Welcoming Keepers

I can't believe our litters from the end of 2014 are already 10 weeks old. Time flies when you are having fun!

Here are their updated weights:

Sunshine's Litter-
1. 4lb 0.6oz (black runty doe)
2. 4lb 14.6oz (black eye patch doe)
3. 4lb 0.0oz (blue shoulder buck)
4. 4lb 2.4oz (lilac banded doe)
5. 4lb 7.1oz (black banded doe)

Tacoma's Litter-
1. 4lb 14.6oz (Pancake)
2. 4lb 14.3oz (Flapjack)

It has been a welcome surprise to see several of them nearing 5lbs at 10 weeks, though there are some significant size differences between individuals and some are barely making 4lbs. Either way I am happy with the results considering I was expecting to have to wait more than 12 weeks for even one to reach this size. I was planning to keep going with weights until then, but now I don't really see the point.

We had already decided to keep Jack, but we have also decided that Pancake will be staying, too. The black eye patch doe and the black banded doe from Sunshine's litter with also be keepers, for a total of 4 juniors to hopefully move forward with the next generation. I'm not at all worried about colors/markings right now, just traits that will build a stronger foundation like type and growth. All of them have nice personalities, good teeth, no visible defects, and are outwardly healthy. I am smitten with the rufus on Tacoma's litter:

I want to do pirate-related names with the two sisters from the first litter, but has been surprisingly hard to think of doe names with this theme. A few we were tossing around:

Calypso
Black Pearl
Chantey
..?

Welcoming any ideas. If they were bucks, I'd have at least a dozen names picked out already, lol.

Home and Hearth

I've been reading my new books every chance I get in between everything else going on with the winter storms, work, getting ready for Spring gardening, etc. and one thing that sticks out to me is how I am not even close to where I want to be in terms of being self-sufficient. Some things we have been looking into for our next property:

1. Solar panels, wind, and other ways to generate power at home that are green and feasible.

2. Building more. My husband has taken an interest in woodworking and refurbishing old time furniture. I'd like some outdoor hutches, which have been put on the backburner for now until we know where we will be so there is less to try to move. Depending on the property though, we may end up converting a barn for our needs. I may just want grazing pens at that point for fresh food, sunshine, and exercise.

3. Growing more food. We are limited by the space on our current property and our inability to protect and preserve it from people and wildlife, but we are hoping to expand our next garden, have an orchard, build a root cellar, set-up a shelving unit for all of our preserved goods, etc.

4. Animals. One of our goals on our next property is to get our land and critters to where everything works in harmony as much as possible. We want a few chickens for sure, but not just for eggs. We also want them to eat bugs that may otherwise cause problems for the garden and orchard. Their waste will also help fertilize and their meat will feed something at some point. ALL of the books we read recommends pigs for their rooting the ground, eating the extras, and manure. I've always planned to have a dairy cow and she can provide more than just milk, cheese, etc.. her manure is gold for the soil, too. We are considering goats, but are on the fence if we will do straight dairy goats or fiber goats or whatever. Same with sheep. We want to start with adding one species and ensure we are doing right by them and then go slowly.. no zoo here!

5. Warm clothing, furs, etc. While my husband is interested in building and woodworking, I am interested in tanning, making things out of hides/furs, carding/spinning, sewing, and of course knitting/crochet. My grandmother taught me how to knit when I was a little girl and I keep dabbling in it year after year. One of the things I want to work on is homemade wool socks. I used to raise English Angoras and find myself disappointed every time I have to buy yarn at the store though. We might need to remedy that at some point.

6. Homebrewing. I'm particularly interested in trying to make some of the old time fruit wines that my great grandparents made after they immigrated from Germany. I also enjoy craft beer and it would be really neat to be able to use home grown grains, hops, etc. to make something like a stout to enjoy on the weekend.

We already can make our own bath and body supplies including cold-process soap. I love cooking and do it frequently. We have been de-cluttering our home and trying to simplify for a while now. We have also completed some house projects that we feel good about and are ready to move on to bigger and better things.

In other news- today and over the weekend, we will be weighing and selecting our youngsters from the first litters as they will be 10 weeks old. Keepers will get their BunnyVac booster and hopefully I'll be able to get some new pics if the weather cooperates. Right now it is still below freezing and overcast. Brrr!

Harlequin Happenings

I was very pleasantly surprised when I recelived the January/February 2015 American Harlequin Rabbit Club newsletter, called Harlequin Happenings. On the very first page there was an article about culling by Barb Adams. I thought it was very well written and addressed a super important topic in my breed, but really in all breeds- which is being responsible by ensuring we aren't using inferior breeding stock or contributing to unwanted populations. A few lines that stood out to me were, "The Harlequin is not getting any favour by having every kit raised, then sold off to pet homes. As responsible breeders, we should find some way to cull or don't breed." She goes on to describe how pet owners frequently lose interest or "release" their unwanted rabbit, a reality that I have found to be very true, despite thorough screening and care taken in placement when I used to offer pets years ago.

After a brief discussion of culling outlets, the author goes on to talk about the traits she looks for in her keepers. I was surprised and impressed to see that she was also looking for good type primarily, which is commercial as per the breed standard. Type is barely worth any points on the show table, which is why I believe so many breeders select their keepers from the nestbox and everything beyond markings/color gets thrown out the window.

"Build your house FIRST... then you paint it!"

Now I will admit that it is very challenging to ignore great markings or a color I want to keep around, but ultimately it is the best decision for the future of the herd. Not to mention, breeding for type first makes it possible to justify having a marked breed for homesteading goals. :)

I'm still here!

Just been busy at work and dealing with the repeated winter weather warnings. I have my bags packed again for yet another round today. Particularly irritated as I was supposed to be off tomorrow. Really, really hoping I am because I could sure use some bunny therapy right about now. Hope everyone else is having a good week and staying dry/warm!

A Surprise Package

I was very excited and surprised to find a package on the table from my husband when I got home the other day. He said he researched and thought I would enjoy what he found. Here is what was inside:

Needless to say, I am thrilled! This book is amazing! It is all about learning to live in harmony with the land under your feet and covers topics like natural energy, raising crops and livestock, preserving foods, making beer and wine, basketry, carpentry, weaving, financial independence, home repairs, foraging, and the list goes on. The table of contents reads like a list of things I daydream about every week. I've only read the introduction and flipped to a couple of sections, but it seems well-written, detailed, and thoughtful. Literally FILLED to the brim with tons of helpful information, how-to guides, and insights.

So back to the package. Underneath the book above, I found another tucked behind it! It looks like this:

I haven't even opened this one yet because I am obsessed with the first book, but it says it covers topics such as growing and preserving foods, raising chickens, having a successful garden, buying land, catching pigs, making sausage, etc. My husband said it came very highly recommended by other homesteaders, so I can't wait to get started on it. I expect it will take me a while to read them both cover to cover because I am taking my time to really grasp the information, but I will plan to post a book review on them in the future.

Basically, my husband is a magnificent specimen of a man and I am so fortune to have met him half a lifetime ago. He is my soulmate, partner, and best friend and I couldn't thank him enough for these unexpected and thoughtful gifts while we look ahead to whatever the future might hold. I wonder if the books say anything about Nebraska? :)

8 Week Evaluation Part II

I'm back! Also, this is the coldest late February I can remember. It was 11 degrees when I last looked and we have winds up to 28 mph. I ran the water overnight, but it looks like only the hot water is working and the cold pipe is frozen. Hopefully not cracked!

In the meantime, here we go! This is the black Japanese doe. She has brindled up, which I don't like, but ain't too shabby as far as type. Kind of has a reverse Dutch thing going on from this side:

Shoulders are a little bit low and long, but nothing compared to the blue buck. See how her HQ chops off instead of gently sloping? We don't want that, but she is actually decent overall. Top view:

And one more:

Little bit chopped/pinched, but still very undercut. And so the quest for perfect HQ and shoulders continues.

Here is the runt doe of the litter:

Top view:

And back:

I actually don't dislike her type compared to some of the others and she feels smooth. But she is sooooo little and is almost a full pound smaller than my largest. Unless something dramatic changes, we won't be keeping her.

Another black Japanese doe (who wasn't cooperative for posing obviously):

I like this doe. She is big, smooth, and solid. I don't like her pinched and hippy backside, but she is pretty good everywhere else and is the largest in the whole litter. Another pic of her:

Like with most of the others, the biggest issue is pinched/undercut. I think if I could keep working to improve meat qualities there, these traits would diminish. One more:

And the last doeling:

She has long shoulders, but they aren't very low- do you see the difference? It kind of seems like I am going to have to choose between HQ or shoulders for my keeper does. Most of them have significant faults with one, the other, or both. This one is less pinched than  the previous doe. Another view:

And from the back, where the undercut portion becomes more apparent. Not terrible though:

So I have some decisions to make. Jack is staying for sure. The blue buck and runt doe will not be kept unless something amazing changes between then and 10-12 weeks. I'm on the fence about the rest until we see how they grow. I've read that hindquarter problems are easier to fix and that shoulder problems (ie long, low, and/or narrow) will haunt breeders forever, so I lean towards picking the shorter/deeper does with wider shoulders. Do you have a favorite or one you really hate? Decisions, decisions.. and thanks for looking!

8 Week Evaluation Part I

I am not sure if I will have time to post all of both litters today as I may need to pack to live at work for a few days thanks to the winter storm rolling in tomorrow. I decided to start and see how far I get.

This is Jack, one of the keepers:

Although his coat is all weird in the first picture, he is very smooth and wide as you can see from the second. Top view:

His ears are covering his shoulders some, but there is a dip, so they are lower than I would like. His depth is alright, but he has a late rise because of the low shoulders. He is full and rounded through the loin. His hindquarter is lacking as it slopes towards the ground- he is undercut and pinched. His overall shape is pretty balanced and his type is overall an improvement compared to my older Harlies. His temperament and rufus are outstanding. His markings are poor. Overall, my Harlequins need better type and we have elected to keep him as a herdsire despite the fact that Harlequins are judged primarily on their markings.

To contrast, here is the buck from Sunshine's litter that I am not planning to keep:

Gah! What in the world? Okay, okay.. so he isn't quite as awful as the picture above (he had flattened out after I caught him trying to take a leap of faith off the side), but still, he leaves much type to be desired:

And here is a top view also so we can compare apples to apples:

Some of the differences are much more dramatic in person, but things that jump out at me even in the pictures is how much smaller this buck is. He also lacks the depth and width overall that Jack has. His shoulders are more narrow, long, and low. His hindquarters are also very pinched/chopped/undercut. He feels catchy, hippy, and boney whereas Jack feels smooth and wide. While Jack is far from the ideal New Zealand White commercial rabbit, the difference is still pretty durned dramatic between the two:

 

Yikes! There are so many issues with the blue buck's HQ that it helps to remind me how far I still have to go before I get serious about markings. Hopefully Jack can contribute his big booty, improved shoulders, and thicker loin to future generations and we are very happy to welcome him to the herd.

The only other kit in Tacoma's litter besides Jack is a doe that you've met before- Pancake. Unfortunately she is not as nice as her brother, but still nicer than the blue buck. She is also the largest of all of the kits born around that time. The thing is- she is super comfortable being hauled around and totally not interested in posing. Most of my attempts came out like this:

Hi Pancake! Not exactly what I was going for though. Let's try again:

Pancake! You aren't an English Spot. After approximately 134, 621, 210 attempts, I finally had one where she didn't pop up for a split second. Not perfect, but I didn't have time to keep trying:

We can see right away her shoulder is long and low contributing to a late rise. She has better depth than the blue buck (thank goodness she doesn't actually look like a pancake!). Here is another (sorry about my hand):

Her hips lack roundness over the top and she is a bit hollow through the loin, though still better than the blue buck. She is also very pinched and a bit chopped when her legs are actually where they should be. I am on the fence about her. Type needs improvement, but she does have traits that are important to me like being the biggest, having fast growth, heavy muscling through the loin, great rufus, an outstanding temperament, and is my only doe from this litter. We will consider her carefully at 10 weeks and go from there.

And that's all for now! Feel free to comment on what you like or hate so much you can't stand it. :) I think I have pretty realistic expectations that it will take generations for consistent improvement and in the meantime, we will eat like kings. I hope everyone further North made it through the storms okay and continues to stay warm!

8 Week Weigh In

I can't believe it has already been 8 weeks! Here are today's numbers:

Sunshine's Litter-
1. 3lb 1.8oz (black runty doe)
2. 3lb 13.4oz (black eye patch doe)
3. 3lb 3.1oz (blue shoulder buck)
4. 3lb 5.2oz (lilac banded doe)
5. 3lb 8.2oz (black banded doe)

Tacoma's Litter-
1. 4lb 3.8oz (Pancake- black doe)
2. 4lb 1.7oz (Jack- black buck)

Here are comparisons to other 8 week old breeds I could find:

Silver Fox:
3lbs 8oz
3 lbs 14.4oz
3lbs 11.4z
3lbs 9.4oz
3lbs 7.4oz
3lbs 1.2oz
3lbs 7.2oz

Cal/NZ:
3lbs 7.4oz
4lbs 1.4oz
4lbs 5.8oz
3lbs 14.6oz
3lbs 13.4oz
3lbs 5.2oz
3lbs 11oz

All of the weights taken today are consistent with the 6 week old findings except that Pancake weighs slightly more than Jack. The smallest kit from birth is still the smallest now by more than a full pound difference. The two biggest kits also were the pair with no other competition, which makes for an interesting discussion about litter management and maximum litter size for optimum growth vs. genetics. Overall, they still seem to be hanging in there compared to other commercial breeds in terms of scale numbers, but some of my kits feel more thick and solid (like Jack), while others are starting to get that long shouldered/hippy/pinched look that many Harlies have. I would imagine that would mean the dress-out for some of them would be sub par as compared to other meat rabbits.

We are going to weigh and eval again at the 10 week mark, but Jack will be staying here as a future herdsire. Our favorite does are Pancake and the eye patch doe from Sunshine's litter. Our least favorite for structure is the blue buck. The runty doe actually has nice type, but she is so small that I doubt she will be able to stay. Everyone is weaned as of this weekend and are currently zooming and binkying around the grow-out pens. Pictures and critiques to follow once I get them uploaded (probably tomorrow).

I have a HUGE crush..

..on this funny little doe. I thought she might be interested in going back inside to her toys (and sibling).

"Nah, it's cool. I'll just hang out with you."~ Pancake

Life and Death

We lost Valkyrie's black Japanese doeling unexpectedly today. When I checked on them last night, there were 5 fat and happy kits. When I went out to take care of everyone this morning, the doe kit was separated from the others in the nestbox, which is not a good sign in rabbits. Most kits this age still sleep in a pile together, particularly when it is cool out like it is here. When I picked her up, she was chilly and quiet. Her color was poor and she was breathing fast, which are usually signs of shock or impending death (in rabbits and in people incidentally). She passed away shortly after. I will never know for sure why she suddenly declined, but I think the most likely reason is that she was probably stepped on when mama popped in the nestbox to nurse.

Death is natural and inevitable, but never easily accepted, even by people more exposed to it, like those of us that raise animals or work in healthcare. I found this comic a while back and I think it beautifully and artistically illustrates the natural cycle:

Life and Death have been in love

Many people wouldn't understand, but I know you guys do. So, thanks. 

10 Days

New pictures at 10 days old!

Hikari's black Japanese kit (probable buck):

 

Valkyrie's black Japanese kit #1 (probable doe):

Valkyrie's blue Japanese kit #2 (probable doe- this is the wild one of the bunch):

Kurayami's blue Japanese kit #1 (probable buck):

Kurayami's black Japanese kit #2 (probable buck and largest of the 5):

I found two of 'em out of the nestbox this morning, but they are a little young and it was pretty cold. I plopped them back in and I haven't seen anyone again yet so they probably came out with mama while nursing. So far so good otherwise!

Little Things

I think I mentioned that we ended up purchasing a triple stack of the huge Dura-trays online a few weeks ago after being unable to get them anywhere locally. They came from BunnyRabbit.com and although these kinds of trays are expensive and shipping is costly, I was happy with my overall experience. They were quick to respond to my questions, shipped immediately, and the whole experience had a little personal touch, which is always nice. Here are the beastly things (now in my grow-out pens):

A few nice unexpected extras I found taped inside the trays:

Here is a random vendor run-down in case anyone is interested: I would buy from BunnyRabbit.com again.. maybe next time I'll try one of their cages. I purchased before from KW Cages and unfortunately the floor wire has held up poorly despite being kept indoors and shipping from California is shocking. I have Klubertanz cages that have lasted forever and are the best quality I have seen, but I understand the lead time on orders is now months out. Who can't wait months when they place a supply order? My Pointer Hill cages rusted quickly (within a year while kept INDOORS) and they never even responded to my complaint. My TSC cages are flimsy, but I honestly didn't expect much and they were cheap for 30" X 30" so I'm not upset about it. My favorite local vendor is Trammel Trail and most of my carriers are built by them, which I love. I've also bought a whole bunch of supplies with no issues at the shows. I've never ordered from Bass Equipment.

In other news, the younger kits are all still fat and happy. Eyes are opening and they seem to be doing fantastic overall. This is the black Japanese from Kurayami that was fostered to Kari and then to Valkyrie and now kinda-sorta back to Kari:

I glanced at gender on them all this morning and it looks like mostly bucks, but I'll actually write my findings down later today or tomorrow so I know what's what. The blue Japanese from Valkyrie's litter is the fussiest and squeakiest kit I've ever seen. I think it is a doe, haha. I just laugh whenever I'm checking on them and "she" is on a rampage in the nestbox. It is once again raining outside, but I really hope the sun comes back for this upcoming weekend when it is time for 8 week weights and evalulations on the older litters. Hope everyone is having a good start to their week!

Beautiful Day

After what seems like months of mostly rain, today it was finally warm and dry enough to go outside for a few minutes and relax in the sun before the wind picked up again. I took the "pirate" doeling out with me and she mostly snoozed on my lap, but I am a dope and didn't get any pictures. My gentle giant hung out with us also, soaking up the warmth. His health has declined a lot recently and I know we don't have very much time left, but he is my best buddy and heart dog. I feel fortunate I've been able to spend the extra hours with him lately and to enjoy this beautiful day.

"I talk to him when I'm lonesome like; and I'm sure he understands. When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat. For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that." ~W. Dayton Wedgefarth

The Latest

We've had a few bumps in the road with our youngest kits, but nothing too terrible. Hikari really just hasn't been on the ball this time around. I could tell she was trying, but wasn't getting enough milk to sustain 3 kits, and we had fostered off another so she only had 2 left. Unfortunately, I found them wet and cold in the nestbox yesterday. Here is a comparison of the nestboxes:

 It is hard to tell in the pictures, but Valkyrie has her box stacked to the top with fur and it is completely dry, soft, warm, and fluffy. Kari's nest is flat, drafty, wet, and has very little fur that is mostly mashed into the floor. Incidentally, these are traits I would be examining very closely if this was a doe in her prime as mothering skills are so important. Kari was an excellent mother when she was younger, but we don't really know what happens to does as they age. For all we know, hormones may have decreased, she could have health problems that are invisible to us, or whatever else.

So, I cleaned the 2 wet kits up and moved them over to Valkyrie's nest. She has been doing an ah-mazing job! She is super attentive and is full of milk presently. I still took Kari's singleton and 1 of Kurayami's out to nurse with Kari last night and this morning and she is willing to feed them, so that helps even if it isn't very much. I'm glad to see that everyone finally has fat bellies. The 2 that were with Kari have some catching up to do, but they made it this far so I think we may be coming out of the woods. It is so wonderful to have kits around again. I knew I missed it, but I didn't know just how badly until our litters arrived in December and I've been enjoying them so much ever since:

Here are pictures of the kits yesterday morning before everyone was seperated. This is Kari's kit and 1 of Kurayami's:

And here are Valkyrie's dynamic duo (a blue and a black) along with another blue from Kurayami's litter:

 

They are about a week old at this point, so looking forward to open eyes next!

In other news, Sunshine and Tacoma both did a great job with their litters! They will be 7 weeks old, so I will probably be officially weaning them (though I think they are unofficially weaned already) shortly. I think the "pirate" doeling is still the largest in Sunshine's litter and of course Jack is a beefcake. Next week we will do a serious 8 week evaluation and weigh-in. We may end up keeping more than just 1 or 2 if we can replace some of the older animals in our herd with the younger generation, but time will tell as to how they measure up. :)

Helpful Links For Commercial Rabbit Selection

Here are some links I've found over the past few months about making meat rabbit selections. This also generally applies to anyone that breeds for commercial type rabbits. These breeds include:

American Chinchilla
French, Satin, & Giant Angoras
Blanc de Hotot
Champagne d’Argent (and Bruns)
Californian
Cinnamon
Crème d’Argent
French Lop
Harlequin! (Sorry, I couldn't resist bolding and adding an exclamation point, lol).
New Zealand
Palomino
Standard Rex
American Sable
Satin
Silver Fox
Silver Marten

First, what is commercial type anyway and what traits are we looking for? Click below to find out (with a diagram from Judge Mike D'Amico!):

Commercial Type Rabbit

When thinking of body types and qualities, I always try to remember the more extreme examples of each. For example, an extreme semi-arch or mandolin body type is an English Lop. They are built entirely different from a New Zealand and they have heavy bone. Mini Lops are built entirely different from either and almost look like a basketball cut in half with their compact little bodies. Cylindrical (Himi's) are shaped almost like ferrets or tubes and yet Tans have an almost jackrabbit shape as a full-arch breed. It makes sense that commercial rabbit breeds are solid with beefy quarters and a thick loin when comparing to the others as many were developed primarily as meat rabbits. Here is another link with information about selecting for good breeding stock and good meat rabbits in general:

What to Look For

Now that we know what to keep an eye out for, here is an article about showing meat pen rabbits, but it also talks about how to feel for good commercial type:

Selecting and Evaluating Meat Pens

And finally, how many rabbits does someone need to feed their family? How much will it cost to do so? Here are some handy calculators to help you figure it all out:

Rabbit Calculators

I enjoyed looking at these and comparing qualities in my litters and I hope it will be helpful to others as well. :)

Hippos!

Finally! I have been worrying about the newborn kits pretty consistently because they hadn't look like they were getting enough milk since they were born. Today when I checked on them though, I found that Valkyrie's milk supply came in with a vengeance and her kits were soooooo fat. The blue one with the missing ear tip was upside down and couldn't even roll over the right way because of a super full tummy. It was adorable and made me very happy! :)

Unfortunately, the three in Kari's nest were starting to look downright skinny, so I put the blue one from Kurayami's litter in with Valkyrie also. She immediately jumped in the nestbox and nursed/cleaned that kit, who finally has a full belly and is snuggled in with the other two hippos. Val is doing such a good job she may end up with all 5 if the other 2 make it. I'm trying to give Kari a chance and she only has 2 to take care of presently, but maybe age has something to do with milk supply? Everything is the same between the two does and I know for sure she used to be able to feed 8 with no problem. Hopefully it will work out. I don't want to add too many too fast to Val's nestbox so she has time to adjust her supply to match the demand.

I also overhauled my website some by taking out all of the individual rabbit information/pedigrees from their pages and making it a photo gallery. I need to post more of the does, but it is a start. In the long run, I think it will also be a lot easier for me to keep updated because I can just add to the gallery when I have new pictures to share. I hope to use the additional space to add information about the Harlequin breed and whatever else I can think of.

Rabbit Website/Privacy Stuff

Back when we attended shows and were breeding for show and pet primarily, I had a website with a paid domain and actively listed classified ads, etc. These days, I don't have the same goals and don't plan to spend the extra money or time with advertising our stock. I also don't like to sell to pet homes because in my previous go-round, the only problems I had with buyers were from those that wanted to buy pets. I've mentioned this before, but despite including written information, extra food, and actually going over care in person, people just didn't listen. To combat this problem, we decided not to sell pets anymore except for very, very rare exceptions like a previous buyer that actually did educate themselves and provide a rabbit with a great home.

These days we have a free website now (that I love) and social media is a lot more prevalent, so it is easy to find other rabbit friends with similar interest/goals like I have (Hi April, Phacelia, the Goodwife, etc.!). I haven't put any ads up for our rabbits or anything either because it isn't a primary goal to sell. One thing that came up recently on FB though was that some unscrupulous people may find you through social media or the website and basically use the provided information to make fake pedigrees for rabbits they are selling. When I looked at my website today, I realized I have 3-4 generations listed right out in the open. People have also said they still have problems with radical activists also, especially when their personal information is easily available (such as "Come visit our farm at: 1234 Numbers Lane, Math, Georgia 56789").

I already try to protect my personal information after being contacted by some questionable people, but now I am wondering if I have too much specifics listed. Instead of continuing to add my individual rabbits, their info, pics, etc., I'm thinking about just making a general info page about Harlequins and putting a gallery up of my Harlies over the years instead of listing each animal. I can't really think of a reason why someone would need to know all of my current rabbits and their pedigrees anymore.

Do you have now or plan to have a website eventually? Would you list your rabbits in detail or more generally? Do you advertise- if so, what kind of info do you provide to potential buyers? I'd love to hear from others about their thoughts on this. With social media allowing strangers to look into our day-to-day lives, what way do you protect yourself from shady people?

1 Day Old Kit Pics

Here they are! Valkyrie's duo:

Unfortunately, I discovered mama was a little overenthusiastic cleaning and the blue baby is missing the tip of his or her ear. Looks to be healing quick, though I am sure it will be more obvious later on. Honestly, I couldn't care less about cosmetic issues if health/type/growth are all there in the end.

Here are Kurayami's duo (both on the left) and Hikari's singleton all together in Kari's nest:

Another view of Hikari's kit:

None of the kits have big fat bellies like I was seeing with Sunshine and Tacoma, but they must be getting something as they are still here and fiesty. Hopefully milk production will increase in the coming days, but either way I'm thankful to have them at all.