Furmites or Just Dandruff?

If you see dandruff or flake on a rabbit's skin, more than likely it's caused by furmites.

This is an example of the rabbit no longer has furmites but the dandruff got stuck in the wool.   If this is a show coat, it'll be wise to use a slicker brush gently break loose the dandruff flakes from the wool then use a blower.

To rid of the furmites, most rabbit people use Ivomec.   It's off label use not shown in the description.   Give 0.25 cc per 10 pounds of body weight, wait for 10 days and repeat; it can be done either by mouth or by injection (by mouth is a lot easier).   The dandruff will "lift" from the skin, what happens is when the wool grows, the dandruff that are stuck in the wool will grow with the wool.   It's to be expected that the skin will become clear after two doses of Ivomec.     The dandruff does not melt or go away even when the furmites are killed by Ivomec, use a slicker brush to loosen the flakes from the wool then use a blower to blow them off as much as possible.   

For those who show, it's common to get furmites from time to time.  Even those who do not show, the chance is that hay could hide furmites too.   It's nothing to freak out about, just learn to pay attention and manage it as early as possible as the dandruff certainly affect wool quality either for show or for spinning.

Lipton Gets a Haircut

Lipton is a chestnut agouti French Angora buck. He is so named for the resemblance to the tea color.  This photo was taken when he was still a junior.

His ring pattern is very impressive.  When judge Arie from Indonesia visited Betty's barn in June, she specifically part Lipton's wool to admire his ring pattern.  

Now Lipton is a senior, his ring pattern is still impressive.

With the current heat wave and lack of shows, mama Betty decided that Lipton could take a break from his heavy coat.

Lipton feels that the relief is coming.

Each cut shows how intense Lipton's ring pattern is.

Lipton's coat is flowy.

Lipton has a deep body.

It'll take about three months to grow a respectable show coat.   By then, the temperature should be cooled down and Lipton should be back to the show table with his matured senior coat.

Imari's First Photo Session

Princess Imari goes home with Carolyn on June 30.

Princess Imari is a spoiled indoor bunny...

… lives a life as her name suggests: princess.

Princess Imari is as good quality as her sisters who are going onto the show table but she lives a much better life.

Katelyn's French Angora Wins Youth Best In Show

Deb, Alicia and Katelyn are three generations of Angora lovers/breeders/exhibitors.   They like to go to shows together but sometimes timing is not the best for all three, they have not gone to a show for quite a while.     Last Saturday, Katelyn went to the Twin Ports rabbit show in Proctor, MN with grandma Deb.   Mom Alicia had to work thus could not go.  Katelyn won Best in Show in show 1 with her pretty French Angora doe, 7 Pine's Ariel.   Ariel had a litter in April, so this is her second coat coming in.  Judge Shane Ringdahl loved Ariel and awarded her the Best In Show.

Big Boy No Match For Big Zucchini

Big Boy is big, but he is less than 1/2 of the weight of this Zucchini!  

Where does this biggie come from?

Zucchini grows very fast, a slight oversight during harvest could result in big surprises.

Just by looking at the photo, this Zucchini does not look too impressive.   Add a tape measure to the photo shows that the big one is 26 inches long.  That's longer than Franchesca's Guinness World record of wool length!

Zucchini bread anyone?   It is longer than the grooming table.
The weight of this Zucchini is 11 pounds 9 ounces, more than the weight of a senior French Angora.  If a French Angora weighs 11 pounds 9 ounces, it'd be disqualified on the show table as the top limit is 10 pounds 8 ounces.    

Rachel Is the Supreme Champion and Master at Wisconsin State Fair

Rachel has exciting news:

This past week at the Wisconsin State Fair, I competed in youth contests and showed my rabbits.  I was very happy to receive Supreme Showmanship Champion out of 40+ contestants and Supreme Knowledge Master, which consists of a contest combination of your placements on how you did on Breed ID, Judging, Interview, a written test, and a writing exercise. I did my showmanship presentation with a French Angora broken chestnut junior buck named Uranus. 

For the Open show, my Himalayan Blue Senior Buck named Avatar won Best in Show A under judge Allan Ormand! This is my very first Open Best in Show, and it wasn't even with an Angora! Overall, it was a great week at State Fair!

Pretty Little Girl

Mom said that I'm a pretty little girl.

Yes, I feel pretty.  Do you like to see my face a bit more?

Or would you like to see my profile?