|
All
About
My Rabbitry |
|
|
|
Quick
links to sections of this page: |
|
|
|
|
We began with rabbits like most folks.... our children raising meat pens for the county livestock show. After two years, we decided we needed to "hop" into this "whole rabbit." To really learn how to raise rabbits, we felt we had to breed and show them full time - all year. In 1997 our family built a 16x32 rabbitry with wire walls and an insulated white heavy duty metal roof. Dad's joke was it will make a great workshop or extra garage if the rabbits don't work out. The "barn" houses 45 cages, feed, and an examination table. Since then we have added 2 roofed coops with 15 cages, separate and fenced apart from the main barn. Click here to see a slideshow of the "barn." The kids have gone on to new challenges, and the family business has become truly mine. My husband still helps with the physical labor management of the herd. Over
the years, I've learned, along with the children, good herdsmanship.
Records of breeding, litters, genetics, and mail listings
are kept on computer using a software program called The
Rabbit Register by Evans Software. I use
Petrus Best in Show feed (15% protein), shipped
in from Louisiana, and provide the herd with a morning snack of
conditioning mix consisting of
Doc's Rabbit Enhancer, oat groats, crimped barley,
sunflower seeds, and a little bit of pigeon feed, flax seed, and B-12 crumbles...
all topped off with a squirt of 100% wheat germ oil. The rabbits
get weekly treats of apples, plain Cheerios,
and/or Timothy or Orchard hay. |
|
Our daughter went on to Texas A&M and bigger animals, and our son prefers to show pigs, go fishing, and do wood-turning projects. This mom inherited the Palominos, which I have always admired, and my daughter's gentle Jersey Woolies. I now raise rabbits for my own pleasure and relaxation. But truly... it's the friendships formed on the show circuit that keep me into "the RABBIT HABBIT." Due to physical & space limitations I made the decision to sell the Palomino herd in 2005. The Jersey Wooly herd is my focus now. All offspring are named Kasey's --- to honor my daughter who started this whole rabbit habbit. And as always.... I strive to promote the 4H rabbit project any and every way possible. It is an ideal project, with little beginning expenses, that teaches responsibility, animal management, leadership, and sportsmanship. I am available to teach workshops for children, families, and clubs on rabbit health & living, raising/selecting a meatpen, the versatility of raising rabbits, or just about anything you want to know about rabbits. I enjoy teaching (career teacher for 29 years) & sharing the knowledge with those who are interested in learning. I have the opportunity to be more involved in the breed clubs now. I hold the secretary/treasurer's position with the Wooly Lovers of Texas rabbit club. I also am the newsletter editor for the National Jersey Wooly Rabbit Club. UPDATE 2005: My daughter, Kasey, is now the Class of '05. She still attends the annual ARBA convention with me and my rabbit buddies. Kasey got a job in the medical field in a nearby town and has renewed her "rabbit habbit." She's working on making RED Jersey Woolys!! It's great to have a traveling partner again! UPDATE 2007: Kasey is moving to Houston and must give up her RED JW project for now due to neighborhood deed restrictions. I selling off all that breeding stock so I can concentrate on lilacs/chocolates. I plan to attend the NJWRC Nationals show in Syracuse in April; however...I will NOT attend ARBA convention in Grand Rapids in the fall (taking a break). You WILL see me at Louisville in 2008.
|
|
| Mission
of B*B Rabbitry |
|
Improve the
type and appearance of each rabbit breed
