Monthly Archives: August 2009

Seychel’s weak again

Short lived happiness. Another fact that you’ll learn about rabbits. I think I should just stop posting because some people may be offended with the little humor and sarcasm in my postings. But what the heck, this is the real thing. This is what rabbit owners go through and like everything in this world, they are not all that beautiful.

Of course I’ll love to paint a superficial and super nice picture of my life and my rabbits but let’s all be realistic here. Life is not always that beautiful and that is a fact. When you’re down, you’re way down and you just cannot say you’re fine. I mean you could say that you’re fine but that’s just lying to oneself.

Also, what is not said doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. The fact of life remains that no one will ever admit anything that they have intention to hide.

What can I say about Seychel. I believe she’s all clogged up again. I’ll have to try treating her more aggressively this evening if she could pull through another day. I was happy that she was starting to chew on hay and was drinking on her own. But my gut feeling tells me that she’s not doing too well this morning.

When situations like these arises, self-consolation usually kicks in. There are many things that I am telling myself which will not sound too good to certain people. So I am refraining myself from writing it out loud.

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Seychel making some progress

Poo, Poop, Doodie, Doo Doo, Craps (stop laughing Teri!) or whatever you call it, definitely something most of us would not like to be associated to. Unfortunately, it is not the case with rabbits. If you’re looking for something to represent the term “full of sh*t”, look for a rabbit. Yes, I am writing out of frustration. What else to make myself feel happier than to be the most sarcastic, hormonal and emotional bloke on earth?

You’ve been warned, rabbits definitely bring out the worst in you. If you are a seasoned rabbit person, you’ll realize how happy SH*T, POOP, Doo Doo and Crap can make you feel!

I’ve never come across any hobby that have high regards for such a disgusting thing! And yet, the more sh*t thrown at you, the more you are drawn to it! Just like a line from this movie that my wife is currently watching entitled “He’s Just Not Into You”. In the opening scene a little boy pushed a little girl and the girl’s mommy told her that the reason why the boy was treating her badly was because he likes her. That’s exactly how this love and hate relationship is between Man and Rabbit!

All that crap being said, I would like to thank all who have followed all the crap that has been happening at TLR and have prayed fervently. One thing I learn about rabbits so far is that, it’s a challenge of who has got the bigger crap! Since I have been thrown so much crap, I’m making a bigger crap to be thrown back. That way, I am sure they will thrive and start to act like rabbits and thus, breed like rabbits!

Yes, I have had enough of them acting up on me and it is time to fight back with a vengence. NO MORE MISTER NICE GUY! And no bunny satay or fried bunny for dinner either. I am so not going to give them my love. They are so grounded!

And back to the topic of this post, I found some regular not that small poop on Seychel’s tray. A small part of me rejoices but then again, not being too nice just in case anything should happen, I’ll be able to say “Que Sera Sera”!

Here you go, the crap we all so love about our rabbits…

Left: No good Crap & Right: Not that bad Crap!

Left: No good Crap & Right: Not that bad Crap!

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Seychel is not well

Sometimes I really wonder why in the world am I raising such a difficult breed. It is like keeping a python or a tiger knowing very well one day it will swallow you up whole. Holland Lops, they do swallow you up whole in terms of emotionally and psychologically.

Just when I wrote about how I have reminded myself not to take any of them for granted. Seychel stopped eating and drinking. It is as if it is a jinx to treat Holland Lops well. Throw them aside and they’ll thrive, baby them and they’ll die. LITERALLY!

Yes, I was “baby-ing” Seychel before she started acting up! How frustrating!

My initial diagnosis is that she’s beginning to have a G.I. Stasis problem. But her vital signs are indicating many other possibilities.

Please pray for her and I do hope that she’ll recover soon.

It is a challenging breed to begin with, that’s if they just stop dying. No wonder people that get into this breed quit as soon as they begin. Am I beginning to give up?

Not quite but more of “Que Sera Sera” (Whatever Will Be Will Be)!

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Filed under Does, Everyday Life

My Version Of A Perfect Holland Lop Part 2?

Extremely unsatisfied with my lack of talent, I persevered. I continue sketching, sketching and more sketching. Alas, this was by far the best I could produce. Indeed this shall be my objective and goal. My own perfect Holland Lop…

My Perfect Holland Lop!

My Perfect Holland Lop!

What do you think? Cute?

On the side note, I felt pretty refreshed this weekend. I realized how much I should not take my Hollands for granted. Taking a step backwards and realizing how each and everyone of them having a history of their own make them extra special and precious.

I believe what most breeders fear most is the possibility of losing their favorites and I am no exception. When we do loose our favorites, we kept on hoping that they would manifest themselves in the future generations of rabbits that we breed.

How we wish that our pets will never leave us. That way, it will save a lot of frustration and heart breaks.

But who are we to decide when we’re merely weak human beings.

Have great week ahead everyone!

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My Version Of A Perfect Holland Lop?

I have not touched a 2B pencil and a drawing board for a very long time. I just had an idea to put into drawing what I have in mind as a perfect Holland Lop for me. I guess it did not turn out that well. The fact remains that I am no better in drawing compared to my talented father and perhaps my daughter – LOL!

So here I was thinking, I want those nice crowns, thick short front legs, perfectly huge head that is 1/3 the size of the entire rabbit and hind legs tucked beneath the center of the mid section and so on and so forth. And guess how that turned out?

The future of TLR?

The future of TLR?

I know! I am bad with drawing and sketches – LOL!

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Why are Holland Lops so precious?

Ever wonder why Holland Lops are so precious? Many Holland Lop friends have been telling me that I have chosen the hardest breed to work with – they weren’t joking. I am in fact facing the most difficult phase of raising these wonderful creatures. Let me share the real scenario with you. When you go to any Holland Lop website, trust me, what you see on the website are the best of what the breeder have. It is very hard to breed Holland Lops (bad news for you money makers). If your “Holland Lops” are breeding like rabbits, don’t get too excited, most often than not, they are FAKE! Sorry to burst your bubble – LOL!

Holland Lops are very hard to breed and even harder to get show quality kits. The possibilities of does kindling viable kits are as low as 50%! Let’s just say that out of a 100 does bred, only 50 does will give you viable kits. And out of the 50 litters, you will be lucky to have 1 kit that may be competitive on the show table. That’s 1% success rate for you my dear friend.

Now I truly understand why breeders chuckled at me when I ask for a show quality rabbit. Most often than not, breeders will never get too excited thinking they have struck gold in the nest boxes.

Just want to work on some statistics to see what are my chances.

100 does = 50% viable kits

5 does = 2.5 % viable kits

Which means, I may have to try breeding my 5 does 40 times before I can even get to the possibility of getting litters of viable kits. I am not even talking about getting a Show Quality kit.

So what do you think? Is Holland Lops for you?

Firstly, don’t be easily fooled into thinking you got a Show Quality and definitely don’t be fooled into thinking Holland Lops breed like rabbits. What we have at hand is a breed that defies all normalities! The Hallmark breed is called such for a reason. They are far from your ordinary bunnies.

Now, please blow the probability this way as I have 34 times to go!

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Sunday Chillax!

I made some observation on all the bunnies’ behavior while using the run. Most of them like to dig at the 4 corners and causes all the wood shavings to go flying out the play pen. I have since placed a corner litter tray at one of the corners. I then place tiles on the other 3 corners. The tiles worked out very well. I put cardboard boxes on top of 2 of the tiles and guess what?

They love chilling out on top of the cooling tiles!

Guess Who Is In The Box

Guess Who Is In The Box

HINT: Not Jack!

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Filed under Does, Everyday Life

Truffles’ New Home

First of all, I must say that Bugsy is a VERY VERY nice little bunny! This little Siamese Sable (I think ND x Polish) is absolutely beautiful and his color is so amazing! Bugsy belongs to Shahfiq & Adesh (absolutely perfect couple). My parents say they move together – a match made in heaven indeed. LOL!

Shahfiq & Adesh are the proud owners of Tru-Luv Truffles. I am so thrilled to announce that they are photography enthusiasts as well. Just take a look at this photo they took and the amazing setup they have for both Truffles and Bugsy. The things we do for our bunnies – OMG!

Fit for kings!

Fit for kings! Photo courtesy of http://www.chestnutpictures.com/

For more updates on Truffles please visit http://www.chestnutpictures.com/. Bunnies do bring people together and I am very honored to have known both Shahfiq & Adesh. Thank you so much for approaching me!

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Filed under Friends Of Tru-Luv, Living Elsewhere

Farewell TLR’s 1st BRIS, TRU-LUV Truffles

It is with a heavy heart that I am writing this post. At the same time I am very excited for Truffles’ new owners. This couple has been contacting me for quite some time and I felt that it would be nice for them to have Truffles since I do not have many bunnies available at the moment. I am very glad that the lovely couple inquired and I must say that with great confidence, I am very happy to be passing Truffles into their care.

So tonight for a little farewell, I made Truffles pose for me. Anyway, he’ll come back once in a while for boarding so I won’t miss him too much.

Seemed like it was yesterday that Truffles came into this world. I could remember very clearly that he was the only one left from a litter of 3 born to Holly Hope. He was such a cutie back then and I knew he had quite thick bones. I could still recall how he nearly fell into wrong hands.

Let’s walk down memory to reminisce the time when this little boy was born.

Day 2: I love handling kits since birth

Day 2: I love handling kits since birth

Isnt he cute?!

Isn't he cute?!

Posing for me

Posing for me

Cute since birth!

Cute since birth!

As usual before bunnies leave TLR, a basic health check will be done:

Clean vent

Clean vent

Good teeth

Good teeth

I also check through the surgery area and found that the swelling has subsided. Here are 2 photos for comparison:

The day after surgery. All swelled up

The day after surgery. All swelled up

No more swelling today

No more swelling today

And he’s left to enjoy an entire night of free run:

Took me an hour to clean up the run

Took me an hour to clean up the run

Bon Voyage my boy Truffles!

My bags are packed, I am ready to go...

My bags are packed, I am ready to go...

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Filed under Bucks, Living Elsewhere

Let’s Go Crazy!

90 liters of Chipsi Pine Shavings! That’s the amount of wood shavings I needed to fill the bunny run and here’s the outcome:

I am recovering but I pray for Master's sanity!

I am recovering but I pray for Master's sanity!

We've got hay in here too!!!

We've got hay in here too!!!

They call this bunny heaven?

They call this bunny heaven?

I really wonder what’s the definition of crazy…LOL!

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Filed under Rabbit DIY