Mad as a March hare

Tan Merchandise!

2012-01-03T10:19:00.002-05:00

The official merchandise for the 2012 National Tan Show is now available and it looks awesome!

There are several designs that are specific to the national show. There are also a few Tan related designs that are not show specific. We also have items with the new Indiana Tan R.C. logo!

ALL proceeds will go to youth awards. Online store: http://www.cafepress.com/indianatan

Below are a few examples of some of the designs/items:

Tan Giveaway Winner

2011-09-29T15:59:00.004-04:00

Thank you to all of the youth breeders who sent in their information for me to consider. It is very difficult for me to express how happy it makes me that this breed is growing and becoming more popular. Tans are not only stunning rabbits, but they are extremely intelligent, friendly and engaging as well. I am so happy that many of you agree with me and love the breed.

When I decided to do this giveaway I thought I would receive a few submissions. For the last few weeks I have put off making a decision because honestly there are so many worthy entries. I was completely blown away by the volume and quality of the responses.

And now for the winner...

Congrats to Kaitlyn G. of Colorado! Kaitlyn will be getting a pair of black juniors from me at Convention. I am in love with this pair and I am so proud and happy to pass them along to her.

If you were not picked...please send me a phone number I can reach you at during Convention. I cannot make any promises, but I may have a rabbit or possibly even another pair to giveaway at Convention. My intention was always to give away at least one pair, if not more.

Also...I will be doing another Tan giveaway at the 2012 National Tan Show in Lafayette, Indiana on April 7th. Please see the following page on my rabbitry website for more information: http://www.blueribbonrabbitry.com/youthtangiveaway.htm

Buying Rabbits: Acknowledging the Original Breeder

2011-09-21T12:52:00.022-04:00

I have noticed lately that there is a tendency for newbies to brag about their wins with rabbits they have bought without acknowledging the original breeder. Even worse, I have noticed that the name of the rabbit(s) is often changed to something of the newbie’s choosing, which may give the false impression they raised the rabbit. I do not think for a second that most people do this intentionally with the goal of slighting the original breeder.

I should also probably note that this blog post is not directed at anyone specifically. I had a conversation with a fellow breeder the other day about this and since I have noticed this problem myself I simply thought this would be a potentially helpful blog post to those new to the hobby.

Regarding this issue, there are two big “rules” that all newbies should be aware of:

1. ALWAYS acknowledge the original breeder when discussing a rabbit you did not raise.

I’ll use myself as an example. Last year at Convention I bought a few red Mini Satins from Randy Shumaker. Every single time I mentioned these rabbits in print (website, facebook, etc.) I always acknowledged Randy by listing the name of the rabbit as “Shumaker’s Rachel,” or whatever the name of the particular rabbit might have been.

In conversation I also always made sure I was acknowledging Randy. Anytime I was asked about them or they were complimented I always threw in the fact that they came from Randy. I never did this to brag. Don’t get me wrong, Randy raises stunning rabbits that are brag worthy, but the real reason I did this was to acknowledge that he deserved the credit, not me.

This is not a formal rule, but it is nevertheless well accepted. Always include the pedigreed name of the rabbit when discussing it (this includes the breeder prefix). The pedigreed name is generally regarded as sufficient (e.g. Flynn’s Suspicious Minds) but you can always include the full name of the breeder and the rabbitry as well if you would like.

2. DO NOT change the name of a rabbit you buy.

Unless a breeder gives you permission, you should never rename rabbits you buy. I think when dealing with children this can be a bit tricky as their rabbit may not be just a show animal, but also a pet.

I think it might help to relate this idea to the AKC world. If you buy an AKC registered dog from a breeder, it likely had some silly name. And assuming you bought the dog as a pet you likely renamed the animal. No harm is really done here. And the same would be true if you bought a rabbit and never showed it or bred it and it remained only a pet.

But if you are showing or breeding the rabbit, it is being introduced to the rabbit world. Other breeders will learn of your wins and wonder where that animal came from. Or since you did not acknowledge the breeder they might make an assumption that you raised the animal. If you credit that rabbit as Mr. Snuggles and not as Flynn’s Suspicious Minds (made up example) you are not giving credit to the original breeder. As you can see, this relates directly to the first point I tried to make.

Edit: A great comment was left about what you call the rabbit in private. Of course no one can (or should) dictate your behavior in the privacy of your own home. In reality, as long as you keep the pedigreed name and refer to the rabbit publicly by it...whatever name you refer to the rabbit in private is nothing more than a nickname.

Exceptions:

I strongly believe there is no exception to rule #1. However, rule #2 can occasionally be broken if the original breeder explicitly says you can rename the rabbit. Some breeders will actually even have it spelled out in their sales policy that it is okay. I do not believe that to be the norm, but I know some people do allow changes.

Edit #2: Many have commented here and on facebook that they feel an exception should be made when the rabbit has not yet been named. Personally, I would not give a rabbit a name without consulting the breeder first. Some breeders prefer to refer to their rabbits by ear number, not name, and I think that should be respected (e.g. Flynn's KFA1). Additionally, what happens if the breeder already has a rabbit by the name you have selected? It does not take much effort to consult the original breeder first.

Why is this so important?

Basically, the golden rule applies...treat people as you wish to be treated. Once someone has spent time, money and energy raising their own animals, I think that person can easily understand why we all want acknowledgement for our hard work. As a breeder my rabbit is a reflection of not just my herd, but of me as well even after it leaves my possession.

Convention Sales: Now Accepting Deposits!

2011-08-16T10:05:00.003-04:00

We have decided to accept deposits a little earlier than anticipated on some of our Convention rabbits. For a list of black seniors and all chocolates/blues/lilacs, please visit our website: http://www.blueribbonrabbitry.com/stockavailability.htm

If you are interested in black juniors, please e-mail me directly at blueribbonrabbitry@gmail.com. The list of blacks for sale will form more slowly as I have many to sort through. We will have a few available here and there between now and Convention, but I anticipate deciding upon the majority of blacks to sell much closer to Convention.

Just send us an e-mail with what you are wanting and I will do my best to help you out!

Congrats to Shelby Heavilin!

2011-08-09T17:31:00.003-04:00

I love receiving updates on rabbits I have sold!

The Heavilin Family bought two beautiful blacks from me at the 2011 National Tan Show. Shelby Heavilin had BOB/BOS at the Porter Co. Fair with Flynn's Borderline and Flynn's Man in Black. The following weekend Shelby took home Reserve Best in Show at the Lake Co. Fair with Flynn's Borderline! Big congrats to Shelby!

Announcement...

2011-08-02T10:02:00.005-04:00

I will no longer be showing Mini Satins or blue/chocolate Tans with LeAnn McKinney.

LeAnn remains one of my best friends both inside and outside this hobby. The decision has nothing to do with our friendship. Instead, this decision was made solely because I have a small rabbitry and feel the best thing for my herd is that I go back to devoting 100% of my time, energy and space to my black Tans. We had both always anticipated this would be a short term "just for fun" project anyway.

Nothing will change on my end in terms of the Tans. I will still get blues/chocolates/lilacs in my black litters occasionally and will continue to sell them if they meet my standards. I never showed them before except occasionally at national shows and I do not anticipate that changing. The only real change is that the red Mini Satins will be gone.

I am unsure if LeAnn will continue with Tans on her end. If you are interested in blues/chocolates and I do not have anything available, feel free to e-mail me and I will put you in touch with LeAnn or another breeder in your area.

Convention Sales

2011-07-29T19:56:00.004-04:00

Our website (http://www.blueribbonrabbitry.com) has been updated to include all of the non-blacks we will have for sale at Convention. I have also added black seniors. In September I will send out an email to everyone on our wait list. Hopefully by then I will have an idea of what we will have for sale black junior wise.

Unless otherwise indicated, all rabbits currently listed on our website are available now for local pickup. We will begin accepting reservations/deposits for Convention delivery on September 12th.

If you wish to receive notification in September of what rabbits are available, email us at blueribbonrabbitry@gmail.com and let us know!

Edit: We also have Mini Satins for sale!!

Rabbit Pricing 101

2011-07-09T20:40:00.012-04:00

Prices for rabbits vary greatly from breeder to breeder. There are many factors that influence pricing and I have explored these factors a bit below.

Before I begin, I should note that I have included the picture at right for a reason. It is a price sign for a pet quality rabbits at a local pet store. These rabbits are being sold for $50. They are not pedigreed. You have no way of truly knowing if they are purebred. They are very likely from local breeders who felt they were not worthy of being shown, let alone bred.

So when you contact a breeder, you should really be amazed that for only a little bit more money you can get a MUCH more high quality rabbit.

Please, never spend more than you can afford. At the same time, please try to have reasonable expectations. You cannot walk into a BMW dealership and demand a BMW for the price of a Ford Focus. Understand that with anything in life, you pay for quality. You cannot demand from a breeder a high quality show rabbit and also expect to pay pet store prices.

Supply and Demand

I will be the first to admit that economics was not my strong suit in school. However, it only takes a basic understanding to recognize how the principles of supply and demand affect sales. If a rabbit is in high demand, costs go up. Costs go up even more if the supply is also minimal. I think it is safe to say that generally speaking, high quality rabbits are more difficult to acquire.

Prices of Other Breeders

This also relates to basic principles of economics. If other breeders charge X amount for an animal of a certain quality, then it is beneficial to charge about the same price. If you charge less, people question the quality of your animals. If you charge more, buyers will go to your competition.

Notoriety of Breeder

A breeder with a good reputation will be able to get more for their animals than newer breeders. Ideally though, a breeder will not overcharge just because they can get away with it. More typically, I think more well known breeders are able to sell rabbits for a price that reflects their true worth, while newer breeders may sell rabbits for a bargain.

Cost of Maintaining a Herd

1. Equipment

A LOT of things fit into this category. Have you ever priced barns? While it is one time cost (unless you outgrow it!) barns are very expensive. I would be shocked if a breeder was able to pay off the cost of their barn with even a lifetime of rabbit sales. Cages are expensive and need to be replaced every so many years as they age and begin to rust. Here are a few other items you might not consider: feeders, bowls, automatic watering systems, electricity, water, carriers, carts, grooming tables, fans, nestboxes, bedding materials, etc. The list is basically endless.

2. Health Care

It's expensive. Enough said.

3. Feed

Feed is a huge expense. We maintain a relatively small herd, but still spend more than $100 a month on high quality feed. Many spend much, much more. For many, feed is easily the single biggest expense.

3. Shows

In order to be known as a breeder, you have to be active on the show circuit. Last year we attended approximately 16 local shows. We average costs of $50-100 in gas for each local show we attend. Our entry fees for local shows average between $40 and $100 (more for double or triple shows). National shows are MUCH more expensive. Travel costs include airfare, cargo transport for rabbits, hotel, etc. National entry fees are much, much more expensive than local show entry fees.

Basically, A LOT of money goes into shows.

4. Miscellaneous

Club membership dues and website costs are a few of the many miscellaneous costs that spring to mind.

Quality

Yes, the rabbit world has its own economy. And yes, raising and showing rabbits is expensive. But something also needs to be said about the quality of an individual rabbit and how that affects cost. While quality is subjective, all breeds have a 100 point standard they are judged by. The closer an animal is to its breed standard, the more it is worth.

Bottom Line?

While I cannot speak for other breeders, I know that we spend MUCH more on our rabbits than we make. We also have very high standards for the rabbits we sell and our prices are on par with other breeders who have similar or even lower quality rabbits. If anything, we price our animals a little low. I do not feel guilty for charging what I charge. I know that I sell beautiful animals that are well worth their price.

As a breeder, I am not offended when people are surprised (or even upset) because they feel that our animals are too expensive. I completely understand that everyone enters this hobby with different expectations. My non-rabbit friends are always floored when they learn about how much show rabbits cost.

As a buyer, if an animal is out of my price range I simply thank the breeder and tell them I am going to pass. There is no need to make a comment about the price. It is their choice to sell the animal for that amount and it is my choice to decide to buy or not buy the animal.

My hope is that those reading this article walk away knowing that the cost of show rabbits does not equal the amount of money spent on maintaining the herd. You really do get a bang from your buck when buying a show rabbit.

FREE pair of Tans!

2011-07-07T14:14:00.005-04:00

This fall, Blue Ribbon Rabbitry will give away at least one pair of Tans at the 2011 ARBA National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, October 30th - November 2nd.

The only requirement is that we want these rabbits to go to someone interested in actually breeding and raising Tans, not just showing them. However, we would love for the new owner to also actively show Tans.

Interested? If so, simply send an e-mail to blueribbonrabbitry@gmail.com with the following information:

Name
Location
Do you show in open/youth?
Do you already own Tans or will these be your first?
Why do you want to raise Tans? What do you love the most about them?
Please also give me a little information about yourself, your experience with rabbits, etc.
What will you do to promote Tans in your area?
Color preferences (black, blue, chocolate, lilac or a combination)
Will you be attending Convention or will someone else be able to transport the rabbits for you?

If you would also like to be notified as to what rabbits we will have for sale at Convention, please let us know so we can add you to our Convention wait list. I will send out an e-mail sometime before Convention with a list of rabbits for sale.

In the meantime, you can visit our rabbitry website for more information about us and our rabbits. There you can also find out more information about our National show sales.

Rabbit of the Year: 2010

2011-06-21T19:39:00.007-04:00

A few days ago I saw a website on which the breeder listed their best rabbit of the year. As I thought back to last year I started to reflect on my herd and the progress I have made. And so I have decided to list my best doe and buck of the year, each year. Since it's mid-2011 I will start with 2010. And sometime early next year I will do this again for my 2011 show string.

For fun I have included a YouTube link to the song the rabbit is named after. Or if the rabbit is named after a musician, band, musical term, etc. then I have included the appropriate Wikipedia page as a link.

2010 Winners:

Flynn's Siobhan

Named after Siobhan Magnus, this doe was a standout just like her namesake. To date, this one of the best Tans I have ever raised. She's probably the only Tan I have ever raised that I would honestly not change a thing about. She had beautiful length of limb, was short and deep, well marked and had rich and even tan factor.

Siobhan was bred shortly before 2010 Convention, so she didn't make the trip. She had a litter of only one (a buck), which was disappointing. But the good news is that he is stunning and may be staying around as our next herd buck. She is currently bred again and hopefully her babies will be going to the 2011 ARBA National Convention.

Flynn's Beat It

I have a strong doe herd, so really nice bucks make me especially excited. I am extremely picky about what bucks make the cut to become a new herd buck. Beat It is stunning. He showed very well and is going to make the perfect herd buck. His babies are already turning out to be absolutely beautiful.

2010 Runner-ups:

Flynn's Jolene, Flynn's Mariella, Flynn's Money Honey, Flynn's LoveGame, Flynn's Alejandro and Flynn's Telephone. I could on, but it's not much of an honor if I list every rabbit. :) It was a good year for Lady Gaga rabbits!

A story about my blues and chocolates

2011-06-15T01:38:00.004-04:00

Flynn's MmmBop
Blue junior doe
BOSV National Tan Show - 2011

Shown by: Kelly Flynn & LeAnn McKinney

Although I started my Tan experience (back in the 90s) with blues and chocolates, I have always been in love with the blacks. To be completely honest, the only reason I did not start off with blacks was because they were not readily available. Not only were Tans less popular then, but this was also before the internet boom. I really appreciate how accessible both computers and the internet are today. It makes finding rabbits so much easier!

It took me a few years to find a pair of blacks, but then I could not get a litter out of the doe. And then I finally found another black doe. After many misses, she finally conceived but died while giving birth. I finally got another pair of blacks and successfully got a litter of one. That first little doe I raised went on to win Best in Show at the (very competitive) Indiana State Fair.

And since that time, I have raised blacks exclusively. Anytime a blue or chocolate has popped up in a litter that rabbit ends up for sale. I do not get many chocolates or blues out of my blacks, but when I do they are always very nice. In fact, a cute little chocolate doe out of two blacks that I sold this spring was BOS in Youth at the National Show! The same rabbit has won two other Best in Show wins this spring! Of course it is nice when others win with rabbits you have raised. But the real thrill in this is the fact that Morgan and her mother are so nice and they seem to both love this little rabbit a great deal.

Flynn's Nugget
Chocolate junior doe
Best Opposite Sex - Youth
National Tan Show 2011
2x BIS winner
(littermate to Flynn's Judas)

Shown & owned by: Morgan Conner

How the project started

Sometime last summer I decided to pick up a few red Mini Satins to play around with. I decided on reds because my good friend, LeAnn McKinney, shows all of the other varieties of Mini Satin. I thought it would be fun to work on a different variety and show them together. LeAnn decided it would be fun to do the same with the Tans and decided she would show chocolates.

I did not have any chocolates at the time, so LeAnn purchased a nice doe partially out of my lines and a really nice buck from another breeder at Convention. I then mentioned to her that I had a blue doe pop up. LeAnn said she would take her...and that's how the project got expanded to blues (and indirectly to lilacs as well).

2011 National Tan Show

The little blue doe (MmmBop, pictured at top) is the first and only blue I have ever shown (thanks to LeAnn wanting to keep her). So when LeAnn and I won BOSV Blue with her at the 2011 National Tan Show, it was quite the surprise! I knew that the chocolates and blues out of my blacks were really nice, but I had no clue how they would compare to the blues and chocolates from breeders who really spend a lot of time and energy on those varieties.

As mentioned earlier, a little chocolate doe out of another of my late winter litters won BOS in Youth and BOB in the youth Tan specialty held the same day. I think I had kept her that she would have done very well in open also.

So it was an awesome day for blues and chocolates from Blue Ribbon Rabbitry! The only blue and the only chocolate I had raised in about a year both did VERY well.

Present day...

Currently at LeAnn's rabbitry we have two litters of chocolates. MmmBop (blue doe) is also bred and should have some babies soon! The chocolate/blue/lilac project is definitely now underway. I should also have a few chocolates and maybe a blue or two to contribute as they pop up in my black litters.

If you are interested in getting started in blues/chocolate/lilacs, please get in contact with me. If I do not have any in my barn, I will get you in contact with LeAnn. We will have a few available here and there between now and Convention, but most will be for sale at Convention this fall!

Tan Merchandise

2011-05-05T13:16:00.006-04:00

The Indiana Tan Rabbit Club (ITRC) has launched an online store with great Tan related merchandise. A few ITRC specific items will be added in the future, but the goal is for the merchandise to be applicable to Tan breeders throughout the country.

The store can be found at: http://www.cafepress.com/indianatan

All of the proceeds will go towards making the 2012 National Tan Show a great success. In particular, we are hoping to raise funds for the awards for the youth educational contests. This will be the first National Tan Show to have youth contests such royalty, judging, arts and crafts, etc.

Any item can be purchased with any of the available design. There are wonderful aprons, t-shirts, hoodies, bags, water bottles, etc. A variety of color options and designs are available!

These items of course are great to purchase for yourself or to give another breeder as a gift, but they would also make awesome awards at shows!

Additionally, if anyone has design skills they are willing to donate to support the club and the youth, more design contributions are always welcome. E-mail the ITRC at: indianatanrabbitclub@gmail.com if you are interested in helping out.

To allow rabbitry visitors or not?

2011-03-09T11:03:00.002-05:00

For the first 15 or so years that we raised rabbits, we almost always let visitors into our rabbitry. The only exception was that we would prohibit people from coming into our rabbitry at times when we had a doe due to kindle or a doe with a very young litter. As we started to breed more over time, it got to the point where we always have doe ready to kindle or with a litter, which has led us to no longer allow visitors at any time.

That leads us to the first consideration, which happens to be the reason for our no visitor policy:

1. Safety of mothers with young litters (or expecting mothers)

All does behave differently when they have litters and we have found that a "better safe than sorry" policy is best. We like to keep the environment quiet for them. Even a polite guest may make a rabbit nervous. Loud kids (or adults) are even worse. Rabbits can sense strangers and we feel its not worth of the risk of stressing out our mothers.

The following is a list of other considerations to take into account when deciding what your personal rabbitry visitation policy will be:

2. Rude guests

We have found the overwhelming number of guests to be quiet and polite. Occasionally though we have found that adults will bring children that yell, scream, poke and run around the rabbitry. It is unnerving to not only the rabbits, but me as well. Even adults are sometimes guilty of poking and prodding the rabbits. On one occasion we had a rabbit break its back after being startled from a screaming child that ran by his cage.

3. Personal Safety

This is something I have never been too worried about, but I realize I should take it more seriously. Many breeders have their animals in a rural area, possibly in a barn away from their house. Would anyone else be nearby if an attack occurred? Regardless of your ultimate decision to allow or not allow visitors, if you do it is best to only do so when another person is home. Years ago an incident occurred when a breeder I know had her house burglarized while she was being distracted in the barn with a fake prospective buyer.

4. Animal Rights Activists

If you are a breeder, this is something you should take very seriously. I have never had a personal incident occur, breeders have been raided by animal activists and animals have been stolen or set lose in the wild. There have also been cases of activists scoping out your set up and then filling a report (regardless of merit) with local animal control agencies.

5. Disease Transmission

Unfortunately, you have no way of completely protecting your herd from the transmission of communicable disease. Steps can always be taken to lower your risk though. When you allow visitors, you have no idea where they have been or what they have been exposed to.

So what do I do now?

So what do you do if you decide to not allow visitors? We all need to sell rabbits from time to time, right? It's really simple. I often meet people at shows I am attending, which can be a win-win if your buyer lives closer to the city in which the show is located. I also meet people at the exit nearest our home. Not only is it a safe, public place, but again it helps my buyers out a little by saving them the time and hassle of finding my house once they get off the interstate.

Admittingly, this "no-visitors" policy is still a bit new to our rabbitry, but so far it has worked. No one has asked me to explain why they cannot visit. Everyone seems very understanding. ''

It should be noted that this list is not intended to persuade anyone to employ a no visitor policy. The only intention is to get you to think about the implications of allowing visitors and make an educated decision.

Contacting Breeders: Proper Etiquette

2011-02-16T20:48:00.010-05:00

Perhaps you are wanting to buy a rabbit. Or maybe you just have a question for a breeder. What do you do?

How you appropriately go about contacting a breeder may seem simple, but too often I receive inquiries that range from very strange to downright rude. So I thought I would create this quick and easy guide to proper phone/e-mail etiquette that is tailored to inquiries about rabbits.

Method of Contact

If a breeder lists both a phone number and an e-mail address, then you should feel free to contact that breeder using either method. In theory, if the breeder did not want to be contacted using a certain method, the breeder should not have provided their contact information for said method.

If the breeder lists only one method of contact, that is probably for a reason. If you scour a rabbitry website and only see an e-mail listed over and over again and no phone number, take the hint. E-mailing the breeder to ask he/she to call you is probably pointless.

Contacting via Telephone

I recommend contacting a breeder by telephone only if the breeder has directly provided their phone number to you or if it is published on their website, business cards, etc. It is becoming more and more common for breeders to use e-mail as their primary (and sometimes sole) method of contact.

Normal telephone etiquette applies. Do not call too early or too late in the day. Leave a short and polite message if your call is not answered. Do not call the breeder excessively. Remember that raising rabbits is a hobby, not a business for most.

Contacting via E-mail

Today I received an e-mail, which I include below in its entirety:

"do u have rabits [sic] 4 sale?"

After well over 15 years of raising rabbits, these e-mails no longer get responses. I have learned that they very rarely (if ever) lead to anything. I also feel that if you cannot type out a simple, polite and coherent e-mail, then you are probably not conscientious enough for me to feel comfortable letting my rabbits enter your care. That may seem harsh, but it is the truth.

I also understand that sometimes these horribly worded e-mails may come from kids, but I still feel if a kid is old enough to browse the internet without adult supervision, they are old enough that they should be able to send a simple message. I am not expecting perfect spelling, just something relatively polite and coherent.

You do not have to write a book, but tell the breeder a little about yourself. Include your location, experience with rabbits and your reason for contacting the breeder. If you are wanting to purchase rabbits, include the breed, variety, sex and quantity desired.

Here is an example:

Hello,

My name is Kelly Flynn and I currently raise and show Tans in open class in the Indianapolis area. I am interested in getting into Dutch and am looking for a black senior doe. Do you currently have stock available?

Thanks in advance,

Kelly

The above example is simple, polite and to the point. You can certainly include more information about yourself, ask questions, etc. The point is just to be reasonably polite and not too vague.

What to do and what not to do

- Do not contact the breeder using secondary means unless the breeder explicitly says that is okay. i.e., do not send facebook messages, myspace messages, text messages, instant messages, chat, etc.

- Look at the rabbitry website first, if available. Often most of your questions will be answered on a rabbitry website. It will save you and the breeder some time and you get to the important questions that are not covered more quickly.

- Don't write a novel. On the opposite end, sometimes people send very, very long, conversational e-mails. While I appreciate getting to know the individual interested in rabbits, sometimes when the e-mail is excessively long I have difficulty responding to each and every question contained within it.

- If the rabbits are for youth breeders, assuming they are not young children, let them contact the breeder! Unless a parent is contacting me on behalf of a young child, I want to hear from the kid, not the parent. It is nice to know the youth breeder is the one truly interested in rabbits.

It's official (well, almost)...Indiana Tan Rabbit Club

2011-01-23T20:22:00.004-05:00

The charter form for the Indiana Tan Rabbit Club (ITRC) has been sent to the ARBA, so we should be a charter club shortly. Our first specialty will be held in Lafayette, Indiana this spring, so be on the look out for more information.

You may visit the club website at: http://indianatan.webs.com/

or visit us on facebook

Buyer E-mail: A BIS Win

2010-08-04T19:31:00.003-04:00

A few months ago Jennie came from all the way from Missouri to pick up a cute little Tan doe from us. The doe was a surprise for her son for his first year in 4-H. Yesterday I received this e-mail:

"Kelly,

I just want to send you a quick email and let you know the little tan doe (Miley) we bought from you was Best in Show at our county fair! Ben is soooo excited! Thank you sooo much! Pics will be coming!

Jennie"

I really hate...

2010-05-23T09:48:00.005-04:00

...taking pictures of Tans.

I am sure a lot of breeders who raise running breeds can sympathize. I cringe when people ask for pictures of rabbits. It is certainly not because I am not happy to share my animals with others. I am very proud of my rabbits and love to show them off.

It is just that I know that it will take a decent amount of time to perhaps get one semi acceptable picture.

Perhaps I am just picky. As an example after 30 minutes of attempting to take a picture of a super nice doe I have, the picture above was my best attempt. It does not even remotely do her justice. My really short and deep rabbit instead looks long in type. I just can't win!

So to those who raise running breeds: any tips or tricks? Faster camera? More patience? Lots of outtakes?

Moon breeding: seemingly bogus

2010-05-06T16:54:00.005-04:00

For some reason, it always seems like my litters are full of bucks. From time to time when I voice this complaint a fellow breeder recommends breeding based on the moon cycles. Supposedly, rabbits bred during a new moon produce more does. In turn, rabbits bred during a full moon produce more bucks.

Before I proceed, I have to say that I mean no disrespect to anyone who believes breeding by the moon works. To each their own. I have always brushed off the idea and finally thought it would only be fair to at least run the numbers and give the idea a chance. And hey, I don't want all the skills from those statistics classes I had to take for my Psychology degree to completely wear off.

I decided to look at ALL of my litters over the last five years. The larger the sample size, the more accurate the results. And here they are:

New moon breeding:
Does - 51.85%
Bucks - 48.15%

Full moon breeding:
Does - 50%
Bucks - 50%
(no joke, the statistics came out perfectly on this one)

Total:
Does - 50.9%
Bucks - 49.1%

I am pretty the confident that five years of numbers on hundreds of rabbits is enough for these to be considered reliable statistics. No fancy statistical test is needed to see that there is no statistical significance in the numbers.

For some reason I felt somewhat relived to see in numbers what I already know: there is always a 50-50 chance of the sex of any offspring. Although we may complain about too many does or (more commonly) too many bucks, in the end everything evens out.

Science really is a beautiful thing.

(very) Newborn babies

2010-04-12T12:13:00.002-04:00

They are now being successfully cared for by a doe with a litter of two week olds. It is an unusual fostering situation, but it is working!

Registration feedback :)

2010-04-12T12:06:00.001-04:00

"Kelly,

You registered several of our rabbits last fall and we really loved how you handled them. Are there any upcoming shows you will be registering at? We would prefer you to do it from now on.

Jill"

Upcoming shows...

2010-04-08T10:50:00.003-04:00

It is hard for me to believe it is already April. It is even more difficult for me to believe that it is already April and we have only been to one rabbit show this year! Thankfully, our work schedules have calmed down and we will get back to going to rabbit shows more regularly.

I have had several people ask about meeting up at shows. For those interested in purchasing stock, meeting up with us to say hello, etc. we post our show schedule online: http://www.blueribbonrabbitry.com/showcalendar.htm.

Those are only the shows we tentatively plan on attending based on the show's proximity to us. It is always subject to change due to our non-rabbit schedule. Please check with us before planning on meeting us at a show.

Please come by and say hello if you see us!

To go or not to go... (Tan Nationals)

2010-02-28T15:44:00.004-05:00

Lately I have been going back and forth about whether or not to go to Tan Nationals. Flying with rabbits is expensive, a hassle and time consuming. It also puts a great deal of stress on the rabbits. Driving from Indiana to New Mexico is not reasonable for me. I know many went even further and drove to San Diego from the midwest (and even the east coast!), but I just cannot image doing that.

I had narrowed my choices down to: A) Staying home and sending rabbits with someone driving through or B) Flying out to visit everyone, but keep the rabbits at home.

I do not want to drive to New Mexico from Indiana nor do I think I can handle flying with rabbits by myself. Thus why I was left with only the two options mentioned above.

I was leaning heavily to pick choice B (in part because I did not breed heavily for this show). This was until I realized that Belen is 30 miles from the nearest airport. That would entail renting a car and spending a decent time driving there and back. That is not an ideal situation and will likely seal the deal on me choosing to not go.

This made me think more about location. I know when Tan Nationals were in Lafayette, Indiana in 2009 this was an issue. The airport was over an hour drive from the show.

One thing is for sure: I will definitely breed for Minneapolis this fall as well as Tan Nationals in Columbus, Ohio next spring.

More importantly (and more on topic), I will start to take the issue of bids for the Tan National Show more seriously in the future. We have had a shortage of bids the last few years. We need to reach out to clubs that may be interested. It is nice to move the show around the country, but we need to be more careful about choosing the location.

Question: How does location affect your decision to attend shows?

First show of the year!

2010-02-14T09:53:00.006-05:00

Yesterday we went to the Bloomington, Indiana show, which was our first show of the year. Aside from winning Best of Breed, we were also mentioned as being the next choice for Best 4 Class next to the beautiful Florida White that won.

The only good way to lose (in my opinion) is to a rabbit that is at least equally or more deserving. I did not catch the name of the exhibitor, but congratulations!

I have not previewed the pictures Peter took at the show, but we should have a few to post on here later!

Edit: Pictures from the show (such as the one in this post) have been added to our photo gallery on the website!

ATRSC: Intent to run as President

2010-01-31T13:20:00.007-05:00

For those who are members of the American Tan Rabbit Specialty Club (ATRSC), I would like to inform you that I recently filed my intent to run as President in the upcoming May 2010 election.

The reason I have decided to make this move is because I feel I have a great deal to offer the club by serving as the President. I would make a committment to be active and work towards making this club better.

Here is some of what I have already accomplished in my present roles:

As webmaster, I have made the website functional, attractive and easy to update. Initially working from raw html, this was a long and hard process. The club has joined this century and now has a facebook fan page and an online blog. A twitter account is also in the works. I will also be working with our merchandise director to create an online store for the club. Embracing technology is key in promoting the club.

As an exhibitor and breeder my biggest goals are to increase the quality of the Tan breed and to help others along the way. I find myself fielding inquiries about not just Tans, but rabbits in general. This is always a joy as I love helping others who are interested in the hobby. I judge many 4-H rabbit fair shows each year and also am involved in youth educational contests.

As a registrar, I have had a chance to grow and create more working relationships with many judges, registrars and breeders. I have an understanding of not just our Tan standard, but all others as well. I will soon begin studying for my judges license.

Regardless of how this election turns out, I will remain involved in the club. If that means I am still just the District 8 Director and the webmaster I will be more than happy to continue to serve the club in those roles.

If you are not already a member of the American Tan Rabbit Specialty Club, you should join.

Of course, if you chose to join and support me this will help me out a great deal. However, my hope is that all Tan enthusiasts join regardless. Joining supports the club in its endeavors to support and encourage the growth of this wonderful breed.

Seniors or Juniors?

2009-12-16T10:10:00.004-05:00

One of my "New Years" goals is to do a better job of keeping my website updated. I plan on redesigning it this month or next, and I want to keep adding content to it. In particular, I want to add a FAQ page with questions I am asked a lot.

First, up "Should I buy seniors or juniors?" I get this question a lot. I am sure different breeders may answer this differently, but here is my opinion:

If you are wanting to start breeding within the next 6 months, seniors will be necessary. Getting a senior from us can be a beneficial move for those wanting to raise high quality rabbits. We have a small rabbitry and if we keep a Tan around until it is a senior, it must be for a very good reason.

But please note -- Tans tend to hit their "prime" as young juniors. If you look at the show results each year from the major shows, you will almost always find the Best of Breed Tan was a junior. If you are wanting "instant" wins, even the best senior may disappoint you if shown against young, flashy juniors.

That being said, the benefit of a junior is that you get to experience the fun of showing the rabbit first and then get to breed the rabbit once it reaches the appropriate age. This is a popular option for 4-Hers who want to work with and handle their rabbit from a young age.

There is nothing wrong with either option. Both have their pros and cons. Do what is best for your situation. We only sell high quality rabbits, so either way you will be sure to get good stock. If you want our opinion, we are more than happy to help.

An e-mail from a buyer...

2009-12-09T16:10:00.002-05:00

Work and school has kept me busy, which is why I have not written much as of late. I did get a nice e-mail today that I want to share:

"Kelly,

I just wanted to drop you an email to let you know how all is going with the tan doe we purchased from you a few months back. We have been able to go to a couple weekend shows and she definitely has done well. The first weekend out she was best of breed at 2 of the shows. We were ecstatic. She would have grand championed, but there was an issue with the control sheets and her other leg was given to Ringo, the buck we got from you. I guess that is good that it stayed in the family :) Many nice comments on him as well. I just wanted to let you know. Thanks again for such nice stock. Hopefully we will see you in the upcoming year.

Thanks,

Mike"

Congrats to Charlie Orona!

2009-09-15T08:29:00.003-04:00

My favorite thing about this hobby are the opportunities I have to meet wonderful people from all over the country. Last month at the Indiana State Fair a wonderful family came from Kansas to visit the fair and pick up Tans from us. Dianna had contacted me about Tans for her son, Charlie.

Charlie entered a few of the Tans they picked up at the Kansas State Fair this past weekend. After wards I got the following e-mail from Dianna:

"We had a great time at the fair, and the rabbits did fantastic!

Charlie’s Himalayan was First Place for Black Senior Bucks out of 14.

But, the best part were the tans. The Senior Buck was Best of Breed and the Senior Doe was the Best Opposite. The Senior Buck was runner up for Best in Show, and received a special mention by the judge at the Best In Show part. "

I am thrilled that we have a new youth Tan breeder in Kansas, where the breed is more rare. I see good things happening for Charlie with his rabbits and I hope that the breed is able to take off in their area as a result.

ISRBA Youth Tan Results

2009-09-13T07:52:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to Chance Brewer who had Best of Breed Tan at the Indiana State Rabbit Breeders Association with Bird's Ataris (KBK3), a black senior buck.

Chance does a great job with his rabbits (he also has Rex) and is going to be an up and comer in Youth Tans.

Wild "Rabbits" -- What to do?

2009-08-28T18:24:00.002-04:00

From time to time, I get questions about hares (what people often refer to as “wild rabbits”). Most of the time it involves questions about how to raise the babies because the mother abandoned them or was killed.

Before getting into anything, the first thing I want to stress to everyone is that a hare is not at all like a domestic rabbit. Just because they look similar, does not mean they are similar in either temperament or development. While related, they are completely different species.

I am flattered that people think of me for their wild hare related questions, but I raise domestic rabbits. The irony though is that just from getting so many questions over the years…I have been forced to become more familiar with hares.

I have compiled some basic main points:

1. Unless you actually saw the mother die with your own eyes, it is very likely she is still alive.
Rabbits and hares alike typically nurse their babies once a day. Keep in mind that in the wild especially, hares are prey animals. They are going to try to be elusive in order to not give away the location of their nest. Just because you do not see the mother does not mean she is not caring for the babies. Hares and rabbits alike do not sit in their nest. Leave them alone and everything should turn out okay.

2. If the mother did in fact die and you are completely sure of this, the only thing you can do is call animal control. Never, ever remove wild hares (even babies) from the wild.
If you saw a baby deer or baby raccoon alone in the wild, would you capture it and try to raise it? I hope not. The same idea applies here. Do not remove them even while waiting for animal control. Let animal control handle the entire situation. In some states, having wild animals in your possession is even against the law.

3. Wild hares carry diseases and can become panicked or even aggressive.
Wild animals in general carry diseases, some of what may be transmittable to any pets you may have or even to yourself or your family. While your concerns for the wild hares is noble, it is not worth the risk in handling them. Also, once they start to get a little older, their natural instincts kick in regardless of how much you handled them. You cannot tame them. Their wild nature is innate. They will become panicked and that may result in aggression since they are frightened.

4. If the animal in question is obviously domestic (and thus a rabbit), scratch most of what was just said.
A wild hare and a domestic rabbit of any breed have very different and distinct looks to me, but I know as a rabbit breeder I have had an unusually large amount of experience with domestic rabbits. I think though, that most people know the difference.

Sadly, from time to time people release their pet rabbits into the wild in much the same way as some people dump their dogs. It is horrible and sad, but it happens. If you see a rabbit that is very obviously domestic, catching it is not a bad idea, given the fact that domestic rabbits are not accustomed to living in the wild and will likely die if left on their own. You will still want to isolate the rabbit and handle it with protection as it could have picked up diseases. Upon capture, a visit to a veterinarian and some extra TLC will be in order.

2009 Indiana State Fair 4-H Show

2009-08-13T09:24:00.007-04:00

One of my greatest joys every year is returning to the Indiana State Fair to help with the 4-H rabbit show. In particular, since finishing my 4-H years, I have been involved in the Rabbit Ambassador Contest (same as Rabbit Royalty for you non-Indiana people).

Although I have moved, I grew up in Vigo County and a part of the Vigo County 4-H Rabbit Club for over a decade. My affinity for the club remains and probably always will.

This year, all of our kids did great. We had a lot of our kids show at the state level and many placed well. In particular, Daniel Sedletzeck had Best of Breed Checkered Giant and was the reserve mention for Best 6 Class at the state fair.

In Ambassador, we had a lot of kids in the honor group and many placed in the top five. Nellie Brown, our Novice contestant, won her division.

I also want to congratulate Bruce Heaton's daughter on her BOS win with her Himalayan. The Heaton family bought several Tans from me a little while back when they were getting started. They are among some of the friendliest people in the breed and we are glad to have them around.

The 22nd is the Open Rabbit Show at the Indiana State Fair. If you did not make it during the 4-H show, I highly recommend coming on the 22nd if you can. It is a great show and it is always wonderful to visit the State Fair, even if you are not showing.

Hopefully I will see some of you there!

Porter Co. 4-H Fair Results

2009-07-25T09:39:00.003-04:00

We just got this message:

Hey guess who won Grand Champion Overall rabbit at the porter co. fair!!!!!!! It was the chocolate buck (KBIR, dont know if you remember him)!! Darren is on cloud 9, he has not stopped smiling! Thank you for the wonderful rabbits! He shows in the open show tomorrow, today was 4-H only. Take care, ~ Josie and Darren

Congrats to Darren on his big win!

Summer is here!

2009-07-20T18:53:00.005-04:00

Sunday was the Terre Haute Open Show. It is my third show of the year and the first since my wedding. It is really nice to be getting back into going to shows on a more regular basis. Brad Boyce judged and mentioned our Tan as an honorable mention for Best in Show. It was a great day!

Last week I judged the Scott County Fair. While it was a very hot, long day...the group of 4-Hers and parents were among the nicest I have ever encountered.

At 4-H shows I am often asked what the club can change or improve upon. The biggest suggestion I have is to make the show as similar to an ARBA show as possible. If you are a 4-H rabbit leader or extension educator and are not familiar with the format of ARBA shows, enlist the help of a judge or registrar. I know I am one among many that would be happy to help.

To find a judge or registrar in your area, you can visit the ARBA website at: http://www.arba.net. The website has links to a list of registrars and judges throughout the country.

Handling a Tan 101

2009-07-17T08:16:00.006-04:00

Yesterday, I locked myself out of the house for the second time in my life. It also happened to be the second time this week.

Peter works about 45 minutes away, so both days I had some waiting to do. With the state fair approaching, the Tans need to get out for more frequent runs, so both days I sat on a bag of shavings and watched them sniff, pose, run, repeat.

Off all the running breeds, Tans seem to be the most "sniffy." They are very inquisitive and while they love running, they really want to smell every inch of the table first.

This frustrates judges. And this is why we see the poking, pushing and slapping of the table. It really does not work with these guys though. Allowing them to get that out of their system and move on their own is the best option.

If you just stand back and be patient, they will start moving. They will also stop from time to time and strike a pose. They really show their stuff when you step back from the table and give them some space.

We all know that there are some rabbits that get on the table and take off. Of course we want that. Just do not make the mistake of assuming the fastest rabbit is the best rabbit. And this is coming from someone whose rabbits tend to do a great job of strutting their stuff right away on the show table.

Tans, like people, all have different personalities. Some are going to take off, but may (or may not) have the body, color or markings to go along with that headstrong, wild disposition. Others may really find the scent of that buck before them far more interesting than running. But that rabbit may be beautifully typed and well marked.

Give them a chance. Aside from checking the coat, color and marking when you initially check for disqualifications, keep your hands off them. Step back from the table and let them move.

I promise, they will move.

Remembering Brian Hartzell

2009-06-11T09:38:00.005-04:00

News has already circulated the internet that on Monday, June 8, 2009 we lost 31 year old judge Brian Hartzell of natural causes.

In a personal sense, I am sad to have lost someone I considered a friend. Over the years Brian judged many of my animals and through those interactions we came to know one another professionally and personally.

For the rabbit industry, I am sad that we have lost one of the greatest rabbit judges and breeders of our time. His herd of Jersey Woolies and American Fuzzy Lops were some of the best in the nation, if not the world. Through writing for him (many times) and showing under him (again, many times), I learned how talented he is as a judge.

This may not be a popular thing to say, but we have a shortage of really amazing judges. Inconsistency and sometimes a blatant misunderstanding of the Standard of Perfection is an issue. Obviously, opinions will vary to a degree since we are all human. However, there should be a certain degree of consistency among our judges and that does not exist.

Losing Brian means we have lost a very great, knowledgeable judge. He was always polite, professional and friendly. Out of the sadness, I hope this loss motivates the judges, registrars and members of the ARBA to strive for higher levels of success in their herd and a greater understanding of the Standard of Perfection.

Brian, you will be greatly missed by all.

Please note: I have recently switched from a PC to an iMac and do not have my files transfered. Therefore, these images were gathered from various sources via google. If anyone wants credit or to have them removed, I will be more than happy to do so.

Tan Nationals is soon!

2009-03-29T19:30:00.005-04:00

This upcoming Saturday and Sunday the Tan National Convention will be held in Lafayette, Indiana. If you are not showing at Nationals, you should still consider coming for the all breed show held on Saturday.

Believe it or not....this will actually be the first show of the year for me! School and wedding planning has been consuming my life!

I am thrilled that the show will be so close to home this year. I am a little disappointed that I will only have five juniors black bucks and five junior black does, however. My winter litters had a larger than usual number of chocolates (all of which have been sold).

The sire of a few of the litters, Malibu Mullet Hunter, passed away this winter a few weeks after I bred him to the does. I am now finally left without any rabbits directly from Joe Kim. It is bittersweet though, as I am happy to now develop my own line further. Everything in the barn at the moment has been bred and raised here.

Mullet Hunter was also the only chocolate I had in the barn. I am getting back to strictly all blacks, which has been my goal. While the other varieties are lovely, the blacks have always been my main focus.

Good luck and safe travels to those coming to Lafayette next weekend. Please be sure to find me and say hello!

When to buy rabbits...

2008-11-26T09:38:00.002-05:00

Throughout the year I get a lot of inquiries from 4-Hers and their parents about rabbits. I am often asked, "when is the best time to buy rabbits?"

The answer varies among breeds, individual breeders and region. It also depends on what you are needing the rabbit(s) for (i.e. open, youth, meat pens, etc.). I bring up this topic because the fall and winter can be a great time to find stock that is difficult to get throughout the year.

Over the years I have found that the period between Nationals and springtime is the most difficult time to sell rabbits. Most potential buyers either purchased their rabbits at Nationals or plan on waiting until shortly before the fair to buy rabbits.

However, for most breeders, the breeding doesn't (hopefully) stop altogether during the late fall and winter. Each year shortly after Nationals, I have to prepare to breed my does so that I have juniors in the spring for Tan Nationals.

Inevitably, that means I end up selling more seniors and juniors a month or two after Nationals that I had hoped on keeping in my herd. My does did a great job this year of surprising me with their high conception rate. More babies means a tough selection process.

Yet, no one wants to buy rabbits during the winter. I end up selling some here and there and I find room for the rest (happily, because I wanted to keep them all to begin with).

Then spring rolls around...I have a ton of juniors in late spring/early summer thanks to all my breeding. Despite all the rabbits I have for sale, so many people want rabbits that I am only able to help out a small fraction of those inquiring. My waiting list grows and grows and stays that way until Nationals.

Then the cycle continues!

My point is, all of us (me included) should try planning out our buying and breeding strategy a little better. In the next entry, I am going to discuss the best time of the year to buy rabbits based on your need (e.g. 4-Her with a single show rabbit, open breeder competitive at the National level, meat producer, etc.).

If you have a specific type of situation you would like to see, please comment or e-mail me and I'll include it.

2008 ARBA National Convention: Tuesday, October 28 - Wednesday, October 29th

2008-10-29T14:24:00.005-04:00

News of the day: The 2010 Tan National Convention will be held in New Mexico!

Congratulations to all the winners! Results will be posted as they come in.

Last night was the Open banquet. Some pictures of the open banquet have been uploaded to flickr.

ARBA Convention: Monday, October 27, 2008

2008-10-27T20:41:00.000-04:00

News of the day: It has been confirmed, the 2010 Convention will be held in Minneapolis, MN. Mark your calendars!

A few pictures are featured below, but all of the photos of the day can be viewed here on flickr.

Our Convention show results...

2008-10-27T20:18:00.000-04:00

We had a very good day showing Tans. The complete show results were not ready, as the comment cards are not available until check out on Thursday. Here are the results we did catch:

Black senior doe - 2nd out of 24

Black junior buck - 5th out of 37

Black junior doe - 3rd out of 39 (pictured at right on the bottom left coop).

I had hoped to have more pictures ready to go online tonight, but we are having some trouble getting the pictures off the camera. Hopefully by tomorrow we will have solved the problem.

Congrats to all the winners today and good luck to those still showing tomorrow!

Blogging from convention

2008-10-26T23:04:00.000-04:00

All this week, I will be blogging from the 2008 ARBA National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. I will post pictures, some results and other important information. Please be sure to check back each day and let others know.

Today was the final day of check-in. Word on the street is the 2010 ARBA National Convention will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Hopefully we will have confirmation on that tomorrow!

Tips for ARBA Nationals

2008-09-15T15:03:00.001-04:00

If you have not already made the decision to attend the 2008 ARBA National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky it's technically still not too late. You do need to make the decision soon though, as entries are due TODAY!

With Nationals coming up...I have decided to dedicate this entry to tips and suggestions for those attending the convention. As always, if you have anything to add -- please be sure to comment! I am sure I will forget some things.

Choose your entries very carefully. At $12 a head, this show is too expensive to make numerous mistakes with your entries. You are allowed substitutions, but you will be charged for each one if made after a certain date.

Order the show catalog. Some, but not all of the information on the show is available online. Having the catalog to take with you on your trip is very convenient. Also, purchasing the catalog helps support the club sponsoring the show.

Consider taking your own bowls -- the bowls provided are very small metal cups. Even when attached to the cage, our Tans always get them off in a matter of minutes. Heavy ceramic crocks are the best. Just be sure they are medium/small and will allow the rabbit room in the cage.

Take your own feed, hay and water. Yes, feed is provided. And yes, of course there is a supply of water. However, travel is always stressful for rabbits. If the feed provided is from a different mill, there might be a subtle difference. The same goes for water. The last thing you want is a rabbit going off feed.

Don't forget false bottoms (risers)! I know not everyone uses them, but I highly recommend them. Your rabbits stay much cleaner with false bottoms. You can spend less time cleaning out cages and more time enjoying your trip if you invest in these. Just make sure you know what size your cages will be. That information is available on the show website.

Do try go to the Banquet. Also, try to make it to other events as well. The Banquet is a once a year event and is a great opportunity to relax and enjoy dinner with old and new friends alike.

As with any trip, do not underestimate the importance of a checklist. Make a checklist for both going to the convention and leaving the convention. Include rabbits, supplies, people items, etc.

If you are buying rabbits, try to do as soon as you get there. By Sunday or Monday most of the good rabbits will be sold. It's not a bad idea to contact breeders in advance and put deposits on rabbits.

Have fun!

Come on, be a good sport

2008-09-07T07:59:00.001-04:00

I like to think that we are all in this hobby for similar reasons -- to improve our breed, have fun and make some amazing friends.

Unfortunately, I know that is not the case with everyone. There are people whose main goal at a rabbit show is to win.

Don't get me wrong, winning is certainly great. Winning gives most people a personal sense of satisfaction. Perhaps more importantly, we can also view wins as signs we are accomplishing our goal to further our breed.

However, what happens when you lose? Do you congratulate the winner? If you don't, shame on you. The winner notices this slight as does the judge and other exhibitors. It only reflects poorly upon yourself.

I often write for judges at shows and I notice that different breeds in my area have different dynamics among their breeders. In most breeds (no matter how popular or not), I find the breeders are friendly and there is usually some applause and congratulatory remarks at the conclusion of judging.

For Tans, this is not true (at least in my area). I think this is a reality that people try to avoid discussing. We need to acknowledge this is a problem though in order to correct it. This is true for others breeds I am sure.

During judging, I often hear rude comments made about other people's rabbits (sometimes my own). I have had a youth member tell me that an exhibitor he/she does not know well said to him/her: "It must suck to not win."

I rarely, if ever, am congratulated on winning by my fellow exhibitors. I always congratulate others when they win.

I hear, constantly, the bad things certain exhibitors say about other exhibitors (myself included). Here is a hint: People gossip and the bad mouthing always gets back to the person being bad mouthed.

Am I the only one that sees something wrong with this picture?

The frustrating thing is, most Tan breeders are great people. It only takes a few bad apples to make the entire bunch seem bad.

Many people come and go from this breed. I have heard from many that is because the breeders are unfriendly and rude to each other. If we want this breed to grow both in terms of quality and the number of exhibitors, we need to create an environment that is more welcoming.

My challenge to everyone is to start small and simple: Just be polite.

Hot weather tips for rabbits

2008-07-16T11:01:00.004-04:00

Keeping your rabbits cool during the summer is important for a variety of reasons. It is important to remember that rabbits do not sweat. While rabbits do molt (shed) their winter coat of fur for a lighter summer coat, please keep in mind they still are covered in fur nevertheless. As a result, rabbits tend to tolerate hot weather much less than colder weather. Preventing heat stroke should a constant concern during warm months

Aside from the concern for the health and well being of our animals, keeping your rabbits cool during the summer is also important from a show stance. A rabbit that is overheated will be stressed out. A stressed out rabbit will lose condition and a rabbit in poor condition will not show well.

In addition, an overheated rabbit can easily affect your production as well. A buck that is in a barn or hutch that is too hot may have lowered sperm count or even become sterile. A doe that is overheated will also be stressed and may be less likely to breed and may have more difficulty carrying the litter to term.

According to the book "Rabbits, Rabbits, Rabbits," the ideal temperature at all times should be 60-78 degrees with 30-40% humidity. They book also notes that the air in an enclosed building should be changed a minimum of 10 times.

It is also important to note that the temperature in the hutch should never be higher than 85 degrees. Once again, under 78 is consider much more ideal.

So, how exactly do you lower the temperature? I am going to provide a list of tips I have gathered through both experience and research. Hopefully these will be of some help to newbies or even some old-time breeders looking for new ideas.

Hot weather tips:

Frozen bottle of ice - This seems to be one of the most commonly used methods of keeping rabbits cool during summer months. Take an empty plastic soda bottle and fill it will water, allowing room for the water to expand when frozen. Freeze the bottles and place a bottle in the cage during the hottest part of the day. This is great for those with a small number of rabbits or those attending a fair show.

Freeze ceramic floor tiles - I have not tried this myself, but many breeders attest to it. I am not sure how long they stay cool.

Water bottle set on mist - During the summer months, we keep a room temperature spray bottle filled with water on hand for any rabbits that appear to be too warm. Rabbits cool themselves through their ears. If one appears to be too warm, we will give that rabbit a frozen bottle and spray the outside of the ears with cool (not cold) water.

Keep the barn dark - Sunlight naturally will heat up the air in a space. If you are able to keep the doors closed or cracked and the barn dark, you will probably find the area stays much cooler. We now have our rabbits in our attached garage, whereas we previously had them in a large Morton Barn with skylights and a large door that was left open during summer to provide a breeze. Now we turn the lights off during the day and allow the door to stay open only six inches. During the summer we have fans circulating air. Since it is dark and there is plenty of air circulation and ventilation, the area stays a nice temperature. Keeping the door shut entirely would likely keep the area even cooler, but would not allow for ventilation. If your rabbits are in outdoor hutches and not a barn, please be sure they are shaded. Edit: The title of this tip was not the best. The rabbits are still receiving a nice amount of indirect light that comes through the opening in the door.

Keep a supply of fresh cool water - This may seem obvious, but many people do not realize how much water rabbits go through during the summer. Just remember that in addition to the rabbits drinking more to remain cool, some of it is also evaporating due to the heat. Depending upon your area and how warm it gets, you will likely need to check water at least twice or even three times a day during the summer months.

Fans - We have several fans in our barn that circulate air. Do not place a fan so it directly blows any of your rabbits.

Misting system - According to the manufacturers and dealers, misting systems can lower the temperature in a barn a decent amount. It is very important when considering a misting system to consider how high your ceilings are. You do not want any rabbits to get wet. Ideally, the mist should evaporate and cool the air before it reaches your rabbits.

This is by no means a list of everything you can do to cool your rabbits. In fact, if any readers have any additional ideas, I do encourage you to comment and share them with me.