Moonshine Stud

Information

I do not make any profit from my rabbits and money goes straight into care for their welfare and food. My rabbits do not leave until they are 10 weeks old or longer until I am satisfied with their development and health. I stock a rabbit first aid box just in case and they are looked at most days for health reasons.They are lovingly reared, tame and healthy. All get fresh vegetables (sweetcorn, carrots, bak choy, brussel sprouts, cabbage etc) and herbs (basil, corriander, mint, parsley and dried dandelion, hazel, garlic, plantain, rosehips - also dried cranberries, blueberries etc) as much as possible and have large runs to play in (with large tubes, hidey-holes, jingle balls etc) - good for mowing the grass for us! I am looking at more different hays (meadow, alfafa, timothy, alpine - also barley straw) and treats (wooden toys, jingle balls, chews) as the welfare of my rabbits is very important to me. The shops I use are on the links page.

I find the breeding and care of these bundles of fur very satisfying and rewarding. If I win anything at a show this is a bonus. I breed to the standards of the British Rabbit Council and I am lucky to have been offered stock and advice from some of the best breeders in the country (thanks guys).

Of course it can be a long and hard slog, taking at least 6 years to build up your own line so I'm in it for the long haul. Everyone is aiming for the Best in Show - hopefully I'll get there one day! 

Pet Buyers

All future bunny parents are vetted (by questionnaire) as I do not want timewasters and to make sure my kits end up in a family who suits the rabbit. Rabbits are not for sale during Christmas and Easter. Each baby bunny comes with food, pedigree, and information sheet.

If a rabbit is for a child there are many other things to consider. The last thing that should never happen as that the child will bore of its rabbit, not understanding it behaviour (you will be surprised how such a small rabbits can kick in defence) and if it goes into rescues because of a lack of interest (who are full enough at the moment) the bunny would have been through several homes already. Please be aware that the image of a small cute rabbit is attractive - he needs to go through his teen phases and his behaviour at times won't what you expect from a bunny. Consider neutering and spaying pet bunnies when they are at the correct age - VHD and Myxi. Also be aware of flystrike and the heat in the summer months. It is often easier to neuter a male due to his genitals being easier to operate on but do make sure you find a rabbit-savvy vet. See more info at the RWF.

It is wonderful to see a happy and contented rabbit binkying in his run or looking contented, completely flopped without a care in the world. The bond that you'll establish with your bunny is strong, so when you eventually lose it to death or other reasons it can be a very sad and difficult time.

If you cannot look after your rabbit any more then it should be returned to the stud. If you need help and advice just get in touch about your concerns (before and after getting a Moonshine bunny). If I can't help you I can put you in touch with people who can.

Most of all enjoy your rabbit!

Stock To Other Studs

I am happy to supply other breeders with stock, but there will be no guarantee the rabbit will be showable as this stud has only been up and running properly from Febuary 2006. Netherland Dwarfs take about 18 months to mature properly and a great u5 youngster may change into a not so good adult! (rabbits...sigh!). You can never tell what will come out from your litters and the colours they will throw. I can also supply breeding does. The best thing is to come and see the stud and look at the parents and siblings. We'll do the usual health checks (teeth, genitals etc) before the bunny goes, and you are under no obligation to buy unless you think the rabbit is ready for your stud too. The same applies to the Mini Lop stock. Rabbits can be rung if need be.

You'll get a full pedigree, food and transfer card if asked for. If you end up with a winner I've bred many congratulations! Rabbits are sold in good faith to other breeders and they will have been throughly checked to see if there are any faults before leaving.

Please take into account that I am a new breeder and am learning myself. But isn't it great to have your show rabbit win the BoB!

More Information

This website is not about the care of rabbits as there is plenty of information and advice out there. It is mainly to see the beauty of a pedigree Netherland Dwarf or Mini Lop and their popularity for show and pets testifies to their appeal. Showing rabbits has opened up a whole new world of friends and challenges and is a wonderful hobby for bunny lovers.

I only have a small stud so I have to be very selective in what I keep. The breeding season is April to the Autumn only. Rabbits are fed on timothy, meadow, herbal and other hay and grasses, Burgess pellets, barley straw and fresh veg and herbs. Most have been vaccinated and rearguarded. The bunnies are kept outside and not in a shed. I feel this is more natural for them and the ventilation is good - they also get used to people noise outside to prepare them for shows.

I am starting with the Hulstlander, a rare breed from Holland and also the Fauve de Bourgogne from France. These are expected to be long and slow projects due to the tiny gene pool in the UK. There are some beautiful rare breeds out there which do need working on. Likewise I have tan and red rabbits and am hoping to get some chocolates and oranges too!!

Thanks to Neill Gardner for giving me an imported REW buck from Holland. Also many thanks to Rosie and Jim Price for giving me a prize winning REW buck.To Phil Batey for friendship and support and for getting me some imported stock from Holland, and to Sallie Batey.

Also to Dennis Pizzey who gave me an agouti doe after our discussion on genetics after the Reading show. Also to Christine Hunter and Sue Dickenson, Reading friends, who have given me lifts to shows

The stud is named for black and white rabbits which I have - though otters, agoutis, REWs, sables, smokes, martens, opals and tans creep in.....

RIP Muffin, Emily, Charlie, Popeye, Bramble, Wispa who have gone to the Rainbow Bridge

Popeye was bred by Joe Rogers and was a lovely black otter buck. He was the foundation of the otters in the stud and I hope Joe will have a Popeye II soon! Thanks Joe!!

moonshinestud@gmail.com

 

 

 SOME STOCK AVAILABLE

Marion and Lucy Edwards, Anne Jones, Joe Rogers, Daren Morris, Paula Pyke, Ridgerose Stud, Faerdon Stud, Gary Hodson, Barry Taylor, Dennis Pizzey, Jayne Calvey, Lily Stud, Trina Cooke, Lew Bevan, Phil Batey, Nigel Atkinson, Neill Gardner, Trevor Hoole, Annamarie Scott-Coomber, Kakebred Stud, Jim and Rosie Price, Mary-Anne Price, Winston Laud

 

 

If you're really interested, Moonshine also resides on Facebook! (with lots of the rabbit fancy now, too many to mention!)

Phil Batey, Sallie Batey, Lauren Spence, Rosalind Spence, Sue Dickenson, Helen Chugg, Jayne Calvey, Paula Pyke, Ele Padwick, Mary-Anne Price, Don Meek, Lau Magro, Donna Lounton, Christine Hunter, Hannah Sayers, Petra Otto, Peter Faint and family, Dan Bennett and Chris Jewer, Mel Abell, Malc Nicholson, Sue and Jenny Carlile,  Judy Le Marchant, Jan Watling, Michelle and Hilda Collier, Ros Plowman, Becky Hughes, Frieda McNabb, Debbie Pollard, Sara Winter, Leah Jackson, Lisa and Duane Germany, Gemma Morris, Fiona Coombe, Nicki Cullis, Joe Rogers, Kerri Hughes, Dennis Pizzey, Pat Gaskin, Emma Magnus, Dee Gravatt, Michele Moore, the late Pat Pryor, George Pryor, Karen Wren, Gary Hodson, Chris Humphreys, Rebecca Rooney, Elaine Cakebread, Jim and Rosie Price, Jane Billinge, Octavio Rodrigues, Katie Walker, Andy Jones, Jean Evans and other breeders on the forums and shows - trying to remember you all!!

 

 

© Photo and text permissions copyright of their respective owners: Hazel Acford, Helen Chugg, Steve Envis, Don Meek, Joe Rogers, Phil Batey, Sue Dickenson, Lau Magro, Debbie Pollard, Neil Robertson, Mark Philpotts, Heather Dixon, Rebecca Rooney, Geoff Russell, Paula Pyke, Helen Jeffery, Judy Le Marchant, Michelle Collier, Maureen Hoyle, Mary-Anne Price, Dreamstime Picture Library, Web Creation UK, Lauren Spence, BRC. If I have missed any permissions so far please let me know and I will ammend the error. Otherwise all photos, text and design Moonshine Stud hosted by Freewebs.

 

I have a pair of gorgeous black and tan (what else?) Belgian Hares from Annamarie Scott-Coomber as pets although I will probably have a go at showing them too. They are only babies at the moment and were born on 28th Feb 2008 and called Harry and Harriet.