Well, as the title suggests, we’ve added a few critters to the homestead, starting with five little Russian Orloffs of the “spangled” variety from Welp Hatchery. Orloffs are a VERY old dual-purpose breed known for their extreme cold hardiness–a valuable trait in Alaska! Hens are said to lay well throughout the winter, though accounts as to egg size, quantity and even color seem to vary. Appearance-wise, the Orloff is more upright than many dual-purpose breeds owing to a Malay influence. The breed is currently listed as “critical” by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, and is found in America primarily in the Spangled color (more correctly a “speckled” or “mille fleur” pattern) though there are a few examples of mahogany, cuckoo, black breasted red, and some project pens working on blacks, whites and barred patterns other than cuckoo.
Orloff chicks at four days old.
I look forward to adding more lines and working on this fascinating breed in earnest.
Other new additions are a pair of Silver Fox does I just got from Fairbanks. These two little girls, half sisters, are GORGEOUS and will be excellent foundation stock.
Silver Fox rabbits are one of the few recognized breeds of rabbit created in the United States, and are also listed as “critical” on the ALBC watch list. They, too, are a dual purpose breed with meat dress-out percentages rivaling those of the commercial New Zealand White and a flesh quality preferred by The Ark of Taste.
3.5 month old doe, Ayn.
2 month old doe, Anais.
This large, docile breed is also the only rabbit with a “standing” type coat, a unique trait which makes their silvered black or blue fur closely resemble their name sake.
Last and not least, I also acquired a Flemish Giant jr. doe who will be housed with the Silver Foxes.
Silvia, the 8 week old Flemish Giant sport.
She is a pretty girl and already as big as any of my other rabbits at a mere 8 weeks of age. Silvia is not show quality because she is not a recognized color, she is, from what I’ve been able to find, a copper-ticked agouti sport out of a Steel Gray by a white buck, and a truly lovely addition to the homestead.
Haiku Heritage Farm 