The First Orange Dwarfs at Ruskin
In 1987 we were showing at a local 2* show in the North East of England and the then secretaries of Hexham Rabbit & Cavy Club (Mr & Mrs Mason) had two bucks in the show, the likes of which we had never seen before. This was to be our first encounter of Orange Netherland Dwarfs. We immediately went to speak with them and ask them if they had any spare stock that they would be willing to let go. We sort of knew the answer really, but had to ask anyway. We were indeed proved right. They had nothing for sale at that time but agreed to put us in their diary and when they had something they would let us know. A few months later we had a call from them saying that they had a young pair that they thought would suit us and as it was Hexham show on the coming Sunday, would we like them to take the rabbits along for us to have a look at. Of course we jumped at the chance. We had already decided it didnt matter what they looked like, we would be buying them. And we did; and so came to Ruskin the first Orange Netherland Dwarfs.
After a few years of struggling with the colour and type on the Orange Dwarfs, never bettering what we started with, we decided to give them up so the whole stud was exported to Ireland. It was a great shame really as there were not many Orange Dwarf breeders around, but also not many people interested in them and finding an outcross was near impossible.
So on we come to 2007 and my mother decided she wanted to come back into rabbits; again with Orange Netherland Dwarfs. As they were still a very uncommon colour here in the UK I thought it was going to be a very difficult task to acquire what she wanted. So I made enquiries on the continent. Orange dwarfs over there seem to be very thin on the ground too, but I could get hold of Reds in abundance.
Knowing what we know now about orange breeding (which we didn't know back in the late 80's) I also decided to look for some good quality Chocolates while I was over in Holland. Luck would have it that I had something in my Miniature Lops that a breeder in Belgium wanted and he has something that I wanted. A very nice small stud of Chocolate Netherland Dwarfs. So the deal was struck. After locating a trio of very nice Reds, we were all set to start our Orange Netherland Dwarf breeding program once again.
In 1987 we were showing at a local 2* show in the North East of England and the then secretaries of Hexham Rabbit & Cavy Club (Mr & Mrs Mason) had two bucks in the show, the likes of which we had never seen before. This was to be our first encounter of Orange Netherland Dwarfs. We immediately went to speak with them and ask them if they had any spare stock that they would be willing to let go. We sort of knew the answer really, but had to ask anyway. We were indeed proved right. They had nothing for sale at that time but agreed to put us in their diary and when they had something they would let us know. A few months later we had a call from them saying that they had a young pair that they thought would suit us and as it was Hexham show on the coming Sunday, would we like them to take the rabbits along for us to have a look at. Of course we jumped at the chance. We had already decided it didnt matter what they looked like, we would be buying them. And we did; and so came to Ruskin the first Orange Netherland Dwarfs.
After a few years of struggling with the colour and type on the Orange Dwarfs, never bettering what we started with, we decided to give them up so the whole stud was exported to Ireland. It was a great shame really as there were not many Orange Dwarf breeders around, but also not many people interested in them and finding an outcross was near impossible.
So on we come to 2007 and my mother decided she wanted to come back into rabbits; again with Orange Netherland Dwarfs. As they were still a very uncommon colour here in the UK I thought it was going to be a very difficult task to acquire what she wanted. So I made enquiries on the continent. Orange dwarfs over there seem to be very thin on the ground too, but I could get hold of Reds in abundance.
Knowing what we know now about orange breeding (which we didn't know back in the late 80's) I also decided to look for some good quality Chocolates while I was over in Holland. Luck would have it that I had something in my Miniature Lops that a breeder in Belgium wanted and he has something that I wanted. A very nice small stud of Chocolate Netherland Dwarfs. So the deal was struck. After locating a trio of very nice Reds, we were all set to start our Orange Netherland Dwarf breeding program once again.
Today we have quite a few nice Oranges running around. We don't breed the dwarfs on a large scale; only keeping 24 cages for the whole program and included in some of those cages are some of my REW's too. But what we do have are quite nice and a huge improvement on what we had years ago and some of the nicest examples of the colour in the UK. Below we will introduce you to some of our residents here at Ruskin.
Foundation Stock
Chocolates
Reds
Agouti's
SANDY
This is an old buck now and he is behind a lot of our Dwarfs. Although his colour is good, he has too much ticking, but he is very useful to us still.
This is an old buck now and he is behind a lot of our Dwarfs. Although his colour is good, he has too much ticking, but he is very useful to us still.
JASPER
A young buck which we have high hopes for. He is super colour and is shaping up really well for type. He is a chocolate orange so hence no ticking what so ever.
A young buck which we have high hopes for. He is super colour and is shaping up really well for type. He is a chocolate orange so hence no ticking what so ever.
TINY
This buck has now been exported to Sweden where he has gone to help start an Orange N.Dwarf stud. He is the father of Jasper and he carries the chocolate gene.
This buck has now been exported to Sweden where he has gone to help start an Orange N.Dwarf stud. He is the father of Jasper and he carries the chocolate gene.
RUBY
The best typed Orange we have bred so far. She is very high rufus and because of this looks like she has ticking, but she doesn't. She is also carrying the chocolate gene.
The best typed Orange we have bred so far. She is very high rufus and because of this looks like she has ticking, but she doesn't. She is also carrying the chocolate gene.
SUNSHINE
Another chocolate carrier and sister to Ruby. She is super short with a great back end but she has a little bit of ticking, but is shaping up nicely for a brood doe.
Another chocolate carrier and sister to Ruby. She is super short with a great back end but she has a little bit of ticking, but is shaping up nicely for a brood doe.
SALLY
She is a super breeding doe. Excellent colour with no ticking and she carries the chocolate gene. She is the mother to Tiny and also Sunkist.
She is a super breeding doe. Excellent colour with no ticking and she carries the chocolate gene. She is the mother to Tiny and also Sunkist.
SUNKIST
Our latest baby and yet again another doe. She is a Chocolate Orange and is excellent colour. She is starting to shape up pretty well too with lovely style about her..
Our latest baby and yet again another doe. She is a Chocolate Orange and is excellent colour. She is starting to shape up pretty well too with lovely style about her..
CONNY
Another Tiny daughter but this time a Cinnamon. She carries Orange and will be mated to Sandy very shortly to ensure more Orange (chocolate carriers).
Another Tiny daughter but this time a Cinnamon. She carries Orange and will be mated to Sandy very shortly to ensure more Orange (chocolate carriers).
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