Breed changes in my future?

Checkered Giant, just gorgeous!

I'm sure we've all gone through this, contemplating whether or not one of those breeds out in the barn is something that works for us. Sure the size has made us keep them, lack of space they need, food they consume, they're popular so you never have trouble finding competition at local shows. We've gone through all the reasons as to why we SHOULD or potentially want to keep them, but at the back of your mind, you know that they just aren't a breed you're passionate about.

Right now, that's how I'm feeling with my Mini Rex. Don't get me wrong, I've got some GREAT stock, from some of the best lines obtainable, but...for the past few weeks I've just had this little question mark stuck in the back of my mind..."is this really the breed for me?". I think what first attracted me like so many other people, was that plush fur! I have NO trouble finding competition at shows for these guys (with the exception of my reds), and they sell very well. I like the cobby body type and gentle nature. However, though I do like them as a whole, I don't know if I like them ENOUGH to devote a lot of cage space, time, and patience to them as a breed. Right now they're competing with space for my Jersey Woolies, and when push comes to shove, somethings got to give.

I am not going to give up though! I am willing to get my litters in the nestboxes, play around with the breed some more and give them a little time to warm up to me. I just see A LOT of holes filled with Mini Rex right now that I would like to see Woolies in, and my numbers of Mini Rex are forcing me to keep lower numbers in my Woolies, and I'm just not okay with that.

Sure if I had a rabbitry of a bigger size, 50+ holes, I'd have no problem filling some holes with Mini Rex, but I don't have a rabbitry of that size, and currently only operate on 25-35 holes maximum (for the moment, hehe). Since I've been thinking of letting go of the Mini Rex, this has led me to thinking about what breeds I would want to come in and take their place in the spring once I add more holes to the rabbitry. I am very strict on the practice of never breeding more then 4 breeds at a time, preferably I like to keep it at a maximum of 3.

Currently, there are 7 different breeds in my barn, LOL! Three of them are my actual show breeds that I actively breed/show, the others are mostly single animals of various breeds that are strictly my spoiled pets. The show rabbits are spoiled to, the pets however are allowed to get fat ;D Here are the pets:

1 Black Himalayan Sr. Buck - Arata's All My Mojoe McCool:
"Joseph" I bought a while back at the CCRBA Late show. I raised Himalayans back in my youth days, and the first EVER BIS I won, was with a Black Jr Buck named Rowdy. I'd also like to add that my first BIS was also an OPEN BIS win, boy was I ever excited, I was probably 13-14 at the time. Anyway, I saw the breeder had put a FOR SALE tag on his cage after the judging that day, so I inquired about him, only to find out he was being sold as a pet because one testicle never descended. After I picked him up I just couldn't resist, so I bought him, and he came home to live the spoiled pet life with me & the show bunnies.

1 Florida Whire Sr. Buck - Space Ghost:
Ghost I bought for my boyfriends brother after he developed a fond love of rabbits, and wouldn't leave my show bunnies alone! When purchasing pets, I always like to opt for Rescue's, giving an animal a new, loving home who has faced hard times always makes me feel better. I picked Ghost up for $10 from a farm stand selling rabbits, he was dirty, bullied by his 4 other cage mates, and underfed. He came home to live with us and is now a very spoiled, and FAT little bunny.
(Ps. In the future, I am planning on devoting 10 holes to strictly rescue rabbits and operating a very small Rabbit Rescue. We will rehabilitate, and place these rabbits up for adoption through our main rabbitry site, each bunny will be posted with his/her story and the progress they are making. We plan on charging a very low adoption fee to cover the cost of feed for the bunnies still in the rescue program, vet bills and to help rescue other bunnies from bad situations. Of course, public donations will be welcomed as well.)

1 Black 6-8 Flemish Giant Buck- Wood's What Aye Woodstock:
Woody just never found himself a girlfriend, I show him on a regular basis however. So until he gets a lady friend, he's living the pet life :)

2 Holland Lops:
I'm getting lazy adding names, ugh. My boyfriend thought he was going to breed Hollands. He decided now wasn't the right time, and let me have all the more room for my breeds instead :). His buck will be a neutered pet, the doe we are reselling because she has National placing animals in her background ;D

After a while, my wrists start to hurt from all this typing, geesh! I don't even feel like finishing this blog, but I must!

Continuing on with my talk of new breeds, I have been HEAVILY considering a marked breed....yes I said it. A MARKED breed. Oh they are tricky little buggers to get right for the show tables, but they are so gosh darn lovely! My future breed considerations:

-Checkered Giants (REALLY thinking about bringing in a pair this spring...)
-Rhinelanders (gorgeous, I love arches!)
-Silver Martens (that color combo just drives me wild! *drool*)
-Creme/Champagne D'Argents
-Mini Satins (gotta have a small option right?)
-Satin Angoras (love fluff)
-New Zealands (maybe? I just love that rock solid body type)
-Standard Chinchilla (I like chin...who knows)

That's a lot of breeds to consider, and who knows, over the years maybe I'll try them all out until I find another breed that just FITS.

-Domonique