A Cavy Garden

The latest project in my cavy kingdom is a cavy friendly garden, complete with herbs that my cavies and I can eat. They are currently in planters along the edge of my verandah so I can lean over and easily pick them for consumption. So far the leaves have been incredibly popular in the caviary.

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.

Water for Cavies

Fresh water is very important for cavies. You can create a blend by adding supplements to it that can be beneficial. Be aware that adding anything to your cavies water can cause a change in taste. This may result in them reducing their intake. I like to provide the supplemented water in an additional bottle, so my cavies still has access to plain water as well. Supplemented water should be disposed of at the end of the day. In hot weather this should be done even sooner to avoid undesirable bacteria growth.

My First Pedigree Show

 Last month I entered Zoli, in my first pedigree show. Was I nervous? Yes indeed. However, she was surprisingly well behaved on the table and it was a wonderful experience.

All the Colours of the Rainbow

Each variety of cavy is remarkable for the features of its breed. These 'focal points' are the aspects that breeders strive not only to maintain but to improve with each generation that is born. One notable feature of any cavy, is coat colour. The importance of colour, in terms of showing and breeding varies depending on the breed in question.

Mio and Zoli

My Texel girls Mio and Zoli are coming along nicely, so I thought I would share some photos. They are both four months old now.

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.

An Important Story To Tell

This is not a blog I want to write. It is not a story I want to tell. It is not even something that I want to be true. It is a true story though and one of great importance for all cavy owners. 

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.

Six Wonderful Cousins

Over the Christmas Holidays I got to witness two beautiful births. Magic and Goldie were put to their boars on the same day, so I knew depending on conception, that they were due around the same time.

Hot, Hot, Hot

With temperatures in Queensland this week as high as 46.1 degrees celsius, I thought it might be a good time to review the information on my extreme weather cavy care page that relates to the heat.