MSRBA Spring Convention and MAC Results

This weekend we attended the Michigan State Rabbit Breeders Convention held at the university’s pavilion in East Lansing.  This was the first show I have been able to attend and participate in in quite a while.  While I didn’t show any rabbits, I did bring two skeins of handspun yarn to show at the Michigan Angora Club’s Wool/Skein/Garment contest.  This is an opportunity I try to partake in every year as it gives me a chance to not only see how my handspuns compete but also to view other fellow angora owner’s workmanships. 

The contest was well represented with over 40 entries – the most they have ever had.  There was a nice array of colors and textures throughout the display.  

I entered two skeins of fine, single ply angora.  The first skein is from my smoke pearl French Angora.  This was drop spindle spun and weighs approximately one ounce.  It received Best in Show skein as well as a blue ribbon. 

The second skein is from a chocolate agouti rabbit and weighs approximately 1.25 ounces.  This skein was drop spindle spun as well.  I actually completed this one around August and exhibited it at the county fair where it received a blue ribbon and Best in Show.  At this contest it received reserve in show and placed second (to my smoke pearl skein).  I was very happy with the achievements and look forward to participating in the club’s contest next year. 

 

 

As for rabbits, we exhibited some Lionheads.  On Show A Blossom Acres’ Midnight Blizzard received Best of Breed and Best of Variety, taking a grand champion leg award with him.  Blossom Acres' Cornelius and Elizabeth's Edgar also received Best of Variety in their colors.   Show B Blossom Acres’ Avalanche took Best of Breed and Best of Variety, while Show C he received Best Opposite of Breed and Best Opposite of Variety.  He now has 2 GC Legs in his name.  In both Show B & C Blossom Acres' Cornelius received Best of Variety as well. 

I acquired two beautiful rabbits for my breeding programs.  The first is a lovely chestnut agouti doe with high rufus modifiers.  She just turned 6 months old and already weighs in at 8 pounds.  This young girl has some filling in to do yet but is nice in the body and wool now, so I have great expectations for her. 

 

I also was able to acquire a stunning New Zealand White buck for my lone doe.  He is built like a rock – so solid, and so typey.  He just turned an intermediate and weighs in at 9 pounds so I have no worries that he isn’t going to be on the bigger end, which is one of the goals I was trying to maintain in my herd. 

I plan on breeding my French Angoras – Galaxy (a REW) and Mouse (a chestnut agouti) this week.  If my New Zealand buck displays breeding interest he will be mating to my doe.  These babies should be available in June. 

Hope everyone else is faring well in this bitter weather!  Spring is around the corner so I have hopes for warmer weather. 

Meet Gladys

Last weekend I obtained a gorgeous New Zealand White doe at the State 4H Rabbit and Cavy Show.  As I mentioned in the previous post, I had gotten out of New Zealands due to my tight school schedule.  After giving it some thought I realized how much I have grown to love the breed and made the decision to become involved in them yet again.  Since I want to be able to juggle my college schedule with the rabbits I am going to attempt to stick to a breeding pair.  Of course, we all know how easy it is to stay small especially when your nestbox is filled with show prospects but in the meantime I am going to attempt to. 

So, this resulted in acquiring my beautiful doe, whom I named Gladys.  Gladys is very nicely typed doe with a wide set, deep body and built like a brick.  Her full sibling received Best Opposite 6 Class at the show so between this and her promising lineage I have great hopes for her. 

I do not currently have a purebred buck to breed her to so I have held back on breeding her.  I plan on attending the state convention and hopefully will be bringing home a nice buck to compliment her.  My plans are to breed her and my French Angora doe Galaxy on the same day beginning of May and hopefully both will take and kindle for me.  Both girls will be first timers but considering the two come from nice maternal lineage I have hopes that the girls will be excellent mothers. 

Once I acquire my New Zealand buck I will be posting her and her mate on the website but for now I am limiting her to the blog.  Please continue visiting our website and blog to see the progress of the rabbits!  I will keep everyone updated! 

A Fresh Start

Today we attended the State 4H Rabbit and Cavy Show in East Lansing Michigan.  This show was the mark of a fresh start for us:   not only was it the first show of the season but it also was the very first show of the year where Lionheads could be exhibited and compete on the Best 4 Class table for the very first time.  This time around we only entered two rabbits - Edgar, a black tort buck and Midnight Blizzard a Ruby Eyed White buck.  Both rabbits placed well with Midnight Blizzard taking Best of Variety and Edgar taking not only the Best of Variety win but also Best of Breed.  He then went on to the Best 4 Class table as all the BOB winners do in their breeds.  I was very pleased with the quality of the 4-class rabbits on the table.  While Edgar didn't end up taking 4 Class, he came home with great comments and certainly has the potential to succeed later on. 

I was very excited to see that there were more youth getting involved in the French Angoras.  There has been definite growth in this breed over the years and I look forward to watching the owners become breeders and catch the bug as I did. 

I did come home with a gorgeous New Zealand White doe.  Yes, I decided I must get myself involved in the New Zealands once again.  I miss the breed and want to have the opportunity to work with them again.  I plan on staying small with only a breeding pair so when I do have kits it will be limited to my pair.  This doe is very typey - super big, wide, and deep.  I am hoping I will be able to find a nice New Zealand White buck to compliment her for a breeding pair at the next show.  If I am successful I will likely be breeding her and Galaxy, my REW French Angora doe, in March for babies available in mid May-June. 

Hope everyone and their rabbits are staying warm!  I am looking forward to the weather warming up so I can get some nice kits on the ground!  This weather is certainly suitable for angora attire from my French! 

Have a good weekend!

New Zealand Herd Reduction & Rabbitry Updates

I have been very busy lately in terms of school.  I am now in college so sometimes I cannot get to my website right away, but I still update very frequently.  I am still planning on actively breeding all my rabbits and offering show stock for sale regularly. 

We attended the GLR&C Shows A & B in Charlotte on the 25th of August.  We did very well at this show, taking multiple Best of Breed and Best Opposite Sex in the breeds we exhibited.  I will give a thorough report on what we had won very soon.  I can tell you that Blossom Acres' White Out received Best of Breed French Angora and now has 2 GC Legs in addition to her first leg as a junior! 

Right now I am reducing my herd of New Zealand Whites.  I am trying to bring in new blood and also work more with fully pedigreed stock.  I am also considering getting a breeding pair of New Zealand Reds so I will need the cage space anyway.  The following rabbits are for sale:

Blossom Acres' North Pole - Jr. partially pedigree white buck.  Showable.  $20 with pedigree -SOLD

Junior Breeding Pair - Blossom Acres' Bobby and Blossom Acres' Tundra Queen.  Fully pedigreed buck and partially pedigreed doe.  $40 for the pair - SOLD

Blue Ribbon's Baby Boy - Sr. Proven White Buck, born April 2011.  Sired several litters for me.  Good breeder.  $50 with pedigree and production records - SOLD*

Tracey - Sr. Proven White Brood Doe, born November 2010.  Excellent mother of several litters.  $30 with production records - no pedigree*

*Please note:  I will offer these two as a breeding pair for $75. 

I am considering selling out of my Satins.  I love the breed, but I am having a hard time getting my does bred. I also feel like I need to do some downsizing because of school.  I am not setting this descision in stone, but I want everyone to know who is reading my blog that this is a possibility, so keep checking. 

We recently got into Netherland Dwarfs - well, more accurately my sister did.  She has oranges, a broken orange, and a chocolate otter, so she should have a very nice selection of babies for sale. 

We have alot of new and upcoming babies in our various breeds! 

I will update everyone on show winnings soon, as well as some new baby and breeding stock pics!   For a listing of winnings please visit our website's homepage:  http://www.blossomacresrabbitry.webs.com/

Rabbitry Update

I haven’t been very good about keeping up with this blog, but I have been very busy.  Here is the latest news in the rabbitry. 

We have bred quite a few of our breeding stock – New Zealands, French Angoras, and Lionheads.  Some of the litters are current and some are upcoming!  Both of my beautiful New Zealand does had their litters fairly recently – about 3 weeks apart.  Tracey had 6 chunky babies and Snowflake had 11 born, with 9 still around.  I am very impressed with this doe’s mothering abilities.  This is her first litter and she is doing an excellent job caring and doting over her family.  Perhaps she will have the best success rate of all my does?!  So far it looks like there are 7 bucks and 2 does.  I really hope that some of those “bucks” do turn out to be does as I don’t know if I could manage 7 of them.  They are in the ? faze right now so I am really hoping that at least some turn out to be does!  If not then I should have some very nice bucks available for sale!    

As for the other litters, I am expecting 2 litters of French Angoras, one of which is due on Independence Day (not purposely planned).  We are also expecting a whole bunch of Lionhead litters.  Please check out our website to see our current and upcoming litters as there are way too many to list here!

Unfortunately, we have not been able to attend any shows lately.  The last one we attended was in March, so it has been a fairly long time!  We plan on attending a show on August 25^th, located in Charlotte Michigan.  From there it will lead to a show in September, plus a few others later in the year.  For this reason, we are not going to have very many rabbits available for sale during this time, as most of the breedings that we have done were specifically for these shows. 

Right now we do have some very nice rabbits looking for new homes.  The following rabbits are available for purchase:

Blossom Acres’ Ocean Storm, Jr. Opal French Angora buck, born April 3^rd, 2012.  Out of a grand champion chocolate buck and a red doe.  This rabbit has a very nice body and beautiful fiber.  Chocolate carrier.  $50 with pedigree

I also have a broken black satin doe for sale as a pet.  Spot has a nice personality and is very flashy.  I really need the cage space so I am letting her go.  $15 no pedigree

I also have 2 chestnut French Angoras, full siblings, a buck and a doe.  I have decided to keep both babies for now as I am trying to figure where I am going in my breeding program.  I may keep 1 or both, time will tell!  Please contact me and ask to go on the waiting list if interested!  Both are chocolate carriers and very nice quality. 

Well, that wraps up the updates.  I will keep everyone posted! 

http://www.blossomacresrabbitry.webs.com