Breeding Continues in the Rabbitry

I admit, I have been kind of slacking in my French Angora program.  I have been very busy working towards my degree and just have not had the time to work on my French Angoras like I used to.  I downsized my breeding stock quite a bit last semester and only four rabbits remain - three of my own line and one buck I recently got to outcross.  Of the three does of mine, two are full siblings and one is the offspring of one of the does, so everyone is fairly related. 

I tried breeding Lily of the Valley, one of my Ruby Eyed Whites repeatedly, but to no avail.  She is an older doe so that is not surprising.  I recently bred her to Moonbeam and she was successfully bred but she never seemed to take and continue her pregnancy. 

Today while I was feeding my rabbits, Lily was acting all hormonal on me, which isn't typical of her, so I took her out of her cage.  Her coat had gotten quite a bit denser and longer since I recently clipped her, which was a telltale sign of one thing.  I palpated her and sure enough - she's bred.  I don't even think I can begin to say how excited I was!  The doe that never could take, who was pretty much deemed by me as finished in her breeding career, now palpated positive with a litter size of approximately five!  Now I just have to wait until the twenty-fifth of June to see the litter.  She is a Ruby Eyed White and was bred to a Ruby Eyed White so all the offspring should be REW. 

I am planning on retaining a few kits out of this litter since this may be her last litter, considering she is an older doe.  I really want to get some French Angoras on the show table again.  It has been quite a while since I have been able to show never mind have a litter so I am as excited about it as I was when I got my first litter.  The joys of rabbit raising never dies...  I will be showing and then will probably have some of the kits for sale later. 

I plan on breeding Freezing Rain, a smoke pearl doe, in a week or so.  She will be bred to Moonbeam so I am expecting REWs and sables, with the possibility of smoke pearl or seal. 

I plan on expanding my French herd a little more but still want to keep it small with ten rabbits or less.  I don't want to have to keep downsizing every semester as I find I can't handle the time invested in them so I would like to keep it manageable.  I kept Vanilla Bean, a black Satin doe so perhaps I will get her a husband?  I pondered getting back into New Zealands but I will have to really think about all of this before I jump into it again.  I plan on attending the rabbit show on June 15th so perhaps I will come home with a few extra rabbits for the rabbitry...      

I will be keeping everyone updated! 

New Lionhead Babies & Show Results

Our rabbitry is full of little baby Lionheads and there are some gorgeous show prospects in the nesting boxes!  We have 3 blacks, 3 blues, 2 REWs, 1 chocolate, 1 lilac, and 1 shaded.  I plan on keeping the chocolate and one out of Cocoa's litter, and will be watching them develop. 

We exhibited our Lionheads at this show and did very well.  This was our first time showing with this club and I would love to go again next year!  There were beautiful rabbits there and great turnout in the Lionheads!

 

Heart of Michigan Rabbit Club

May 11, 2013

Show A –

BOB – Blossom Acres’ Midnight Blizzard (REW Lionhead Buck)

BOS - Blossom Acres' Frostbite (REW Lionhead Doe)

BOV – Blossom Acres’ Midnight Blizzard (REW Lionhead Buck)

BOSV – Blossom Acres’ Frostbite (REW Lionhead Doe)

BOV – Blossom Acres' La Petite Luna Moth (Sable Point Lionhead Doe)

BOV – Simone's Paradise (BEW Lionhead Doe)

BOV – Blossom Acres’ Royal Blue (Blue Lionhead Buck)

 

Show B –

BOS - Blossom Acres' Milky Way (REW Lionhead Doe)

BOV – Blossom Acres’ Midnight Blizzard (REW Lionhead Buck)

BOSV – Blossom Acres’ Milky Way (REW Lionhead Doe)

BOV – Blossom Acres' La Petite Luna Moth (Sable Point Lionhead Doe)

BOV – Simone's Paradise (BEW Lionhead Doe)

BOV – Weber's Jerome (Siamese Sable Lionhead Buck)

BOV – Blossom Acres’ Royal Blue (Blue Lionhead Buck)

BOV - Leo 9's Thunderhead (Seal Lionhead Buck)

Have a great week!

 

Lionhead Pictures - Thunderhead

I took Thunderhead out for some sunshine today.  The weather was beautiful and he really enjoyed himself!  He is my newest addition to my shaded program and I can't wait to breed and show him!  He has a super mane and nice wide and round type.  I have never has a seal before, and I really love the color.

  

 

  

 

Hope everyone else has been enjoying the weather.  Have a great weekend!

www.blossomacresrabbitry.webs.com

Show Results, Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

 

This is my favorite little junior REW Lionhead buck, Blossom Acres' Midnight Blizzard. He is very photogenic, but kept trying to eat the tulips and pansies!

 

 

Great Lakes Rabbit & Cavy Show

March 30, 2013

 

The show this weekend was a success and there was a great turnout in Lionhead entries!

Show A –

BOB – Blossom Acres’Midnight Blizzard (REW Lionhead Buck)

BOV – Blossom Acres’Midnight Blizzard (REW Lionhead Buck)

BOSV – Blossom Acres’ Milky Way (REW Lionhead Doe)

BOV – WeeOne’s Cocoa (Chocolate Lionhead Doe)

BOV – Blossom Acres’Majestic Blue (Blue Lionhead Doe)

BOSV – Blossom Acres’ Royal Blue (Blue Lionhead Buck)

 

Show B –

BOSB – Blossom Acres’ Royal Blue (Blue Lionhead Buck)

BOV – Blossom Acres’Royal Blue (Blue Lionhead Buck)

BOSV – Blossom Acres’ Majestic Blue (Blue Lionhead Doe)

BOV – WeeOne’s Cocoa (Chocolate Lionhead Doe)

BOV – Blossom Acres’Milky Way (REW Lionhead Doe)

BOSV – Blossom Acres’ Agnes (Black Lionhead Doe)

 

 

I also have three lovely Lionhead does for sale:

Blossom Acres Majestic Blue

 

Jr. Blue Lionhead Doe

Sire: Blossom Acres' Royal Blue

Dam: Weber's Burnt Sienna

 

This doe has been shown many times and done really well.  She has nice type and a super mane that is very long.  She carries chocolate.

 

$50

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blossom Acres' Agnes

 

Black Jr. Lionhead Doe

Sire: Blossom Acres' Royal Blue

Dam: CD's Black Bean

 

Agnes is super docile and sweet.  She has been shown many times and done really well.  She carries dilute and has a 50% chance of carrying chocolate.

 

$40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leo 9's Manistique

 

Sable Point Sr. Lionhead Doe

Sire: Chowmane Thai Prince

Dam: Chowmane Bonsai

 

Manistique is a very sweet doe.  She is proven and a great mom.  She is out of solid California lines.  

 

$30

 





Hope everyone had a great Easter! 

 

 

French Angora Litter!!!

We are pleased to announce that we are expecting our first French Angora litter in a long time!  I bred Blossom Acres' Freezing Rain (smoke pearl) to my newest buck, C.B.'s Moonbeam (REW).  She palpated positive and is due the 6th of April.  I am expecting sables and REWs, but other colors are possible. 

Here is a pic of the buck to give you an idea of his density... Note that he is upside down.  I will have to get a stud pic of him soon. 

I will have some babies for sale from this litter, but as to when I am still uncertain.  I would like to show some of the kits but would be open to the possibility of moving them out before then.  I will be retaining a kit or two (gender to be determined) from this litter, but the remaining kits should be for sale either at 8 weeks or after showing. 

I will be breeding this doe's mom (REW) to the same buck (REW) tomorrow, and this litter will produce all REWs.  I should have most of the kits from this litter for sale.  

I'll keep up the updates!  Have a great weekend! 

First Rabbit Show of the Season

We had a great time at the annual MI Spring Convention this year.  We showed on show a on Saturday and brought Lionheads for exhibition, as well as one of our angora’s fleeces.  The following are our awards:

** Blossom Acres’ Midnight Blizzard – BOS & BOV – Jr. REW Buck

** Blossom Acres’ Milky Way – BOSV – Jr. REW Doe

** Blossom Acres’ Majestic Blue – BOV – Jr. Blue Doe

** Blossom Acres’ Agnes – BOV – Jr. Black Doe

** Weber’s Jerome – BOV – Sr. Siamese Sable Buck

** Blossom Acres’ Freezing Rain Fleece – 3^rd place plucked fleece – smoke pearl

 We also brought home some new additions (of course J).  We obtained a beautiful proven senior chocolate Lionhead doe from Wisconsin lines.  She will be a wonderful addition to our breeding program.  We also obtained a BEW baby Lionhead doe, which will be the start to our new BEW program.  I picked up a junior REW French Angora buck as well.  He has amazing density and a body to win, so he should be a great addition to my program.  He is only 4 months old and already weighs in at 7 pounds 4 ounces, so he should be a wonderful asset to bulk up my stock.  I can’t wait to start incorporating him in my breeding program.

The show was wonderful.  Angoras were sanctioned so breeders from Cananda and Michigan were exhibiting.  There were a total of 47 French Angoras shown and around a dozen or so English.  I was very happy with the quality of the angoras shown, and am excited to see new breeders working to make our breed even better.

We sold our remaining Netherland Dwarfs but we do have some Lionheads up for sale.  

• Sr. Proven Sable Point Lionhead doe - $30 with pedigree
• Jr. almost senior blue Lionhead doe - several BOV & BOSV wins - $50 with pedigree   

I am hoping to get some of my angoras bred shortly.  Back to catching up on rabbit chores while I’m on spring break!  Looking forward to showing again shortly! 

First posting of the Year

It is hard to believe that we have begun a new year.  2012 was a wonderful year for us in the rabbitry.  We had done very well at the shows we attended, got quite a few promising show stock for our and others’ breeding programs, and had some beautiful litters.  Hopefully 2013 will be just as successful for us. 

We have Lionheads due for their litters fairly soon.  I bred one of our smoke pearl French Angora does to a REW buck so she would be due around the 26^th.  I am really hoping she took as I need to restock my rabbitry and get back into the breeding and show biz.  I was not able to palpate her positively but she seems to be a little larger and has put on a bit of weight so I’m hoping she’s bred.  Her mammary system seems to be getting more evident at well.  If she is bred she is going to have a small litter, which isn’t necessarily bad for a first timer.  I’m hoping this isn’t a pseudo pregnancy for her as I would really like to get her started in my breeding program. 

We don’t have all of our shows we plan on attending marked out yet so hopefully we can get to that.  I’d personally like to show at least 5 or 6 times this year minimum but we’ll see how my school schedule goes. 

I am hoping to pick out some New Zealand Reds soon so I can get started on that.  If I am not able to do that at this point I will probably put my New Zealand program on hold until I can get what I am looking for and need. 

I hope everyone had a great year in their rabbitry and will have another wonderful year this year!  I will try to post frequently on this blog with updates!