Kalusha's Cavies
Specialist Breeder of Lunkarya & Peruvians
Diary 2010
It is with a heavy-heart we start 2010, having just said 'good-bye' to Crème and Caesar. It has certainly made me question myself as a breeder in terms of why I seem so reluctant to breed my cavies!! Had I had a litter from both my boys (who were both nearly 2 years old), the heartache would not be so severe. I realise I do breed so slowly, mainly because I feel so responsible for these little furries!! I do worry about the risk of pregnancy, what I would do if complications occurred and of course where the babies will go that don't remain here.
I have so many enquiries about my Lunkarya's and indeed my waiting list is long. I do feel conscious of so many eyes on my 'available' page (which, admittedly, is rarely updated!!) as I just don't have many for sale! I love my pigs and hope that I have done them justice to search for a good, long-term home and that new owner will feel the same delight that the pigs allow me.
This year, I do hope I can provide new-comers to the Lunkarya breed a starting step into this amazing breed and that all my boys do have a chance to have sons before it's too late. Last year, we had a very successful showing career and I hope I can emulate that again this year.
7th March
I have made the decision to retire Isolde. Her obsessive behaviour of pulling out her cage mates hair and eating it is so severe, that both boars she lived with are utterly terrified of her!
1st March
Yesterday was Wessex CC show and we had a thoroughly enjoyable day. We had the pleasure of finally meeting Richard, Fiona and Don in person - so lovely to have lunch with such like-minded people. It just shows that there is great support for the Lunkarya breed! We have Luigi leaving us for Greenstar Cavies, Herbie & Kings of Leon going to Caroline, Odakota going with Don and Black Arrow staying with Richard. Mille did well at her first show experience - winning her class by Gerry Harvey.
At home,I felt little kicks within Jambolini and Felisha - so fingers crossed for safe deliveries within the month. Faith is now living with Phantom for her last litter. Fallen is also living with Will.
26th Feb
I have decided to 'bite the bullet' (so to speak!) and have a number of sows in with boars. So come the end of May, we will have a population explosion! Then a well-earned 3-4 months break over summer so I can concentrate on showing! Gucci, Felisha and Jambolini are pregnant! Another week until I feel movment I expect. Englantine appears pregnant, but not 100% convinced - unless it's only one?! I have also introduced a Lunkarya Interest form of the Available page, to allow people to quickly contact me about what they are looking for.
24th Feb
Truffle, one of our original home-bred sows passed away. She has nearly 6 1/2 years old and developed a mammary tumour about 1 1/2 years ago. She was a typical rex and just kept on going against all the odds! In the last 2 weeks, she definately had declined somewhat and her weight was down to the 500g mark. She was still normal in herself, but we knew it was the right time. It is the end of an era!
14th Feb
Our 4 metre retirement pen for the sows is now complete! My partner decided to put all of the sows to test it out - so bit packed! Still they had a lovely time! Photos on our new 'The Caviary' page. I shall get new photos with just the retiree's in soon. On another note, babies are doing well and our latest additions, Will & Matilda, have settled in nicely.
9th Feb
Hope had her first litter today - just the one sow weighing in at 146g! That is a new record here! This is Gambit's third litter - lucky boy! The golden agouti, gold and white sow is named 'Qai Qai' and will be staying here.
8th Feb
The weirdest experience I have ever had!
Hollie has her litter! A breeched birth wasn't the best start - but we soon wrangled the bugger to the right direction! Out popped a black, cream and white sow who will be staying here as a memento of our efforts! Later a tri colour boar emerged...... then 4hours later.....still no contractions...nothing!
About to go to the vets and she then decided to have contractions. I was on the phone to them explaining, when I returned she had littered to one - so I picked it up but already gone. So I waited for ther next one and grabbed it - still in the sac - tore it open and it took the biggest breath I have ever seen! So a 99g golden agouti and chocolate boar. Fantastic! Poor Hollie just turned around and went to sleep! I have never known to sow to litter over such a long period. Still, everyone is doing well and Hollie is having an early retirement!
24th Jan
In the next month there will be quite a few changes here, hopefully Hope and Hollie will be weaning their first litters. We have quite a few pigs leaving us to start their lives with new owners. Due to a change in circumstances, we will be having Will and Matilda from Tudorvale Stud to hopefully live out their days here. Also, I shall be changing my setup to incorporate a large free range pen for the retired sows. One day I hope I can bring myself to start finding loving, knowledgeable, permanent retirement homes for some of our sows!!
11th Jan
Felisha and Gucci are living with Dougal from today. Mille has been seperated to 'hopefully' stay in coat - although she is alot like Gambit in that she is a finger-nibbler!! So I shall see how she goes before definately putting her in front of a judge!
Hollie and Hope had 'little kicks' today!! SO excited!! Caesar will be a father after he has gone, so I shall have to certainly keep one of the babies for definate! Hope is my little girl, whom I am so proud of - so of course a daughter should stay too! Not 100% sure with Nola as yet - she is not the largest size naturally, so just waiting for little movements still...
7th Jan
We have quite a few boars leaving us soon to help start up new Lunkarya breeding lines. It seems a shame to keep them here under the pretence of 'using them one day' when people need them now!
Isolde went in with Jonkhy today, so fingers crossed for ten weeks to fly by! I am waiting for 'little kicks' to be 100% sure, but Hollie, Nola and Hope are all showing signs of prenancy. So beginning/middle of Feb will be a fun month! Once the weather is warmed(!) I shall update some photos of the pigs and babies.
