Just a tad bit frustrated.

Lost another litter today to a first-time mom. I'm so frustrated right now because although I have lost litter's in the past when I worked with Cinnamon's and other breeds I had  lost maybe two in the two years that I worked with them. I really need to sit down and re-evaluate how to get litter's that stay alive. Maybe it's because these are first time mommy's? Maybe I am just doing something wrong? I don't know, so far I have only had one live litter of two kit's, but that was with an experienced mom, and she did everything right, from pulling ton's of hair, to making her nest in the actual nestbox.

Both my first time mom's did not pull that much hair, nor did they even attempt to build their nest in the nest-box which is the core issue of why I am losing babies right now. My husband is going to be building different nest-boxes out of wood. Put a more Cave feeling to them, perhaps the moms will feel more comfortable having their babies in them.

I have three more litter's to go, one experienced mom, one new mom, and I re-bred lime for hopefully a live litter. I think i may just wait till spring to re breed Lacey, she's still young.

I know I can't get frustrated, it's going to happen, and it may happen many times before things start working right. My Doe's health's come first, they are not just breeding machines to me, they are like children to me and I do love them.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoying the holiday with the family and I hope everyone else is enjoying there holiday to! My rabbits penguin and Sunburn are going to be on their way to the Lansing show on Saturday, I myself could not go because of a family tragedy but Hanna from Bella's rabbitry took them for me and I am very thankful! 

Miss Lacey will be having her babies in the next 24 hours hopefully, she has a nest almost made just waiting for her to go into labor!

Alex's Kits are both Does and the one I kept the black doe is now named Asinaway's Bella Baby, or just Baby for short. Bella baby has two meanings, one from Bella's Rabbitry and another from my grandmother because Bella baby has always meant beautiful baby girl in Italian! 

Going to my Second Show- The MSRBA Fall Show.

Very excited to get the chance to go to my second show in Lansing. I had really been debating if I was going to go, and I really did not want to go by myself. I'll be going with my good friend Hannah from Bella's Rabbitry. This show will be so much bigger then the first show I went to, so I'm glad I am not going by myself. It's going to be a blast and I'm looking forward to getting the chance to show Strawberry again with some real competition. It need to get some more show under her belt. I'm hoping she will do good, but I'm always happy just to show and enjoy all the company and learning.

Alex's babies are doing great, getting so big. Everyone else is doing fantastic and Lacey is due with her first litter on the 24th of this month, so thanksgiving day!

Alex's kit's are Three weeks tomorrow.

I cannot believe the Kit's are already Three weeks old, where dose time go? I tried sexing them the other day, I believe they are both Doe's. I love how friendly they both are, it really makes a difference when they are held and played with since day one. It's enjoyable to see them hop to the door each day when they see me in the barn.

Unfortunately I lost my first litter yesterday, Limerick gave me a surprise and started pulling hair the other day, when I though it was sun who was going to kindle, it was actually Lime. All three of her kit's were still-born, one being stuck. It was a really scary situation, but she is doing fine, and back outside in the barn. It made me realize just how attached I am to these girls. When outside people say these rabbits mean nothing to breeders, they are so very wrong. I personally care deeply for all my rabbits that reside in my barn, some I like better then others, but they all have a place in my heart. I just no longer mourn over the death of kit's, I can't, yes it's sad, but if I broke down and cried and became deeply sad every time a kit passed onto the other side, I'd never be able to successfully continue breeding.

I'm hoping Miss Sun kindles but my hope that she is even pregnant is now dwindling. I'm going to re-breed her next weekend and hope that this time she takes. I'll be giving Lime a break and re-breeding her with another buck. Now just waiting on Miss Lacey to kindle, I know for sure she's pregnant, and she's due on the 24th. Maybe I'll have better luck the second time around starting with Lace!!!

Is it time! Maybe?

Oh my Goodness, I am just going crazy with anticipation. I'm almost certain my Red Doe is in labor, I still don't know her well but she seems to not be acting herself at all. She's what I call a corner hugger, who well as the name say's sit's in the corner most of the day. Even when I first put the nest box in she still kind of hung out in her corner, until the last couple day's she has been hanging out in her nest box and now has refused to leave it other then to go to the bathroom. Her feed and water intake has seemed to go down in just a few hours, and her girly parts seem swollen. She's doing that growl that Does make, and being very territorial. Very much hoping to go outside tomorrow afternoon and see some babies.

Today is the 28th day, and her first litter she kindled exactly on her due date, so we shall see.

Nothing else to report, got weights on everyone, clipped toenails, and spent some time with Alex's babies, who are happily exploring their cage with mommy. What I love the most is they come out of their little corner as soon as they hear my voice.

Happy Sunday!

Waiting Anxiously On More Litter's to arrive!

The wait is killing us, we check on our doe's several times a day hoping they will kindle soon. They are actually due the 8th, but they could give birth anytime from now till the end of the week. I personally am looking forward to my first Red litter. Since I am still horrible at palpating, I cannot guarantee that they are pregnant, but I'm pretty positive that my Castor doe is, and still 50/50 that my Red doe is indeed pregnant. She's been acting a little off the last couple day's so I'm hoping that is a sign. She refuses to leave her nest box, so really hoping that is her way of telling me, stay out of my cage so I can give birth soon.

Alex's Kit's are two weeks old, and refuse to be in their nest box, every time I'd put them back in it they would job right back out. So we decided to heavily line the cage with straw, hay, and paper shavings. So far they are doing fine, keeping warm. Mamma seems to be enjoying the company, she checks on them regularly and they are still well fed, fat and happy. I'm going to try my hand at sexing them next Saturday, I have heard of breeders sexing at three weeks so I have extensively been studying pictures, so hoping that maybe I to can get official Gender's on them.

If not I honestly don't mind waiting longer to tell, I normally don't sex until they are eight weeks, just for reason of not getting them wrong, but this time since I'll be choosing who I keep I'd like to know ASAP!

Other then waiting Anxiously for more babies, things are going good!

Kit's have their Eye's Open.

The kit's have their eye's open finally, and they are just so adorable. Still active, and their momma feed's them very well. They are some chubby little babies. Already do they poke their head's out to look around from the nest box, but still burrow into the bedding/fur. I let them out to hop around and investigate, handle them regularly so they get used to interacting with people. I'm really hoping the black turns out nice, I am still not sure who will be the one to carry on it's mothers lines, but I know I will only keep one from this litter. So far to early to tell what will happen.