Updates

Been awhile since I last updated. Have had only one show, the GNW's Monroe show, which sadly I end up not being able to make it to. I became really sick the night before, and the morning of the show, so end up having to stay home. It's the first time I've had to back out of judging a show, and first time I've been too sick for a show. Since it was a local show, my dad still went with my rabbits. I had entered six, but since I had two juniors that we were suppose to tattoo that morning, he only took four rabbits.
The rabbits didn't do so well without me there. My Black jr buck that is for sale did get a BOS for his first leg. I didn't find out until I got my show results that both Diego and Katarina managed to get their senior legs to grand out!
Currently I have 3 litters. Diamond's litter will be weaned this week, then she will be going to live down in the Chehalis area. Pipsqueak and Rogue both have litters that are about two weeks old right now.
Put boxes in for four does today, and all four immediatly started nesting.
Next show isn't until March... a long time to go without one, however I have nothing to show but Diego and some Blue jr bucks, so it's probably better that this is a slow time. Have been getting nothing but Blue bucks in all of my litters! Would be nice to get some does...
I do have three 4-H shows in the meantime to judge, which will help give me my rabbit fix. One of them being for my former 4-H club, which is always fun to go back to judge at, even though it make me feel old. I only know one of the kids left, whose in her last year, and the last of the kids who was a member when I was just graduated this last year (might I add that she won this last year's ARBA Queen title!).
For the other two, one is also for my county, their fundraiser for awards at the fair. Then the other, I will be going back over to Port Townsend. I judged their fair last Summer, so am looking forward to going back to their area.

Nothing but Dutch

Double Dutch's Diego

The Silver Martens are gone, and I am now a Dutch only breeder for the next few years, until Robert and I are able to afford our own house. At that time, we'll be adding his breed of choice, the English Spots, and possibly another breed for us to raise together.

I'll admit, it's nice having only Dutch faces in the barn right now, it's been almost 5 years since they've been the only breed here. I'm down to 27 rabbits (will be 25 next weekend), and it's nice having a smaller rabbitry. It's so quick to feed and clean cages now.

Show news, went to the Yelm show at the end of last month. Only showed four Dutch and one Silver Marten. Explosive the Martian was BOS both shows, but sadly there were not enough rabbits for a leg. For the Dutch, I had hoped to grand Audrey and Katarina, both did well, but there were not enough rabbits for them to win legs in their catagories. However, Diego won BOS in both shows, for his first 2 legs! He's finally molted his ugly coat, and has a nice new pretty one.

Next show is December 4th in Monroe. Hopefully this time I'll be able to grand Audrey, Katarina, AND now Diego! I'm planning to breed both does soon, as this is my last show until March, so this will be their last chance to grand out. I'll also be showing a Black jr buck and maybe 1 or 2 Blue jr bucks. I'll also be judging at this show.

Updates

Double Dutch's Katarina

Last show was October 2nd, and the Dutch did really well at it. I was only showing three. In show A, Audrey (Black Sr doe) was BOS for her second leg! In show B, she was BOSV, but there weren't enough does for a leg. Katarina (Blue Jr doe) was BOV in show A, and Best of Breed in show B! These were her second and third legs. She's only 5 months old, but I will be bumping her up to senior at the next show, so she can go for the senior leg to grand out.

For the Martians, I was only showing Explosive, who was BOS in show B, for her second leg.
In less than two weeks, I will be dropping rabbits off with their Convention transporters. Ash the Dutch will be going with Scott. She will then be passed onto another transporter, before making her way to New Jersey to her new owner Olivia.

The Martians- Torch, Blast, and Explosive will all be going with Jennifer and Lauren. Nicole's break from school falls over the week of convention, so she will be there to take care of them, and to sell them.

I'll admit, I'm a bit sad about the Silver Martians leaving, however at the same time, they've been a bit of a stressful breed, and I am ready to move on from them. It will be nice to get the rabbitry back to being Dutch only again, and start concentrating on my Dutch more so.

Next show is October 30th in Yelm. I get to be just an exhibitor at this show. I'm hoping to grand out Katarina, Audrey, and Explosive at it. In addition to them, I'll also be showing Diego (Blue Jr buck, Kat's brother) and a cute little Black Jr (will be his first show out).

Big Wins!

BEST IN SHOW- Silver Streak's Explosive

9/18/10- Colville, WA

RESERVE IN SHOW- Silver Streak's Blast
9/11/10- La Grande, OR

Nicole and I are down to our last three Silver Martens, all of which are very nice animals! Nicole showed our Blue buck Torch and Black doe Blast at the La Grande, OR show. Blast won Reserve in Show!

The next week, Nicole and I were both at the Colville, WA show, which we showed Blast, and her half sister Explosive entered in her very first show. Explosive won BEST IN SHOW!

We're very excited about showing these three at convention! All three will also be for sale there.

This Saturday, Arson will be leaving to head to his new home in Oregon. He will be living with the Webb's, who are top Silver Marten breeders.

Dutch haven't had as much exciting news. They've been molting lately, so haven't done as well. Katarina, my little Blue doe, did win a Best of Breed last weekend in Bremerton. This is her first leg.

I've been selling quite a few Dutch lately, and have sold all I've had available. I'm currently in the midst of coming up with more for sale, as I have a few people waiting on does. I have several proven brood does that will be available within the next few months, as I start to slowly work at cutting back my numbers.

Various updates

I've been dreading the coming of August for the last year, as that meant that Bella, the dog that I was baby sitting would be going back home to her owner. I was watching her while her owner was in Iraq for the last year. Just last night, I got the email from her owner, saying that because of his new orders were sending him to Georgia by October, he wasn't going to be able to keep her anymore. My family is very happy to be able to keep her :)
For the rabbits, I currently have 4 litters, that are probably around 4 weeks old. I have more litters due next week.
I had loaned Ash out to a 4-H kid to have a litter with, which I will be getting Ash back in the next week. I will be breeding her one last time, then in November, it looks like she will be traveling to ARBA Convention, then on to New Jersey to live with a friend of mine. We're still working out some of the details.
Nicole and I made the decision a few months ago, that Silver Streak Rabbitry has come to an end. We have decided to sell out of the Silver Martens. We're both moving in different directions, it would be too hard to keep up with the co owned breed. She's about to graduate from vet school this next year, and Robert and I will be getting married in another year and a half, which just complicated things. We decided that at ARBA Convention is when we'll sell out.
We have two brood does, Maddy and Pyro, which will be leaving next month to go down to Oregon.
Then we have six juniors, the best of the last three litters that we've had, plus Arson, who are all available. We've already been receiving several emails from interested people.
I judged at the Port Townsend fair last week, which was a lot of fun. They had a great group of kids, who should do great at the State Fair next month.
Next week I'm off to judge Waterville's fair. This is my third year judging for them, and it's always fun to go back to. This fair is really in the middle of no where! The next day, I'll be judging the Evergreen Fair in Monroe. I'll be judging the 4-H type rabbits.

Rabbitry Updates

Been awhile since I've done a rabbitry update.
Have been to two shows since then. The Washington State Convention was at the end of June. It was a fun weekend for the most part. We had over 100 Dutch, however I can't remember who the big winners were... I think Lisa was BOB with a Gray on Saturday, and Jill being BOS with a Blue... Might have been the same Sunday?
None of my Dutch did anything, since they all decided to blow their coats that week.
For the Martians, I think Arson won BOS both days... Then I think Scott was BOB one day (with an Arson daughter) and Sharon and Larry the next day.
Also had a 4 show weekend this month. On Friday the 16th, we had two Dutch specialties, then Saturday was two all breed shows. We had around 80 Dutch. Jan was the big winner of the weekend! She won all 4 BOB's, and 3 of the BOS, then topped that off with a BEST IN SHOW and RESERVE IN SHOW! She has a gorgeous little Blue jr doe that dominated! She also has a pretty little Black jr buck.
The only thing Jan didn't win was one BOS in one of the specialties, which Lisa won with a Black sr buck.
Most of my bunns were too young. I was happy with how a few of my juniors did. I won best Black jr doe in 3 of the 4 shows, with two different does. The one who won twice also won a BOSV. These are their first legs. Then I had a Black jr buck win first in his class (somehow beating Jan's awesome buck...). Also his first leg.
Arson was the only Martian that we showed, which he didn't do so great that weekend. Not sure who won for the Martians that weekend...
Currently have 2 Dutch litters that are about 5 weeks old, and another 4 that are a week old.
I have two Dutch that will be sold this Saturday, and another leaving next Wednesday. This will leave me with just two junior bucks for sale.
Then for those who were following Bubbly, he's moved onto a pet home :(
With it being fair season, I have no more shows to show at until September. I will be judging at both the Colville and Bremerton shows that month, and will be taking a few to show.
In the mean time, I have several fairs that I'll be judging in the mean time, which will give me my rabbit fix :)

Bubbly Update

7 weeks old

7 weeks old

7 weeks old

7 weeks old

8 weeks old

8 weeks old

8 weeks old

8 weeks old

I left for the weekend for the Washington State Convention, with Bubbly looking like a a Champagne. When I got home, I was surprised to see that his color had started darkening. He looked like a Silver Fox now. With in just a few days, he got so dark, that he looked like a Silver Tipped Steel (Steel Dutch are usually colored more like a Golden Tip Steel, as genetically, we have no way of getting the ST without the Chinchilla being bred in). Within a week, he was almost all Black. He is almost 10 weeks old now, and only has a bit of very light ticking on his legs, and some silver hairs in his tail. Up on the crown of his head, is the only area he has any Champagne color, but that's slowly disappearing also.

I'll admit, I am sad that he didn't keep his Champagne color, as he was really pretty. It's probably for the best, as I really do not have the room/time to be working on a new variety. Bubbly is available to a good pet home. Because of being an oddity, he's been handled a lot, and is very calm.