The 'D' Word

Dropcoat or dropped coat is when a section or sections of a cavies hair falls out and then regrows. This is an issue because you cannot show a cavy with chunks of hair missing or drastically shorter than the rest of the coat. A cavy who has dropped its coat does not belong on the show table. Furthermore, it should not be bred with either. Whilst it is not as straightforward as being simply a dominant or recessive gene it is a genetic condition which will be passed on through the line of breeding.

The Cavy Fancy is Not a Macca's Drive-Through

When wanting to buy a new cavy, you can't just roll on up, place your order and wait to be served. It simply doesn't work that way. I often receive emails from people asking whether I have any cavies of a certain breed for sale and telling me that no-one in Queensland has any available. Truth is, there are plenty of cavies around, especially boars but no-one is going to sell to a newbie who treats the cavy fancy like a fast food drive-through.

Show Team 2014 - First Look

 It has been a little quiet here, at Enchanted Kingdom Cavy Stud. There are no litters due and I have not even worked out this years pairings. I was focussed on my up and coming first breed standard showing. I selected three sows to coat out.

The Three P's: Pet, Pedigree, Purebred.

A pedigree animal has a recorded history. The word purebred is sometimes used synonymously with the term pedigreed, however pedigree refers to the written record. Animals can be purebred but not have a pedigree. Just because an animal has a pedigree does not mean it is purebred. Confusing I know.

Boys Will Be Boys

My mother came around this afternoon and put a pet carrier down on my floor. "Oooh!" I exclaimed excitedly "Did you get a new piggie?".... "No!" she declared. "I did not. Now, I want you to look at this pig and tell me what I want to hear." I dutifully checked over her healthy crested sow. Glossy eyes, shiny coat, nice weight..... hmmm.... rounded belly.... I couldn't help the grin from spreading across my face. "Yes, she's well conditioned" I said, "Um, did Charlotte happen to have a boar in her last litter?" "Yes" said Mum "his name is Mr Pickles because he's such a gentleman.  I burst out laughing. "It isn't funny" said Mum and to be honest, in this case, technically she is right. 

Photo Updates

I was busy today taking some update photos, so I thought that I would share them. As you can tell, I have named my two additions from last week. Hard to believe they are one week old already!

Minnie and Zavier's Litter Has Arrived

My beautiful pedigree sheltie has given birth today. I was waiting on her pedigree partner to arrive but when he wasn't yet available and the months rolled by, I came to the decision that a pet litter would be the best choice. This litter effectively eliminates the risk of dystocia, which is most common in sows bred and having their first litter after approximately 6 months of age. Dystocia is the inability of the pubic symphisis to open during labour due to a loss of flexibility that can occur at maturity.

Pedigree Update

YoYoMar "Night Star"

Months of patience have seen me finally blessed with another sheltie sow. This lovely lass has been nicknamed Star. She has a beautiful personality and has settled in really well. This makes her Enchanted Kingdom Cavy Stud's third pedigree sheltie. 

Being a Newcomer to the Cavy Fancy

The cavy fancy really can be a puzzling phenomenon. The goal of the group as a whole, as it seems to me, is to share our enjoyment of and love for cavies. To improve each breed individually and the overall quality of the species. If no-one was fanatical and no-one cared enough to own pedigrees and breed purebred lines imagine what a miss-matched, muddle guinea pigs would be! The same could be said for any species really, dogs, budgerigars, horses. If everyone just cross-bred and pet owned we would undoubtedly of lost the purity of many great lines. So there really is something to be said for the animal elitists.

Recent Happenings In My Cavy Kingdom

This month brought some more babies. This time a darling set of triplets born to Miss 2's beloved pet Wobby. They are tri-colours and with a merino father (Zavier) and long coat genetic's carrying mother, it will be a waiting game to see whether they get long coats or not.