08/24/2025
Sooo, maybe getting on my soap box, but some “food” for thought are driving me to write this.
I was looking at some of my ladies in waiting the past few days. These are all different ages, but I’m starting to make out what pieces I need to help these girls and parts I've seen massive improvement. I couldn’t see that not too long ago.
I can look across these 5 does, and the consistency in my loin width, the improvement in depth and overall balance is starting to come together. I couldn't give myself that kind of compliment a few months ago.
The fur across the board has massively improved, especially in my dilutes. Learning good fur is such a journey! Learning how to pair to improve evenness, or density, or texture is an art form. But I am getting harsher on my juniors. If the fur isn't there, there isn't room for them in my barn. I never considered looking at fur as a quality to cull for until this last year.
My program is shrinking, and I can only keep the best animals. This means cutting out lines I’m sentimental over, or does I want to give one more try, and sadly won't. Bucks that don’t impress me with what they produce are no longer part of my herd. Hard truths I’ve been facing.
A piece that is glaringly obvious to me that I am missing across these does is hindquarters. I want even more foot base, better bone, and width at the hip to allow even better loin placement and correct posture and carriage when being posed. I couldn’t have told you what I needed less than a year ago.
If they fight me, there's a reason. And learning to spot those problems before they are older is starting to happen. I find myself fighting to be patient, but space limits my tolerance to let a mediocre rabbit grow to 16 weeks and show me why I kept them. Learning it's okay to not tolerate mediocre in my barn has been a work in progress of acceptance.
It's okay if I’m different than other programs. It's okay if I go through litters and cull them in half at 6 weeks. It's okay to let go of lines that aren't working in your herd. It's okay to manage your herd the way you need to. Learning to accept that I can only do so much, and my choices to get there are okay to make, has been the hardest challenge to face.
I wouldn’t have these 5 does if I hadn’t learned to be okay with hard decisions. They are a product of my learning curve. And I’m only at the beginning. I’m saying “almost there” versus “not even close” when I focus on a piece to improve.
Remind yourself, your only competition is yourself… a year ago? Where were you then? Where are you now? Remember it's a journey. Not a sprint. And maybe someone else needed to hear It too.
I’m saying this out loud because I have felt like selling out on and off lately, but it's okay for me to feel like I'm in a bad season. It doesn't mean I will always feel this way. And I wanted to share how I keep going, even when it's hard. You are not alone! There is a community out there, all feeling your feels! Find them and support each other! I wouldn’t be where I am today without mine! 🩷
