Calling all Rex breeders out there...

[Jessykah]

I am going to the show in Spencerville on Saturday to buy some Standard Rex. I have never raised this breed before. I raised Mini Rex years ago, but never for show, and never according to the SOP. I have not studied genetics or SOP at all, so I am now doing my homework. I usually just raise meat rabbits and am not too particular. However, I am getting into Standard Rex, and I want to do it right from the start, especially because they are so expensive and rare around here. I have been trying to locate them for years. If I offer some for sale in the near future, I want to make sure that I am selling the best I can. So please help me out here
I have attached pictures of the rabbits that have been offered to me. I think the does were born July first she said. Not sure. Here's what she said about them:

"the buck is a senior...very nice when he is in coat. Now is looks like a old carpet and it is the 1st time in 2 years. otter doe is the smallest of her litter, big black doe. blue doe best body and fur at that age but I have to ask opinion on the nail's color."

Other things to factor:
-There are also going to be harlequin and tri juniors and seniors for sale at the show. Maybe I should get 1 or 2? I was told to only breed them to each other and not to any other colours. ??
-I purchased 2 junior sister does from someone this spring. One is black, the other is broken black. The lady said the black is showable, but the broken black is a little long...but I don't know how accurate this is, as she just started with them as well, and she was judging them when she sold them to me, which was just after weaning. I will take pics of them, their weights, and post it with pedigrees on here as soon as I can.

So based on current information, which rabbits do you think I should go with? I do not want to purchase very many, because it's so expensive. $50-$60 per rabbit adds up fast...I am really not sure if I should go with that buck, based on the pic...but I don't know if I have a choice...unless I get a tri or harlequin buck from that other lady. I want the black otter doe, but if she's small...I don't know. Opinions please.






__________ Mon Sep 15, 2014 2:21 pm __________

So here's some pics I took a few weeks ago of the 2 does I already have...yes the pics suck. They wouldn't hold still. But it gives you an idea anyway of what they look like. I will get better pics, weights, etc soon.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

The top ones are to long in the shoulders.. I wouldn't buy them.. You will not be further ahead.. I really like the black bottom one. . I can send you a name who you can get really good show quality .. but you will pay a price for them..

 

[Ramjet]

Really hard to tell about type unless they are posed correctly ....

That top doe looks like a lilac , not a blue as you can see "pink undertones" , maybe its just the photo. My best doe is a lilac bred from a chocolate buck & lilac doe from One Acre Farm.

She's not posed right either , back feet are too far forward in this shot but its the only image I have available & I post it mainly to show its color.

The black doe looks solid to me but again hard to tell from the image.

The black otter looks a little weak in the shoulders which is a pretty common issue with Rex.

I have a project in the works on that issue , crossing my rex with an Altex/Cali hybrid. So far , so good as the first generation has a great shape but no rex fur , have a Gen2 litter due 9-27-14 that should produce rex furred kits.
Another common problem with Rex is getting them to reach Sr. weight. The Gen1 cross produced an unexpected surprise as the one doe I kept is greater than 13lbs which is above the acceptable breed standard I believe (11lbs?). I don't expect further crossings to maintain that hybrid vigor but shouldn't hurt the chances of those offspring reaching Sr. weight.

The buck ... I'd like to see a better shot of him not in molt & posed correctly but from the image provided , I don't much like his build , seems long in the shoulder and the hind legs appear a bit weak .

The black & broken black at the bottom look pretty good to me but the poses make it hard to judge their structure.

 

[3mina]

Going only by the pics what you already have is better than what you're being offered.
If I was looking at these with the intent of breeding for show, I'd pass these by.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I agree.... that broken black buck is terrible .. I wouldn't buy him. And the smaller black doe in the same litter.. I wouldn't buy her either.. You need the size up.. There will be other breeders there .. just take the money from what you were thinking of getting and get one good quality buck for your two does and breed back to work on size and shoulders.. that is just my 2 cents

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Doe #1 has a really open coat (lacks density) and has long shoulders. If she wasn't pushing up with her front legs, her forequarters would look the same as the otter doe. Her shoulders are also very narrow compared to the rest of her body. Nice depth and width of body.

Doe #2 looks like she has nice density of coat, and has just a finger or two width worth of shoulder coming out from behind the ears. She is hollow over the hips, but that should fill in some as she matures. She is the best out of all of them.

Doe #3 Looks like she has a good coat (picture isn't focused, so can't say for sure), but she also has long shoulders. She is also hollow over the hips.

Without top or rear views it is difficult to say for sure, but I suspect that both #2 and #3 are narrow overall.

The buck is long in the shoulders and would not do a thing for your does.

The rabbits you already have are very nice. Great width, and even without being properly posed you can see they come out and rise right behind the ears and have good depth.

The broken black looks like she has a harsh coat with too many guard hairs. The black looks like she has the better coat of the two. They both seem to have good density, but if my experience holds true with harsh coats, the broken will have more density than your black.

I am going to the show in Spencerville on Saturday to buy some Standard Rex.

I hope you entered your does! There is probably still time, hint hint. :gettowork:

Seriously- you should enter them. You will learn a lot by watching the judging and seeing how they compare to the other rabbits there. You will also then be able to take any prospective purchases to the judges and ask their opinions as to whether the buck would compliment your does.

 

[Ramjet]

I agree.... that broken black buck is terrible .. I wouldn't buy him. And the smaller black doe in the same litter.. I wouldn't buy her either.. You need the size up.. There will be other breeders there .. just take the money from what you were thinking of getting and get one good quality buck for your two does and breed back to work on size and shoulders.. that is just my 2 cents

I second this opinion ....

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Third.

Your buck is half your herd- even if you have 6 does (or more) to one buck.

 

[Jessykah]

Thanks for the advice! So if you all don't think I should buy the buck...then what if there isn't a good buck there? Oh I so wanted to be breeding come Spring, and I have looked for years to finally come to this point. Also, I might as well not have the 2 does I have without a buck...Someone will be selling Tri and Harlequin juniors and seniors there...Do you think it's OK to buy a buck from her? I really like tris...but I read that I should only breed them to each other...Opinions?
About showing this Saturday: These does have not been handled much, I am not sure I would be able to get them to pose or stay still even...The lady who is taking me told me I should just watch and not show for my first time ever going to a show...especially since I know nothing about showing yet...but I DO really want to show that black doe...Opinions?

 

[Zass]

Thanks for the advice! So if you all don't think I should buy the buck...then what if there isn't a good buck there? Oh I so wanted to be breeding come Spring, and I have looked for years to finally come to this point. Also, I might as well not have the 2 does I have without a buck...Someone will be selling Tri and Harlequin juniors and seniors there...Do you think it's OK to buy a buck from her? I really like tris...but I read that I should only breed them to each other...Opinions?
About showing this Saturday: These does have not been handled much, I am not sure I would be able to get them to pose or stay still even...The lady who is taking me told me I should just watch and not show for my first time ever going to a show...especially since I know nothing about showing yet...but I DO really want to show that black doe...Opinions?

Even with my limited show experience, I think you should show them. It doesn't take much to do so, and just about everyone there will be super helpful. It's possible that you might meet another breeder there that has stock that they didn't bring for sale, or maybe a breeder that would be willing to contact you when a buck becomes available.
It's OK if they don't win, because just hearing the judges comments on them would be a super good learning experience. Also, the judge knows how to handle rabbits that haven't been handled much.

 

[Ramjet]

Thanks for the advice! So if you all don't think I should buy the buck...then what if there isn't a good buck there? Oh I so wanted to be breeding come Spring, and I have looked for years to finally come to this point. Also, I might as well not have the 2 does I have without a buck...Someone will be selling Tri and Harlequin juniors and seniors there...Do you think it's OK to buy a buck from her? I really like tris...but I read that I should only breed them to each other...Opinions?
About showing this Saturday: These does have not been handled much, I am not sure I would be able to get them to pose or stay still even...The lady who is taking me told me I should just watch and not show for my first time ever going to a show...especially since I know nothing about showing yet...but I DO really want to show that black doe...Opinions?

Even with my limited show experience, I think you should show them. It doesn't take much to do so, and just about everyone there will be super helpful. It's possible that you might meet another breeder there that has stock that they didn't bring for sale, or maybe a breeder that would be willing to contact you when a buck becomes available.
It's OK if they don't win, because just hearing the judges comments on them would be a super good learning experience. Also, the judge knows how to handle rabbits that haven't been handled much.

^^This^^ Zass saved me the effort of typing it. I'd just change the blue text from possible to "highly likely".

 

[MamaSheepdog]

About showing this Saturday: These does have not been handled much, I am not sure I would be able to get them to pose or stay still even...The lady who is taking me told me I should just watch and not show for my first time ever going to a show...especially since I know nothing about showing yet...but I DO really want to show that black doe...Opinions?

Enter them. Of course it is better if the rabbit has experience getting posed, but the judges will get them to set up. Rabbit shows aren't like dog shows- you just need to bring the rabbit to the table and put it in its coop, and your work is done. No handling on your part.

To give you an idea what to expect, here is a post I made after attending my first show:

first-show-experience-t5766.html

what if there isn't a good buck there?

When you make your entry, include a note to the show secretary that you are looking for a buck. They will likely be willing to pass that info on to the exhibitors. I would go with a black or blue or even black or blue otter, broken or solid.

If that doesn't pan out, talk to the judges and other exhibitors to see if they can recommend a breeder to you. You may be able to arrange to get one transported to an upcoming show, or might get really lucky and find out that there is someone within a reasonable distance from you.

 

[Jessykah]

Wow. OK thanks! Just went outside to 'check them out'.
Broken doe is 7lb. Black doe is 7lb 12oz.
Of course I don't know how to pose...but I will look it up and practice the next few days...broken black wouldn't stay still. The pics I posted are old ones. Here are pics from today:






...Maximum of 5 attachments allowed?! Tisk

__________ Tue Sep 16, 2014 3:59 pm __________




Broken doe may be starting a molt. Not sure...but she has all white toenails, and the black doe has all black
...I think they are a little chubby. LOL That may cost me. I don't know.
Sire was black 1.14lbs, dam was broken black otter 8.04lbs.

 

[Ramjet]

Send this one to me:

That little plumper would make some nice babies with my chocolate buck!


I've been trying to get a black doe forever .... Last one I had to put down because of a genetic issue with her teeth , she had a 3rd tooth that grew in front of the normal teeth.

 

[Jessykah]

LOL Send me your chocolate buck!

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

Jess that black doe is really nice. She has good coat ,, good shoulders and rear end.. I would show her for sure.. but when I see the second last pic.. she looks as there is some brown under tone.. Hard to tell if it is the camera or not.. You don't want that.. ,, the only thing you do have to work on is her length .. she is a bit short.. Looks as if there is some mini rex in her.. but maybe not.. hard to tell until you breed her. her toenails has to be all black. .. the other doe.. I wouldn't show her. to much white guard hairs in her coat and her ears are really bad for white guard hairs.. Her body type isn't good either.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

to much white guard hairs in her coat and her ears are really bad for white guard hairs.

I agree about her ears- but did you notice how much of the white molted out on her body? Huge difference there.

 

[Jessykah]

In case anyone is interested in the colours & weights in genetics, here's the black doe's pedigree...same goes for the broken, as they are sisters.
...So to re-cap opinions...I should show the black, and maybe the broken...don't buy the buck...maybe buy the black doe offered to me?
...any advice on whether or not to buy any tris or harlis? What if the only buck for sale there is a nice tri?





Mary Ann, I think that was the camera. Flash in one pic, no flash in the other...she looks very black to me. Toenails are black too...a little wear on her hocks, but not right down to the skin, and no sores.

 

[Ramjet]

LOL Send me your chocolate buck!

Not on your life! He's not replaceable ....

@ MSD that doe I posted above is the offspring of your bunnies, she was from the Rex first litter born here. She's since filled out real well & her first litter was 11.


G.G. Sire: Victory Gardens Dirk
G.G. Dam Victory Gardens Evil Blue
G. Sire: Victory Gardens Mr Nibbles
G. Dam: One Acre Farms Hazelnut

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Personally, I would just go ahead and show them both. Entry fees are minimal, and you'll have both does there so people will know what you have to work with. Plus, it may help someone else get a Leg in the variety. That is always greatly appreciated!

I would pass on the black doe unless she is better in person than she looks in the pictures. Concentrate on finding a good buck. Let it be known to the Secretary that even promising Junior bucks will be considered since you aren't planning on breeding until this spring anyway.

@ MSD that doe I posted above is the offspring of your bunnies, she was from the Rex first litter born here. She's since filled out real well & her first litter was 11.

I was wondering. She is a nice solid doe! I'm glad the lines are working well for you.