I haven't posted on here much, lately. Mostly because I've learned so much from all of you I haven't needed too. :lol:
I still pop in almost everyday and read new posts.
Anyway, I got a bit of a slow start to the breeding season. I'm blaming the feed I was using. I did finally start to get litters toward end of November, which is about the same as last year but it was cooler this year so I had hoped it would be earlier. Now, however, I have kits galore!
I found a feed that I like, that is $3.50 a bag cheaper than the good feed I was buying and the rabbits seem to do well on it. I'm getting good breeding rates, litter size, and good grow out rates. I have to drive 45 min to get it but when I buy 12 bags a month that is a substantial savings. I bought a sam's club membership as well, so I just go to Sam's club (a bit over an hr) once a month and stock up on a few things and get the feed on the way back.
I found out my castor rex buck carriers Otter. That was a bit exciting because it was one of the color genes I wanted but didn't have. Unfortunately he does't carry chocolate or dilute so I'm going to have to mix things up a bit to get the lilac otter I want.
One of his daughters out of my magpie doe has reached 5lbs 8oz in just under 12 weeks. She was a full 8 oz heavier than her next largest littermate. Not super great weights compared to some, but good for my stock. I've been working on selecting for better grow rates so she's a keeper. She a chinchilla with Rex fur on top of that so *yaye!!* One of these days, I'm going to have to reduce the number of colors I have but it's sooo darn fun!
And just because, here are some kit pictures. These are all current litters.
My broken blue rex doe's litter. She kindled 12 but one was DOA. This litter will all be blue, lilac, tort (blue or lilac) or REW with or without broken.
These are 3/4 rex kits. She kindled 9 this time. This litter has so many color possibilities! Sire is lilac who carries non-extension and REW and the dam is broken chestnut and carries dilute, chocolate, chinchilla, and non-extension.
These are Non-pedigreed Rex. The sire is my lilac buck and the doe is harlequin. I have kept back a broken tort (blue or lilac) from my broken blue doe. I'm going to try crossing him to the dam of these kits and my magpie doe and see what I get. I have my fingers crossed for a broken magpie. I had a tri rex buck but unfortunately lost him last fall before I could get any pedigreed kits sired by him. This harlequin doe is one of his unpedigreed kits though.
Love the color on this tort kit!
And his littermate who is a harlequinized tort.
I still pop in almost everyday and read new posts.
Anyway, I got a bit of a slow start to the breeding season. I'm blaming the feed I was using. I did finally start to get litters toward end of November, which is about the same as last year but it was cooler this year so I had hoped it would be earlier. Now, however, I have kits galore!
I found a feed that I like, that is $3.50 a bag cheaper than the good feed I was buying and the rabbits seem to do well on it. I'm getting good breeding rates, litter size, and good grow out rates. I have to drive 45 min to get it but when I buy 12 bags a month that is a substantial savings. I bought a sam's club membership as well, so I just go to Sam's club (a bit over an hr) once a month and stock up on a few things and get the feed on the way back.
I found out my castor rex buck carriers Otter. That was a bit exciting because it was one of the color genes I wanted but didn't have. Unfortunately he does't carry chocolate or dilute so I'm going to have to mix things up a bit to get the lilac otter I want.
One of his daughters out of my magpie doe has reached 5lbs 8oz in just under 12 weeks. She was a full 8 oz heavier than her next largest littermate. Not super great weights compared to some, but good for my stock. I've been working on selecting for better grow rates so she's a keeper. She a chinchilla with Rex fur on top of that so *yaye!!* One of these days, I'm going to have to reduce the number of colors I have but it's sooo darn fun!
And just because, here are some kit pictures. These are all current litters.
My broken blue rex doe's litter. She kindled 12 but one was DOA. This litter will all be blue, lilac, tort (blue or lilac) or REW with or without broken.
These are 3/4 rex kits. She kindled 9 this time. This litter has so many color possibilities! Sire is lilac who carries non-extension and REW and the dam is broken chestnut and carries dilute, chocolate, chinchilla, and non-extension.
These are Non-pedigreed Rex. The sire is my lilac buck and the doe is harlequin. I have kept back a broken tort (blue or lilac) from my broken blue doe. I'm going to try crossing him to the dam of these kits and my magpie doe and see what I get. I have my fingers crossed for a broken magpie.
I had a tri rex buck but unfortunately lost him last fall before I could get any pedigreed kits sired by him. This harlequin doe is one of his unpedigreed kits though. Love the color on this tort kit!
And his littermate who is a harlequinized tort.
