I haven't written a blog in a while. I would just like to reiterate something about the Chocolate vs. Black based reds. This is a quote from Susan Loan who has been raising Reds longer than I've been alive. I will always take her opinions and experience into consideration.. I should have gotten a rabbit from her when I had the chance
"ALL reds are black-based!! There is no such thing as a chocolate-based
red!! Even Pam Brickner admits she opened up a can of worms with that
phrase. All you have are cleaner reds. A very clean red is one where
all the black tipping is "pushed off" the hair shaft so there is no smut.
The blue undercolor is also totally gone so the undercolor is red or
cream. How bright the animal is depends on the amount of rufus factor
(intermediate red band in the castor). That is why a red is a WIDE-BAND
AGOUTI and you can get a clean red out of castors. I have chocolates and I
would never breed them into my reds. That leads to bad castors and ambers
- not clean reds. I keep some of my smutty reds or reds with very pale
blue undercolor since they can have gorgeous fur and/or very nice type.
However, then I cull hard for color as well as the characteristic I want.
I have about ten broken reds right now but I am in the process of rebuilding
since I lost my broken red herd buck 18 months ago and needed to breed another
one. "
This is why we don't breed for Black and Chocolate based rabbits. We breed for the cleanliness of color and type. I noticed I didn't quote this in an earlier blog
Now to the Red litters we have recently had. They are about 6 weeks old and this point, and they are developing nicely. Seems our red lines carry Tort and Fawn. The reds that have had litters have yet to throw a completely red litter. Still waiting on the Black River doe to kindle so I can see if there are any torts in that litter as well. The FAWN from Ethel's litter is clearly up for sale. I kind of knew she carried Fawn already. The breeder I got her from, has a whole bunch of FAWNs popping out of her REDs. She had two TORTs, a chocolate and a black tort. I have no idea what to do with a chocolate tort so he's for sale. The BLACK TORT is going to ANH Rabbitry. I'm trading with Ashlee for a broken Red buck. I've had mixed reviews about breeding Torts into my red lines. Mrs. Susie specifically said DON'T DO IT, it does not clean up the color. On the other side of the spectrum, I've been told that it adds rufus color and will clean up the variation of color on the sided. Makes sense, we'll see how the TORTs go.
The reds from Ethels litter look really nice. Of course, the one with the nipped ear had the color of her mom , and the type of her dad. I can't win for losing. They all look nice and I have high hopes for them. The only thing I will worry about with them is the dreaded white toenail. There mom has white toenails from too many red to red breedings, and I'm hoping she didn't give it to the kits.
Now, that castor litter from Lucy. I love me some Lucy(she's our first red) She has the type because she is out of CASTORs, but not the color. She will help with the toenail problem and give type to her kits. Right now, her litter looks absolutely fabulous. I'm in love with the buck, Chubby Hubby, from her My eyes see stars when I look at him. This castor litter pointed out a huge problem. We bred her to a broken and she produced 2 booteds. Ugh!!!!! The sire is nicely patterned. So, I'm fairly sure that if I pair her with another broken she will throw booteds. I finally bred Lucy to Topaz yesterday. I'm expecting some dark and smutty red with FABULOUS type. A CASTOR or REW might pop out of that pairing as well.
-EGGS &
"ALL reds are black-based!! There is no such thing as a chocolate-based
red!! Even Pam Brickner admits she opened up a can of worms with that
phrase. All you have are cleaner reds. A very clean red is one where
all the black tipping is "pushed off" the hair shaft so there is no smut.
The blue undercolor is also totally gone so the undercolor is red or
cream. How bright the animal is depends on the amount of rufus factor
(intermediate red band in the castor). That is why a red is a WIDE-BAND
AGOUTI and you can get a clean red out of castors. I have chocolates and I
would never breed them into my reds. That leads to bad castors and ambers
- not clean reds. I keep some of my smutty reds or reds with very pale
blue undercolor since they can have gorgeous fur and/or very nice type.
However, then I cull hard for color as well as the characteristic I want.
I have about ten broken reds right now but I am in the process of rebuilding
since I lost my broken red herd buck 18 months ago and needed to breed another
one. "
This is why we don't breed for Black and Chocolate based rabbits. We breed for the cleanliness of color and type. I noticed I didn't quote this in an earlier blog
Now to the Red litters we have recently had. They are about 6 weeks old and this point, and they are developing nicely. Seems our red lines carry Tort and Fawn. The reds that have had litters have yet to throw a completely red litter. Still waiting on the Black River doe to kindle so I can see if there are any torts in that litter as well. The FAWN from Ethel's litter is clearly up for sale. I kind of knew she carried Fawn already. The breeder I got her from, has a whole bunch of FAWNs popping out of her REDs. She had two TORTs, a chocolate and a black tort. I have no idea what to do with a chocolate tort so he's for sale. The BLACK TORT is going to ANH Rabbitry. I'm trading with Ashlee for a broken Red buck. I've had mixed reviews about breeding Torts into my red lines. Mrs. Susie specifically said DON'T DO IT, it does not clean up the color. On the other side of the spectrum, I've been told that it adds rufus color and will clean up the variation of color on the sided. Makes sense, we'll see how the TORTs go.
The reds from Ethels litter look really nice. Of course, the one with the nipped ear had the color of her mom , and the type of her dad. I can't win for losing. They all look nice and I have high hopes for them. The only thing I will worry about with them is the dreaded white toenail. There mom has white toenails from too many red to red breedings, and I'm hoping she didn't give it to the kits.
Now, that castor litter from Lucy. I love me some Lucy(she's our first red) She has the type because she is out of CASTORs, but not the color. She will help with the toenail problem and give type to her kits. Right now, her litter looks absolutely fabulous. I'm in love with the buck, Chubby Hubby, from her My eyes see stars when I look at him. This castor litter pointed out a huge problem. We bred her to a broken and she produced 2 booteds. Ugh!!!!! The sire is nicely patterned. So, I'm fairly sure that if I pair her with another broken she will throw booteds. I finally bred Lucy to Topaz yesterday. I'm expecting some dark and smutty red with FABULOUS type. A CASTOR or REW might pop out of that pairing as well.
-EGGS &