weeks. So, we were happy as that will go towards the truck fund. Now I have to go to the bank at 9:30 to pull money out to put towards a truck, and then we are going to Ladysmith sometime today to look at another truck.
We looked at a truck last night(the one we are going back to today). And then we will start looking at other vehicles. We decided to give mom our truck, as she could use a truck and sell her car. So, we will be going out to start cleaning out her car, to put it up for sale. Then she will take over our truck(worth 3 times as much as her car) and then we will hopefully be able to trade the van in towards a truck as well..... So crossing fingers this all works out! If it isn't the right truck today we will keep looking. I don't want to jump into something that has problems. I would love to buy new.. But the payments would be $500 a month($472, plus insurance another $85-90 a month) on payments and that is just too much right now.
Maybe in the next year or two.
Anyway to the rabbits, so we took the coin collection in and didn't get to the barn until almost 8:30, so we fed and watered rabbits and had to go back to the car dealership at 9:30/quarter to 10 to get the number for the dealer today.
Rabbit wise all is well, babies are all doing great. Panaches babies are SO cute, same with the sable point buck from Ms Sierra- very nice! Mini lop babies are all doing well, just a few litters left now. Have lots more expected!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Our crazy life
Our crazy life, hasn't got any less crazy. More crazy yes... And I really don't have much to write about in this blog rabbit wise, since we haven't had time to do a lot of extras besides cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning(wire brushing every night, regular cleaning etc etc) feed runs you know.
We did manage, to get a whole bunch of pics done. For sale animals, a few Mini lops for sale, and various other things. We put a whole bunch of animals up for sale, as we are very surely running out of cage space fast! So, once the shipments go out, and the rabbits are transported to WA then it will be nice to have more empty cages.
We have tons to do in the barn. We have 7 dwarf hotots, plus 4 almost ready to wean babies, plus 5 new babies and 2 does that need to be bred in the next few months. So, we will have to decide(with Andrea helping from Ireland since they are of course her rabbits) who to sell! As there are only 8 holes!
We finished the van, we had a bunch of body work and a few little things to do, and we put it up for sale on Sunday and already we've had 6 inquiries, and 2 or 3 are serious! So that is awesome. We worked all day on the truck,(my truck) as it also needed a bit of body work(little rust) and then a tuneup, and then a new console etc. So anyway, we got a whole bunch done and just a bit left and it will go up for sale : )
I was really and am still really hoping to have it up for sale by Friday or Saturday, and sold by Monday so I can buy a truck next week.. The 27th would be excellent(my b-day : )
I fell in love(haha) with a Ford F150 air conditioning, leather, 6 seats, extended cab with the 3rd door, power everything, V8 lots of horse power! You name it. Anyway, love it! Hoping the one I really love is there next week!
Literally working on vehicles is taking up most of our time. Running around for pieces, and finding various pieces we need has been taking up hours as well. On monday we went to Ucuelet to get our RV trailer and bring it home. We left at 7:30 am and we didn't get home until 5pm, then had to do chores etc. It was a very long day!
Rabbits are all fine. Nothing much to report there. Next litters start arriving next week.
Well..I really don't have much to write about so I am going to go work on something else. Oh, I should say next week is going to be nuts.... The 27th is my b-day and a friend from the mainland is coming to visit on the 26th through the 29. Then on the 28 we have to pick up crates in Victoria for 2 shipments, plus get 8 rabbits vet certificates. The 29th nothing planned that I know of. Then The 3oth Irene and Dillon come to the farm, the 31st Luke has his major obedience class at 8am, then a rabbits bc meeting in the afternoon. Then the 1st nothing planned, and the 2nd we are in the US. Then the 7th is a show in Victoria. CRAZY!
We did manage, to get a whole bunch of pics done. For sale animals, a few Mini lops for sale, and various other things. We put a whole bunch of animals up for sale, as we are very surely running out of cage space fast! So, once the shipments go out, and the rabbits are transported to WA then it will be nice to have more empty cages.
We have tons to do in the barn. We have 7 dwarf hotots, plus 4 almost ready to wean babies, plus 5 new babies and 2 does that need to be bred in the next few months. So, we will have to decide(with Andrea helping from Ireland since they are of course her rabbits) who to sell! As there are only 8 holes!
We finished the van, we had a bunch of body work and a few little things to do, and we put it up for sale on Sunday and already we've had 6 inquiries, and 2 or 3 are serious! So that is awesome. We worked all day on the truck,(my truck) as it also needed a bit of body work(little rust) and then a tuneup, and then a new console etc. So anyway, we got a whole bunch done and just a bit left and it will go up for sale : )
I was really and am still really hoping to have it up for sale by Friday or Saturday, and sold by Monday so I can buy a truck next week.. The 27th would be excellent(my b-day : )
I fell in love(haha) with a Ford F150 air conditioning, leather, 6 seats, extended cab with the 3rd door, power everything, V8 lots of horse power! You name it. Anyway, love it! Hoping the one I really love is there next week!
Literally working on vehicles is taking up most of our time. Running around for pieces, and finding various pieces we need has been taking up hours as well. On monday we went to Ucuelet to get our RV trailer and bring it home. We left at 7:30 am and we didn't get home until 5pm, then had to do chores etc. It was a very long day!
Rabbits are all fine. Nothing much to report there. Next litters start arriving next week.
Well..I really don't have much to write about so I am going to go work on something else. Oh, I should say next week is going to be nuts.... The 27th is my b-day and a friend from the mainland is coming to visit on the 26th through the 29. Then on the 28 we have to pick up crates in Victoria for 2 shipments, plus get 8 rabbits vet certificates. The 29th nothing planned that I know of. Then The 3oth Irene and Dillon come to the farm, the 31st Luke has his major obedience class at 8am, then a rabbits bc meeting in the afternoon. Then the 1st nothing planned, and the 2nd we are in the US. Then the 7th is a show in Victoria. CRAZY!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Jerseys for sale
Posey's Black Junior buck- GC Jentle's Hero Blue X B-Mac's Canadian Mist Pointed White 2 legs/REG. Beautiful body and wool on this buck, nice head developing. $75
Leapin' Cowboy- Blue point senior buck, nice body, very cute head and good ear. Little harsh in texture. Not showable(wrong color). $45 Leapin' Snookums REG 1 leg X Leapin' Mona Lisa REG(blue tort both parents)
Leapin' Panache- Smoke pearl- Leapin' Wisdom(smoke pearl) X Leapin' Mara(smoke pearl) all Leapin, one Brian, one Ryan line. Awesome mom and producer. I am keeping her junior buck out of Hero, very nice boys in that litter. $50
Posey's Blue jr buck- GC Jentle's Hero(blue) X Leapin' Panache(smoke pearl) very nice junior buck $60
Leapin' Maggie May- Smoke pearl senior doe, proven on a litter of 4 right now. Out of GC RH's Tonka X Leapin' Willow Waltz, 1 leg for BOB WA State Convention 2007, REG. Great body, brood doe now. Big about 4.0lbs. $40
Posey's Blue jr doe- GC Jentle's Hero X Leapin' Maggie May- very nice junior doe, pick of litter. $50
Leapin' Miss Sierra- Blue point? Senior doe- awesome mom, raising her first litter of 4. Leapin' Munchkin REG x Leapin' Chantilly Lace REG/1 leg. Ms Sierra has a great body, brood doe. $40
Schultz's Secret Weapon- Siamese Sable senior doe-Wo's Taboo 2 legs X Schultz's Cassie- White oaks and Oswalds. $50
Posey's Sable point junior buck- Gorgeous buck! Will keep him if he doesn't sell, like the blue doe above! Leapin' Rock N Roll(Tort) X Leapin' Miss Sierra $65
Posey's Sable point junior buck- Leapin' Cowboy X Leapin' Foxy Lady- very clean, nice body, needs a better ear. $50
Leapin' Chantilly Lace- Sable point Senior doe- Bred to M an M's Broken blue buck ( I think ) I need to palpate. Very small doe with a great body. REG 1 leg out of Ryan's Royale X Leapin Willow Waltz. Brians, Leapin lines and Sara's. $45
Posey's Smoke pearl junior buck- Leapin' Cowboy X Leapin Fantasy 2 legs- awesome body, needs a bit better ear. $50
Posey's Escapade- Leapin' Chantilly Lace REG/1 leg X Leapin' Rock N Roll- really nice junior doe, in ganglies right now. Nice and small, great body. Just a tad harsh in texture. Smoke pearl. $60 I will keep her if she doesn't sell, but I have to cut back somewhere!
Leapin' Cowboy- Blue point senior buck, nice body, very cute head and good ear. Little harsh in texture. Not showable(wrong color). $45 Leapin' Snookums REG 1 leg X Leapin' Mona Lisa REG(blue tort both parents)
Leapin' Panache- Smoke pearl- Leapin' Wisdom(smoke pearl) X Leapin' Mara(smoke pearl) all Leapin, one Brian, one Ryan line. Awesome mom and producer. I am keeping her junior buck out of Hero, very nice boys in that litter. $50
Posey's Blue jr buck- GC Jentle's Hero(blue) X Leapin' Panache(smoke pearl) very nice junior buck $60
Leapin' Maggie May- Smoke pearl senior doe, proven on a litter of 4 right now. Out of GC RH's Tonka X Leapin' Willow Waltz, 1 leg for BOB WA State Convention 2007, REG. Great body, brood doe now. Big about 4.0lbs. $40
Posey's Blue jr doe- GC Jentle's Hero X Leapin' Maggie May- very nice junior doe, pick of litter. $50
Leapin' Miss Sierra- Blue point? Senior doe- awesome mom, raising her first litter of 4. Leapin' Munchkin REG x Leapin' Chantilly Lace REG/1 leg. Ms Sierra has a great body, brood doe. $40
Schultz's Secret Weapon- Siamese Sable senior doe-Wo's Taboo 2 legs X Schultz's Cassie- White oaks and Oswalds. $50
Posey's Sable point junior buck- Gorgeous buck! Will keep him if he doesn't sell, like the blue doe above! Leapin' Rock N Roll(Tort) X Leapin' Miss Sierra $65
Posey's Sable point junior buck- Leapin' Cowboy X Leapin' Foxy Lady- very clean, nice body, needs a better ear. $50
Leapin' Chantilly Lace- Sable point Senior doe- Bred to M an M's Broken blue buck ( I think ) I need to palpate. Very small doe with a great body. REG 1 leg out of Ryan's Royale X Leapin Willow Waltz. Brians, Leapin lines and Sara's. $45
Posey's Smoke pearl junior buck- Leapin' Cowboy X Leapin Fantasy 2 legs- awesome body, needs a bit better ear. $50
Posey's Escapade- Leapin' Chantilly Lace REG/1 leg X Leapin' Rock N Roll- really nice junior doe, in ganglies right now. Nice and small, great body. Just a tad harsh in texture. Smoke pearl. $60 I will keep her if she doesn't sell, but I have to cut back somewhere!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Beautiful Vancouver Island
I don't know, Andrea said Ireland is just gorgeous but I think Canada is pretty damn nice too! Here's some pics taken from Vancouver Island. I hope to do a collage, or major blog? of pics taken this summer in my travels of beautiful Vancouver Island, hopefully the Interior, and Alberta as well!
And, what is a rabbit website blog without talk of rabbits?
Here's Leapin' Panache X GC Jentle's hero babies! I am keeping one buck, but the other is available. Beautiful boys! Panache is for sale as well, and is a terrific mom!
We had the 2nd and last calf of the year born, a heifer today! I've attached pics of both calfs. The one calf is just over a week old, and then the heifer "Mary" born today.
And I've also attached a pic of Luke- see how pretty he is getting? He is finally getting out of ganglies, our golden retriever. And Harley- Harley was getting up in this pic, so he looks strange, lol!
And, what is a rabbit website blog without talk of rabbits?
Here's Leapin' Panache X GC Jentle's hero babies! I am keeping one buck, but the other is available. Beautiful boys! Panache is for sale as well, and is a terrific mom!
We had the 2nd and last calf of the year born, a heifer today! I've attached pics of both calfs. The one calf is just over a week old, and then the heifer "Mary" born today.
And I've also attached a pic of Luke- see how pretty he is getting? He is finally getting out of ganglies, our golden retriever. And Harley- Harley was getting up in this pic, so he looks strange, lol!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Jerseys for sale
Here's my current for sale list. The babies I am listing on here are too young to tell type yet, but because of space restrictions I am forced to only keep 1-2, or sell something of the older animals... Even though we have 92 holes, and 8 holes for Andrea Dwarf hotots I don't have much room left over! We have tons of mini lops, and more on the way :) I will get Cristina to write a blog about our 6(yes 6) new additions(ML's) once we have pictures/typed them : )
Anyway, because of our allergies to the wool, we have just kept 8 holes for the woolies. Yes, unfortunetly both Cristina and I are allergic to some degree to the Jersey wool(especially blowing them!).
So, here's the animals for sale.. I really need them gone, so we can wean more ML juniors. We still have approx 10 empty holes after the new ones arrive late tonight, but, those 10 won't be empty long. I will get new pics of all the older animals this week, and as soon as I can type the babies I will start listing them. As I don't have room to keep any!
Bucks:
Posey's Black Junior buck- gorgeous buck! 2 1/4 inch ears, full brother went to Ontario and this is what Jen has written about him- "He has a very full face... short, thick ears... and a body to die for... Where cheerleader lacked in coat,... incognito makes up for it... 10 fold!! He's got the right attitude and poses like a dream... and upright ears to boot!!.... This is gonna be a fun show season!!"
I like this buck as much, but I don't work on selfs. And as it is, I'm keeping a blue jr buck already!! (bad me!)
M an M's Battle Royale- Broken blue buck from M an M rabbitry in WA. Massive buck, on the bigger side. Sweet personality. I paid $120 , am asking $75.
Does:
Leapin' Maggie Mae- Smoke pearl senior doe, on a litter of 3, ready when litter is weaned. 1 GC leg for BOB WA State Convention 2007(out of 53). REG. Great mom! $40
Leapin' Ms Sierra- Blue point senior doe- has been shown and passed as a sable point. Ready when her litter of 4 is weaned. Awesome body! $40
Leapin Panache- beautiful body, good head, super personality. On her first litter of 2, awesome babies! I am keeping one. This is the oldest litter, so the first I've been able to type(hence why I'm not saying awesome babies for the other litters, since they are too young to type). $50
Babies:
3 babies from Leapin' Maggie Mae 1 leg/REG X GC JEntle's Hero- Blues- 2 bucks, 1 doe
1 baby from Leapin' Panache X GC Jentle's Hero- I am keeping one, one blue buck available.
4 babies from Leapin' Miss Sierra X Leapin' Rock N Roll- sable points, tort, and a blue point.
And that is it!
Anyway, because of our allergies to the wool, we have just kept 8 holes for the woolies. Yes, unfortunetly both Cristina and I are allergic to some degree to the Jersey wool(especially blowing them!).
So, here's the animals for sale.. I really need them gone, so we can wean more ML juniors. We still have approx 10 empty holes after the new ones arrive late tonight, but, those 10 won't be empty long. I will get new pics of all the older animals this week, and as soon as I can type the babies I will start listing them. As I don't have room to keep any!
Bucks:
Posey's Black Junior buck- gorgeous buck! 2 1/4 inch ears, full brother went to Ontario and this is what Jen has written about him- "He has a very full face... short, thick ears... and a body to die for... Where cheerleader lacked in coat,... incognito makes up for it... 10 fold!! He's got the right attitude and poses like a dream... and upright ears to boot!!.... This is gonna be a fun show season!!"
I like this buck as much, but I don't work on selfs. And as it is, I'm keeping a blue jr buck already!! (bad me!)
M an M's Battle Royale- Broken blue buck from M an M rabbitry in WA. Massive buck, on the bigger side. Sweet personality. I paid $120 , am asking $75.
Does:
Leapin' Maggie Mae- Smoke pearl senior doe, on a litter of 3, ready when litter is weaned. 1 GC leg for BOB WA State Convention 2007(out of 53). REG. Great mom! $40
Leapin' Ms Sierra- Blue point senior doe- has been shown and passed as a sable point. Ready when her litter of 4 is weaned. Awesome body! $40
Leapin Panache- beautiful body, good head, super personality. On her first litter of 2, awesome babies! I am keeping one. This is the oldest litter, so the first I've been able to type(hence why I'm not saying awesome babies for the other litters, since they are too young to type). $50
Babies:
3 babies from Leapin' Maggie Mae 1 leg/REG X GC JEntle's Hero- Blues- 2 bucks, 1 doe
1 baby from Leapin' Panache X GC Jentle's Hero- I am keeping one, one blue buck available.
4 babies from Leapin' Miss Sierra X Leapin' Rock N Roll- sable points, tort, and a blue point.
And that is it!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Dwarf Hotot Litter!
Electric's Stairway to Heaven kindled her first litter today, bred to BOJ's Calvin. She had 5 babies, all alive doing well in the box! 1 mismark (only 1 eyeband), and 4 perfects.
Electric's Nightwish should be due as well anytime. Not sure who she was bred to, would need to look it up / ask Andrea!
Still waiting on 2 Mini Lops to go...
Electric's Nightwish should be due as well anytime. Not sure who she was bred to, would need to look it up / ask Andrea!
Still waiting on 2 Mini Lops to go...
Monday, May 5, 2008
Spring is finally here!
Well Spring is finally here on Vancouver Island. We had our first calf of the year born a couple of days ago. An adorable(aren't they all?) Black Angus bull calf. A sweetie! I will get pics in a few days. We are waiting on "Molly" who is bagged up and ready to go in the next week or two maybe even sooner! Molly is a pro, she has had quite a few calfs in her 10 years. Her last year calf was a Heifer. Actually both calfs last year were heifers, hoping for a heifer from her again this year!
I know what's a blog without pics, but I promise to get some in a few days. The cows enjoyed playing around the barnyard today and eating the foot tall grass that has been growing like crazy the past couple of weeks. I was going to get a pic of them today too, but I ran out of time. Tomorrow is an extra crazy day as we are off to Victoria to look at Trucks for our dad, and then if he buys one we will have to do all the insurance, and transferring etc. Then we have to get pics of our Uncles Skidder for sale, and get the van cleaned and ready to go to put up for sale, the same with our pick up. We hope to have both those cleaned and put up for sale by Friday at the latest as we found a truck! Now if only it would be there..... When we sell the other 2!
Crosses fingers : )
Rabbits are doing just fine. It was nice to have so many fewer with taking those ones up Island on Sunday. We have a shipment of 5 off to GA in a few weeks, and a few off to WA and possibly Utah as well.
If anyone on the Mainland or Interior reads this blog and is interested in stock, our friend Kelly from Black Creek is going to Kamloops this coming weekend(May 10th) and is willing to transport rabbits for $5 transport fee... She is going to the Langley Auction, Vernon and Kamloops as far as I know.
Anyway I will try to get pics of the cows and calf tomorrow or Wednesday! We just have 3 cows left, and 2 yearling heifers, plus the new bull calf. We lost Megan about 6 weeks ago, and just have Molly(Angus/Hereford cross), A red angus young cow who won't be bred for at least another year. She came from our uncles friend(our uncle owns the cows we just spoil them : ) and she is the ugliest looking cow. The others all have sleek shiny coats, and fat healthy bodies. This one is long coated and shaggy looking. She's been like that since he got her, and no amount of grain seems to change it so we are all hoping another year will make her look better lol. Then 2 black angus heifers from last year, and a black angus cow with the bull calf at her side.
Oh, I do have one pic for this blog.. Harley and River were sunbathing a couple of days ago on the step going into the barn. Harley is 150lbs, and River is 10... And they get along just fine!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Why didn't I do that in the first place?
So we set up the shop vac, with the blower attached and we blew out all the juniors yesterday. No brushing, no messing with tangles or anything it was SO easy and their coats look awesome.
Why didn't I just do that in the first place?
Sighs, having to learn the hard way! I really didn't comprehend when a couple people mentioned shop vacs that they really take away from every couple of day brushing to virtually NO brushing. It blew the coat and we didn't have to brush at all. Built to Last had a tiny knot on his side, and we blew that right out no problem!
I'm very impressed and kicking myself for not getting it together sooner.
We had a busy day today. We delivered 10 cull ML's to Courtenay, 2 Champagnes and 3 Jerseys to Kelly in Courtenay as well, and stopped at Wallys and did a few pics and went through a few litters and rabbits for him, Petsmart on the way home, and then to our Grandmas for dinner and then we fed the barn.
Why didn't I just do that in the first place?
Sighs, having to learn the hard way! I really didn't comprehend when a couple people mentioned shop vacs that they really take away from every couple of day brushing to virtually NO brushing. It blew the coat and we didn't have to brush at all. Built to Last had a tiny knot on his side, and we blew that right out no problem!
I'm very impressed and kicking myself for not getting it together sooner.
We had a busy day today. We delivered 10 cull ML's to Courtenay, 2 Champagnes and 3 Jerseys to Kelly in Courtenay as well, and stopped at Wallys and did a few pics and went through a few litters and rabbits for him, Petsmart on the way home, and then to our Grandmas for dinner and then we fed the barn.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Making money with rabbits?
I saw a blog off "Three Little Ladies Blog" and skimmed it quickly about a week ago(only because of how rushed we've been lately) and it got me thinking about making money off rabbits. We've tried, and have not succeeded!
I think part of the problem is we use the rabbit sale money for the dog and cat food. And for anyone who has rabbits that also has dogs and cats they know just how expensive it is to feed dogs and cats!
The rabbits, really, aren't too bad. Maybe I'm just saying that because of the amount of dog and cat food we feed and buy.
My thoughts on making money off rabbits is, you have to be right on the ball. You have to have breeds that are in high demand. The high demand on Vancouver Island is still, and I think will always be, Holland lops. We still after not having them for almost 3 years get inquiries and sad e-mails that we sold out! If you don't have breeds that are in high demand, that you also enjoy showing don't count on making money!
Now, this is of course my opinion and what we've found on Vancouver Island. You have to have some kind of a meat breed, to help costs as well. Whether that is a breed you also show, or a breed that is just strictly for meat purposes. Reason? Although you can not sell rabbits under the new "farm gate" law for human consumption unless it is inspected, you can sell rabbits for dog/cat food. There is a huge market in BC for rabbit meat for pet food. This is another way to help make "money" off rabbits.
Years ago, selling the rabbit wool was a big profit, but I have not seen anyone wanting wool for quite a few years now at least here on the Island. And I haven't had anyone e-mail or ask about rabbit wool for years. I had one "Angora" rabbit inquiry a few weeks back, but that is the only angora inquiry we've recieved in the last 7 years.
You of course have your pet sales, show sales, breeding stock sales. But, again Holland lops have the largest price tags on the Island, the most amount of inquiries and new comers start with this breed as well! In my opinion you have to work really, really hard to make money off rabbits. Cristina and I personally don't like the whole "petstore" sales. We do have one petstore that we will occasionally let a rabbit go too if we have quite a few, as they seem to be pretty good at giving out care sheets etc. The one petstore we absolutely loved selling rabbits too because they were so awesome with the animals, will only take holland lops as even the hollands for them will sit for 3-6 months or more at times.
Our dog and cat food bill runs anywhere from $250-300 a month, not including vet bills, advantage, deworming. Rabbit feed bill runs from $250-300. These days it is $300 , we are going through 20 bags of feed a month(about half a ton)
I don't know, from what we've done- from selling pet rabbits, meat stock sales, breeding and show sales, conditioning mix/hay/grain/, rabbit pet sitting, and various other things it is REALLY hard to make money off rabbits. Some months we do break even, but never from the meat, breeding, or pet stock, or conditioning mix or rabbit pet sitting sales. Only from the show/breeding sales, and usually from our small breeds of rabbits. Mini lops aren't a super popular breed as pets, and so many people have mini lops(pet people) confused with holland lops. Thinking mini lops are holland lops. By the time we sort it out with them it is a Holland lop they are wanting! : )
So, personally, I would say no on Vancouver Island you can't make money on rabbits. You can however break even, and have the rabbits pay for themselves if you are careful and have enough pet sales to warrant this!
I think part of the problem is we use the rabbit sale money for the dog and cat food. And for anyone who has rabbits that also has dogs and cats they know just how expensive it is to feed dogs and cats!
The rabbits, really, aren't too bad. Maybe I'm just saying that because of the amount of dog and cat food we feed and buy.
My thoughts on making money off rabbits is, you have to be right on the ball. You have to have breeds that are in high demand. The high demand on Vancouver Island is still, and I think will always be, Holland lops. We still after not having them for almost 3 years get inquiries and sad e-mails that we sold out! If you don't have breeds that are in high demand, that you also enjoy showing don't count on making money!
Now, this is of course my opinion and what we've found on Vancouver Island. You have to have some kind of a meat breed, to help costs as well. Whether that is a breed you also show, or a breed that is just strictly for meat purposes. Reason? Although you can not sell rabbits under the new "farm gate" law for human consumption unless it is inspected, you can sell rabbits for dog/cat food. There is a huge market in BC for rabbit meat for pet food. This is another way to help make "money" off rabbits.
Years ago, selling the rabbit wool was a big profit, but I have not seen anyone wanting wool for quite a few years now at least here on the Island. And I haven't had anyone e-mail or ask about rabbit wool for years. I had one "Angora" rabbit inquiry a few weeks back, but that is the only angora inquiry we've recieved in the last 7 years.
You of course have your pet sales, show sales, breeding stock sales. But, again Holland lops have the largest price tags on the Island, the most amount of inquiries and new comers start with this breed as well! In my opinion you have to work really, really hard to make money off rabbits. Cristina and I personally don't like the whole "petstore" sales. We do have one petstore that we will occasionally let a rabbit go too if we have quite a few, as they seem to be pretty good at giving out care sheets etc. The one petstore we absolutely loved selling rabbits too because they were so awesome with the animals, will only take holland lops as even the hollands for them will sit for 3-6 months or more at times.
Our dog and cat food bill runs anywhere from $250-300 a month, not including vet bills, advantage, deworming. Rabbit feed bill runs from $250-300. These days it is $300 , we are going through 20 bags of feed a month(about half a ton)
I don't know, from what we've done- from selling pet rabbits, meat stock sales, breeding and show sales, conditioning mix/hay/grain/, rabbit pet sitting, and various other things it is REALLY hard to make money off rabbits. Some months we do break even, but never from the meat, breeding, or pet stock, or conditioning mix or rabbit pet sitting sales. Only from the show/breeding sales, and usually from our small breeds of rabbits. Mini lops aren't a super popular breed as pets, and so many people have mini lops(pet people) confused with holland lops. Thinking mini lops are holland lops. By the time we sort it out with them it is a Holland lop they are wanting! : )
So, personally, I would say no on Vancouver Island you can't make money on rabbits. You can however break even, and have the rabbits pay for themselves if you are careful and have enough pet sales to warrant this!
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