I've recently delved into the world of rabbit agility after one particular house rabbit decided that she loves to jump and will do just about anything for a treat.
Rosetta (The pink wonder) is the Mini Lop I found in my backyard, who at the time of being found was dyed pink, her natural hare colour is white. Rosetta loves to jump, she would fly around the house in huge leaps and run up and down the stairs for fun. She was also incredibly smart so smart in fact she knew how to open her cage, that mixed with her love of jumping ended up with a couple of nights where I awoke with a rabbit in my face.
The day I learned just what Rosetta would do for a treat was the day I was reading a book in my room, after hearing a series of odd noises I looked up to see Rosetta working her way up my bookshelf. She was climbing the shelf because on the very top was a box of apple treats. I watched stunned as she made it to the top knocked the box down then jumped down to the floor (the shelf is 6ft tall) she didn't stop there, she grabbed the box and dragged it under my bed.
So with this fearless treat oriented jumping rabbit I figured why not try rabbit agility, so that's what I did and boy is it fun.
Friday, January 21, 2011
History of raising rabbits part 3.
The Champagne D'Argent
The Champagne D'Argent rabbit are among one of the oldest rabbit breeds originally developed in the the Champagne Province of France over four-hundred years ago. What if that was not the case? What if the Argente breeds we know and love today have an even older history one that is not so well known but ten-fold more interesting then anyone could ever dream up?
I'd like to thank Harvest Moon Rabbitry for all the hard work they've put into researching the Champagne D'Argent rabbit http://www.pet-rabbit.netfirms.com/
The Silver colour could have very well come from and originated in Siam. Where there was a breed of "silver" rabbit that was known to exist for thousands of years.
We'll start with the original 6 founders of the St Bruno order of the Carthusian monks. In 1084 Bishop Bruno and six friends began the order of the Carthusian monks. It was in 1127 that the "customs" or Carthusian ways became in full effect. In 1096 - 1099 The People's Crusade - Freeing the Holy Lands. 1st Crusade led by Count Raymond IV of Toulouse France. The Champagne D'Argent Rabbit is thought to have been developed approximately 400yrs ago. Rather this is when it gained popularity and acknowledgment from those out side of the monastery. It is important to remember that the Carthusian Monks did not socialize or trade with anyone other then themselves and their brother group, the Knights Templar. There for it could easily have been hundreds of years before the out side world set eyes on these rabbits. Notably when the Templars fell and the Carthusian Monks were thought to have been killed as well for their support of the Templars, this would have been when outsiders could have entered the monasteries and gained access to what was in side. This is certainly the case with the Carthusian family of Andalusian horse. The Monks were targeted because they had a close friendship with the knights as they supported each other in many ways.
One now has to ask, we have a working idea on how the rabbits got to France, we don't know why only the Carthusian monks and not the general public or even royalty had access to them. The only silver breed that emerged in all of France was the French Silver rabbit, or the Argente De Champagne. This has to bring ones mind back to the crusades. The most famous and most powerful participants of the crusades were the Knights Templar. The Knights and the monks had such a close knight fellowship that on that fateful knight of Friday the 13th when the knights were thought to be wiped out and killed forever, the monks were also running for their lives. It was the monks that those knights who escaped, went to see and entrusted them with items yet unknown. It was the monks that were their closest allies in their darkest hour. Would it not then make perfect sense that the reason that the general populous did not have rabbits with the silver fur was because they were given as a special gift to the monks by the knights from their journey to the middle east. It is suspect that they had made gifts of religious treasures, why not rabbits? This was a time that food belong to the king, not the people. Hunting just like today was only allowed by royalty in the kings forest. A gift of a food source makes sense. Knowing the love for genetics that the monks had, a rare gift of something unusual and unseen before that time, makes even better sense. The dates, the time line, it matches perfectly.
Now we need to look at how the silver gene reached France and when to know for sure how and when the Champagne D'Argent or French Silver as it is also known, actually came into being. Romans carried out significant trade with India and beyond through their Egyptian Red Sea ports. As early as 165 AD. This is well before St Bruno was born. By 1405 the number of foreign traders was so large that an area of the city was set aside for them. Later, Canton would remain China's main point of contact for Europeans. This brings us much closer to when or how Champagne D'Argent could have entered France. A number of Europeans, many of them Christian missionaries, had sought to reach China, the most famous being Marco Polo (1254-1324). But these journeys had little permanent effect on East-West trade because the Turks controlled the eastern Mediterranean and allowed only minor exchanges with Asia. This is important because the Turkish people also have a rabbit that did silver. The angora. The Angora had also been known in Turkey for thousands of years prior to European interest in rabbit breeding or Roman influence. The first known trade routs set up by France to India was in 1700-1750. England was also part of these routs. England also about that time came into the possession of the "silver" rabbit as it is known today. We know that French and English colonization did not start with the spice trade routes but in America in the 1600s. This indicates it was not the French, but someone the French traded with that was responsible for bringing the Silver coated rabbit from Siam to France, thus the Carthusian monks come into play. This is if and only if they were not brought over during the first crusades.
The Champagne D'Argent rabbit are among one of the oldest rabbit breeds originally developed in the the Champagne Province of France over four-hundred years ago. What if that was not the case? What if the Argente breeds we know and love today have an even older history one that is not so well known but ten-fold more interesting then anyone could ever dream up?
I'd like to thank Harvest Moon Rabbitry for all the hard work they've put into researching the Champagne D'Argent rabbit http://www.pet-rabbit.netfirms.com/
The Silver colour could have very well come from and originated in Siam. Where there was a breed of "silver" rabbit that was known to exist for thousands of years.
We'll start with the original 6 founders of the St Bruno order of the Carthusian monks. In 1084 Bishop Bruno and six friends began the order of the Carthusian monks. It was in 1127 that the "customs" or Carthusian ways became in full effect. In 1096 - 1099 The People's Crusade - Freeing the Holy Lands. 1st Crusade led by Count Raymond IV of Toulouse France. The Champagne D'Argent Rabbit is thought to have been developed approximately 400yrs ago. Rather this is when it gained popularity and acknowledgment from those out side of the monastery. It is important to remember that the Carthusian Monks did not socialize or trade with anyone other then themselves and their brother group, the Knights Templar. There for it could easily have been hundreds of years before the out side world set eyes on these rabbits. Notably when the Templars fell and the Carthusian Monks were thought to have been killed as well for their support of the Templars, this would have been when outsiders could have entered the monasteries and gained access to what was in side. This is certainly the case with the Carthusian family of Andalusian horse. The Monks were targeted because they had a close friendship with the knights as they supported each other in many ways.
One now has to ask, we have a working idea on how the rabbits got to France, we don't know why only the Carthusian monks and not the general public or even royalty had access to them. The only silver breed that emerged in all of France was the French Silver rabbit, or the Argente De Champagne. This has to bring ones mind back to the crusades. The most famous and most powerful participants of the crusades were the Knights Templar. The Knights and the monks had such a close knight fellowship that on that fateful knight of Friday the 13th when the knights were thought to be wiped out and killed forever, the monks were also running for their lives. It was the monks that those knights who escaped, went to see and entrusted them with items yet unknown. It was the monks that were their closest allies in their darkest hour. Would it not then make perfect sense that the reason that the general populous did not have rabbits with the silver fur was because they were given as a special gift to the monks by the knights from their journey to the middle east. It is suspect that they had made gifts of religious treasures, why not rabbits? This was a time that food belong to the king, not the people. Hunting just like today was only allowed by royalty in the kings forest. A gift of a food source makes sense. Knowing the love for genetics that the monks had, a rare gift of something unusual and unseen before that time, makes even better sense. The dates, the time line, it matches perfectly.
Now we need to look at how the silver gene reached France and when to know for sure how and when the Champagne D'Argent or French Silver as it is also known, actually came into being. Romans carried out significant trade with India and beyond through their Egyptian Red Sea ports. As early as 165 AD. This is well before St Bruno was born. By 1405 the number of foreign traders was so large that an area of the city was set aside for them. Later, Canton would remain China's main point of contact for Europeans. This brings us much closer to when or how Champagne D'Argent could have entered France. A number of Europeans, many of them Christian missionaries, had sought to reach China, the most famous being Marco Polo (1254-1324). But these journeys had little permanent effect on East-West trade because the Turks controlled the eastern Mediterranean and allowed only minor exchanges with Asia. This is important because the Turkish people also have a rabbit that did silver. The angora. The Angora had also been known in Turkey for thousands of years prior to European interest in rabbit breeding or Roman influence. The first known trade routs set up by France to India was in 1700-1750. England was also part of these routs. England also about that time came into the possession of the "silver" rabbit as it is known today. We know that French and English colonization did not start with the spice trade routes but in America in the 1600s. This indicates it was not the French, but someone the French traded with that was responsible for bringing the Silver coated rabbit from Siam to France, thus the Carthusian monks come into play. This is if and only if they were not brought over during the first crusades.
Friday, December 17, 2010
History of raising rabbits part 2.
Since man has been raising rabbits for meat and fur for more then two millennia one question often arises; how did they keep them? There were three main systems used historically.
1.) Rabbit warrens
2.) Rabbit courts or gardens
3.) Rabbit Islands.
Warrens: A warren was a walled or a fenced area that allowed the rabbits to burrow and live as "Wild Rabbits" some warrens spread over many acres. In fact in Norfolk England large tracts of land were said to be more profitable under rabbits then cultivation.
Warrens were often divided into different sections. One section was for rabbits to be taken as food and fur, one section was for rabbits raised to be deliberately set loose in the wild to be hunted for sport.
The warrens that kept rabbits for food and fur were a substantial source of income for their owners for many generations. The warrens that kept rabbits to be released for sport hunting continued right up until just after the 2nd World War.
Warrens were wiped out after the disease myxomatosis effected most of the rabbit population in the 1950's.
Rabbit Courts or Gardens: Although very similar to warrens the rabbit court was a much smaller affair. In the "court" the rabbits were allowed to run free within an enclosed area while a large degree of management was applied to control the production of stock. We know from historical records that rabbit courts had been employed in monasteries since before the 5th century, and it was in these courts that genetic selections began to take place as different colours an mutation occurred. If you want to pin point the history when the domestication of wild rabbits started you should look to the papal edict issued by Pope Gregory the Great in 600CE
Pope Gregory decreed that rabbits (more correctly the unborn young or pre-furred young) were not to be classed as a meat and therefore could be eaten by the monks during Lent. Thus the monks could adopt the Roman habit of eating unborn or newborn rabbits which were called laurices.
Since the rabbit was an ideal source of protein and the fur could provide warm clothing for the monks in their closed societies both these desirable features were doubtlessly being selectively bred in the the types of rabbits the monks kept, as well as one more important feature: Tameness.
Rabbit Islands: The raising of rabbits on Islands in a warren setting was easy; no walls, hedges, or fences needed. Most rabbit islands were very successful and their histories and effects of the isolation on a rabbit population have been the subject of numerous studies.
Pens: Some sort of pen (cage, or hutch) has been used to confine rabbits since the days of the Phoenicians, who took rabbits on their sea journeys as a self-replacing source of meat. Following Pope Gregory's papal edict of 600CE that monks particularly in France started the process of domesticating rabbits in a combination of rabbit courts and pens. With the pens the monks could selectively breed for size, colour, coat, or body shape. As well as genetic mutations that started to occur the Monks would keep the ones that appealed to them and continue to breed that mutation into future stock.
1.) Rabbit warrens
2.) Rabbit courts or gardens
3.) Rabbit Islands.
Warrens: A warren was a walled or a fenced area that allowed the rabbits to burrow and live as "Wild Rabbits" some warrens spread over many acres. In fact in Norfolk England large tracts of land were said to be more profitable under rabbits then cultivation.
Warrens were often divided into different sections. One section was for rabbits to be taken as food and fur, one section was for rabbits raised to be deliberately set loose in the wild to be hunted for sport.
The warrens that kept rabbits for food and fur were a substantial source of income for their owners for many generations. The warrens that kept rabbits to be released for sport hunting continued right up until just after the 2nd World War.
Warrens were wiped out after the disease myxomatosis effected most of the rabbit population in the 1950's.
Rabbit Courts or Gardens: Although very similar to warrens the rabbit court was a much smaller affair. In the "court" the rabbits were allowed to run free within an enclosed area while a large degree of management was applied to control the production of stock. We know from historical records that rabbit courts had been employed in monasteries since before the 5th century, and it was in these courts that genetic selections began to take place as different colours an mutation occurred. If you want to pin point the history when the domestication of wild rabbits started you should look to the papal edict issued by Pope Gregory the Great in 600CE
Pope Gregory decreed that rabbits (more correctly the unborn young or pre-furred young) were not to be classed as a meat and therefore could be eaten by the monks during Lent. Thus the monks could adopt the Roman habit of eating unborn or newborn rabbits which were called laurices.
Since the rabbit was an ideal source of protein and the fur could provide warm clothing for the monks in their closed societies both these desirable features were doubtlessly being selectively bred in the the types of rabbits the monks kept, as well as one more important feature: Tameness.
Rabbit Islands: The raising of rabbits on Islands in a warren setting was easy; no walls, hedges, or fences needed. Most rabbit islands were very successful and their histories and effects of the isolation on a rabbit population have been the subject of numerous studies.
Pens: Some sort of pen (cage, or hutch) has been used to confine rabbits since the days of the Phoenicians, who took rabbits on their sea journeys as a self-replacing source of meat. Following Pope Gregory's papal edict of 600CE that monks particularly in France started the process of domesticating rabbits in a combination of rabbit courts and pens. With the pens the monks could selectively breed for size, colour, coat, or body shape. As well as genetic mutations that started to occur the Monks would keep the ones that appealed to them and continue to breed that mutation into future stock.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Seeing is not always believing.
Recently I have been browsing a couple rabbitry websites (mainly Mini Rex) so of course I want to see pictures, scope competition etc. I make my way to the does page or the bucks page, and the for sale page. My first reaction to the pictures is whoa! That is one heck of a nice looking rabbit, mine cannot compare to that. My second impression is that something with the picture is slightly off. There is a slight distortion in the picture had I not been immersed in the world of photo-editing I probably would have passed off as a bad quality photo.
I have also had a couple fellow breeders mention after buying a rabbit from a picture, that when they got the rabbit in their possession no matter what they did they could not get the rabbit to pose as nice as the picture they were sent of said rabbit.
So what are people doing to their photos to make them look better? I did a little experiment to see what someone with a bit of photo editing knowledge can to to enhance a picture, and how easy would it be to do it.
The test? Use an editing program that is available for free download online, one I am not familiar with (or it wouldn't be that much of a test). Then see how fast I can edit a photo of a mediocre rabbit to make it look better then what it really was.
The original photo:
Not the prettiest pre-junior out there. A grand total and I'm not kidding you: 3 Minutes later she looked like this:
A grand total of 3 tools had been used. "Resize" "Smudge" and "Blur" and voila suddenly this rabbit has depth a short midsection and smaller ears, and a more finished looking coat instead of the wooly Jr one. The moral? People are not always honest, as I just demonstrated a simple knowledge in photo editing can go a long way to make someones stock to "look good on the internet"
And when purchasing a rabbit it is always a good idea to see it in person before committing to it, or at least have someone you know and trust see it in person if you can't.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Common questions I receive.
I receive a whole variety of questions on a weekly basis, so I'll be posting some of the more common ones I receive with their answers.
1.) I bought a rabbit with a full pedigree, but when I entered it in a show the judge said (s)he wasn't all that great. I don't understand.
A.) A pedigree does not in any way guarantee that the rabbit is show quality, it is just a record of the rabbits lineage.
2.)Do I need a pedigree to show my rabbit?
A.) No, as long as the rabbit is an accurate representation of the breed you can show it. A Pedigree is not necessary but it helps to have one when trying to sell rabbits for show or brood, and if you wish to register the rabbit a pedigree is required.
3.) I saw a rabbit I really want as a pet, but it is listed as "show quality" can I still inquire about that rabbit.
A.) Yes, often times you'll find show rabbits make excellent pets because they are well socialized from being handled by many different people (judges) at shows, as well as easy travelers. Most "pet qualities" have never left the rabbitry and are only use to certain people handling them.
4.) Can I breed my pet rabbit?
A.) Can you? Yes. Should you? No. There are enough sub-standard rabbits born to show rabbits you don't intentionally need to make more.
5.) If I buy a rabbit from you and breed it; will you take the kits I don't sell?
A.) No. If you choose to breed a rabbit you bought it's your responsibility to look after the kits.
6.) I want to show rabbits where do I start. http://drcba.ca http://arba.net.
1.) I bought a rabbit with a full pedigree, but when I entered it in a show the judge said (s)he wasn't all that great. I don't understand.
A.) A pedigree does not in any way guarantee that the rabbit is show quality, it is just a record of the rabbits lineage.
2.)Do I need a pedigree to show my rabbit?
A.) No, as long as the rabbit is an accurate representation of the breed you can show it. A Pedigree is not necessary but it helps to have one when trying to sell rabbits for show or brood, and if you wish to register the rabbit a pedigree is required.
3.) I saw a rabbit I really want as a pet, but it is listed as "show quality" can I still inquire about that rabbit.
A.) Yes, often times you'll find show rabbits make excellent pets because they are well socialized from being handled by many different people (judges) at shows, as well as easy travelers. Most "pet qualities" have never left the rabbitry and are only use to certain people handling them.
4.) Can I breed my pet rabbit?
A.) Can you? Yes. Should you? No. There are enough sub-standard rabbits born to show rabbits you don't intentionally need to make more.
5.) If I buy a rabbit from you and breed it; will you take the kits I don't sell?
A.) No. If you choose to breed a rabbit you bought it's your responsibility to look after the kits.
6.) I want to show rabbits where do I start. http://drcba.ca http://arba.net.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
History of raising rabbits Part 1.
(116-27 BCE) Varro, the Governor of Spain wrote in his treatise on farming (De Re Rustica) the following description for rabbits "Everyone knows, too that if you put but a few rabbits of both sexes the warren will swarm with them in a short period of time."
it is believed that the rabbit actually originated in Spain, or at least in the Iberian Peninsula. It was the Romans who discovered rabbits kept in cages could successfully be bred, which gave them a portable meat (and fur) for their armies. Which ensured the rabbits distribution all over the Roman Empire. Seeing as the cage to house a rabbit is relatively small it made it ideal for transportation on ships as well to feed crews and again armies because the journey on ships were lengthy and a rabbits gestation period short, the meat supplies could be replenished during the voyages.
(Romans are equally responsible for the spread of the Pheasant, Quail, and edible door mouse).
The two theories of the domestication of the rabbit:
1.) Caged rabbits (and tamer) rabbits lived longer thus having more litters, so it is in fact caged animals that are continually breeding, thus furthering the domestication of the species. Therefore caging enhances the development of the domesticated rabbit.
2.) But if the caged animals are killed for food and fur, then it is these tamer animals that will continually be eliminated, leaving the wild rabbits to proliferate. Thus caging does not enhance domestication.
Which ever theory you choose to believe (or even if you theorize your own) It should be considered that rabbits have been managed by man, and thrived, in a variety of situations for at least the last two millennia.
it is believed that the rabbit actually originated in Spain, or at least in the Iberian Peninsula. It was the Romans who discovered rabbits kept in cages could successfully be bred, which gave them a portable meat (and fur) for their armies. Which ensured the rabbits distribution all over the Roman Empire. Seeing as the cage to house a rabbit is relatively small it made it ideal for transportation on ships as well to feed crews and again armies because the journey on ships were lengthy and a rabbits gestation period short, the meat supplies could be replenished during the voyages.
(Romans are equally responsible for the spread of the Pheasant, Quail, and edible door mouse).
The two theories of the domestication of the rabbit:
1.) Caged rabbits (and tamer) rabbits lived longer thus having more litters, so it is in fact caged animals that are continually breeding, thus furthering the domestication of the species. Therefore caging enhances the development of the domesticated rabbit.
2.) But if the caged animals are killed for food and fur, then it is these tamer animals that will continually be eliminated, leaving the wild rabbits to proliferate. Thus caging does not enhance domestication.
Which ever theory you choose to believe (or even if you theorize your own) It should be considered that rabbits have been managed by man, and thrived, in a variety of situations for at least the last two millennia.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
I could have sworn I knew what I was going to write before I signed in, now that I have I cannot possibly remember what it is. So I'll just ramble on a bit until I remember it again.
ohhhh yes Now I remember !
The Silvering gene ! The great debate on the silvering gene. This is kind of really bugging me right now. Every genetic website and genetic wiz I've talked to about it is absolutely irrevocably convinced that the gene is recessive. From what I have witnessed and I'm sure several others have as well, that is definitely not the case the silvering gene is dominant.
Case #1 : Brun X Harlequin the cross resulted in 8 chocolate kits all of which silvered (I have pictures !)
Case #2 : Brun X Harlequin X Satin (1/4 Brun) 8 Kits, 2 black 2 chesnut 2 Jap Harlequin 2 Magpie Harlequin. All 8 Started to silver before they left. I don't have any pictures but I can track down the man I sold them too if need be.
Case #3 : Champagne Netherland Dwarfs. All F1's HAVE silvering. I can provide links if needed.
I could go on but my point is, I think some genetics need to be re-examined before it is stated as the absolute truth.
ohhhh yes Now I remember !
The Silvering gene ! The great debate on the silvering gene. This is kind of really bugging me right now. Every genetic website and genetic wiz I've talked to about it is absolutely irrevocably convinced that the gene is recessive. From what I have witnessed and I'm sure several others have as well, that is definitely not the case the silvering gene is dominant.
Case #1 : Brun X Harlequin the cross resulted in 8 chocolate kits all of which silvered (I have pictures !)
Case #2 : Brun X Harlequin X Satin (1/4 Brun) 8 Kits, 2 black 2 chesnut 2 Jap Harlequin 2 Magpie Harlequin. All 8 Started to silver before they left. I don't have any pictures but I can track down the man I sold them too if need be.
Case #3 : Champagne Netherland Dwarfs. All F1's HAVE silvering. I can provide links if needed.
I could go on but my point is, I think some genetics need to be re-examined before it is stated as the absolute truth.
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