Here is the roster for the breeding we completed on May 25-6. The does should kindle around June 24-6, sometime in there.
We decided to capitalize on some of our main bucks, as we lost poor little Domhnall on the day of the breeding. There was no sign he was in any kind of trauma, he went very quietly, up one minute and down the other. Luckily we have two of his sons and four daughters.
Here are the Netherland Dwarf breedings:
Tank's Tighearnan (Domhnall son)- Tank's Dyvete, Becca's Beka Dot
Tank's Bacchus (Domhnall son)- Tank's Aiobh, Tank's Oseya, Tank's M'Nyara and Tank's Inge
Tank's Meilyr- Tank's Kelita, Tank's Habiba
Power's Jean-Claude- Tank's Chatter, Tank's Sesheta
Tank's Thor- Tank's Ilene, Tank's Sisele and Caldwell's Emma
Tank's Almond- Tank's Nyosha, Tank's Rashida (chocolate time!!)
Hall's Phoenix- Tank's Freya
Tank's Silver Dragon- Tank's Kate
Tank's Ivor- Tank's Ena
and our one little Holland Lop breeding, Tank's Felix to Tank's Gretchen.
Be sure to e-mail or call if you'd like to reserve something from any of these nestboxes or if you're interested in breeding stock, show rabbits or pets!
MBT
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
New Rabbit Photos from This Weekend
We had some extra time over at Augie's (Grandma's) this weekend and Amara and I took some new photos of the younger generation of our rabbits.
* * * *
Tank's Acorn (Chocolate Otter)- out of Tank's Meilyr, pictured at right.
* * * *
* * * *
Acorn's brother, Tank's Almond (also Chocolate Otter)
* * * *
Tank's Chatter (Black), named out of the nestbox by Garron because she made the cutest chattering sound.
* * * *
Couldn't get a great photo of Tank's Ena (Siamese Sable) but I thought this shot of Amara and Ena hugging was adorable.
* * * *
Tank's Rashida (Chocolate), out of Tank's Dakir and Sisele. Sweet girl!
* * * *
Tank's Aiobh (Black). The pic doesn't do her justice.
* * * *
Gorgeous little Tank's Bacchus (Opal) Mr. Personality of the new gen. Brother to Chatter and...
* * * *
Tank's Sapphire (Siamese Sable Chin), who is interested in the oatmeal!
Another of Sapphire, just 'cause I think she's beautiful.
* * * *
Tank's Kelita (Black) If she'd just lift her ears this would be a great photo.
* * * *
And last but hardly least, Tank's Diana (Chestnut Agouti).
* * * *
Tank's Chatter (Black), named out of the nestbox by Garron because she made the cutest chattering sound.* * * *
Couldn't get a great photo of Tank's Ena (Siamese Sable) but I thought this shot of Amara and Ena hugging was adorable.* * * *
Tank's Rashida (Chocolate), out of Tank's Dakir and Sisele. Sweet girl!* * * *
Tank's Aiobh (Black). The pic doesn't do her justice.* * * *
Gorgeous little Tank's Bacchus (Opal) Mr. Personality of the new gen. Brother to Chatter and...* * * *
Tank's Sapphire (Siamese Sable Chin), who is interested in the oatmeal!
Another of Sapphire, just 'cause I think she's beautiful.* * * *
Tank's Kelita (Black) If she'd just lift her ears this would be a great photo.* * * *
And last but hardly least, Tank's Diana (Chestnut Agouti).Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Photo Mosaic
This is kinda cool... I found it using FaceBook. It is a photo mosaic of the title photo of this blog, our showtable cover, using different rabbit show photos. Enjoy!
To see the photos more closely, click the image to zoom in.
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To see the photos more closely, click the image to zoom in.
* * *
Monday, February 4, 2008
February 2008 Rabbit Breeding
*** NETHERLAND DWARFS ***
Kate (Apollo/Drew- black) to Hiram (black)
Seshata (Bjorn/Kacia- black otter) to Ivor (Bjorn/Drew- sable marten)
Olympia (Bjorn/Drew- chestnut agouti) to Silver Dragon (Phoenix/Seshata- sable marten)
Freya (Domhnall/Ursula- chocolate otter) to Almond (Meilyr/Habiba- chocolate otter)
Oseya (Thor/Kate- siamese sable) to Domhnall (Hector/Mystery{Smith Kwazee}- chinchilla)
Habiba (Thor/Kate- black) to Meilyr (Smith/Polly- black otter)
Ilene (Ulf/Sigrid- black otter) to Acorn (Meilyr/Habiba- chocolate otter)
Dyvette (Dakir/Yvette- black) to Jean-Claude (chestnut)
Sisele (Domhnall/Oseya- chinchilla) to Phoenix (sable marten)
Diana (Meilyr/Olympia- chestnut agouti) to Phoenix (sable marten)
M'Nyara (Dakir/Emma- black) to Silver Dragon (Phoenix/Seshata- sable marten)
Nyosha (Dakir/Emma- black) to Thor (Bjorn Kacia{Dakir/Madelyne}- black otter)
Emma (tortoiseshell) to Tighearnan (Domhnall/Little Silver{Tadge/Calypso[Turco/Drew]}- siamese sable)
Rain (blue) to Dakir (Tadge/Abebe- black)
Bekah Dot (broken black) to Tighearnan (Domhnall/Little Silver{Tadge/Calypso[Turco/Drew]}-siamese sable)
Inge (Ulf/Sigrid- blue otter) to Thor (Bjorn/Kacia{Dakir/Madelyne}- black otter)
*** HOLLAND LOPS ***
Gretchen (Dirk{Stu/Lexa}/Dora- black) to Fritz (Maximus/Josian- broken chestnut agouti)
Dora (opal) to Taco Bueno (black)
* * *
KEPT LAST BREEDINGS:
Bacchus (opal)
Chatter (black)
Sapphire (smoke pearl agouti)
out of Domhnall/Dyvette
Kelita (black)
out of Jean-Claude/M'Nyara
Rashida (chocolate)
out of Dakir/Sisele
Aiobh (black)
Ena (siamese sable)
out of Tighearnan/Oseya
Lisabet (chestnut agouti)
out of Domhnall/Seshata
Kate (Apollo/Drew- black) to Hiram (black)
Seshata (Bjorn/Kacia- black otter) to Ivor (Bjorn/Drew- sable marten)
Olympia (Bjorn/Drew- chestnut agouti) to Silver Dragon (Phoenix/Seshata- sable marten)
Freya (Domhnall/Ursula- chocolate otter) to Almond (Meilyr/Habiba- chocolate otter)
Oseya (Thor/Kate- siamese sable) to Domhnall (Hector/Mystery{Smith Kwazee}- chinchilla)
Habiba (Thor/Kate- black) to Meilyr (Smith/Polly- black otter)
Ilene (Ulf/Sigrid- black otter) to Acorn (Meilyr/Habiba- chocolate otter)
Dyvette (Dakir/Yvette- black) to Jean-Claude (chestnut)
Sisele (Domhnall/Oseya- chinchilla) to Phoenix (sable marten)
Diana (Meilyr/Olympia- chestnut agouti) to Phoenix (sable marten)
M'Nyara (Dakir/Emma- black) to Silver Dragon (Phoenix/Seshata- sable marten)
Nyosha (Dakir/Emma- black) to Thor (Bjorn Kacia{Dakir/Madelyne}- black otter)
Emma (tortoiseshell) to Tighearnan (Domhnall/Little Silver{Tadge/Calypso[Turco/Drew]}- siamese sable)
Rain (blue) to Dakir (Tadge/Abebe- black)
Bekah Dot (broken black) to Tighearnan (Domhnall/Little Silver{Tadge/Calypso[Turco/Drew]}-siamese sable)
Inge (Ulf/Sigrid- blue otter) to Thor (Bjorn/Kacia{Dakir/Madelyne}- black otter)
*** HOLLAND LOPS ***
Gretchen (Dirk{Stu/Lexa}/Dora- black) to Fritz (Maximus/Josian- broken chestnut agouti)
Dora (opal) to Taco Bueno (black)
* * *
KEPT LAST BREEDINGS:
Bacchus (opal)
Chatter (black)
Sapphire (smoke pearl agouti)
out of Domhnall/Dyvette
Kelita (black)
out of Jean-Claude/M'Nyara
Rashida (chocolate)
out of Dakir/Sisele
Aiobh (black)
Ena (siamese sable)
out of Tighearnan/Oseya
Lisabet (chestnut agouti)
out of Domhnall/Seshata
Sunday, February 3, 2008
It's Been Too Long...
... since I've updated this blog and I must apologize for that! Life has been hectic this past year, with lots of re-organization in the company where I work, health issues involving my grandmother, my mom and me, challenges from seemingly every front. Here's hoping 2008 will be better than 2007.
... since we've been to a show. I hope people realize we're still in the business. I mentioned my grandmother's health, she is completely bed-ridden now and things have been rough, especially for my mom. This spring, we hope to celebrate our 20th year raising and showing rabbits, though you may see odd mixtures of us attending.
... since we've had baby rabbits in the nestbox. Our last breeding didn't go well at all- only two kits out of about ten does bred. Luckily we have the chance to correct that. Our rabbitry has gotten much younger lately, as I wrote back on July 20. Looking back, it's fun to see that we kept many of the young ones mentioned.
Out of Tank's Domhnall and Tank's Dyvette, we kept Tank's Bacchus, a typey little opal buck (although his color could better,) Tank's Chatter, a tiny teacup-sized Dwarf with great type and Tank's Sapphire, a lovely doe of unrecognized color. I believe she is an agouti-patterned smoke pearl.
Let me step up on my soapbox for just a minute... I cannot stand the fact that the ARBA and the ANDRC are so conservative in their policies regarding the recognition of Netherland Dwarf colors. My opinion is, if a color is genetically possible, it should be described and recognized. If a dwarf breeder wants to work on that color, they should be allowed to exhibit any color, provided it matches the description offered.
But I digress. We also kept Tank's Aiobh and Ena out of Tighearnan and Oseya. Aiobh (pronounced, roughly, "Eve,") is possibly the best rabbit we have ever produced, and I don't say so lightly. She is black in color and I look forward to her meeting and beating some REWs and BEWs. Her sister is a Siamese Sable with very nice color, surprising me as both parents are very dark Siamese Sables, bordering on plain Sable. Ena's disposition is particularly pleasant- she wants human attention constantly and is always up front and ready for time out.
Also added were chestnut agouti Tank's Lisabet, from Domhnall and Tank's Seshata, Tank's Rashida, a typey chocolate doe with excellent color from Tank's Dakir and Tank's Sisele; and Tank's Kelita, a black doe out of Jean-Claude and Tank's M'Nyara.
Our next breeding will be focused on several goals. First, we want to shore-up our black otters, as we are down to only two breeding does. Secondly, we need to produce something out of several does on the bubble, who have been kept due to color and variety. Most notably, Becca's Bekah Dot, our only broken doe, needs to kindle this time. We plan to try her with Tighearnan, as he seems to produce large litters with good quality. Thirdly, we want to take advantage of our growing selection of shaded colors and chocolates and see how much fun we can have!
... since we've listed anything for sale. I would say that several of the rabbits previously mentioned would be available for the right offer, one being Tank's Kelita. We have plenty of black does and she'd be excellent, especially for somebody looking to improve the hindquarters-area. This doe has bodacious booty! We also have blue otters, blues and sable martens that may come available. Feel free to e-mail us, rabbittank at grandecom dot net or catch us at a show if interested.
MBT
... since we've been to a show. I hope people realize we're still in the business. I mentioned my grandmother's health, she is completely bed-ridden now and things have been rough, especially for my mom. This spring, we hope to celebrate our 20th year raising and showing rabbits, though you may see odd mixtures of us attending.
... since we've had baby rabbits in the nestbox. Our last breeding didn't go well at all- only two kits out of about ten does bred. Luckily we have the chance to correct that. Our rabbitry has gotten much younger lately, as I wrote back on July 20. Looking back, it's fun to see that we kept many of the young ones mentioned.
Out of Tank's Domhnall and Tank's Dyvette, we kept Tank's Bacchus, a typey little opal buck (although his color could better,) Tank's Chatter, a tiny teacup-sized Dwarf with great type and Tank's Sapphire, a lovely doe of unrecognized color. I believe she is an agouti-patterned smoke pearl.
Let me step up on my soapbox for just a minute... I cannot stand the fact that the ARBA and the ANDRC are so conservative in their policies regarding the recognition of Netherland Dwarf colors. My opinion is, if a color is genetically possible, it should be described and recognized. If a dwarf breeder wants to work on that color, they should be allowed to exhibit any color, provided it matches the description offered.
But I digress. We also kept Tank's Aiobh and Ena out of Tighearnan and Oseya. Aiobh (pronounced, roughly, "Eve,") is possibly the best rabbit we have ever produced, and I don't say so lightly. She is black in color and I look forward to her meeting and beating some REWs and BEWs. Her sister is a Siamese Sable with very nice color, surprising me as both parents are very dark Siamese Sables, bordering on plain Sable. Ena's disposition is particularly pleasant- she wants human attention constantly and is always up front and ready for time out.
Also added were chestnut agouti Tank's Lisabet, from Domhnall and Tank's Seshata, Tank's Rashida, a typey chocolate doe with excellent color from Tank's Dakir and Tank's Sisele; and Tank's Kelita, a black doe out of Jean-Claude and Tank's M'Nyara.
Our next breeding will be focused on several goals. First, we want to shore-up our black otters, as we are down to only two breeding does. Secondly, we need to produce something out of several does on the bubble, who have been kept due to color and variety. Most notably, Becca's Bekah Dot, our only broken doe, needs to kindle this time. We plan to try her with Tighearnan, as he seems to produce large litters with good quality. Thirdly, we want to take advantage of our growing selection of shaded colors and chocolates and see how much fun we can have!
... since we've listed anything for sale. I would say that several of the rabbits previously mentioned would be available for the right offer, one being Tank's Kelita. We have plenty of black does and she'd be excellent, especially for somebody looking to improve the hindquarters-area. This doe has bodacious booty! We also have blue otters, blues and sable martens that may come available. Feel free to e-mail us, rabbittank at grandecom dot net or catch us at a show if interested.
MBT
Monday, August 20, 2007
We just completed one of the roughest ruts in the path of our entire journey raising rabbits over the weekend. You've read in this space (or can read below) about the possibility of our selling-off of the Holland Lops in our rabbitry. Now that it is over, I'll attempt to explain why we considered such a possibility.
We've had an air-conditioned rabbitry for our entire 19+ year history. I've always believed that it is more humane to house the animals this way, especially during the Summer in Texas. It also allows for year-round breeding (with appropriate rest schedules for the does) and increases our comfort- ensuring that our rabbits get the same amount of attention and affection year-round.
This year, our air conditioner, active for over 15 years, decided to break down. It has broken before but has always been relatively inexpensive to repair. This time, not so much. We called a repair service in Waco which shall remain nameless (rhymes with Zampbell Zappliance, as in the zoup.)
They took part of the system, told us they'd look for a replacement, then proceeded to quote us an amount which was about $300 over our final bill. While attempting to negotiate, the owner held us (and our rabbits) hostage for over a month, telling us fairy tales about finding used parts on the internet.
Zoup is bad food.
We finally found a repairman willing to attempt the job who successfully repaired the system for a reasonable price. Our rabbits were well-taken care of during the interim, of course, but we had to rely on fans and a small window-unit AC to cool them. We also had limited cage space and had to rotate them between 18' x 24' units and show cages. They are glad to be back in their regular rabbitry now, with room to stretch.
MBT
We've had an air-conditioned rabbitry for our entire 19+ year history. I've always believed that it is more humane to house the animals this way, especially during the Summer in Texas. It also allows for year-round breeding (with appropriate rest schedules for the does) and increases our comfort- ensuring that our rabbits get the same amount of attention and affection year-round.
This year, our air conditioner, active for over 15 years, decided to break down. It has broken before but has always been relatively inexpensive to repair. This time, not so much. We called a repair service in Waco which shall remain nameless (rhymes with Zampbell Zappliance, as in the zoup.)
They took part of the system, told us they'd look for a replacement, then proceeded to quote us an amount which was about $300 over our final bill. While attempting to negotiate, the owner held us (and our rabbits) hostage for over a month, telling us fairy tales about finding used parts on the internet.
Zoup is bad food.
We finally found a repairman willing to attempt the job who successfully repaired the system for a reasonable price. Our rabbits were well-taken care of during the interim, of course, but we had to rely on fans and a small window-unit AC to cool them. We also had limited cage space and had to rotate them between 18' x 24' units and show cages. They are glad to be back in their regular rabbitry now, with room to stretch.
MBT
Thursday, August 2, 2007
It's been a while since I've posted anything, my apologies. Still working to get everything on rabbittank.com transferred over from the old geocities account. I also have TONS of new photos to add to our Galley pages.
We've had horrible luck with our air conditioning system this summer. Looks like we'll be out around $600 to fund repairs. We have money coming in from sales but hardly enough to cover.
We may be forced to sell out of Holland Lops completely. I wish we didn't have to but our Dwarf program is so much stronger, so it's a logical move. Also, it will allow us room to expand our Netherland Dwarfs, perhaps even to enter another color or experiment with colors. It's one of those head vs. heart battles. Sigh.
Looks like most of our babies from the last breeding have been sold or will be hoarded by us :-) More does had their litters after my last post- Ilene and Domhnall are the proud parents of two gorgeous little Chocolate Otters and one super-nice black doe. We're keeping them for now to watch them grow, if you're interested, send me an e-mail at rabbittank at grandecom dot net.
Now it's time to think about our next breeding, which should happen this weekend according to my Llewellyn's Datebook, which lists days fertile for planting and harvesting. This will be the first breeding for several does I can't help but think of as babies, I watched them grow so closely. Tank's M'nyara and Nyosha, sisters; Tank's Sisele, lovely Chinchilla doe; Tank's Diana, who recovered from an injury she sustained at a show when a judge slammed a door on her leg; and Becca's Bekah Dot, our broken doe pictured with Garron on the "Love Breeds Champions" page. We have a commitment to her terrific youth breeder, who lives in West Texas, to split the first litter. She'll be bred to Tank's Domhnall, our Chin buck that has produces so well with such quality.
Please keep watching for more photos and rabbits for sale. If you're interested in some great Holland Lops, now's the time to contact us. THANK YOU for reading!
MBT
We've had horrible luck with our air conditioning system this summer. Looks like we'll be out around $600 to fund repairs. We have money coming in from sales but hardly enough to cover.
We may be forced to sell out of Holland Lops completely. I wish we didn't have to but our Dwarf program is so much stronger, so it's a logical move. Also, it will allow us room to expand our Netherland Dwarfs, perhaps even to enter another color or experiment with colors. It's one of those head vs. heart battles. Sigh.
Looks like most of our babies from the last breeding have been sold or will be hoarded by us :-) More does had their litters after my last post- Ilene and Domhnall are the proud parents of two gorgeous little Chocolate Otters and one super-nice black doe. We're keeping them for now to watch them grow, if you're interested, send me an e-mail at rabbittank at grandecom dot net.
Now it's time to think about our next breeding, which should happen this weekend according to my Llewellyn's Datebook, which lists days fertile for planting and harvesting. This will be the first breeding for several does I can't help but think of as babies, I watched them grow so closely. Tank's M'nyara and Nyosha, sisters; Tank's Sisele, lovely Chinchilla doe; Tank's Diana, who recovered from an injury she sustained at a show when a judge slammed a door on her leg; and Becca's Bekah Dot, our broken doe pictured with Garron on the "Love Breeds Champions" page. We have a commitment to her terrific youth breeder, who lives in West Texas, to split the first litter. She'll be bred to Tank's Domhnall, our Chin buck that has produces so well with such quality.
Please keep watching for more photos and rabbits for sale. If you're interested in some great Holland Lops, now's the time to contact us. THANK YOU for reading!
MBT
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