Re: breeding queens - duckie
Posted by: Anonymous User (---.dalect01.va.comcast.net)
Date: April 01, 2003 03:17AM
I'm still investigating, but if I go by the model of the breeder that we bought Odin from, we should do pretty well. I'm not going into it for the money. I just love cats and particularly that breed. By the way, some of the super show quality RagaMuffins have been sold for over $1000! I bought Odin for $700, which is slightly low to average for his fur style. The mink kittens are still a little rare.
As far as finding other studs and queens, it won't be a problem. There are 2 other breeders within about a 3 hour drive from me and 2 more within 6 hours. The breed is beginning to get known and gain some popularity and most breeders can't keep up with demand, so there will be a good market for kittens for many years to come.
And with our vet, we get a quanity discount. And one of their other customers is a ragdoll breeder and she's always willing to give out advice. She's quite popular on the breeders' circuit. In the US, at least in our state, the owners are allowed to give kittens and cats shots at home, they just have to register, so you don't have to pay the service charge, just for the vaccine supplies.
I really don't want to do too many litters. I know kittens can be a pain. Even though they are awfully cute. I want to start out slowly and get lots of advice from our own breeder. He said he'd be willing to do a trade system for stud and queen breeding rights. It can only make the breed stronger.
As far as experience, none in actual breeding/selling. I've always had cats and I grew up on or near farms. I've never shown cats, however, I may plan on showing Odin after we get him neutered so I can get rid of the stud-tail factor (the nasty waxy residue that happens on the lower 1/3 of their tails...kinda like greasy teenager hair) I want to get as educated as possible before we sink any money into this anyway. Plus we won't be buying a house of our own for a couple more years, so I do have time.
Thanks for the advice. I'm really trying to get educated about it before we jump in. If not for our own protection but also for the cats' wellbeing. I want happy and healthy babies. (That's another thing about this breed...they tend to be VERY healthy and robust. Very few litters have high morbity rates. And those that do are sold as pet kittens only and must be neutered.)