Themes & Goals
Ratterfly once had many many many many lines going at once; and to be honest, it just got to be too hectic and far too demanding on me. Once the fire's hit and I unfortunately had to rehome the majority of my adults and breeding line, I decided I'd start back as basics, pick ONE line, and expand from there. These are the lines I'm currently working on; from the ground up. I am honest on my goals and I'm ever forthright on the history of them. If you'd like to know how to help me with a particular line, or if you'd benefit from something I have, drop me an e-mail!
Ratterfly is migrating everything into 100% Dwarf!
At the moment, I have a generalized dwarf line. I have many goals and priorities for my dwarfs, however! That being said; here they are - in order of priority.
Goals (priority 1-7) -- all of these with the exception of probably Harley will require out-crossing. If you have a line you'd like to help me on, please feel free to e-mail me and we can chat :)
- American blue
- harley
- Burmese
- merle
- Russian blue
- "mouse" dumbo (will require import from NY)
- kinky (will require import from NY)
To achieve these goals; I will need the help of others. That's why it's so fantastic to have friends. :) American Blue has been my goal for longest; thus why it's at the number 1 priority position - harley takes a back seat, despite that it will be easier to achieve. I will resume my dwarf breedings when I'm feeling well enough and have my newborn daughter on a somewhat predictable routine - my guess is sometime between late July and September - although my "line to goal" breedings will not be started until October of this year. This will give me an opportunity to home my standard sized kiddos. Anyone who doesn't find a home or isn't suitable to home (due to health or age) will be kept until they make their way across the bridge.
That being said...
Priority #1: American Blue
First breeding will be October 2011. Once the base of "blue" is achieved, I will begin breeding in ear & coat types.
- **FLY Corky; beige self [x] American blue doe (assume standard type, no carriers for dwarf)
** -OR- FLY Jake; beige hooded down-under - I will decide later for sure. The reason I'm deciding on these two bucks is because they both have similar breeding; both carry blue. Corky is closest to the blue, so I hope to use him - however, animals are as unpredictable as earthquakes, and life may have other plans for me. That being said, we will currently assume I will be using Corky.
- Keep pick of litter (POL) doe[*] if blue is expressed. Although I hope for this, probably not likely. This litter SHOULD produce 100% black. If I'm right and blue is not expressed, keep POL pair (male/female).
- Breed POL blue doe[*] back to Corky. This is likely to produce 25% dwarf, 75% blue if I'm lucky. I'm not lucky.
- Keep POL blue buck to breed back to blue doe[*][1] or POL blue doe[2] to breed back to Corky. Litter [1] will produce roughly 50% dwarf in 100% blue, litter [2] will produce roughly 75% dwarf in 75% blue. Retain pick(s) of litter. Goal achieved.
Alternatively, with the sibling pair:
- Breed sibling pair (which would be black x black) to produce 50% dwarf litter with some expressed blues.
- Keep POL dwarf pair, no matter the color.
- Breed pair back to produce blue. Goal achieved.
MAX litters used: |||| (either method/route)
MAX standard-size rats retained: ||| (either method/route)
MIN time used: 1 year, assuming breeding/conception to take 1 week, gestation is 3 weeks, and 12 to 16 weeks to mature per retained POL baby. Hope to have goal achieved by October 2012.
Breeding Schedule:
- October 2011: Corky x Am. Blue doe
- January 2012: Corky x POL blue doe [OR] Sibling x Sibling
- May 2012: POL blue buck x original POL blue doe [OR] Corky x 2nd POL blue doe [OR] POL dwarf pair
- September 2012: dwarf sibling x sibling (if necessary) - goal achieved, babies will be weaned in October/November 2012.
Blues Theme: still voting!
Current Types:
Pattern: --
Ears: --
Coats: --
Priority #2: Harley
First breeding will be October 2011. Once harley has been established, I will begin breeding in ear types and patterns.
- CPA Harvey [x] FLY Blossom
- Keep pick of litter (POL) buck & doe (if dwarf) - if not, retain POL of one gender and breed back to opposite parent.
- Retain POL dwarfs. Goal achieved.
Alternatively, CPA harley carrying dwarf x Blossom: This should produce some dwarfs, all of which will be harley.
- Keep POL dwarf, either gender (male if possible).
- Breed back to parent. This should produce 75% dwarf, again all harley. Goal achieved, keep POL.
Alternatively, CPA dwarf carrying harley x Blossom: This should produce 100% dwarf, 50% should be harley.
- Keep POL harley dwarf, preferably female.
- Breed female back to CPA dwarf. This should produce 100% dwarf in 75% harley coat. Goal achieved. Keep POL.
MAX litters used: || (despite method/route)
MAX standard-size rats retained: | (if using route #2, all others would be zero)
MIN time used: 6 months, assuming breeding/conception to take 1 week, gestation is 3 weeks, and 12 to 16 weeks to mature per retained POL baby. Hope to have goal achieved by May 2012.
Breeding Schedule:
- October 2011: CPA buck x Blossom
- January 2012: CPA buck x POL doe [OR] POL x Parent - goal achieved, babies will wean March/April 2012.
Harley Theme: rockstars/bands/music
Current Types:
Pattern: Self
Color: Champagne
Ear: Standard
Page Under Construction from here down!
Downunder
Downunder
was never high on my list; however I'm letting them come to me;
regarding what pops up in my litters. This line will be built from the
ground up using my stock only as well as the occasional studding from
another rattery. This line will be hooded DU, based on one spontaneous buck I had show up in a litter very randomly.
Goals
for this line include thickening tails, adding dumbo and color, and
perfect the hoods without compromising the belly swatch. Eventually our DU
will all be dwarf.
Theme: Australian Things
Types:
Pattern: Berkshire, Hooded
Color: Black, Beige
Ear: Standard
Coat: Standard
Merle/Tortoiseshell
I am very excited to have an opportunity in Merles & Torties. I have crash-coursed in their genetics and am learning as I go. I will only sell torties to breeders who have established a trusted relationship with me and have a solid outlook on their breeding program through specialized husbandry lines, as well as displaying an effort of breeding to improve the variety.
Theme: Neil Gaiman
Types:
Pattern: Berkshire, Self, Irish, English, Hooded
Color: Pearl, Mink
Ear: Standard
Coat: Standard
Harley Coated
I
hadn't planned on doing anything with Harley coated, however I was
lucky enough to be around the right people at the right time. When ARS
bought two RFCR-bred Harleys, I volunteered to babysit until they went
home. ARS is allowing me to breed a litter and retain some of the
babies! This is why I love my breeder friends.
Goals for this line are to establish harley in my own colony and eventually incorporate harley with dwarf.
Theme: David Bowie
Types:
Pattern: Berkshire, Self, Irish, English
Color: Mink, Champagne, Platinum, Cinnamon
Ear: Standard
Coat: straight coat Harley
Russian Blue Burmese
While I love Russian Blue, I found an intense joy of the Burmese variety of my RB line. Of course, my Russian Blue Agouti ties directly into this line, so can't have one without the other - good thing I think RBA is beautiful as well! I occasionally have black-eyed siamese and himalayan pop out of these litters as well, and occasionally the BES are kept to further my burmese line, however my primary focus is Burmese.
Goals for this line include breeding out white, maintaining body style, and sharpening/intensifying color points. This line is my exclusive satin line as well.Theme: Human Names - primarily classic book characters
Types:
Pattern: Self Burmese
Color: N/A - Russian Blue is all they come in :)
Ear: Standard
Coat: Standard
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