Penelope's Rabbitry

Pretty Boy

2011-01-21T18:12:00.001-06:00

This handsome boy has been hiding on the bottom tier of cages. I brought him in to comb him out carefully today and weigh him. Wow! He's a pretty man! He is a littermate brother to my dear Polly, but he has even longer wool than she does - 5 inches! Some of you are thinking "Wow! That gorgeous fluff!" and others are wondering why I'm showing a photo of a <10% colored rabbit. Well,

Beginning of the Season!

2011-01-16T12:45:00.000-06:00

The 2011 baby season is starting. Paulette palpated positive with at least one kit, and she is due in 1 - 9 days. She is settled in with a nest box and I'll be watching her closely. This is her first litter so there is asignificant chance that she won't know how to mother kits. Kit mortality is high for first-time mommas and for winter births. I am very excited about this breeding and hoping

Polly wanna ... sweater?

2010-12-18T12:08:00.000-06:00

After Pickle wool blocked, I trimmed everyone down to nearly-nekkid skin. And promptly turned around to make rabbit sweaters. Here is Polly sporting her new look.

A Bunny Merry Christmas!

2010-12-17T21:58:00.000-06:00

From our family to yours - Merry Christmas!

R.I.P. Silly Pickle

2010-12-17T21:34:00.001-06:00

My second encounter with wool block was not a good one. Yesterday I went out to the rabbitry in the afternoon. Pickle, my favorite senior doe, didn't come over for her treats and kisses. She hadn't eaten or drank in the previous 12 hours. I brought her inside right away, knowing something was very, very wrong. Indoors, I could see her skin was nearly blue, she was unsteady, her abdomen was

Best Man

2010-12-04T19:51:00.001-06:00

Today I brought home a new boy that will be a wonderful asset to my herd. He is a lovely young REW (ruby-eyed-white) that was available for sale because his previous owner wasn't able to maintain his wool coat. After a few hours of grooming, he became a handsome man who had produced over 3 ounces of wool off just a portion of his junior coat! Not only will he be a top wool producer here, he

Mighty Mite

2010-12-02T23:52:00.001-06:00

Remember Butterscotch? The rabbit I brought home in July with wool block? I never did think much of his dandruff. His new wool grew in thick with healthy skin. Until right before this molt I could see from his wool that he had been licking himself. Thinking he was molting, I combed out loose wool in hopes of preventing another wool block. The dandruff was back, spreading across his itchy,

Bombshell Blowout

2010-12-02T18:12:00.002-06:00

With 3 inches of wool and still growing, Penelope's Polly got her first big-girl bombshell blowout. And early gift you might say, since she is still a junior. I haven't had much practice blowing out a coat because I usually pluck my girls' prime wool as quickly as it grows. Winter time is when they get the chance to wear their wool. Polly happened to come into winter with wool already so I have

I've been very, very good.

2010-11-30T09:14:00.003-06:00

Guess what amazing auction find came home yesterday. Yeah... a high-efficiency washer and dryer... but the good stuff - extension cords! Enough to run out to the rabbitry to power the new (heated!) automatic watering system! This morning brought freezing temperatures when I was out to the shed, but their water was nice and warm coming out of their drinking valves. I unplugged it for now -

Growing up!

2010-11-29T10:24:00.000-06:00

I was snooping through my photos and found three photos to put next to each other of Penelope's Polly growing up! Polly has the best temperament of any rabbit I have ever met. She is absolutely a favorite here - and she gets spoiled rotten for it! She always comes over for "eskimo kisses" and her vanilla biscuits and yogurt-covered raisins. I am looking forward to seeing Polly's babies next

Winter Serendipity

2010-11-26T16:10:00.002-06:00

I was given two "amazing" gifts this season. My brother had an unused bucket heater from his last dog which was bannished to the outdoors for hyperactive behavior. My future-father-in-law had unused heat tapes used before their house was re-roofed. Their trash was truly my treasure! My rabbits watering system is solvent welded together, tested for leaks (none!) and for valve pressure (all

Trickle On Down

2010-11-14T19:56:00.000-06:00

I've sold the last of my 2010 babies, and I'm using the money I earned this year to improve my herd and rabbitry. I had already purchased some breeding stock that I believe will strengthen my herd's hardiness, body, and wool density. Now I'm working on an automatic watering system. Right now I use water bottles in summer and crocks in winter. I don't mind the crocks in winter. But the

2010-08-09T23:42:00.000-05:00

I recieved a buck from another breeder. He appeared to be in good shape. His coat wasn't perfectly maintained, but I don't expect a perfectly maintained coat for a rabbit that isn't showing! His wool was loosening up, he was just starting to mat and molt. He had small mats on his hocks. Because the hair was "balled up" in these spots, his skin rested on the wire, causing sore hocks. The

It's getting HOT out there!

2010-06-23T23:25:00.000-05:00

Rabbit owners, this is the time to worry. Summer weather brings significant risks for rabbits housed primarily outdoors or in non-climate-controlled buildings. In high temperatures, rabbits require cool, fresh water - in large quantities. Ventilation, shade and a close eye on ambient temperature is crucial to keeping healthy rabbits in summer heat. Penelope's Rabbitry is no exception. Our

June Babies!

2010-06-20T13:15:00.001-05:00

Pickle's second 2010 litter is here, with 6 beautiful babies. These babies will be ready to go August 14th, deposits accepted beginning July 24th.

Last For Now

2010-05-21T08:13:00.000-05:00

There are just 2 left of Pickle's adorable babies! Patch and Polly are sweet little girls. Their photos can be seen here. More babies are on the way, expected near the end of June. News and photos will be coming soon!

Picture Day

2010-05-11T16:42:00.001-05:00

It's a chilly and rainy spring day here in Wisconsin! Today the last of Pickle's kits have their eyes open, so it was "ribbon day" and a chance for a group photo! Check out the "Available Rabbits" page for updates!

Pike & Pia

2010-05-10T17:00:00.001-05:00

Penelope's Pike is a different colored boy. His fur has white tips, so he is not a chinchilla color. His colored hair is almost chocolate colored, with white tips. I'm not even sure what to call it. I guess he'll have to grow into his hair for a while to see. Penelope's Pia is a broken chinchilla with a slight brown cast.

Peter & Polly

2010-05-09T10:47:00.000-05:00

I'm surpised everytime I peek into Pickle's nest box to see how big her babies are getting. Today, I want to introduce the first two kits with their eyes open. Peter is a broken dark chinchilla with less than 20% color. He is not show quality, but his nearly solid white coat will make a nice wool rabbit. Polly is a sweet little broken light chinchilla. She is between 20% and 50% color. Her

Pickle's Kits and Other News

2010-05-08T08:53:00.002-05:00

Pickle's kits are getting huge and fat. Their rate of growth will be fast for the next couple of weeks and I can't wait to show you pictures as they grow. Their pretty eyes are opening now! Their fur has grown enough to verify their colors. There are 3 broken light chinchilla, 2 broken dark chinchilla, and 1 broken black chinchilla. In other news, Penelope's Rabbitry is now an ARBA (

Curious George

2010-05-01T15:11:00.004-05:00

I promised you photos of the new buck and here they are! George's wool is starting to grow back from his full-body clip and you can see his gorgeous gray! George is a sweet and inquisitive little man. He always comes hopping over for petting and treats! George's wool will be available by CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share. The CSA share is a unique opportunity where you pay one

Pickle's Kits

2010-04-25T15:26:00.001-05:00

Our pretty "Pickle" produced eight kits yesterday early morning. Her little litter will be "broken", but we won't know the colors until the fur comes in. These baby bunnies can go to their new homes beginning June 12th. We will begin accepting reservations for this litter on May 15th. If you are interested in adding a French Angora into your family we recommend the book "Angora Rabbits: Hippity

"Pretty"

2010-03-22T15:43:00.001-05:00

There's a new baby in the shed. This week I sold and swapped a litter of three and came home with this little doe I named "Pretty." She will introduce much-needed variety to maintain the strength of my bloodline. I also brought home a chinchilla buck. His wool is cut now, so I didn't take a photo. When it grows back in, I'll be sure to share the photos.