Willow x Derwent

Brandywine Derwent (Russian Blue: a/a D/- M/m rb/rb) x Brandywine Willow (Russian Blue Agouti Essex: A/a D/- Hro/H M/- rb/rb) Mated: 15th April 2011 Born: 8th May 2011. Willow is being mated to her maternal uncle, Derwent. Willow is a lovely doe from my August 2010 litter, so will be 8 months old when she has her litter. She is Russian Blue agouti Essex carrying self, and may or may not carry British blue and mink. She is a very pretty doe and I hope will produce show quality kittens. Willow's littermates are all doing well as far as I can ascertain. Derwent is a lovely affectionate buck, climbing my legs for attention when he's out and loving being held. Russian blue is my favourite colour - an intense stormcloud grey with a very dense undercoat. Derwent carries the mink gene, and may or may not carry British blue. Most of Derwent's littermates are doing well, although one of his four sisters sadly died during a spay and one of his five brothers suffers from chronic respiratory noises. Expected Varieties: Mating Derwent to Willow would give me Essex and unmarked in Russian Blue Agouti and Russian Blue, and also a smaller chance of Mink and British Blue affecting the colours. Actual Varieties: Russian Blue, Russian Blue Agouti, Russian Blue Essex, Russian Blue Agouti Essex. Number of Kittens: 17 born, all survived. 9 does and 8 bucks.

Diary

Friday 22nd April 2011 - 7 days pregnant

Well, I think she is - Willow has gone from 468 grams ten days ago to 500 grams today.

Thursday 5th May 2011 - 20 days pregnant

Willow is looking really well.

Sunday 8th May 2011 - Delivery Day

Willow has 17 little ones, all of whom are noisy and wriggly.

Tuesday 10th May 2011 - 2 days old

Willow's babies are still doing well.

Friday 13th May 2011 - 5 days old

Four of Willow's babies have been fostered over to her aunty Dolly, leaving her with 13 to take care of.

Monday 16th May 2011 - 8 days old

Wednesday 18th May 2011 - 10 days old

DOES			BUCKS
Photo	Description		Photo	Description
	RBA Essex, 17g			Russian Blue Agouti, 23g
	Russian Blue Agouti, 20g			RBA Essex, 21g
	Russian Blue, 23g			RB Essex, 24g
	RBA Essex, 23g			Russian Blue Agouti, 25g
	Russian Blue, 22g			Russian Blue Agouti, 21g
	RBA Essex, 21g			Russian Blue Agouti, 23g
	RBA Essex, 19g			Russian Blue, 20g
	Russian Blue, 23g			Russian Blue, 21g
	RBA Essex, 20g

22nd May 2011 - 14 days old

The babies are just opening their eyes, and beginning to wander around the cage.

Tuesday 24th May 2011 - 16 days old

Saturday 28th May 2011 - 20 days old

Willow's babies, more or less random order because my notes didn't make sense.

Sunday 29th May 2011 - 21 days old

Thursday 2nd June 2011 - 25 days old

Russian blue agouti essex girls

Russian blue girls

Russian blue agouti essex boy

Russian blue essex boy

Russian blue agouti boys

Russian blue boys

Sunday 6th June 2011 - 28 days old

Saturday 11th June 2011 - 34 days old

The girls

The boys

Saturday & Sunday 18th & 19th June 2011 - Six-ish weeks old

Saturday 25th June 2011 - almost 7 weeks old

Having thought I had a very full waiting list for does, it's all faded into the mists and I've found myself keeping more girls than I had intended. No real hardship! ;-) I've put spots on the babies' tails so I can tell them apart.