10 Sep 2018 6 Comments
Baby Belgian Hares check out the new rubber mats
These cuties are ready to go to new homes!
28 Jun 2018 No Comments
Our big push East
I know it’s been a long time since I posted here all our happenings! The Facebook page gets all the activity. Once we’re settled more will be coming here too. It’s been an intense year of transitions. For now, here’s our update. We’re right in the thick of things.
Moving a rabbit farm four states away is like nothing I’ve ever done before. Have any of you moved a rabbitry out of state? It’s an unbelievable amount of work – like, how to get these cages apart, and flattened, and moved. All these wooden playboxes to figure out how to move. I spent half a day washing and cleaning cages, toys, cups, taking the opportunity to not move anything that needs a scrub. I looked into having new cages made but the price tag was beyond us at this time and meant we’d have to slash down our herd. Genetic viability is a huge precious thing here, we don’t inbreed. I thought about selling off my herd. I thought about serious reduction to just a few. All to fit some flattened cages on top of a car.
Finally, Mars gave us a break and pointed out we wouldn’t be able to take our unicorn with us either. While I considered leaving it for now, I discovered the unicorn had been maimed in the care of the people I’d entrusted it to. That seals it, I want to get my unicorn out of there, AND want to take my rare breed bunnies I’ve worked so long and hard on for so many years. I feel a sense of responsibility to keeping these two rare breeds alive, both very old breeds with a lot of character, which originate in the 1800’s. They are part of our heritage, the rabbits that people raised for food -and joy- way back when, who are entirely unique from modern breeds. They’re not as overbred. I know I’m one of the few that have been a constant for them over the past 7 years, and a source of rabbits and information for people in our community.I thought about how easy my life would be if I dropped the rabbits, just like I’ve had more time after letting go of my horse (though more sad). The rabbits however are very grounding to me (they are underground animals afterall, haha). I’d love to take them. We’re still working on raising enough money to spring for that trailer, after our rental fell through, and we can still use some help.
We’ve raised 34% of our total needed for that $1800 trailer to fit our unicorn and cages. If you’ve ever appreciated advice or help from Trickster Hares Farm or appreciate your rabbits so much, or even just glad someone is keeping these two rare breeds going for future generations, we’d love any donations towards our trailer, to help us get out of town, with the bunnies.
The easiest way is to Paypal us at “tricksterhares” “insert at symbol here” gmail dot com. Please put “trailer for bunnies and unicorn” in the comments! We’re calling on our community who can help, and no pressure!! Moving out of state is outrageously expensive and as we do not have work lined up where we are going, I know we’ll be sailing on some prayers for awhile for us and our little herd of bunnies and cats. Thank you all. 💜🐇🦄
06 Oct 2017 10 Comments
Belgian Hare babies!
We have Belgian Hare babies! Probably the last litters until sometime next summer. I have a couple show quality and a few pet quality – meaning their tan factor markings may not be orange enough, or any other conformational issues that means they should not be used in breeding but would make terrific pets. Belgian Hares are particularly wonderful housepets! Very interactive, lively, and affectionate. Hares need room to roam, so these will not do well in a standard rabbit hutch.
06 Oct 2017 No Comments
Heirloom Festival in Santa Rosa
What fun! We did an exhibit at the Heirloom Festival for the first time this year. Three days of lots of people, and talking a lot about rabbits! Sold rabbit t-shirts & art too.
My rabbits entertained about 500 kids over the three day stretch. That was the hardest part, the busloads of kids arriving each morning. I had to monitor my rabbits to make sure they were not stressed, and give them downtime. No bunny did more than 2 days at a time, and the Beveren babies got worn out before the Belgian Hares ever did.
Does this Belgian Hare look like he’s having a hard time? Hundreds of kids later and Abracadabra was still hamming it up and stealing hearts. He seemed to love every minute of all that attention.
This little girl had a lot of fun picking out her Beveren at the Heirloom Festival. She went with the one who picked HER by getting in her lap and tugging on her shirt repeatedly! I liked her decision making process 
😉 It was fun to get a 9 year old started with prize bunnies and 4-H. Her Grandma wants me to be her mentor, which I would be delighted. I got into 4-H and bunnies at that age too 
🙂
The baby Beveren were also thrilled by all the attention at the festival. Until they let me know they were done and ready for their nap.
We were stationed right next to the poultry barn, and I found out firsthand that chicken people are just as nutty as rabbit people, but about chickens! They even had a poultry show going on in there. Overall, it was good fun. I’d do it again if I had the time.
I was sorely tempted by the blue cochins and really wanted to take some home!!
05 Mar 2017 1 Comment
Selling the Farm – March Madness!
There has been a ton of activity here at the farm, and mostly its been selling off the rabbits, far and wide across the United States. Its been very enjoyable participating in a nationwide rare breed revival project. Afterall, rabbits are one of the easiest sources for home grown food, easy to keep and feed. These heritage breeds have very different qualities than standard commercial rabbits bred for today’s market. We had the room so we grew to include quite a few different breeds. What we didn’t anticipate was needing to move. Changing circumstances with our landlady’s family means we have to vacate our home and farm of the past 9 years. While we’ve been looking where that new home will be, it hasn’t materialized yet. So, with much regret, we’ve been selling off almost all our livestock.
I’m out of Americans and Silver Fox, and Blanc de Hotot except for a few nestbox babies, who will be sold when weaned. I am selling off all Harlequins, fun and delightful as they are. Photos of animals for sale here.
Moving forward, we’ll be a much smaller rabbit farm, keeping it simple. We’ll be staying with a few Belgian Hares and Beveren. (and some curly Beveren!) Due to not knowing where we are going to land, we’re having to downsize drastically, taking only my very favorites to float with us as we look for home.
That means its March Madness at the farm and its an excellent time to purchase breeding stock on these rare breeds!
Beveren are now on sale for $50 apiece (pictures of animals for sale here), down from $75-100.
Harlequin are now on sale for $40 apiece, down from $60.
We also have cages for sale – single 36″ cages for $30 and 12 foot rows for $125, and runs for $25. Everything must go! Including the pasture pens, if you prefer to raise yours colony style.
What I know is I put time, effort and love into helping these breeds survive and thrive, and have gotten many people involved over the past few years. Each of these breeds will continue to grow and thrive, even as I pass them on to new people to pick up.
The majority of my French import Hotot stock went to Barbara Blankenship in WA, while some also went to California breeders – Jo Carroll in Central CA, Mandy Lott, and Michael Pollack of Lupin Lapin, both in Northern CA. Feel free to chase down my purebred lines through any of these folks. I have also sent stock to Kristin Renk in NE, and Mattea Lear in OK. I highly recommend working with purebred lines for higher percentages of correct markings, best mothering instincts, and calmer, more friendly personalities.
Blanc de Hotot are an excellent breed for many reasons but given our circumstances, and how much we have to downsize, we’ve opted to keep our big teddy bear Beveren – who are downright cuddly – and our elegant wild-ish Belgian Hares. It also made perfect sense that I naturally gravitated towards two breeds from Belgium, where my ancestors originated too. So there might be some affinity between us that at the end of the day, we couldn’t be parted.
Let me know if I can help you get started with one of these breeds!
05 Mar 2017 No Comments
Best Opposite at National Convention
We were thrilled to win Best Opposite Sex of Beveren at ARBA’s National Convention in Del Mar in 2016, with Junior White Beveren Buck, ‘Posey’.
Knowing there are really top notch breeders who come to National Convention from all over the U.S., this came as a surprise! We still consider ourselves new breeders going on 6 years with this breed, and this is only our second National Convention.
Trickster Hares Posey is out of Grand Champion Trickster Hares Fortuna, who won CA Convention, and Trickster Hares Seamus, who won at West Coast Classic.
Unfortunately, changing life circumstances has prohibited further showing of Posey to Grand him as well. We hope to be able to at least have our rabbits attend more shows in the future – for now we make it out when we can.
We also won Best White Fur at National Convention with Trickster Hares Shooting Star.We hope to make the next one in Indiana for 2017!
Also showing was giant blue hares! People got a big kick out of this hare. We’ll see about making something else for the Belgian Hare booth for 2017!
26 Sep 2016 No Comments
Beveren for sale at Convention
Despite our pending move and other dramatic flurry of activities this fall, we’ve decided to head down to National Convention with the best of our young stock, to rub elbows with fellow rare breed rabbit breeders from all over the country. Most of my stock – if not all- will be for sale. I am still needing to downsize with our upcoming move.
Here’s photos of some of the rabbits taken a few weeks ago. As juniors, they are still growing and looking better all the time. I have some that are not in the album that will be at convention. I can bring rabbits that are not entered in convention if you have a place to keep them off-site.
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04 Sep 2016 1 Comment
Penny-Wise and Pound-Foolish
Mad Hatter Rabbits down in AZ lay it out… a good list of pointers if you are shopping for rabbits. I recommend their rabbits and approve of the way they raise their animals. Check out their article on:
–Don’t be Penny-wise and Pound-Foolish.
-Do your Research.
-Buy “Part” Animals.
-Be Realistic.
-Keep Your Vision.
Read the full article here: https://madhatterrabbits.wordpress.com/2016/09/04/penny-wise-and-pound-foolish/
19 Aug 2016 No Comments
Last Chance for Rabbit Delivery
In case you haven’t heard, we’ve been selling off a few breeds here at Trickster Hares Farm as we prepare for some life transitions.
Selling off our Harlequin herd, pictures can be seen here. Japanese & Magpies on sale and discount off 3 or more.
Selling off Silver Fox from Grand Champion lines (pix below) and Lionheads, click the link for pictures.
Keeping but also paring down Beveren especially with the overabundance of litters, the best of 12 litters can be seen and for sale here. Also have senior blue & white & sport stock available. Great bloodlines – Trickster Hares and 3B’s and Calloway foundation.
Silver Fox siblings for sale. Great rabbits, wonderful type, underweight. Didn’t reach full size on the kind of food I feed here (Hunt & Behrens pellets, only). The parents were full sized, so its a case of the line not doing well with this brand of feed:
Can bring to Petaluma tomorrow. May be able to arrange transport to Dixon for a fee the following weekend.
Moving forward we plan to continue on a smaller scale with Beveren and Belgian Hare, and are continuing at least for the present with Blanc de Hotot, with the occasional astrex or Rumple.
21 Sep 2018 No Comments
Our first Colorado show at Hotchkiss
Beveren were a hit at our first Colorado show! Annabelle refused to cooperate with staying in a carrier – she insisted on holding court, perched on the grooming table for hours – greeting passerby. Some packed her around the show room. One thing I can count on with the Beveren is winning people over with their personalities.
We have a few very nice show quality blue eyed white Beveren juniors for sale – very promising! Also a blue sport (great for white lines if you want a little color) with excellent type out of my champion buck Seamus.
Annabelle holding court at the Hotchkiss show accepting adorations from her subjects, for five hours.
by Trickster Hares in Beveren, For Sale