Hello all,
Floyd has asked to be introduced to everyone, so here goes:
Many years ago when in my teenage years I bred & exhibited rabbits, and confess to having had quite a few! I found them all so beautiful that over the 10 or so years that I kept them, I owned many different breeds but mainly Belgian Hares, Orange Rex, Polish, Harlequins, Magpies and Dwarf Lops. Then later I managed to track down a rare Tri-colour Dutch, and created my own line of those, at a time when only a handful of people in the UK bred them.
I always said if I came back to rabbits, I would have Tri-Colour Dutch again - I loved their unusual pattern, good health, and above all, their great personalities. This came to pass earlier this year, when Floyd came into my life.
Floyd lives as a house bunny, and he's the first house rabbit I've ever had. And what a character he has! He is incredibly affectionate and licky, outgoing and friendly to everyone especially children, quite a bright little person in fact! He isn't neutered (yet) but doesn't spray... although he does wee on my lap sometimes if I have been handling other rabbits... I guess he gets jealous! He is completely in love with me, and I am sure he would try humping me if he wasn't such a gentleman.
Out in my little shed I have Mrs Floyd, who currently has a litter of 6 cuties. There is also Ember, the Floyds' daughter from the first litter, and a pair of beautiful Black Dutch, the Bertie Bassetts, who came to me after their owner/breeder died.
As you may have gathered, I do breed occasionally, but not to excess, and my babies are handled every day from birth. All the buns are given regular exercise, and are very well fed - I feed a lot of wild greens which I gather from local wild places and common land. I am hoping that any babies I part with will make excellent pets, since they have been raised with a great deal of understanding and maximum socialisation. It would break my heart if any ended up in rescue... and by screening new owners carefully, I hope this will never happen.
I don't have the space for many more rabbits, so I'm happy with the ones I have, as I feel I can give them enough time and attention. But I do confess, every time I see a Belgian Hare I fall in love all over again, they were my first love, although I never actually bred any. Perhaps when Floyd is neutered, there might be room for a Hare as a buddy for him... maybe even a rescue... who knows!
If you don't know what Tri-Colour Dutch look like, they are the same breed as Suki, the rabbit on the Rabbit Rehome banners, and Ember who is on my avatar, photo taken when she was three weeks old. They are still classified as a rare breed, although I have noticed them appearing in a certain large pet store chain - obviously their "mill" breeders have got hold of them...
But because I love the breed, if I ever find any needing a home I'll always help... there is one I recently added to Rabbit Rehome on behalf of the owner, who is due to go into hospital for a serious operation and will be too disabled to care for her when she comes out. If necessary I will take Rosie and foster her myself if a home can't be found in time.
Well that's it - better go and see what mischief the Currant Machine is up to now.... lol
Floyd has asked to be introduced to everyone, so here goes:
Many years ago when in my teenage years I bred & exhibited rabbits, and confess to having had quite a few! I found them all so beautiful that over the 10 or so years that I kept them, I owned many different breeds but mainly Belgian Hares, Orange Rex, Polish, Harlequins, Magpies and Dwarf Lops. Then later I managed to track down a rare Tri-colour Dutch, and created my own line of those, at a time when only a handful of people in the UK bred them.
I always said if I came back to rabbits, I would have Tri-Colour Dutch again - I loved their unusual pattern, good health, and above all, their great personalities. This came to pass earlier this year, when Floyd came into my life.
Floyd lives as a house bunny, and he's the first house rabbit I've ever had. And what a character he has! He is incredibly affectionate and licky, outgoing and friendly to everyone especially children, quite a bright little person in fact! He isn't neutered (yet) but doesn't spray... although he does wee on my lap sometimes if I have been handling other rabbits... I guess he gets jealous! He is completely in love with me, and I am sure he would try humping me if he wasn't such a gentleman.
Out in my little shed I have Mrs Floyd, who currently has a litter of 6 cuties. There is also Ember, the Floyds' daughter from the first litter, and a pair of beautiful Black Dutch, the Bertie Bassetts, who came to me after their owner/breeder died.
As you may have gathered, I do breed occasionally, but not to excess, and my babies are handled every day from birth. All the buns are given regular exercise, and are very well fed - I feed a lot of wild greens which I gather from local wild places and common land. I am hoping that any babies I part with will make excellent pets, since they have been raised with a great deal of understanding and maximum socialisation. It would break my heart if any ended up in rescue... and by screening new owners carefully, I hope this will never happen.
I don't have the space for many more rabbits, so I'm happy with the ones I have, as I feel I can give them enough time and attention. But I do confess, every time I see a Belgian Hare I fall in love all over again, they were my first love, although I never actually bred any. Perhaps when Floyd is neutered, there might be room for a Hare as a buddy for him... maybe even a rescue... who knows!
If you don't know what Tri-Colour Dutch look like, they are the same breed as Suki, the rabbit on the Rabbit Rehome banners, and Ember who is on my avatar, photo taken when she was three weeks old. They are still classified as a rare breed, although I have noticed them appearing in a certain large pet store chain - obviously their "mill" breeders have got hold of them...
But because I love the breed, if I ever find any needing a home I'll always help... there is one I recently added to Rabbit Rehome on behalf of the owner, who is due to go into hospital for a serious operation and will be too disabled to care for her when she comes out. If necessary I will take Rosie and foster her myself if a home can't be found in time.
Well that's it - better go and see what mischief the Currant Machine is up to now.... lol