RockStar Rabbitry

12/20/2025

As I walked across the iceyyyyyyyy driveway to the barns, I ended up on my backside. I laid there for a moment, surprisingly not in pain but in appreciation, and humbleness, thankfully. I paused to take in the scenery. A illuminated pathway.
Beforr old man winter sat in, Luke had repurposed a couple strings of patio lights, originally used for our wedding reception bonfire, for barnyard lighting. The beauty, the warm. Oh how wonderfully welcoming.
I say a silent prayer before getting myself back upright. Thank our good Lord for reminding me to slow down and appreciate the little things 💗

12/16/2025

🤣

I went to the craft store for supplies and came back with the softest, most high-maintenance skein they had. The only problem is this yarn doesn't want to be knitted; it wants snacks 😂🐰

12/15/2025

Line Breeding

Line breeding
A strategic plan for locking in traits you need in your herd. But first, what is it, and do you utilize it?
Line breeding in rabbits, like father to daughter pairings, is breeding closely related animals, like parent to offspring, or grandparent to grandchild, to concentrate and strengthen desirable traits like body type, growth rate, and, or, fur quality within a specific bloodline. Keeping in mind, line breeding can also lock in bad traits you may want to breed out of your herd. Culling the traits you don’t want is crucial for improving your lines, and maintaining quality stock.
This practice isn’t used in all rabbitries, in fact this wasn’t a method of breeding I used myself until I learned more about it. Knowing there was a chance of locking in bad traits, it was in my best interest to learn the traits I want, and need in my herd in order for it to have the quality I want.
TBR’s Chai is the daughter to XXF’s Olaf. My goal for breeding her back to her own sire is to lock in the traits that both offspring and sire have.
Both rabbits have nice depth, and width. Chai’s peak sits more correctly on her back, where Olaf peaks slightly forward. I’m hoping for more balance between the two.
What I don’t want: Olaf’s shoulder rise. This is a trait I expect to see pop up in the pairing. Olaf’s shoulders do not have a strong rise right off the bat. This is a trait that has a possibility of popping up, that I’ll be watching for, and culling for.
Other traits I will cull for if they pop up: bad fur, slow growth, crooked/bad teeth, severely undercut or pinched hips, and hollow loins.
If I could get one well bred keeper doe, and the rest go towards feeding my family, I’d be happy with that. Always expect culls to happen.

12/15/2025

Since our last show of the year was this past Saturday, I created new show schedule for 2026. This list consists of shows we will potentially attend next year. Please expect revisions to the list. Our show attendance will vary based upon family commitments as they come about and the condition of our show team.

12/13/2025

Rabbit shows are bit different when you only enter 3 rabbits. It's been awhile since we have taken so few.

Our homegrown white, RockStar's Candy Cane, held her own pretty well on the table. The first show she finished in the top half, and in the second show she was in the top 3rd of her class.

We also entered a red and a broken red. Going in, we know both rabbits were a little rough in body condition and not in prime coat. RockStar's Gemini was awarded BOV (unofficially receiving an intermediate leg).

As for the broken red doe we entered, Green Gate Farm 's Sugarland, she has filled out very nicely, she is a wide girl. She now seems to be lacking the depth the match her big b***y and broad shoulders. She lost to the first place doe in her class due to balance. However, that first place doe happened to be a broken blue doe who was a homegrown from our barn 😃

As we loaded our van in preparation to leave, a vendor for the Shipshewana Lights of Joy (which is a drive through Christmas light show), was popping fresh kettle corn for their evening patrons to purchase. I had had kettle corn before and was pretty sure I was not much of a fan for it. The smell was incredibly good. It was convincing enough I purchased a bag, probably the equivalent to a 1.5 gallon food storage bag, of it from the vendor, who hadn't even officially opened yet We only live about 15 minutes from Shipshewana, only half the bag remained when we pulled into our driveway. Luke doesn't eat kettle corn.

12/13/2025

Good morning from Shipshewana, Indiana.

2 broken blue bucks, DOB 5-21-25, have made the ride with us, looking for new barns

12/09/2025

Every rabbitry strategically places boundaries, emotionally and physically, based upon resources. We remain small to have the ability to give all that we can to each rabbit in our barn. So far first time mother Kya has delivered only a singleton. Because we breed for broken blues, she is currently the black doe in our barn. Notably a daughter to VanHouten's Raffle.

12/07/2025

Slow your pace, pause to appreciate God's breathtaking beauty all around you

12/06/2025

👀 🏡

New Zealands

Litter mate bucks
Born May 21, 2025
Pedigreed

Photos do not justify these bucks. Especially the two brokens. They were not cooperative. Frankly it's too cold to be doing retakes. Please feel free to contact us to arrange seeing them in person.

Edit:
Pending- RS49
No longer available RS48
No longer available RS49

12/06/2025

All cleaned and settled in for a long winter's nap 😴

12/06/2025

2 broken blue, and 1 solid blue, all young intermediate NZ bucks, each weighting over 9 lbs, will be coming available for pick-up at the 12/13 Shipshewana show. Pictures to follow

Edit: After photo sessions and weight ins, I must retract the statement "each weighting over 9 lbs." The last couple weeks we have experienced cold temperatures moving into winter. For most of the intermediates and juniors this is their first winter. Unfortunately for some, transitioning has resulted in temporary loss of condition and a slight loss in weight