Rabbits
All of Dragon Xanctum’s pet rabbits are easy to handle and are easily trained to a harness, leash and kitty litter. We have had a variety of breeds over the years including Netherland Dwarf, Holland Lop, Californian and our latest – the Harlequin.
Harlequins are primarily a colour breed and a difficult one
at that since there may be only one or none out of a litter that conforms to
the breed standard. As a result very few are used for breeding but a large
number of wonderful pets find their way into people’s hearts. We currently
raise Magpies (white background with coloured markings) and the most difficult
to produce are Japanese (orange/tan background with coloured markings). This is
because if white markings show up in Magpie Harles they are hidden by the white
background colour. In Japanese Harles any white marking is very obvious. In
both types the other colour may be black, chocolate, blue or lilac. The ideal
pattern is just like that of a Harlequin clown (hence the name) with blocks of
colour alternating with the white/orange. One ear must be white/orange and the
other coloured, one half of the face white/orange and one half coloured and so
on with same colours always being in diagonal blocks from each other – never
side by side. The body may be a checkerboard pattern or in alternating bars
like a bumblebee. Now you can see how difficult this process really is! However
when you see a Harle as close to the standard as possible it is a breathtaking
sight. If you are interested in reserving a bunny from an upcoming litter we
are now taking deposits of $20.00 which also covers the total price and
therefore, when your bunny arrives it is already fully paid for! Rabbits can
multiply at a rapid rate so we want to make sure a litter is spoken for before we
produce it, otherwise there would be a lot of homeless bunnies!
Here are pictures and information regarding some of our
rabbits:
This
is Bilbo who, for many years, was my personal favorite and our main stud. He
was a Californian that, as you can see, was quite scholarly J.
Bilbo would accompany me to the grooming shop for a bath and blow dry, and
unlike a lot of rabbits that probably would have had a heart attack, Bilbo
actually seemed to enjoy the whole process! He would kick out his legs and bask
in the gentle warmth of the dryer and even tried sticking his head in it every
now and then. He grew up with our cats and would often wrestle playfully with
them. Bilbo even learned to purr somewhat! He passed away at the ripe old age
of 10 and was still producing little bunnies at the age of 8. We still have one
of his grand daughters in our breeding group.
Karatacus – “Karate” as he is affectionately known,
unfortunately lost the tips of his ears to frostbite when winter came unusually early and extremely cold one year, but
other than being a little less visually appealing, he is perfectly fine. He is
a blue magpie Harlequin and one of our present stud bunnies.
(picture to come)
Pixie is Karate’s daughter and Bilbo’s grand daughter.
Outcrossing between Harlequins and breeds like the Californian and Dutch occur
from time to time to help set color blocks. Pixie was a chocolate magpie, but
has lightened to more of a lilac hue.
(picture to come)
Contact Dawn Watts at: mail
– RR6 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
T2M 4L5
Email
– dragonx@efirehose.net
Fax
– (403) 640-7619
Phone
– (403) 640-7619 or (403) 861-2809
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