The Act of Consolidation for Quality?

No excuses for my absence right now, let's continue. :)

It's a question that is being more commonly thought as the process of developing my base of colored Jersey Woolies & American Fuzzy Lops. As I humble along, I only have so much base stock of a certain variety, when is the time to venture further? Do I even combine color stock with my 'main' herd? What are the pros & cons and this can develop quite some controversy when it comes to developing a color and showing rabbits.

Developing Tri-Color Jersey Woolies & American Fuzzy Lops has so far been a longer road, especially trying to get babies of these varieties on the ground. To succeed with this color I will need to focus on my color combinations to produce the variety I am aiming at. Though, with every case, a color of a kit will always be a gamble, depending on the colors of the parents, what they carry, and what we do not know they carry. I cannot breed two of the same color together and expect just that. It simply isn't that easy, and especially when you are trying to genetically target a color you want, the Bunny Gods aren't that nice! ;)

As this adventure develops there are a few common questions I am being asked. There are a handful of people interested, and quite a bit of support in my determination in the development of this color. Let me get question 1 out of the way;


My main Tri-color project Jersey Wooly buck, a Harlequin from The Maki Family (DTL Rabbitry) in Northern California.

1) Are you getting the COD (Color of Development) on this variety?
Ans: Unfortunately at this time, I do not have too much of a core of this variety developed quite yet. I must admit my starter animals for both breeds are quite define in type and I think that they will get me further for what I am beginning with. Until then I do not feel it is appropriate to hurry and get the COD on this variety for these breeds just yet until I am a little more 'set'. Once if I do obtain the COD, I won't have much time to waste, so I'd rather not rush into something while aiming at the hip.

This color may only take a couple years to develop or it could possibly take 8. Either way, I feel very strongly into taking it a tad slower than some may want by making careful decisions for my own main show herd and my color projects. A dilemma I face now is weather or not I want to breed into some of my main show herd. This could raise conflict in how another breeder feels about my decisions in the development of this variety or ethics as a show breeder. Here are a few reasons why...

a) Breeding a 'stray' unshowable color into a showable color is wrong if you get showable colored kits, and wrong to sell these kits.
Breeding a Harlequin colored rabbit is my given choice if I want to breed into my main string. With being, there will have to be a much more strict selection in my culling process into taking these second generation kits back into color, for color. As for selling these kits, I have decided if I do take this route, they will not be available to the public for my own protection of my breeding ethics.

b) I might be genetically manufacturing colors with incorrect genotypes (or something along those lines).
Yes, if I breed a Tri-color to a Sable, I could very well get some weird colors, a strange variety, and rabbits whom may be the correct color I want, but carry the wrong or unwanted genes. This will again resort in a stronger culling process needed. However, I think there are some good advantages of this. I believe it may be a decent start to a beginning of a project, as it could advance type easier or faster. It could also add genetic diversity, and a wider span of choices to breed stock to for second, third, fourth, and so on generations. As it will take many generations, anyways.

c) ...and again genetic experts think it is wrong.
Now, I do not consider myself a genetic expert but I can put two and two together and make some sense of it. I think this comes down personal genetic ethics, because ultimately at the end of the day the rabbits are my personal hobby, and my choices and decisions are my own in how I take up advancing my herd and/or color project. Oh, and they are just rabbits (and colors!)


My primary buck for the American Fuzzy Lops, a Harlequin Fuzzy Holland buck from LeAnn Caraway & Melanie Price (Lil' Bit Farms) in Oklahoma.


I am just as serious as I am realistic with the color project. I feel very obligated to think out and spread what knowledge I obtain in this process, and it is a long way from here. Too many times I have seen many disappointments from fellow COD holders by not putting in their best, or trying to venture off and gain some sense of individuality and heroism by developing a color themselves. Sadly, you'll see them sink when they won't take offered help, or easy precautions before final presentation. I could honestly say this will be a team effort and I already have a couple of well trusted, strong minded, determined breeders who are willing to take part and are on this case, too. It can't get any sweeter than that!


2) Where did your stock originate from the start?
I cannot 100% answer this question correctly as far as my Jersey Woolies go. I obtained my starter herd from DTL Rabbitry in Northern California who had a litter of mystery colors. A pedigree only goes back so many generations, and the lineage shown makes the pedigree questionable on what it "really" goes back to as far as it's 'purebred' status. We suspect possibly Lionhead. But I also cannot deny I have seen a couple of Tri-color Dwarfs in my time, and also "in the day" (WAAAYYY back y'all!) there was a breeder who DID raise Tri-color Woolies! Genes can be hid back several generations.

When it comes to the American Fuzzy Lops, I have been ever so lucky to be hooked up with Fuzzy Hollands of these varieties to build base. Who's to say it wasn't Tri-color Holland Lops to be crossed into Jersey Woolies? Who really knows! :P


3) I would love to obtain this variety & would love to purchase one of from you.
Right now the project is in the midst of emerging, and while I am holding a subtle waiting list, the only animals from this project I'd be offering for sale will be strictly pets (if any) until I feel comfortable enough to get my supporters involved. This is another protection towards my ethics of breeding. Rabbits deemed unworthy to the breeding program will be culled, this is a project and will be a process folks, I don't want to screw myself out of this & don't want anybody to think this a scam for money or attention. (as sometimes animal breeders try to do).


I'd be happy to help answer any further questions or information regarding this and continue to post the progress, I won't forget pictures either. ;)
Take care,
Susie Cederlof :)
Haute Wooly Couture

P.S. We have a new website link; http://www.hautewoolycouture.com/

Get Tim to ARBA Convention (2011)

My good friend Tim @ Tru Luv Rabbitry in Malaysia has entered a contest for prize money in hopes to make it to the 2011 ARBA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.


http://truluvrabbitry.com/2010/10/22/get-us-to-arba-convention/

Please follow that link above for quick easy steps to vote for Tim in this contest.

Thank you everyone!

Happy fall weather...
Susie

Hope you don't mind Tim ;-)

Fancy Tattoo?

This evening I decided to do some tattoos. I was thinking of what to do to "trademark" my bunnies, as some do, by putting their initials before a number or the first letter of their rabbitry name before the name. I thought why not I do something a little more unique, a little more 'high fashion' to go along with my rabitry name (Haute Wooly Couture), and spice up the first initial of the rabbits name in it's tattoo?

I did a few tattoos, making them a little special by adding a little extra size and curve to the beginning initial. Then I came down to a doe who I hold very special to my heart. I knew then I had to go all out on this one! :)

Since this was my first dramatic tattoo, I was quite nervous. I was practicing the style I wanted to used for the letter on paper, and finally went down to do her ear and wrote it out with a fine point sharpie. I have never done this so I was wondering to myself, "Am I going to forget my place, am I going to get lost?"

I finally started it out and as usually, we have a squirmy rabbit. I made the M first before I went to the design on the side, JUST IN CASE I changed my mind or felt I wouldn't be able to handle it. I decided the bunny was not as wild as she could be and to finish what I had started!

I was shaking the whole time. I'm sure my nervousness didn't make my bunny feel very comfortable. But we made it out! And alive. I free handed the last of the letter "EEKA".

So here it is, the finished product!



And here are a couple more designs.





Please, though, you may not want to try this at home! Honestly, I do not know if this is a DQ or not on the show table. I was told by one that this is illegal so I might have to contact ARBA to find out? We'll have to see!

It's been a busy past week. My job got promoted from a Vet Receptionist to a Vet Assistant/Technician. I've been working all week! It's been a lot of fun. I've seen a lot of things I'll never forget!

Have a nice week!
Susie

Corralitos & Watsonville Show Weekend

We had fun time in Corralitos and Watsonville this past weekend. Corralitos we just had shown up to visit since our specialty had be cancelled. Watsonville was our show day.

We did decent. Not as well as I had hoped, but we had brought some pretty molty rabbits. The numbers were good as well as the quality of the competition. Considering we were missing a couple of our 'normal' exhibitors, you guys missed out on a good show! :)

Congratulations to the BOB/BOSB winners, as well as everyone else. In show A Amy M. won both BOB & BOSB with her AOV's. In show B BOB went to Carol G. with her Broken Senior Buck, and BOSB to Amber H. with her Self Junior Doe. It's not too common to see a Junior go that far, way to go!

For those who haven't known, I have switched my website address to: http://hautewoolycouture.weebly.com

Simply, why I have done this is the time I put into HTML is too much to keep up with. Yesterday I had worked my first day on technician side at my vet clinic, it was a 10 1/2 hour day.





Well wishes!
Susie :)

Summer Babies

Happy Independence Day!

Half-way of 2010

It's been a long time but reasons are legit. Things started to slow down for a few shakes and have picked back up into full swing over the past week. Today I am writing this blog as my boss & family are on vacation for the weekend, and I'm not having to work! It feels unusual, but it is great to use this time to catch up and do some chores around the house. Hopefully clean cages this evening, maybe.

We've had a successful breeding season thus far.

Baby count this year(as of now or live to weaning):
Netherland Dwarfs: 3
Holland Lops: 2
American Fuzzy Lops: 6
Jersey Woolies: 25
Total kits: 36

I don't think I have shared much about my Netherland Dwarfs or Holland Lops. I currently own a pair of Holland Lop does, and a small handful of Netherland Dwarfs. I love the Netherlands a lot and having a lot of fun with them!

They remind me a bit like the Jersey Woolies and Fuzzy Lops combined. They are calm when holding them like a JW and excitable in their cage like a AFL. They take good care of themselves and also tend to mind their own business. I like them, they are different and their trays are SO easy to clean! :)

I also did rather well at Solano County Fair! It was a lot of fun with my buddies and so laid back. The weather was great, though it was much hotter at home. Most days we only went to check our animals and go back home to keep watch our others. It was a blast.


Melanie, Nikki, me, Stephanie

I was so proud of my favorite fair friends (above). They did such a great job with their animals and showmanship!

My results go:
FFA Advance Rabbit Showmanship; 1st
FFA Advance Poultry Showmanship; 1st
BOB Jersey Wooly: WWR Sango
BOSB Jersey Wooly: WWR Little Steps
BOB Netherland Dwarf: C&M Mickey
RBIS goes to my Jersey Wooly doe, Sango! :)
and also FFA Advance Master Showmanship Champion

It's been an interesting past couple months here, little good and a lot of bad, but that is just how life works sometimes. Just gotta keep moving forward!

Have a fun & safe Independence Day!
Susie :)

Convention Hopefuls Pt. I

With lots of babies around here, I can't help but share some of our "Convention Hopefuls" We are currently working on a new website and hope to have it up in the next month or so. Things have been so hectic these past few weeks. Between fair, triple my hours, and my aunt being in the hospital. Unfortunately, she passed away last Saturday and we are still cooping with our loss. It's a hard thing to go through.

I think sometimes bad things happen in inspiration for better things to come. Sometimes one doesn't realize how precious life can be and how quickly it can be snatched away from you. When you realize things are bad and only getting worse, the best thing to do is stay positive. With hope there will always be dreams. Dreams there will always be reason, and most likely in a better hope for happiness.

Most situations have a purpose in the end. And some just happen because it is the way life is. The doctors said when they took the breathing tube out of her lungs, she wouldn't be able to talk again. A few days later, they said she would die. A couple days after that, they removed the tube, and she replied with, "WHOA!" That day, we talked with her for a few hours. She told us she was going to beat this cancer. And though, it was terminal, I believed her.

I though her body won't be with us I know she hasn't gone. She's the strongest woman I know, she didn't go down without a fight.

On brighter news, here are a couple babies who are really cute at the moment. I believe they are 6 weeks old and maturing quite well.





Take care.



Susie