THE Main nut...

Monday, August 31, 2009

DOA...

Well the long wait ended "peacefully" Saturday afternoon. I utilized many forms of herbs to help encourage Sunny's delivery. Ultimately it was Lavender that helped her along. The kit was larger than any I've had born in the barn before with full body of deep blue (or gray) wool. It was a sad moment for me but also a special learning time as well. Sunny was re-bred per suggestions of other "notable" breeders a couple of hours later. I also attempted a re-breed 12 hours later and I thought she was going to eat the poor unsuspecting (yet eager) buck for Lunch, lol. Flyer was all to happy to complete his duty successfully breeding to Sunny 3 times and falling off on Saturday afternoon. Sunday she just wasn't having any of that!! LOL. Well folks, stay tuned cause in 33 days from Saturday (the 29th) I'm sure I'll be posting something about this breeding... hopefully on a more positive note.

In the meantime this week stay tuned for updates on our very first Lionhead delivery by Trixie. I'm sure something will happen... Right now she's choosing to chill out and rest in her new found "sleeping" box,lol. Maybe by Wednesday it might be a nesting box... when she's "due" to deliver.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

The wait continues...

UGH! :-(

I've emailed some pretty amazing people, I've also posted for help on some of the sites and groups I belong to. Not alot of success here. She (Sunny) was still pulling wool even in the wee hours of the night last night yet to my disappointment still no babies this AM!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

The watched pot

NEVER BOILS... and the Watched doe never kindles!! That seems to be all I've done today is watch out my beautiful doe. She's been in labor all day I believe. Panting, and rearranging her nest. She's uneasy but still comfortable I think. I've placed a fan almost right on her hutch to try to help keep her comfortable. She's always delivered for me on day 33 but we're on day 35 now! I'm getting concerned. No actually I'm starting to get scared! I've given her the raspberry leaves fresh and dried, I've given her the tums (ground up in oats and barley and on bread soaked in milk ((which she wouldn't touch the later)). I don't know if I'm premature in my worry maybe some does with very large litters can go late like this, I don't know. I can feel the kits moving inside when I check her... GOSH, I wish I was a vet!! Then maybe I'd feel more confident and worry less. :-(

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Patiently waiting!


Can a doe cross her legs? LOL :-) It may seem like that when I am trying so patiently to wait for a much anticipated litter. Now at day 34 and still no litter at 8:30 at night I'm certain that's exactly what she is doing and with a SMILE on her face she just seems to keep snickering at me! Can you believe this!! LOL...

UGH!! Just give me those Chocolates already... pretty please Sunny...

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Have a herd yourself?


That seems to be the opinion of my wonderful doe Sunny! A beautiful Chocolate tort and an exceptional mother (and foster) she has wowed me with her previous litters (12 last time); but this time I'm starting to get nervous, I must admit! She is big, I mean like huge! And this is the nest (larger than last time) that she has built... see a pattern here? Larger nest with her could very well mean a larger litter. That seems to be her pattern! Check this bad boy out! I'm scared and I've dealt with alot in my life, lol! I'm sure others have seen does that are bigger but she has little wool right now, it's all belly! Bred with Celtic Hare Flyin' High (REW) I'm shooting for those creamy dreamy Chocolates (which Flyer carries in addition to Sunny)! Next to the Brokens they are I do believe my favorites.

GREAT GNATS!


I've done the fly strips and the disposable fly bags but to my wits end they still kept comin'! Those darn gnats, no flies, just pesty annoying gnats! So I've tried it all and was beginning to think I'd lose the battle when I recalled an email from Annette about this jar thing. So I figured I'd email her and see if it was working with flies, after all aren't gnats just little flies? Well I must admit she'd had success with the fly treatment jar thing so what could I lose? $6?! Heck if it worked I'd be in the clear! So I ran (yeah right, drove) on down to my local TSC and snatched me up one of those bad boys that promised relief! WHAT joy I've found! No annoying odor, and the gnats are loosing their ground/air and I'm winning mine! Yippee!! I'm expanding my hutch area into other "parts of my barn" (Lisa, you'll laugh at that, huh?) so I'm going to get more of these little jarred miracle things! OH! What a relief!! Here's to the Starbar Captivator Fly trap!!

Saddened Polish


The only color in my "barn" I'm working on in Polish is Black. So I was elated when I (Matthew handling) did my re-breed check for her to tell me "Look witch, I'm already preggers". lol But since she too (like my DH) thought she had wings and jumped out of Matthew's arms she delivered 2 still born. Today (less than 24 hours after delivery), her hutch will be stripped down, nest box removed and she will be re-bred. Cross our fingers that this time she'll have a nice LIVE litter of babies.

Jersey Joy!


Patiently I've waited! Third time is a charm ya know. Penny my "unrecognized color" doe (Broken Orange) finally delivered live kits for me today. I was so excited squealing "I've got Jersey babies" at 4:45 am today! She has a "beautiful body and head, but her color is not recognized" quoted Brian Hartzell before his unfortunate early death. I have high hopes that her body will carry through to her young. I've counted a lovely 4. A broken Black, a black? and two I'm not sure of yet. Gosh, it's a hard job waiting to sex and color id babies!! I'm glad I'm not "delivering" them all as well! lol :-)

Mountains of PA

What a trip, and I'm glad to be back. Ankles swollen and tired it was an adventure! But anything with me is always an adventure! Deliverring Buns to make their home with a new French breeder & Exhibitor in Rhode Island was exhilarating. Jenna, Her hubby Keith and Mom (Debbie) as well as Scott and I enjoyed a bite to eat (at Cici's Pizza, they don't have any in RI) before she took her new herd home. We met 1/2 way between her and us landing us smack dab in "Rabbit Transit" York Pennsylvania! I couldn't believe it, How totally appropriate was this. The rains finally subsided after dinner and allowed Jenna to look over her new herd.

The journey was truly breath taking and provided me an opportunity to stop and view the tragic site of the United Airlines Flight 93 (now a memorial). It left a feeling of sorrow and yet at the same time peace. I could never imagine the emotions of the passengers or crew when they made their decision to not let that flight become anything more for the terrorists! To this day my heart still goes out to the families and friends that lost loved ones on that day! The flag in this picture represents the point of impact of United Airlines Flight 93.

Climbing to the highest points and enjoying the view along the drive home I was breath taken by the beauty a single burnt tree could provide when on a mountain.






$1 a dozen


Driving home after a long Friday and Saturday adventure in Bunnies we came by a wonderful find! Imagine in this day and age finding FARM FRESH dozen eggs, brown at that for a single dollar a dozen! Well, we did and we'll make that drive back. Eggs, fresh from the farm, will keep for an average of about a month so it'll be worth the hour drive!

We will not forget!




A time ago awestruck our nation sat glued to our televisions and radios. For on this faithful day our lives were forever changed! Out of the souls of devils we sat trembling while our country was at the hands of terrorists! Lest we not forget that many loved ones gave their lives willingly to protect our country and our freedom both here and abroad. Many innocent men, women and children lives for ever gone and changed. Today please HONOR their sacrifices with a moment of silence for those who perished on 9-11 and never forget the price of those Angels in Flight 93 willingly protecting us.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Selma delivers MAGIC!


Oh the Bliss of new babies! How exciting when a little Miracle happens! Somehow (amazingly) Celtic Hare Flyer managed to successfully breed (despite his very small size) with Somerhill Selma (she towers him in body size). What a spectacle as for the first time I witnessed a doe lay on her side to allow a buck to breed with her. I wasn't sure it'd be a success as that's a first for me! BUT I guess ole' seasoned Selma knew just how to make sure she would take. Today she delivered 6 beautiful babies (I hope I have another delivery soon from one of my other bred does! just in case I need the foster.) Pictures below... show... 2 REW's (I'm almost positive), 1 Black, 1 (or 2) Steel ( I think) and 2(maybe 1) Chocolates I think,(GOSH I HOPE!!, come on dice give me a buck!! LOL).