I am not really trying to give you a lesson in coloring. I was hoping more to use it to answer a question. I have been asked several times now, "Why do you hate color?" So it has had me pondering. And the truth is, I don't hate color at all. In fact if I had it my way, I would have a giant barn full of any color I pleased. The reality is however that in many breeds color is well known for taking away the true qualities of the breed. It's not just in rabbits that the term "Color Breeders" is used. But just like in my analogy of Coloring, you must take your time and outline a plan and progress. All too often I see adds for Chocolates, or lilacs or blues. And if you take time to learn type you quickly develop an eye for the fact these colors seem to lack something. I feel almost as the breeders become so enthralled in creating a pretty color they forget to take their time and outline a plan. Even in the Torts, which are best known for type, you must have a plan. you must aim to progress.
When we started out, our main objective was to breed our own homegrowns to show. We accomplished that. So I suppose we could just sit back and keep breeding the same ole rabbits and keep doing what we are doing. But in a way that is kind of like coloring with no rhyme or reason. Instead we have reviewed our stock. Our favorite herd buck that we are so dearly in love with is actually not as good as we would like. We now notice things about our stock that we would like to correct or improve.
In many rabbitries I see all too often nestbox after nestbox filled with baby bunnies that looked just as terrible as the previous litter. I don't hate their color. I am bothered that the breeders never evaluate their stock and aim to improve. They know they have extra long ears and terribly slipped crowns but they continue doing the same breedings instead of working hard to find a rabbit to correct their problems. If you look at sights like Luvops, they have Otters, blues, and even Chinchilla and LOOK at them! They are incredible. They don't have those long thin ears. They don't have those slipped crowns. They don't have those dipped shoulders. They have color, but they took the time to learn, they outlined a plan and they progressed. And I love their color!