Random babbling

As most people know, I have only been back into rabbits for 2, going on 3 years now. I took a hiatus when I was around 14 to focus on school and my family life. When I left the rabbit world, I was raising Himalayan's, Satins in Black Otter only and Jersey Woolies.

It was a very difficult decision to leave rabbits. I had JUST started winning big with my rabbits the year I left. I managed to pull out a RIS or BIS win in every single one of my breeds that year, and had started to make it onto the District Sweeps list, and National Sweeps as well.

When I got back into rabbits, I started with Dwarfs as I had always wanted to try my hand at raising them. I soon got out of them, they just weren't a good fit for me personality wise. I also brought Woolies back in. They will always be a constant in my rabbitry, whether I have 20 show Woolies or just 1 pet Wooly.

I tried out Belgian Hares, LOVE the breed, but I couldn't get a single litter for 2 years. I got frustrated, and gave up. I tried Flemish Giants, weren't for me. I am currently trying to make the final decision with my Mini Rex. I love the body type, the fur, and the competition in this breed. However, I have come to find out, the bucks can be very, very aggressive. While the does are sweet, so far I have had to cull out 3 of my bucks due to unmanageable aggression. All 3 were from completely different lines and breeders, so I don't think it was a certain line that was involved with this trait. None of my animals are ever mishandled, and all are treated like royalty. I can't figure it out, but today I was attacked by one of my junior bucks, and he has attacked members of the family as well. This junior buck is also going to be culled out due to unmanageable aggression. I'm really disappointed, I just brought in a stellar Black buck to improve on my Mini Rex herd, but with all these aggressive animals, I have culled my Mini Rex numbers down to 10.

I am going to speak to other breeders, and see if they have problems with their bucks behavior as well. I am not a fan of aggressive rabbits, I don't think anyone is. If this continues, the Mini Rex, as hard as it will be or me, are going. However, if I do sell out, people will be getting some really nice rabbits. I searched high and low for the perfect herd sire, and the best lines. I spent a lot of money on the Mini Rex, more then any other breed so far, it is really discouraging, but I am not having fun with this breed at the moment.

With the Mini Rex possibly going out the door, this will leave only Woolies left in my barn. Having so much spare room, I have been weeding through breeds deciding what I would like to bring in, in the event that the Mini Rex leave.

Possibilities so far include:

Satins or Mini Satins
English Spots
Silver Martens

Each breed has it's pro's and con's, and I have owned/bred 2 out of the 4 breeds so I have some experience with them already. Silver Martens have been a 12 year obsession of mine. I have always admired from afar, never took the next step and brought some in, although I almost did once last September.

Only time will tell how things turn out, but in May, I am definitely bringing in a pair or trio of English Spots. Woolies and Spots were the 2 first breeds I ever showed, and they have a sentimental place in my heart. With other Spot breeders living in my area, I won't have trouble finding competition. Having the mental focus and physical space requirements to be able to have up to 3 breeds also tempts to bring in a meatier type breed from the list above, but I am not 100% positive on that decision yet. I can dedicate about 12-15 holes each between 3 breeds right now. Winter storage in the barn is taking up the rest of my bunny space, but when it's cleared out, I can dedicate about 20 holes each, to each breed, which is plenty for me. I breed smart, and I breed hard. I don't try or as many litters as I can, so I always have plenty of space available.

Little rant of sorts, that's all for now.


PS. I will be making a rabbitry tour video soon, as this seems to the be the current trend on RH. I cut back a little while ago, and moved a lot of cages back into the loft so I only have 18 little hoppers to show everyone, but I feel a tour would be a fun idea anyway :P

-Domonique