Mike CHS
Herd Master
That is being innovative. 
Pastor Dave's Highlights
- Thread starter Pastor Dave
- Start date
farmerjan
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- Joined
- Aug 16, 2016
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- 11,461
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- Location
- Shenandoah Valley Virginia
Neat, and a good deal for both of you. I used to get silage from the dairy I worked at, when they were bringing it to the barn to put in the silo, and bring it home and put up several "garbage bags" of silage for my calves. A good way to get a little but not very efficient for very many cows. But still, it was stuff that was gonna get wasted there and I was young and had lots of energy....
I think those mini bales will work out good for you with the rabbits. Good for you.
I think those mini bales will work out good for you with the rabbits. Good for you.
- Thread starter
- #523
Pastor Dave
Herd Master
And, this morning I found out we lost our original buck, Gilbert. He wasn't feeling well last night and I made sure he could reach his water and got a drink before closing up the shed. I walked in this am and was pretty sure he was gone.
He had been a breed I didn't want as a breeder. He had lop ears, and also proved to be a Charlie with two sets of broken pattern genetics. This caused bad GI issues for him and probably was what finished him.
He came with one of the cages I bought 3 years ago. Since I didn't want him, I was going to butcher him so Jill would know what rabbit tasted like. She looked at him and asked me not to, so he was promised to live out his life. I used him to breed some and he turned out to be a great breeder. I generally only bred him with my NZW, and he always threw pretty, broken patterns with lop ears and blue eyes. He was the most gentle rabbit we had for the last three years and today the family is a little misty eyed. We never knew how old he was because the folks I got him from had gotten him from someone else.
RIP Gilbert
He had been a breed I didn't want as a breeder. He had lop ears, and also proved to be a Charlie with two sets of broken pattern genetics. This caused bad GI issues for him and probably was what finished him.
He came with one of the cages I bought 3 years ago. Since I didn't want him, I was going to butcher him so Jill would know what rabbit tasted like. She looked at him and asked me not to, so he was promised to live out his life. I used him to breed some and he turned out to be a great breeder. I generally only bred him with my NZW, and he always threw pretty, broken patterns with lop ears and blue eyes. He was the most gentle rabbit we had for the last three years and today the family is a little misty eyed. We never knew how old he was because the folks I got him from had gotten him from someone else.
RIP Gilbert
Wehner Homestead
Herd Master
Baymule
Herd Master
Awww.....it hurts to lose a friend. While other people might not understand, we do. Shedding tears over a rabbit is no different than shedding tears over a dog, cat or any other animal. Sorry that you lost Gilbert, he sounds like he was definitely one of a kind.
Sorry to hear about Gilbert. We never want to see them go. He had a great life with you folks though... Good, plentiful food, water, shelter and lots of does to make him happy. Great deal with the hay.
- Thread starter
- #527
Pastor Dave
Herd Master
3 years ago in July when I made the final launch to get back into rabbits after a 20 year hiatus, I found a small hobby farm not too far away and wanted to buy some cages. The lady wanted to be rid of the rabbits in order to sell the cages, so I bought 4 cages of various sizes with 4 rabbits in them. A lop eared buck, a pure bred NZW doe, a red doe mutt, and a big black and white broken pattern NZ. These originals were of unkown ages because the lady hadn't had them too long. The NZW and red does were juveniles. Those 4 are all gone now due to one reason or another.
It was a good start, but it is better to choose your breeding stock more carefully than I did. I picked up a breeding pair of pedigreed NZW's the first year, and have some good breeding stock now. Gilbert was always an enthusiastic breeder. He was a bit smaller than the does, but he wasn't scared by them at all. He always took gentle control of the situation and got the job done.
It was a good start, but it is better to choose your breeding stock more carefully than I did. I picked up a breeding pair of pedigreed NZW's the first year, and have some good breeding stock now. Gilbert was always an enthusiastic breeder. He was a bit smaller than the does, but he wasn't scared by them at all. He always took gentle control of the situation and got the job done.
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RollingAcres
Herd Master
Sorry to hear about Gilbert...
Mini Horses
Herd Master
Sounds like he earned his keep. It is obvious he was loved. Often the results are more important than the pedigree. RIP Gilbert.
- Thread starter
- #530
Pastor Dave
Herd Master
It was such a busy week with various congregational members needing my attention. As it nears the first anniversary of my Dad's funeral, a fine lady almost 90 years old has passed. She lived a good life, lived alone, and was active up until the day the Lord took her home. I was praying with her and holding her hand when she went surrounded by family.
Having been an Adv. EMT and firefighter for 14 years and a pastor called to homes and hospitals in times like these, it was still a surreal moment. She attended Dad's service last year, and I suppose to keep my mind at bay this year, I now have Peggy's service to perform tomorrow. If you get a moment, keep this family in your prayers. They know their loved one didn't suffer, but she had a big family and was much loved. It is never easy saying Goodbye, even if it's "Goodbye for a while".
Having been an Adv. EMT and firefighter for 14 years and a pastor called to homes and hospitals in times like these, it was still a surreal moment. She attended Dad's service last year, and I suppose to keep my mind at bay this year, I now have Peggy's service to perform tomorrow. If you get a moment, keep this family in your prayers. They know their loved one didn't suffer, but she had a big family and was much loved. It is never easy saying Goodbye, even if it's "Goodbye for a while".
