Well, like my title suggests and I can tell you it's all very true, I am a lousy blogger. However, I am here now, so let's do an update... since January
A lot can happen in three months, and a lot has. First of all, I bought in much new blood to continue my breeding programs. I decided on the routes I wanted to take, such as colour projects. I paired stock (on paper) accordingly and wrote many many breeding plans. I have settled on six unique lines and all will be starting from scratch. Yes. From scratch!
Why? You may ask. Well, the long and short of it goes a little something like this... New Zealand is plagued by a rabbit-killing virus some of you may have heard of, but many overseas wouldn't have. The dreaded RCD (Rabbit Calici Disease), also known as Rabbit Calicivirus and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease. I mentioned it in my last blog and it was one of the reasons I almost gave up on breeding rabbits altogether. This disease likes to run rampant in New Zealand in the heat of late Spring, into early Summer, and sometimes even right through Autumn if it remains warm enough for the flies to spread it around the country.
So, with that being mentioned again, and me almost quitting rabbits altogether, I am starting from scratch. But it is even more so from scratch now, as in the last three months, I lost my last remaining direct offspring of Blackberry's. Arabelle passed away while I was away one weekend, leaving behind 9 four week old kits. I believe she had put so much effort into her kits, she may have passed away from ketosis and I wasn't home to spot it. These are the first kits of Westhaven Bentley and Rayah Arabelle, and were supposed to be my new (continuation) black line. But these unfortunate, sudden deaths, do occur and with them, new strategies need to be formed. So, Bentley will continue his endeavour with Westhaven Cerise. A black-on-black with a hidden chinchilla gene. It could be interesting.
Moving on from this litter of Arabelle's; as I have already mentioned, I have bought in new stock and made all sorts of new plans before losing her. I won't go into too much detail here, as I'll save most of their stories for future blogs. But I am excited about one of these projects in particular, and his name is Noodle.
Not all the purists out there are going to agree with what I am doing here, with this second-generation Rex (from Californian x Rex lines), but this has to be done! Because it looks like RCD may be responsible for knocking the himilayan gene from our Rex gene pool. And we are not able to bring in new stock from overseas. That's right. Here in New Zealand, our borders are closed to rabbits. Rabbits are considered a pest which is why, some fabulous farmer thought it'd be a great idea to bring the calicivirus into New Zealand, way back in 1997. And, again, that is a story for another day. But if it interests you, I'm sure Uncle Google could answer some of your questions.
Anyway, Mr Noodle is going to be the beginning of me developing my very own line of Standard Rex altogether. Maybe you could ask me about how it is going... in 5 years.
Other projects I have up my sleeve are the blacks (still), chinchilla, and orange. I am praying that one day, the gods see it fit to bless me with a silver marten too, but I'll settle for an otter. I do love that tan gene and when you mix it with chinchilla... well... stars fly! Let's just hope that one day my prayers will be answered, as the silver marten is by far my all-time favourite Rex colour and exceedingly rare in NZ too! Sable martens show up from time to time, but the silver marten is just so striking. Don't you think?
Anyway, as my final mention in this post, I'd like to bring your attention to the very first picture I posted on this blog. Right up the top. That beautiful, picture-perfect litter of rabbits is my latest and youngest litter, currently in my rabbitry. It is also the last litter of our sweet, Rayah Asterix, who fell victim to RCD at the home of his owner, a fellow Rex breeder and friend. I was still using his genetics to try to keep Blackberry's line going. Both my dear friend and I are devastated to have lost such a gorgeous, well-natured and stunning rabbit. But may his line continue with his daughters and sons I still have here. One of those sons will be returning to my friend's rabbitry to serve in Asterix's place.
RCD is the ultimate price we rabbit breeders in New Zealand have to pay. Most other illnesses and diseases are preventable and also treatable. But RCD kills without the recognition of vaccines and a cure. We try so hard to protect our stock, but without a reliable vaccine and no way to prevent the disease from spreading, it is our curse and one our government cares little about.
Ok. I'm ranting. I had better move on...
...to sign off today's Blog! Please note: I always have young stock looking for their new postcodes and lawns to mow. So if you need anything, please check out my sales page.
Have a great day, and until next time, keep smiling.