Illinois NDSC Summer Fun Triple Show

What a great day for a show! We could not have had better weather if we had paid for it--mid 70s, sunny, light breeze--perfect.
There were over 100 rabbits entered and most of them made me want to come home, sell everything in my rabbitry and start over. There were some absolutely stunning animals there--including a few really beautiful rabbits for sale. I am happy to report that I resisted temptation...for once, and came home with the same number with which I left.
It was also a treat to see a few of the Champagne project rabbits brought by Pam Jones. I wish everyone on the COD the best of luck. When they finally are granted approval, they will be a magnificent color variety.

When I got home, I realized that there were several people that I did not get pictures of. I'll try to do better next time.

Results from June 12 Illinois Netherland Dwarf Specialty Club summer triple show

Open show #1, judge Pam Jones
Best of Breed: Reynolds/Morgan, Himi Sr Buck
Best Opposite Sex: Wayne & Twila Coffey, Otter Sr Doe

Self
Best of Group: Deb Owens, REW Sr Buck, no opposite
Shaded
Best of Group: Mark Jacobs, Siam. Sable Jr Doe,
Best opposite: Becky Skirvin, Siam. Sable Sr Buck
Agouti
Best of Group: Sarah Zins, Chestnut Sr Doe
Best opposite: Deb Owens, Chestnut Sr Buck
Tan Pattern
Best of Group: Wayne & Twila Coffey, Otter Jr Buck
Best opposite: Wayne & Twila Coffey, Otter Sr Doe
AOV
Best of Group: Reynolds/Morgan, Himi Sr Buck
Best opposite: Reynolds/Morgan, Himi Sr Doe

Youth Show #1, judge Pam Jones
Best of Breed: Taylor,Tanner & Kaycee Baird, Siam. Sable Sr Doe
Best Opposite Sex: Lisa Wendel, Otter Sr Buck
Self
Best of Group: Mikayla & Katie Martin, Black Sr Buck, no opposite
Shaded
Best of Group: Taylor,Tanner & Kaycee Baird, Siam. Sable Sr Doe
Best opposite: Mark Hazard, Siam. Sable Sr Buck
Agouti
Best of Group: Dru Dahman, Chestnut Jr Doe
Best opposite: Dru Dahman, Opal Jr Buck
Tan Pattern
Best of Group: Lisa Wendel, Otter Sr Buck
Best opposite: Mikayla & Katie Martin, Otter Sr Doe
AOV
Best of Group: Mark Hazard, Himi Sr Buck
Best opposite: Joey Dierdorf, Himi Sr Doe

Open show #2, judge Donyelle Schultz
Best of Breed: Laura Wendel, Otter Sr Buck
Best Opposite Sex: Mark Jacobs, Siam. Sable Jr Doe

Self
Best of Group: Mark Jacobs, REW Jr Buck, no opposite
Shaded
Best of Group: Mark Jacobs, Siam. Sable Jr Doe,
Best opposite: Mark Jacobs, Sable Point Sr Buck
Agouti
Best of Group: Deb Owens, Chestnut Sr Buck
Best opposite: Deb Owens, Chestnut Sr Doe
Tan Pattern
Best of Group: Laura Wendel, Otter Sr Buck
Best opposite: Wayne & Twila Coffey, Otter Sr Doe
AOV
Best of Group: Reynolds/Morgan, Himi Sr Buck
Best opposite: Reynolds/Morgan, Himi Sr Doe

Youth Show #2, judge Donyelle Schultz
Best of Breed: Dru Dahman, Opal Jr Buck
Best Opposite Sex: Taylor,Tanner & Kaycee Baird, Siam. Sable Sr Doe
Self
Best of Group: Mikayla & Katie Martin, Black Sr Buck, no opposite
Shaded
Best of Group: Taylor,Tanner & Kaycee Baird, Siam. Sable Sr Doe
Best opposite: Britt Bookwalter, Siam. Sable Jr Buck
Agouti
Best of Group: Dru Dahman, Opal Jr Buck
Best opposite: Britt Bookwalter, Chestnut Sr Doe
Tan Pattern
Best of Group: Mikayla & Katie Martin, Otter Sr Buck
Best opposite: Britt Bookwalter, Smoke Pearl Marten Sr Doe
AOV
Best of Group: Mark Hazard, Himi Sr Buck
Best opposite: Joey Dierdorf, Himi Sr Doe

Open show #3, judge Jeremy Watmuff
Best of Breed: Reynolds/Morgan, Himi Sr Buck
Best Opposite Sex: Wayne & Twila Coffey, Otter Sr Doe

Self
Best of Group: Deb Owens, REW Jr Buck,
Best opposite: Sarah Zins, REW Sr Doe
Shaded
Best of Group: Mark Jacobs, Siam. Sable Jr Doe,
Best opposite: Becky Skirvin, Siam. Sable Sr Buck
Agouti
Best of Group: Wayne & Twila Coffey, Chestnut Sr Buck
Best opposite: Sarah Zins, Chestnut Sr Doe
Tan Pattern
Best of Group: Wayne & Twila Coffey, Otter Jr Buck
Best opposite: Wayne & Twila Coffey, Otter Sr Doe
AOV
Best of Group: Reynolds/Morgan, Himi Sr Buck
Best opposite: Reynolds/Morgan, Himi Sr Doe

Youth Show #3, judge Jeremy Watmuff
Best of Breed: Lisa Wendel, Otter Sr Buck
Best Opposite Sex: Taylor,Tanner & Kaycee Baird, Siam. Sable Sr Doe
Self
Best of Group: Mikayla & Katie Martin, Black Sr Buck, no opposite
Shaded
Best of Group: Taylor,Tanner & Kaycee Baird, Siam. Sable Sr Doe
Best opposite: Joey Dierdorf, Siam. Sable Sr Buck
Agouti
Best of Group: Dru Dahman, Chestnut Jr Doe
Best opposite: Dru Dahman, Opal Jr Doe
Tan Pattern
Best of Group: Lisa Wendel, Otter Sr Buck
Best opposite: Dru Dahman, Sable Marten Sr Doe
AOV
Best of Group: Mark Hazard, Himi Sr Buck
Best opposite: Mikayla & Katie Martin, Himi Sr Doe

Indoor Plumbing

We finished our first do-it-yourself Flush clean system this week. After months of lifting each cage to clean the litter trays, it is a relief to have this first unit done. Now, these 8 cages can be cleaned in less than 5 minutes.

 Instead of the carrier style cages  (that sit in a tray), these are hanging cages. They hang above a sloped sheet of vinyl flashing (which has already been dubbed the Raisin Ramp). All the waste, hay scraps, spilled water, and dust from food pellets slides down the ramp into a gutter than angles down into a bucket.
Cleaning is simply a matter of brushing the ramps and gutters and emptying the bucket onto the compost pile. If I want to get really picky about it, I can spray and wipe the ramps and flush the gutters with hot water. All of this can be done in 5 minutes. The other cages take me 5 minutes each.

The cages are hung with two pieces of conduit that run through eye bolts on each end of the cage unit. Removing them for heavy cleaning is simply a matter of pulling out the conduit and lowering the cages. Each unit is two 24 x 16 x 12 inch cages separated by a 2 inch hay rack. The hay rack doesn't need to be filled every day and serves the double purpose of keeping the rabbits out of sight of each other, reducing snarkiness. It also cuts down on the amount of hay wasted. I chose to make the units smaller so that I can handle them without needing help.

We're planning to build more of these units, but decided to wait a few weeks to see if we need to make any tweaks to the design. The angle of the slopes has to be right. Too shallow, and nothing slides down the ramps. Too steep and it launches into the middle of the floor like it came off a ski ramp.
So far, it's working exactly as it should.

When we build the next unit, I will post plans and assembly pictures.