Hinton Rabbitry

06/04/2025

Over the next few days, we will be catching up on things around the rabbitry, like pictures, weights and sexing kits. Due to my surgery, I was not able to bend or lift anything over 10 lbs. Thank goodness for friends and family.

21/03/2025

I am guilty of looking! For me rabbits, are the hard one to say no to.

20/03/2025

We finally got the Exhibitor Show Reports for the Triple Dalton Show. This is the final count.

Americans:
Open A - MW1 Blue Junior Buck won a leg for BOV and 1st Place.
Open B - MW1 won a leg for BOSB, 1st Place, and BOV; Mayo White Senior Buck earned a leg for 1st Place; MW2 White Junior Buck won a leg for BOSV.
Open C - Mayo won a leg for 1st Place; MW2 won a leg for BOSV.
Rare Breed - Mayo won a leg for BOB and BOV.

New Zealands:
NZ Specialty - RM2 Black Junior Buck won BOV, but no leg.
Open A - Chippy Red Senior Buck won BOV earning a leg.

Picture below of MW3 who stayed home while his brothers and dad showed. He had to help me open his cage when I went to pet him during a break in the rain recently. This little boy took after Mayo in his love of being held.

19/03/2025

We have had a couple of people reach out looking for show quality animals, especially with 4H shows or people looking to get into showing. There have also been a couple of posts about selling show quality animals over the past couple of days on our Facebook feed.

Show quality: as a breeder, we have heard this term quiet a few times.

For younger animals: we do not know of any breeders that will say that their rabbits are show quality. We have heard that they have show potential rabbits. This typically means they have no known disqualifications and have a potential to do well at a show at that point in their life. This will not guarantee a win. Rabbits have a potential to change a lot as they mature.

For senior animals: the rabbits have usually reached their peak so you can see how the lines should progress (based on the potential). This will depend on the pairing as well. You may not be able to show them as long as a younger rabbit, but you will only see a bit of change over time until they are past their prime. This varies by breed and rabbit.

Most of the breeders we know will tell you the positives and negatives of the animal, along with any line qualities they've noticed. If we refer you to a breeder, it's because we are confident they will do right by you.

Please remember: Price doesn't always equal quality! Shows are a great place to meet breeders. Breeders are usually willing to explain things and help even if you don't buy from them.

15/03/2025

With all the bad weather this time of year, it is a good time to post about this. Storms always make me worry about the safety of my home and animals. Not only does a breeder have to worry about storm damage to setups harming or killing their rabbits. They also have to worry that the rabbit could startle and break its back or neck. They could also have a heartattack. Most of the newer rabbit owners/breeders have said they didn't know this was possible.
Storms are only one way a rabbit can startle. Loud noises, like gunshots or even a dog barking, can startle a rabbit. Rabbits can be heartbreaking for some people. It's not anyone's fault. when things like that happens.

Hope everyone stays safe!

07/03/2025

It's always a hard choice on who to keep and who can move on. New arrivals hasten the process.

I have already decided on the Americans (blue and white) that I want to grow and show. I have some decisions to make on NZs, red, black, broken black, and white.

Pics of the new arrivals with more due soon!

03/03/2025

This is the only picture taken of any of our rabbits at Dalton this weekend (taken at the NZ Specialty by Missy Poznaniak). Needless to say it was another whirlwind.

New Zealands:
Saturday was a blast. Multiple shows and the most NZ breeders I have seen at one time other than convention. Sunday, there weren't enough to have legs for the blacks or reds, but it was still nice to hear comments. Chippy got a BOV Saturday, but I don't even remember if there was even enough Reds and exhibitors for a leg. In the picture is RM2, a black junior buck who won BOV during the NZ Specialty. Thanks to the multiple people who worked together to make changes go smoothly. I know at one point I had a rabbit, David had one and other rabbits s were being loaded/unloaded by people to help make things flow faster.

Americans:
Since I was running around crazy, my friends put them on the table for me a majority of the shows. They got BOV and BOSV from what I heard in a couple of shows. The one show I managed to see all of Mayo did get BOB in the Rare Breed.

Other than that, it was a great time to meet other breeders and cut loose, no matter how stressful these events are.

Congratulations to everyone on their wins 🏆

17/02/2025

Six Feathers Farm's Jilly Bean and Sonny had 5 REW kits. I'm excited to see what this pairing produces since the doe has great depth and the buck has great width. I was quick to take the kits out and snap a picture. One was still in the fur below.

17/02/2025

Sometimes things happen for a reason. MW1 and MW2 were on their best behavior at the show. MW2 took BOSB in Show C.

MW1 took BOB in Show D. He beat his sire out (Mayo got BOV). He then had some time to get some pent up energy off by running laps on a table supervised.

The Mayo/Wren kits battled it out this weekend on the tables, making the term Modern Warfare 1 and 2 our son named them stick. I can't unsee it now. 😳

On a personal level, our rabbit group of people are fantastic. It's a great feeling to cut loose, have some laughs, and work together to better our breeds.

16/02/2025

These may not be the best pictures taken at the Southern Magnolia Rabbit & Cavy Shows - SMRCS Rabbits and Roses show in Huntsville, AL. Amid chaos of day 1 with a total of 7 shows between 2 breeds, we earned several BOVs, BOSVs, and a BOB.

Some of the accomplishments from today (may need to update as soon as I can look at my notes for accuracy):

EJ Rabbitry Mayonnaise (American white senior buck) earned his last leg to earn the title Grand Champion. Em Cocke

Mayo's son with Buckeye Rabbits Wren Hinton's MW2 (American white junior buck) took BOB and BOV, and had an honorable mention in the Rare Breed BIS show.
Also, MW1 (American blue junior bucj) from the same litter took BOV.

Hinton's RM1 (New Zealand broken black junior buck) won BOSV in at least 2 shows, plus the Roaster category in the Commercial Breed show. M & R Farm and Rabbitry 's Robin is the sire.

Since only two reds showed, Hinton's Chippy only a got BOV.

Hinton's Orion (sired by Six Feathers Farm's Sonny) did not place other than in his class since he was an 8 week old kit being shown as a junior. He got great comments, basically just how he needed to mature. The REW NZ kit surprised everyone since he is as big as the 3 month olds shown.

The brownies I baked for the Southern United Rabbit Fanatics (SURF) bake sale sold out as well. I can't wait to see how everything else sold.

Now, I get to finally sit down, at least for tonight. Tomorrow is Show C and D. It was nice to get to show with some of my friends I don't get to see that often. Saber Bloodrose and Angela Wilson thank you for helping me run my rabbits today. 🐇 I enjoyed spending time with my husband while doing something that let's me relax, stress, have fun, and worry all at the same time.

02/02/2025

The following post is not exactly just related to rabbits, but the issue shows everyday when dealing with rabbits:

At the last rabbit show we went to, a friend made me think about my past and challenges of growing up with one functioning hand.

Sometimes, it is easy to feel self conscious over being different, especially when it is a noticeable "disability". At times, people won't notice your limitations because it's a natural part of you. They forget until it's noticeable again.

Don't let other's beliefs set your limitations. Be yourself and do anything you can. You won't know until you try.

Even if you need help, you didn't fail. You just needed an extra hand.

For me, one of my biggest obstacles is getting my rabbits to pose right and get a picture. We raise large breed rabbits and love it. They fit our lifestyle, and they are easier for me to handle too.

My family helps me with most anything I need/ask for help with. They don't care for posing practice though :).

25/01/2025

Today, at the Georgia State Convention 2025 in Dalton, GA:Chippy (Red NZ senior buck) got BOSB. He was the only Red or colored NZ show in Open today. He should earn his first leg for today.

Mayo (White American senior buck) got BOV. He should earn his second leg for today.

Each of the younger rabbits had good remarks as well, but the common denominator was they need to mature.

We got to hang out with Angela Wilson and Amy Lambrecht for a while, as well as other breeders. If it wasn't for the community of people that show, it would not be as fun or rewarding.

23/01/2025

My family got into rabbits as part of our family's needs/wants. Then, a friend got me interested in showing rabbits. Although it can be competitive, most of the breeders are great people and love sharing with others. When we win at a show, others celebrate it with us and vice versa. Showing helps maintain the breed standard for the rabbits. It is great when you can get your hands on a rabbit to feel what the judges said (with permission of course). Shows are often a family event, when I'm lucky enough to have the guys with me.

I have been lucky to have great mentors throughout my journey. We support each other.

Yes! ❤

09/01/2025

Long day at work/school before coming home to settle in buns for 17 degree weather. Thank goodness we stock up on supplies when we can. We have a few chewers who needed a cup replaced.

Redacted's house got put on hold due to the rain...now it won't be finished until after the snow/ice storm predicted.

19/12/2024

Tiger and Rowena - Red NZ kits born today

Rowna had 9 kits, showed no aggressive behavior and allowed me to add extra fur from another doe to keep the kits warmer with the big temperature dips at night in North AL. She immediately worked the extra fur and day into her nestbox.

Needless to say, I am excited to see them grow and see if Rowena stays this way since it's her 1st litter.

05/12/2024

So far this morning, Six Feather Farm's Sonny and Hinton's Starry had 3 NZ kits (1 black and 2 REWs). As both first timers, I didn't expect anything, especially when I didn't see a falloff.

Thank goodness I prepared for the possibility of kits!