Highlights from the last year

Wow, it's been awhile since I've updated this. Since I have the rabbitry page on facebook, I tend to put all rabbitry updates on there, such as new litters, show wins, rabbits for sale, etc, so both this and my website have become neglected.
Plus add in that this has been the most busy/stressful year for me! Weddings are very time consuming, especially when you don't have a planner doing everything for you! The wedding was a month and half ago, and we have now gotten back to normal, and settled into a routine, so hopefully I'll be better about updating things...
This last year, the Dutch have done quite well, with several BOB/BOS wins. Last Summer, my Black doe Scarlett won a BOB of 70 Dutch! She also won BOB at the Clusters show last Summer. My Blue jr buck Winchester won the other BOB, and the BOS to Scarlett! Scarlett will be bred for the first time soon. Winchester is looking to be one of my next herd bucks. I'm always very picky about herd bucks, so rarely does one meets up to what I consider great for one. He has a few minor flaws, but for the most part, I love how he's built. He already has 3 jr legs (2 BOB, 1 BOS), and will be showing as a senior for the first time this weekend, in hopes of granding him.
English Spots are still a work in progress. I'm really liking the type we've been getting, it's just a matter of getting ones that are not so heavy in their side patterns. We just had a litter born last weekend, that we're pretty excited about, as two of them are not as heavy, and one is even a dilute!
We also added a Belgian Hare last Spring. Wallaby came here so I could learn to better pose the breed, however Robert became attached to him, so he is now a spoiled pet. He'll be going to the occasional show, when Robert is there, or when the Hare breeders need another breeder for a leg. Robert has tried to convince me to add a girlfriend for him, but because of the type of housing Hares require, we've agreed that it'll be best to wait until we own our own house.
Next week, Jada, Stiletto, and a Blue jr doe, Dreams (Winchester's sister) will be leaving to make their way to Kansas, to live with Stone Rabbitry. Very excited to be spreading our lines out into other parts of the country!
I think that's about all the highlights that's happened this last year. Next show is this Saturday in Monroe.

Reflecting- 2011-2012

2011 saw quite a few changes to the rabbitry, all in preparation for 2012. My Dutch herd was cut back to just 20, which I'm finding that I love this amount, and don't think I'll have more than that again. It takes me less than an hour to feed and clean cages! One of my buildings was completely remodeled, and I replaced more than half of my cages last Summer. Last Summer also had a pair of English Spots for my fiance added to the barn, creating "Sporting Spots Rabbitry". Just two days before the end of the year, we had our first Spot litter born.
2012 will be the start of all the Dutch and English Spots being entered under both Robert's and my name. This Summer we plan on adding onto the English Spot herd at State. From culling hard on the Dutch, it has me looking forward to what the new year will bring for them, as I'm loving what I have right now. This Summer will also be the biggest change to the rabbitry, as Robert's and my wedding will be this August <3
Goals for 2012, are for us to continue beginning our own line of Spots. Thank you to Stephanie, we have a wonderful start. For the Dutch, their goal is always the same, to win the big one ;) In 2011, we won a Reserve in Show with Double Dutch's Kiara. Goal for this year is to win a Best in Show, and as always the biggest goal is to win that at the Washington State Convention. I've won it in the youth show 10 years ago, and won Reserve in Show for the open there about 5 years ago, which just leaves winning Best in Show for open :)

Reserve in Show!

Double Dutch's Kiara

Last weekend was the Bremerton show. In show A, I won BOS with Peyton, my Blue jr doe, for her first leg. BOB was won by Double Dutch's Bugz, who is now owned by Luster Wabbitry (http://lusterwabbitry.com/). This was Bugz's 3rd leg!

Show B, Jan won BOS, and Kiara, my Black jr doe, won BOB, and went on to win Reserve in Show! The top pic is with the judge, Jessica, and the Best in Show Mini Satin, owned by Scott (pictured) and Kevin.

Definitely was not expected, especially for Kiara! I've been having issues with her eating for the last month, and almost didn't even enter her in the show! This was her very first show!

Next show is tomorrow in Monroe. Should be really good competition, with a lot of Dutch.

Next Thursday Robert's Spot litter is due!

We currently have several litters in the nestbox. I'm really excited for my Stilletto x Remington litter, as I have 4 really nice marked ones! Can't wait for them to get a bit bigger to see their type!

A new breed!

A new breed has been added to the rabbitry.... The English Spots.
My fiance Robert and I had planned on getting him started in his favorite breed, next June at state convention, however when Stephanie of Los Conejos Rabbitry put up a pair of Grand Champions in one of the colors he wanted, we couldn't resist. He now has a Lilac buck name Meg's See Ya, and a Chocolate doe name LC's Carmina. Both are very nice animals, and compliment each other very nicely, and have great personalities. We bred the two of them together last week, so are excited to have our first litter with them!

Robert's rabbitry is going to be called "Sporting Spots Rabbitry". Starting in January, both them and the Dutch will all be entered under both our names. As his rabbits are in my barn, they're going to stay on the small side for now, but at state convention next June, we do plan on adding to them.

I've slowly been working at remodeling the rabbitry, and have gotten rid of several older cages. Robert's family still had most of their cages from when they raised rabbits, so we've been slowly working at getting them moved over here, as they're only a few years old and in great shape.

Clusters show and Facebook page

Black Jr Buck

July 30th was the annual "Clusters of Specialties" Show in Monroe. The NWDRC put on two Dutch specialties. In show A, I had a Black jr buck win BOSV and BOS, a Blue jr doe won BOV, and Rudolph's Hunter was BOSV Blue.

Show B, I didn't do as well. The Black jr buck was BOSV, and now has 3 jr legs. I sold him that day to a new youth breeder just getting started in rabbits, along with a couple of jr does.

Hunter also left for a new home, he went to live at Luster Wabbitry.

I have decided to add a Facebook page for the rabbitry- Double Dutch Rabbitry. I've been working at deleting people who I do not personally know (other than Dutch breeders, since I like seeing pics of their stock) from my personal page. For the rabbitry page, I do only add fellow breeders. If I do not know you, and you're not a breeder, I will not add you for safety reasons.

On an ending note, here's an article that's been being posted on facebook a lot lately that I think every breeder should read: What to Do When Animal Control Comes Knocking. I've been hearing too many stories lately of AC overstepping their boundries. This article is geared at dog breeders, but we're really no different. Know your rights as a breeder.

GNW Show

While the Great Northwest show was going last Saturday, I was at the Seattle Sounders vs the Colorado Rapids game! It was an awesome game, with us winning 4-3! I now have a Sounders scarf, that Robert insisted I needed for games, that goes nicely with my Montero shirt :) I'm not big into soccer, but it's a different experience when you're at the game.

Nicole was awesome about sending me updates from the show! Show A, I had a little Black jr buck who won BOV, then I won BOSV Blue with Remington, and BOV Blue with a jr doe (picture above). The Blues went on to win BOB and BOS! Then on the Best in Show table, the little doe got two looks!

Show B didn't go as well, but Remington still managed to get BOS, and is up to 7 legs now!

Washington State Convention

The Washington State Convention was last week. I took 8 rabbits, 5 of which were entered and came home with only 3! I had a trio go to a new breeder just starting out. He got my Black buck that's been doing well on the show tables this last Spring, a Blue jr doe, and Sapphire who was bred to Revolver. His website is Luster Wabbitry.

Saturday, the rabbits didn't do as well. The Blue jr doe that I sold, and Rudolph's Hunter a Blue jr buck both won their classes, but there was not enough for them to get legs. Gene won BOB with a Gray buck that he sent up with another breeder, and Jan was BOS with her Blue doe.

Sunday went better for my rabbits. I won three of the four Blue classes, the sr buck class with Remington, jr buck class with Hunter, and the jr doe class with the sold one. The jr doe then won BOV and Remington won BOSV! This was Remington's 5th leg, but his first as a senior, so he's now a Grand Champion!

The Silbernagels won BOB with a Chocolate doe, who went on to win Reserve in Show! BOS was Lisa with her Gray buck "Double Overtime" whose been dominating on the tables this Spring.

Next show is July 16th. I won't be going to it, as Robert and I are going to the Sounders game that afternoon. My dad will be taking my rabbits though. It looks like I'll have about 6 of them. Stiletto, Remington, Hunter, then 2 Blue jr does (in the pic above), and a Black jr buck who'll be making their showing debut.

July 30th is the Clusters of Specialties, where the Dutch club always has a double specialty show. The NWRB will also be putting on a youth all breed show there, along with specialties for the Holland Lops, Netherland Dwarfs, and Rex.

I currently have 6 litters between 3-4 weeks old, and some really nice marked ones, especially for Blues! The pic above is of a couple sisters when they were about 6 weeks old, that are about 10 week old now. They are out of Diego and Jada.

I have 4 more does due in about three weeks.