Maine State has been without a rabbit breeder directory for quite a few years now. The state club has no web site. I took it upon myself to do it and contacted all local club secretaries for their membership lists. Names, town, phone/email and if provided breeds raised. I didn't put mailing address as few use that info any longer and they can get it when contacting by phone or more likely nowadays, by email. It needed to be done as much for rabbit folks to stay in touch as for handing out at fairs and shows. It's been a bit cumbersome, hence my blog falling behind. There are just so many computer hours in a day in ya when using a computer at work also. I plan to take it to the MSRBA banquet to hand out and get corrections/updates then as surely there will be some. Always is.
Put in nestboxes for the does due the 18th. One first time mom, Hippity Hop's Irene, started lugging a week early and when she got her box, pulled fur too. That's a good sign! I got "Irene" from Zachary Lavoie, a youth breeder in NH. Zach approached me for a doe at the June Acton show last year. We went over a doe together but she was above his $20. price range. During lunch break I asked 2 judges to look at the doe with him and state her strengths and weaknesses. Then I asked him having all that info, did he still like her. He said yes and tried to offer me less money again. I told him he could have her with the pedigree for free and if she produced well for him, I'd like a baby doe from her. He was very happy to say the least. I didn't want to simply offer her to him for free and have him take her just because she was free. The look on his face was.... as they say, PRICELESS. I wanted him to know all her strengths and weaknesses from an impartial party and see if then he still liked her well enough to pay for her. Sometimes if a rabbit is free, a person, adult or youth, will take it even if on the fence about it, simply because it is free. I didn't want that to happen. He has since shown her a little and she has done well but mommydom was one of the first orders of business. True to his word, when BBF's Cutie Pie had her first litter, he offered the first doe and hung onto her till I could drive to NH to get a look at her. He'd named her Irene because she was born during August's Hurricane "Irene". It made me happy and proud of Zach that he'd kept his word as not all adults do, never mind youth. I think, he will become quite the businessman when he grows up. And hopefully for us all, a rabbit judge! So, it has come full circle now with Irene plucking fur, getting ready for her first litter. Thanks, Zach!