Annual Feed Bill

I always have to tease new breeders when they complain about their 6 rabbits eating them out of house and home. But this really got me thinking, in reality, how much do all of my rabbits eat? Well, I went through the records and was shocked with the 2013 feed bill calculation. Hold onto your seats everyone...

1 fifty lb. bag each week (sometimes gone in 5 days)- $26.99
5 bags a month (what I order each month from the TSC)- $134.95
12 months in a year- $1,619.40
The scary part is that this doesn't include anything but pellets. Supplements, ACV, etc all cost more! My wallet is in the corner squealing in pain, in case you're wondering how he's doing.

No, dear newbie. My rabbits eat me out of house and home...

2014 Goals

Eeep! It's that time of year again! I love going through my goals for each year and evaluating what I've done!

2013 Goal Analysis

1. Win a G.C. leg on a homebred- NOT MET
I only got to show one homebred throughout 2013 and she was only 3 months old. She took 1st in her class but there were only 4 junior does in the class. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to earn a leg. I did however, earn many G.C. legs throughout the year on my animals. With a total of 4 shows entered this year, I took home 6 legs! I'm proud to report that each leg was taken over tough classes with large numbers of exhibitors and animals. I got 1 BOV, 2 BOS, 2 BOB, and 1 RIS!

2. Improve shoulders- MET
I made huge improvements on shoulders this year in both breeds! This is something I've been focusing on since day 1 and now, I'm finally starting to feel like my hotots are nearly fixed in the shoulder department! I'd still like to see some improvement in the shoulder length area but they're not too noticeable. I only have 1 hotot that doesn't have immense width to shoulder but boy, does he produce it! My Hollands' shoulders are an on-going improvement. My first Hollands were very pinched in shoulder and now, the majority of my animals have massive width as well as bone.
3. Build up a larger herd of DH in the Spring with the 4Kings line-MET
Although I didn't end up getting any does, I did however, get an amazing herd buck in April! I had Buddy Holly for only 4 months before his tragic death and yet he is still on the pedigree of nearly everyone of my keepers in multiple generations! This buck had a massive impact on my entire herd and I am eternally grateful for the time I was able to share with him. Just now, I am beginning to produce 3rd generation Buddy babies! Because Buddy had such a large impact and provided me with so many nice animals, I marked this goal as met. I couldn't have asked for a better buck. Thank you Lindsey King for sharing him with me!

4. Purchase new Hollands- MET
Oh boy, did I do just that?! My Holland program is now booming and my poor hotots are slowly catching up!

5. Get a new 12'x16' rabbit barn-NOT MET
Due to a move, this one didn't happen yet. We're currently designing an 11'x20' barn that will be built in the Spring of 2014! I'm very excited to finally have my bunnies in their own barn!

6. Keep up with the blog better-NOT MET
Hehe... I took a few breaks this year... I'm sorry but blogging is exhausting! Lol! I plan to do better in 2014 when documenting my rabbitry!

7. Get 6-18 new holes- MET
I can't believe that at this time last year, I was trying to make due with 13 holes! I'm currently working with 32 holes and I also have 18 new holes on the way! You could say I met this goal!

8. Double/Triple baby count for this year- MET
While this goal was met this year, I have spent 2013 in frustration with my does. Most of the time, they refused to lift. If it wasn't that, they lost their litter to one thing or another. I definitely had more to choose from for keepers but something needs to happen in the way of does.

9. Get another Utah DH breeder started- MET
I'm so so so excited to announce that Angela will be joining us as a new Dwarf Hotot breeder in the Spring! honestly, the Utah Dwarf Hotot breeder crew has disappeared. There are only 2 breeders including myself that even attend shows still. I'm glad that we're beginning to build up again. I'm hoping to eventually see class sizes higher than 1-2 per class in the near future. Welcome aboard, Angela!!

And now, for the time we've all been waiting for...


2014 Goals

1. Improve mothering instincts and conception-
I'd like to be more strict on my does and cull anyone that continually refuses to lift for months on en, delivers dead litters, or can't keep a litter alive and healthy. This year, I won't waste time and money on animals that won't produce.

2. Get a new Holland herd buck-
And the truth comes out! Haha, kidding. Those of you who are close to me know that I lost every single Holland buck that I owned in a span of 4 months. Yes, that's 8 bucks. Each of them was lost to something different. It was like the Bunny Death Demon came and sprinkled dust on one but spilled on 7 more. I've never been so devastated in my entire life. For those of you who don't know me personally, my Holland bucks are like my pride and joy. Each of them were allotted places in my heart that can't be refilled. I've never felt so burnt out before. 3 of the 8 bucks left behind a legacy through their offspring that I am thankful each and every day for. These bucks are Gilroy, Tyrade, and Duke. Luckily, my dear friends who own the L&R line heard my pleas and offered to provide a new buck for me in the Spring. I'm so excited to meet my new buck and begin using him heavily in my program.

3. Get a new Hotot herd buck-
Unfortunately, nearly every hotot I have is related to the rest of my herd in one way or another. It's time for a new, typey man. I'm hoping for a buck with as much or more of an impact than Buddy.

4. Attend the 2014 ARBA National Convention in Fort Worth, TX-
Who wouldn't want to spend a week in a room stuffed with rabbits and surrounded by their fellow rabbit enthusiasts and friends from around the globe?! Yup. I'm going. And it's going to be amazing!

5. Build my new barn-
It's been years in the making and this Spring, it's time. We've designed an 11'x20' barn that will fit in our yard perfectly.

6. Earn an ARBA leg on a homebred-
This didn't happen in 2013 so lets give 2014 a try, shall we? Hopefully I'll have more homebred ready to show!

7. Improve lower HQ's in Hotots-
I've noticed this fault in every single Hotot in Utah with no exceptions. I'd love to bring in full HQ's for my line. This fault rarely ever bothered me until just this past year.

8. Produce more keepers-
I kept 7 homebreds this year which is a large jump from last year's 2 keepers. Still, I'd like to be keeping 10+ animals per breed each year. I don't feel like I'm improving unless I keep lots of my own homebreds. Homebreds tend to be better than their parents which means true improvement.


2012 Litter Stats
Babies born: 18
Babies died: 6
Babies raised: 12
Babies kept: 2

2013 Litter Stats
Babies born: 70
Babies died: 23
Babies raised: 49
Babies kept: 7


The Hotots beat the Hollands again this year on litters which is surprising!

DH 2013 Stats
# Born: 46
# Died: 19
# Raised: 27
# Kept: 2

HL 2013 Stats
# Born: 24
# Died: 2
# Raised: 22
# Kept: 5

I don't expect Hollands to lose this year! Hollands are outstanding mothers.

2013 Rabbit of the Year

It's nearing the end of the year and it's time to do those final posts that wrap up the year and set fire to new and exciting opportunities for the year ahead! I honestly don't feel ready for the new year until these posts are finished! They're so important for me!
The first post in this series of final 2013 posts would be the 2013 Rabbit of the Year post. This is where I pick my favorite rabbit I produced this year. This award goes to Valentina, a Dwarf Hotot junior doe! She is the whole package with a gorgeous body, cute head, little ears, and sassy eyebands that drag out into a cat eye on the end! Lol!

Wow! I just love this doe!! She is the last baby I have out of Buddy Holly and I am so thankful that I was able to get this girl before Buddy passed away. Valentina had a very strange few weeks in the uglies where I considered selling her but now, I'm so glad that I didn't! She is probably by far, the best bun I had the pleasure of producing this year!

Next Post:
2014 Goals and 2013 Analysis (combined into one post)

Baby Boom

We had a baby boom here at LRR... sort of... we had 3 does kindle with a total of 9 live babies. This baby boom was 2 weeks ago! lol I haven't had internet to post.

Tyrade x Manda (6 Black Torts)
I just absolutely LOVE this cross!

One of Annie's little babies.

He has the cutest broken pattern!

Annie's 2nd baby. I love his little nose!

Teddy x Laddie Go (Black Sport)
This baby was fostered to Annie. What a cutie!

Sigh... such an interesting 'baby boom'. Okay, I know an actual baby boom consists of like 20+ babies but 9 at once is my record for this year! Lol! I've been breeding all of my does far apart this year and the most I got at once was 7 in May.
Allow me to mention though, I am 150% out of cages! Lol! So all of my current weanlings and new babies will be demanding my cages in a few weeks-few months. This should be interesting. I'll have to be making some tough cuts in the Spring. Ick. Not excited for that. I have one 5 month old Holland being picked up this weekend along with 4 young Hotots and 2 Hotot senior bucks that are still for sale. Also considering selling some Holland jr does and bucks, out of state soon... decisions... I'll be so happy when February finally rolls around and I don't have to make cuts like this! It's no fun.