Busters Bunnies Californian Show Rabbits and Meat Pens

Well, with the county stock shows starting to wind down,
it’s time to start getting ready for spring breeder shows
here in Texas. This is the ideal time to start looking for
those good juniors to put on the show table.
Plus, see how the older bucks and does have faired
through the winter.

I don’t know if I’ll be able to make very many of
the breeder shows. Although while pretty neat
going to the breeder shows. I only go if I got some
good un’s (at least in my eyes).

But one show that I will be making it to is the
Central Texas Rabbit Club show on the first weekend
in May, 2010.

I guess since I’m the vice president, I should at least show up… lol

It’s a lot of hard work putting on a rabbit show. It’s a strictly
volunteer deal, so there’s always need for help. And if you like
having/going to rabbit shows, pitch in, cause there’s not very
many of us, and we’d appreciate it.

So mark your calendars for May 1st, 2010 for the Central Texas
Rabbit Club show, at our new location:
Travis County Expo Center in Austin, Tx

Hope to see you there!

I recently had someone call me telling me that they’re does
weren’t having any bunnies, and she was wondering why?

Well, there’s a whole bunch of factors that go into breeding
rabbits that no one really knows about.
Such as heat during the summer, causing bucks to go
temporarily sterile. Or that the does are simply absorbing
them, or pseudo pregnancy, or not having enough light, or…

who knows!

Upon talking with her, I asked if she had lights on in the
barn? And yes she did. Which is a good thing (in my
humble opinion) since they normally mate in the spring
time when the days are longer. But she said she had the
lights on ALL night. Since rabbits are nocturnal, I feel like
this was too much light. Heck, nobody likes sleeping with
the lights on. We all need some darkness to rejuvenate.

While this may or may not be a deciding factor in breeding
your rabbits. I’ve always had the lights automatically turn
off at about 12 to 1 o’clock in morning. (It’s time to go to
bed by then anyway) And had pretty good success with
my breeding program. So this is another thing to consider
when trying to breed your rabbits.

Well with winter very much upon us. We had our
coldest night of the year, and I had two does that
had litters of 11 rabbits, all alive.

Needless to say, I was working on trying to get water
to does with litters, and keep new borns alive.

Of course the water froze with it being 10 degress
by morning. But I (with the help of good momma’s)
was able to keep all of the new born bunnies alive…
so far.

Will have to see how it goes tonight, cause it’s
supposed to be in the teen’s again.
Guess I’ll be up trying to give everybody a sip of water
before it freezes. And then thawing out again
for a little while, tomorrow.

WOW, I love how easy it is to raise champion
quality rabbits!

I try to provide as much useful information as possible.
Yet sometimes it seems like there’s just so much, that
it’s hard to make heads or tails out of it.

Or if you’re like me, you simply forget where it’s at.

Well, I found a site that has put most all of it together
on how you can learn
How to breed rabbits.
It’s really a comprehensive guide. In fact I even learned a
thing or two. We can all use some help sometimes.

Pretty good stuff in there, such as:
Selecting the Best Breeding Pair
Sex Determination (it’s not as easy as you think!)
Mating Tips from A to Z
Post-Mating Care for Male and Female
Potential Birthing Complications and How to Avoid Them
plus a whole lot more

If you’ve ever thought about raising your own
rabbits (again, not as easy you’d think).
This is a great guide to help you get started
with breeding bunnies

Even if you’re already raising your own rabbits,
there’s additional information in there that even
you could use.

Learn how you too can become a rabbit breeder Today!

Buster

I thought that as the first decade of the new millenium  winds down,
that I would wish everybody a great second decade, and beyond.
It’s been a tough year having show bunnies for some and I hope
to continue on with my good fortune having rabbits.

I’ve talked to quite a few people that have come to realize that
raising rabbits is not as easy some have been lead to believe.
At least not necessarily when you want to have them.

Quite a few challenges, such as, doe having babies on the wire
(then they turn into bunny-sickles), or not having any all.
Then she may not pull enough fur to put into nest box. Again, see above.
Or she may not milk good enough to raise em, or may quit nursing.
Possibly jumping in and out of the box, break ones leg.
Plus many more that once you start raising rabbits, especially
meat pen bunnies, you’ll find out about.

I hope you’re nest boxes are as full as possible and remain
that way when you desire them to be.

Let’s have a great new year!
And if you were fortunate enough to get bunnies for a
county stock show, maybe even thank them…
cause it’s a lot harder than you think.

Not exactly sure what I’m doing right, but had 19 out of
19 does that I breed actually have babies!

Don’t have cool room, just have the habitat as far under
a shade tree as I can. That’s the only thing I can figure,
is to use as much of God’s AC as possible during the summer.

Hope it keeps on working, cause we got more shows
coming in the spring of 2010.

but it seems that blog has been down for a little bit.

Sorry, I’ll try to keep up with it a little better.
Especially since it’s stock show season, and I’m
expecting to be having quite a few show bunnies
born.

Did have good luck with ones that were bred at the
end of summer. So hopefully this trend will continue.

Well it looks like summer heat may of finally subsided. whew!
Mornings are nice and cool and days aren’t nearly as hot.
That’s great. This means it’s time to start getting ready
for show season again. I know the Cal bunnies are ready
to get their color back.

Have already sent some good breeders to their new homes.
Thus, I’m holding on to all the breeders I have left.

I would of liked to of had been able to keep more prior
to the summer. As I’m might of gotten rid of some that
could of turned out to be good un’s too. But, I only have
limited space and have to limit which ones I’m able to keep.

And now that’s it’s stock show season, everybody remaining
is going to work making more good bunnies.
Of which I’m already having to turn people away for their
meat pens. I mean if you’ve gotten rabbits from me before,
those are the people I’m gonna commit to helping out again.
Makes sense, doesn’t it?

Gotta go feed. Hope to see you at a show somewhere.

You know it’s gonna be hot in Texas, but…
dang it man, will the Lord ever stop “purging”?

I believe that the strong shall survive and the
weak shall perish. Which is a good thing.
Cause I only want the best of the best.

But do I have to lose so many?

No matter when you’re trying to raise rabbits,
there always seems to be a new challenge!
Oh, but it’s so “easy” to raise rabbits…blah blah…

Then try raising your own!

Actually had all 5 of my does that I bred recently
have babies. Thus, indicating that bucks were
fertile, a month ago.
Then, the does had numerous still borns…
then they wouldn’t nurse em…
then, a couple days in, there’s a whole batch
of em dead, all from different momma’s.

When will the fun stop?!

So, if you happen to catch me on “one of those
days” and I’m in a bad mood…sorry(like today).

If you don’t/can’t understand the challenge’s
that I’ve had to endure all year, simply to HAVE
some quality stock… or bitch about the price…TOUGH!

Go to craigslist…and good luck, doin it yourself.
rant over

Well, it looks like it’s gonna be a long hot
summer here in central Texas. Not that it’s not
always hot in the summer.
But usually the good Lord allows us a little
time to work up to it.

It’s already into the upper 90’s, and it’s not
even into the hot months of summer yet!

Oh well, might as well get started on tryin
to keep the bunnies cool.
Cause the heat is on, like donkey kong… :o)