Bunny Warmer

I found a nifty little gadget (if it can be called a gadget) at the PA show in Feb, and I was so thrilled when I saw it that I had to pick one up for $12. The technical name of it is 'Toasty Bunz', but it is essentially a small heating pad for exposed kits with a neat little pouch that is big enough to contain an entire litter if necessary.

Unfortunately I do not have the name of the woman makes these---I had assumed that her card was included with the paper in the baggie but it wasn't, so I am unable to include a link or email for her. If anyone reading this knows of one, please contact me at amy@spangangoras.com. The way this tool works is that if you find a kit (or multiple kits) on the wire or anywhere else they've been exposed, you simply open the pouch, take the rice bag out and stick it in the microwave for 45-60 seconds, and then reinsert it and place the kits into the little pocket on top to warm.

An important word of caution given to me by the creator of this product is to make certain that the pouch is warm but not hot when the rice bag is inserted. Check it by laying your hand on it. As anyone who has revived litters knows, it is essential not to warm the core of a cold kit too quickly, and it is also extremely easy to 'bake' a litter to death on a heating pad if it is too hot. Care in monitoring the temperature before sticking babies inside is critical.

The pictures below show the various features of the bunny pouch. This first pic shows the entire package, with the ricebag already inserted into the fleece cover:



This second picture shows a closeup of the label it came with. In case the photo is not clear, the directions included read as follows:

'Simply warm the rice bag in the microwave for 45-60 seconds, and place in the bag slot. Gently tuck the babies into the pouch and your work is done. After 15-20 minutes you can reheat the bag. For ease of cleanup, you can put the rice bag inside a plastic zip top bag to prevent soiling. Machine wash fleece pouch and dry on low heat'.





This is the compartment that houses the rice bag, which you slide out to heat in the microwave and then tuck back in.

And finally, this is the pouch on top into which the kits are inserted.

Overall, I am extremely excited to have found this item only because it makes life a lot easier when there are multiple kits in trouble and there is exactly one solution I can reach for all the time. This saves time and crazed panic in running around for lamps, towels, and other assorted materials when a first time doe decides to drop a litter of 12 on the wire and walk away (*grin*).

If I learn of the maker's name and contact info. at some point I will certainly post it here. She had a booth in PA and told me that she sells many of her handmade items to 4-Hers (she also makes wristguards in different sizes). I imagine something like this would not be difficult to make yourself if you were so inclined, and you could even improvise something similar by folding a microwaveable heating bag into a towel and folding one end of it over to make the pouch.

One last point*--it is very important to remember that babies should not be returned to a nest until they are active and very warm to the touch. If you are not certain of the temperature you are aiming for, simply put your hands into a properly made nest and check the warmth of the kits within. They should not feel cool to the touch at all before they are placed back into the nest.

More again next week as I post pictures of some of the new juniors growing out around here:). Have a great week!

P.S. Just a quick note to anyone who has tried to access my website lately and can't. I've been having a few server problems that I expect to resolve by this week. The site with upcoming litters posted should be available by Wednesday at the latest.

Back Again:)

Well, it's been a ridiculous amount of time since my last blog post, and I wish I could point to one specific reason why I've been so lackadaisical but I have to confess that there just isn't one, LOL. I've been very busy with kids, rabbits, and work (especially work), and there hasn't been a lot of extra time for writing. Things are slowing down now and I've figured out a few ways to save time (thank goodness:)), so I think things will get back on track now. There are several pictures and articles saved to post over the next couple of days/weeks, so I'll get those up shortly as well.

I have attended zero shows for the most part except for the PA Convention in Feb. That was fun, though it didn't go as well as it has in the past due to the fact that my coats weren't primed and I wasn't prepared the way I should have been (and usually am:( ).

Despite the lack of blogging I have not been idle on the breeding front. I just wrapped up the last cull of the winter breedings and I currently have 7 does bred with 4 more due to get bred next weekend to space the litters out and make room for everyone. Most of my breedings this time are French, but a few are Satin cross breedings that should result in the first phenotypical Satin babies in the barn:). All will be posted on my website at www.spangangoras.com on the breeding page as soon as I can get them up.

I still house mainly French, but as I mentioned I am working on Satins as well. I have to admit that I never thought I would like these rabbits owing to their sparse wool, etc, but they have been genuinely growing on me the past few months as I have come to truly appreciate their hardiness, breeding ability, and ease of care. I came very close to giving up my Giants entirely for several reasons which I'll explain in a future post, but I have decided to hold onto a few of those as well and just work harder to make them heavier, thriftier, and more consistent in quality and wool.

Anyway, so this is the current update, and I will get back to regular posting as my schedule allows. Have a wonderful weekend and C U here again soon!:-)

NY Convention Pictures

It looks like I have finally managed to get things together here and post pictures of last week's show:). Below are mostly pictures from Show A where Cheryl Eng-Link was judging. The NY Convention typically has some of the highest angora entries in the state, and most of the people standing at the table here were entered with one breed or another:

Here is either Carmen or Evita sitting out on the table, awaiting judging:

And this is Zsa Zsa during the judging of the White class:

This is the YOUTH FA show, with rabbits owned by a little girl named Meghan:).

These are my buns in their carriers, awaiting the second show:

And these are some of Zsa Zsa's 'formal' pictures, taken at home after the show:). She is still holding a prime coat now and probably would have made it to Convention, but unfortunately it is not to be since she will be getting bred and retiring soon to the nestbox instead, LOL:).

Next weekend I will also be attending the Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool festival, so if anyone is interested in some sale bunnies for delivery to the event, please email me ASAP at amy@spangangoras.com. There will be several Torts and REWs available:).

Have a great week!:-)
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NYS Convention and Reserve in Show

I have some pictures I'm going to post in a few days once I get this camera thing worked out, but for now I figured I'd post the results of a show I went to yesterday (Sat, Oct 1):).

I hadn't planned on attending the NYS Convention this year because A) for some reason I thought that there was only one Open show planned per day (which later turned out to be wrong, LOL), and B) I was planning on attending the DelMarVA show the previous weekend instead. Well, the DelMarVa show didn't quite pan out because of flooding here (again!), and later it turned out there were 2 Open shows on Saturday in Syracuse, so I decided to head over to try to squeeze in at least one show for this season:).

I brought 3 Sr. does along: Spang's Zsa Zsa, Spang's Evita, and Spang's Carmen, and the two shows were judged by Cheryl Eng-Link and Helen Brose, respectively. There were 33 FAs entered in both shows and 6 exhibitors.

Zsa Zsa took BOV/BOB for both shows, and Carmen won BOV Colored for both shows. Evita placed right behind Carmen in the Colored class in the second show, and I think she did it in the first show also, though I wasn't writing anything down and can't quite remember the details (apologies to anyone in case I'm wrong!:( )

In the Best in Show competition for Show B, Zsa Zsa also won the Open RIS on a very competitive table, and overall she had a wonderful, excellent day:). She earned her 7th leg and will now come home to be sheared and bred along with everyone else for the Fall litters.

Today I am getting ready for the kids to arrive home after their l-o-n-g vacation:). Though I got a lot done and it was great to have an uninterrupted break, it will be wonderful to see them again and get back to the daily madness that is normal life in the Spang family household. LOL.

Pictures will be posted in the next several days----have a great week!:-)

Bunnies for Sale at DelMarva

Just wanted to post a quick note to say that I will be bringing two Tort Jr. bucks with me to sell at the DelMarva show on Saturday. They are both approx. 4 months old and show quality (out of my best herd sire). If anyone has any questions before 2PM tomorrow just email me at amy@spangangoras.com. Otherwise, hope to see you at the show!

Have a fantastic weekend:-)


---Due to flood warnings up and down the east coast this weekend (again!), I will not be attending this show after all. Sorry! :(

Rabbit/ Stuff Update

It's been quite a while since I've blogged, and I guess a lot has been going on in this neck of the woods:). During the hurricane we lost our power/internet for a week and the phone for almost 3 weeks (it just came back the other night:( ). As if that weren't enough, a whole bunch of flooding came afterward and the majority of the towns here had profound damage, with one nearby getting totally inundated and almost wiped of the map:(. We were very, very lucky because we are located on a hill where the water always runs down, and we also have few trees around our house (thanks to dh cutting them all down years ago, LOL), and nothing fell on the house or any of our outbuildings. The rabbitry is also on a hill so no water collected there, and all in all we were one of the very few here who had no damage or flooding whatsoever:(.



Show-wise I had planned on attending some local shows this fall, but the Cobleskill show last week ended up getting skipped because of the flooding between here and there. Looking at the NYS show website the NY Convention has basically scheduled one Open show for Saturday and one for Sunday but there are no specialties in between, so it is hardly worth making a 4 hour trip Friday night and spending money for 2 nights at a hotel for only 2 shows in 2 days, LOL.



Anyway, what ended up happening is that I remembered that the UARC was holding a Specialty in addition to 2 Open shows in MD in DelMarva on Sept. 24, so I decided that the best thing to do might be to take a road trip down there on Friday night, show 3 times, and then come home again on Saturday:). I've never shown that far south before but it looks like it's going to be a really fun show, so I'm going to round up the buns next week and go.



On another note, ALL of my kids have taken off on a cross country trip with their Grandfather for the next couple of weeks! They are going camping, visiting the National parks, seeing lots of new places they've never seen before and having an absolute BALL, and for the first time since they were born I find myself with free time that I haven't had since before I got married, LOL!



After some initial confusion I took off like a shot, and I've been cleaning and organizing things like a MANIAC:-). The rabbit barn is absolutely spotless, every rabbit (not in coat) is sheared and ready to be bred next week. Everyone is tattooed and ivomeced, every cage is labeled, and all my dishes/bottles/ and supplies have been neatly stored in assorted plastic tubs:). I keep thinking of other things that have to be done but then am amazed to find I did them already (LOLOLOL!). I cannot BELIEVE how much time there is in the day when you have it to yourself, and now I am whizzing through every room in the house cleaning, organizing, redecorating, and in some cases even repainting. YIKES!:):)



The only problem I have is that my camera is acting up and it won't allow me to post pictures. All the bun photos I've taken, etc. will have to wait until everyone comes back and I have someone technical on hand to fix it:). Until then I will just check in every once in awhile with posts and assorted text articles as I continue to zoom through this place getting lots of things done---!!!!!!!!



I hope everyone everywhere else is starting to see the temperatures drop for fall (great bunny weather!), and I hope also that others in the east who were hit by the hurricane and excessive flooding did not sustain too much damage. Best of luck for a calmer (and happier!!) fall and show season for everyone:-).

Bunny Trip to VA

Hello Everyone,

I will be taking a trip down to VA this Wednesday, August 17 to deliver some rabbits, so if anyone is interested in acquiring something or arranging a pickup, please feel free to contact me at amy@spangangoras.com. I will have REWs, Pearls, and probably a few Torts for sale. Breeding and Sire/Dam information is available on my website on the 'Breeding/Litters' page at http://www.spangangoras.com/. Does will be $125 and bucks will be $100 along with a small delivery/gas charge for each rabbit.

Litters that will be available are out of Nikola, Natalya, and Miachi. I plan on driving South out of NY via I-78, I-81, and I-83, with an endpoint near Waterford, VA.

Thanks, and have a great week!