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I am Kim of Kim’s Cuddly Kritters Rabbitry.  My husband, Darrell, and I are always busy taking care of all the chores to run the rabbitry.  We are located in beautiful rural central Pennsylvania at the base of the Mountain.  We live on a small farm and have a variety of farm animals.  Our biggest is Sweet Pea, a Black Angus cow who is queen of the pasture.  Her subjects include Cody, a wild mustang we adopted, a rescued miniature horse named Rascal, goats, chickens, ducks, occasional pigs and 4 AKC registered cocker spaniels.  Duchess. Is expecting her third litter in March.  In the rabbitry we maintain a population of 150 to 200+ rabbits of 8 or more different breeds.  We specialize in Lionheads and have worked very hard to become one of the largest fancy rabbitrys on the east coast and some top in the nation in Lionheads
Our four children are grown and on their own; we miss them and all of the activity. But the quiet is nice too.  We also sometimes really miss their help with caring for the animals.  Their rooms have been redecorated into a guest room and a much needed office space.  My father recently retired and has moved closer, so we often have him help with projects.  The most exciting project is the addition of a new barn.  We are spending a lot of our time getting it ready for most of the outdoor rabbits to move inside. In the summer we sometimes escape to go fishing or the local old fashioned drive-in movie. Other times we just relax outdoors at home.  During the winter, you can find us close to the wood-burner we use to heat our farm house that still has some of the original log walls.
 I started raising and breeding rabbits and birds over 25 years ago.  I still have several birds, but focus now on rabbits.  My very first rabbit was a black Dutch named Daisy and my first show rabbit was a Holland Lop, KC-Popcorn.  Popcorn placed BOSB in 1988 and from then on, I was hooked!  Rabbit breeding just took off and has grown to the place we are now.  I have raised over 25 different breeds throughout the years. Currently there are Lionheads, Mini Lops, Holland Lops, English Lops, Flemish Giants, Netherland Dwarfs and Thriantas in the rabbitry.  We have used some innovative techniques and economical materials to accommodate all of the rabbits and litters.  Once the caging system is installed in the barn, caring for the all of the rabbits will be a lot easier.
My first lionhead was purchased in 2001.  He was a little black tort named Simba.  Soon afterward, I purchased two does for WHB’s Rabbitry and began my breeding program.  The first breeding produced KC-Pumba who won seven BOB titles.  He has been one of the most influential rabbits of my breeding stock.  Another rabbit named KC- Scar was very important to contributing to many of the colors I have been able to produce.  So far, I have been able to consistently breed over 45 colors in the Lionhead breed and have been recognized at the National level for the consistency in breeding of several of the colors.  I regularly participate in many local shows and travel to shows in several nearby states too.   Even though the Lionheads are not ARBA recognized yet, many Lionhead clubs hold shows in conjunction with the ARBA sanctioned shows.  We are very pleased our rabbits place well including BOB, BOSB, BOV and BOSV awards.
 Although color, wool, and body type are important qualities to breed for, we also are very particular about breeding for temperament. Not only are our rabbits COD quality, but they also have pleasant temperaments.  Nasty or skittish rabbits are removed from the breeding program regardless of their physical characteristics.  My does trust me enough to check out the nest box day one the kits are born.  Does that are not good mothers are also removed from the breeding lines.
Lionheads have been one of the most enjoyable breeds to raise.  They have nice -sized litters and are excellent moms; breeding them is enjoyable because they are good at doing what rabbits do best!  One of the frustrating parts of breeding is maintaining the mane.  Large-maned rabbits have too much wool on their faces and ears even though they have a clear break between the mane and flank.  Some would be disqualified as juniors and then molt baby wool and change to make wonderful seniors.  The opposite happens too, a nice junior with a wonderful break, clean face and nice main would molt everything and end up as seniors with very little wool for their manes.  Over time, I am beginning to figure out how to breed for better consistency.
My COD was approved in November of 2008.  I was so excited that I announced it right away.  I pulled the following colors:  Silver Martins in black, blue, chocolate and lilac, Otters in black, blue, chocolate and lilac, Chestnut, Lilac Tort, and Blue-eyed White.  This is a wonderful opportunity and I am enjoying working on it with a carefully planned breeding program.  Rabbits have always been a big part of my life and  being awarded a COD is a very exciting challenge.  Working on the COD lines certainly provides an important goal for what I love doing.  I cannot imagine not having rabbits; they will always be a big part of my life. Please come visit and see what is new at www.Kimscuddlykritters.net