Queensland Rodent Fanciers will be at the 2018 Animal Expo. This is a free event held at Old Petrie Town where a few of our Registered Breeders will be sharing the love for rats and mice. We would love to see you there!!!

Show Days 02 Written by Lincoln Pedersen
 
I have been going to the shows now for 6 years and enjoy every one. However, this show would have to take the cake. With a fantastic turn out - with plenty of squishy Rattos and gorgeous Meeces to share and cuddle. We’ve had an amazing level of participation in not only the exhibitors but also those learning new roles, such as; learning how to judge in all categories and learning how to Steward. The club looks as though its on an up and up with new faces coming in, even having a new person come in to learn how to judge.

Being the pet judge, I don’t get to see much, but despite my lack of visual attentiveness I can hear a lot of things around me, from laughter and chatter, to when my ears burn when I hear my name being said (all good things I hope). The atmosphere seems lighter and especially after I finish judging 77 pet rats and my job is done.

It’s half way though the show and lunch time is called. Having not quite judged to me desired half way mark, I start to go into panic mode and decide to take a quick break for lunch and continue judging in 15 minutes. However, that wasn’t the case. I got busy talking like usual and must be reminded that I’m still judging, oops. I take the journey back to my seat getting distracted a further 5 times before actually sitting down and starting again, socialising over until the end now.

With less than 3 hours on the clock I start to panic as I have about 55 pet rats to judge so I concentrate whilst being accurate with my decisions.  Time goes by fast and before I know it I’m down to my last 12 pets now. Its all or nothing at this point. I start to get excited as the near draws closer. Then… I’M DONE!!! Pens down, answers in and Bobs your uncle I’m finished for the day.

Which brings me to my favourite event. The awards! What a grandiose display! A fantastic spread of rosettes, bedding, breeder’s rodent food, rodent pet food and rodent hammocks and shampoos and mystery prizes for Bests in show and reserves in show! Covering two tables and beautifully spread out with the club’s new banner to the side for the personally dreaded photo shoots.
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Highlights of the day – Taking a big sigh of relief and being about to enjoy the rest of the day. Being able to present the awards to those I’ve judged and awarded. Seeing all different expressions when someone’s won an award for a class they thought they do terribly bad in – tots me lol. All these things almost make it worthwhile… almost… it’s the amazing company that makes it all worthwhile. The awesome conversations and the spontaneous laughter and making the occasional new friend along the way. These are the thing I love, and these are the moments I cherish. Well that’s all from me and I look forward to the next show.
 
Cheerio.  

My name is Amy and I have been a member of Queensland Rodent Fanciers (QRF) since April 2017. I am also the current Website Editor. A new idea has been put forward for the club to do updates after each show from the point of view of one of our lovely members.

Next show is approaching fast but since we are between shows I thought to kick things off I would start and give you a little backstory into my time as a member of QRF.

As I mentioned above I first started showing my boys in April 2017 after being encouraged by Tenille. She is currently the president of QRF and very passionate about the club and anything rat related (or any animal really). Tenille is always at shows and you'll meet her on the day but she is a close friend of mine and one of the reasons I went from zero rats to 10 plus rats in just over 12 months and started showing my rats.

A little bit about my rats. I currently have nine bucks (boys) and six does (girls). Of my boys I have entered most of them at some point over the last year of showing. A couple I now no longer show due to health issues or age. One of my other boys always has what the judges refer to as a “waffle” meaning his chest sounds a bit rattly. This can sometimes happen on show days as the rats can be a little nervous or stressed out on the day (especially for rats new to the showing world). The judges generally are good at knowing what noises are stresses of the day or if they are health related. Of my other boys who have been to shows they have all won a variety of places from 3rd place to best in their category and reserve rat in show. At the May show my younger boys will also be entered in their first show.

In terms of my girls I have only had them since October 2017 and the February show this year was their first, as before that they were too young and then Christmas happened. So I can only enter my younger girls in the May show and it will be there first show. Of my older girls two are about to have babies. Yes Tenille also got me into breeding my rats. No I am not a regsistered breeder so I CANNOT sell my rats. My other older girl Denali has a head tilt, which is considered a health issue even if it doesn't cause them issues during every day life.  


Leading into the show…

Entries are open for a week before the show and usually close the Wednesday before the show to allow for paperwork to be done. All my rats get bathed, nail trims and mite treated before the show. Baths aren’t 100% needed but are encouraged as they get marked down if they are dirty.

Rats also get marked down for having long nails. The judges are handling heaps of animals on the day. It’s not any fun for them if they have to worry about being covered in scratches at the end of the day. Mite treatments are so no one takes home any unwanted “friends” on the day.

A mite check is carried out before the show and any rodents with mites means the whole cage they are in can’t be showed. Which isn’t much fun. Once my rats are entered and prepared it’s time for show day!! :D

Now.. What happens on show days??

Well First.. You show up.. The hall is empty so everyone gets together to help set up tables and chairs for everyone. If you are showing your rats it is best to be there by 9:00am. I usually try to get there around 8.30am to help out more.
Once all tables are set up and payments are made for entries or memberships then the Judges move into their places to start the day. There is generally three judges. One for Pet Rats and Mice, one for Variety Rats and one for Variety Mice. Judging usually takes most of the day. This was something I didn’t realise at first. I thought it was a half day thing so my first show I was a little shocked to be there all day. But, as long as the day is, there is still plenty of fun to be had while the judges are working hard.

We often have cage displays. A theme is chosen and everyone gets right into decorating their cage and table. During lunch break (so judges can eat as well) there’s often some rattie related games. Sometimes Tenille offers a little lesson (if she isn’t busy judging herself) on various things. My first show she showed us all a little bit on what gets looked at during the judging process. Another show she showed us how to clip our rats nails.

Throughout the afternoon there will be some announcements on winners. There is also a raffle that happens. Everyone donates an item for the raffle table, not usually anything expensive just something fun that either a rat/mouse parent or rat/mouse will enjoy. This raffle is a fun way to raise some money for the club.

All throughout the day everyone usually says hi to one another, welcomes in new comers or visitors. And then once the day is done and ratties have won their prices everyone gets in together to help clean up the hall and put tables away. And then we all part ways having had a fun rat filled day! :D

So your next question is probably going to be about what the rats are judged on (or mice if you have those but I dont so can’t tell you too much about the mice).

So there are two categories (or classes) you can enter you ratties in Pet and Varieties;

Pet Class:
This class rats are judged on health, temperament and condition. Rats entered in this class must be at least 8 weeks old to be entered. The Pet class is broken up into age groups and then judged by gender as well. They are:
Young Category (2-6 months)
Young Adult Category(6-12 months)
Adult Category (12-18 months)
Senior Category (18+ months)

Varieties Class:
This class is a little detailed. I find a lot more breeders tend to enter rats in here as they tend to know more about rats “looks”. And in this class they are judged on looks as well as on health, temperament and condition. So the colours and markings of rats are looked at a lot closer in this class than they are in pet. They aren’t judged on age or gender. Rats must also be 12 weeks old to be entered in varieties. 

Rats can win in either pet or Varieties and can win anything 1st, 2nd or 3rd places. There is also a “Best” for each category (my Koda won Best Adult Buck for pets in the last show) and a “Best Reserve Rat in show” and “Best Rat in Show”. Basically these are the two rats in the pet class that the judge thinks are the best two rats :D. There is one of these for Rat and Mouse Varieties.

It’s really exciting when your rat or mouse gets an award or ribbon on the day. My Little won Best Reserve Rat in the last two show. Both my boys were rewarded with many cheerios. 
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I think that’s pretty much it. This has turned into more of a novel than I intended but I really hope it encourages some to come along because it’s a fun day surrounded by people who love rats (and mice). And a day surrounded by RATS!!!!

There’s a lot of QRF Members who have been showing for a lot longer than I have so have different stories and perspectives on everything. I am hoping to convince some of them to share their experiences too.  But really the best way to find out is to come along yourself.
I hope to see you there :D

Each month in our Facebook group we run a "Cutest Rat and Mouse" competition. Members of the Queensland Rodent Fanciers (QRF) Facebook community are encouraged to post a photo of their pet and at the end of the month based on which photo gets the most "likes" a winner is announced. 

The winners of April 2018 are: *drum roll*...

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As of May 2018 Queensland Rodent Fanciers would love to welcome Vetafarm as one of our club sponsors. We are incredibly proud and happy to have Vetafarm on the team.

Below is some information about Vetafarm as found on their website 
vetafarm.com.au/about-us/

Vetafarm is Australia’s leading innovator in companion animal health and welfare. With all products being focused on improving animal welfare Vetafarm prides itself on producing the best for your pet, be it a bird, reptile, dog cat or small mammal.

Dr Tony Gestier BVSc, sole owner and director of Vetafarm, has many years experience as a practising veterinarian as well as special qualifications in avian health (MACVSc) and pharmaceutics (BMSc). Under Dr Gestier’s direction Vetafarm has acquired professional production and marketing teams to serve the needs of all our companion animals and their owners.

Innovation remains the cornerstone of Vetafarm’s success. “All our products stem from a need to help the animal or its keeper” explains Dr Gestier, “as a veterinarian, I am always aware of the need to constantly improve animal health and welfare; sometimes the best way to do this is to make the animal care easier for the owner”. Since 1990 over 450 products have been designed and marketed by the dynamic group at Vetafarm.

Vetafarm operates out of three purpose built facilities within Wagga Wagga and surrounding districts. Administration, sales, marketing and the Vetafarm research and development team operate out of the Wagga Wagga based head office site. While the state of the art GMP approved pharmaceutical plant (license no 2239) and the food manufacturing facility operate in the suburb of Bomen, on Wagga’s outskirts.

Quality Control is integral to the production process at Vetafarm and the Quality Assurance group are charged with making sure only the best products leave the factories.

Vetafarm understand that the family pet is exactly that – family. The ability to have problems solved by helpful friendly staff on the phone is important to the philosophy of Dr Gestier and his team; all the staff are avid animal lovers with a menagerie of animals between them. This connection with animals shows when calling the staff at Vetafarm.

Vetafarm supplies products worldwide via an extensive network of distributors and resellers. Significant markets are Japan, US, Middle East, Philippines and Indonesia.

Due to their ability to innovate, the Vetafarm team are also used regularly by Australian Zoos to develop new ways to help improve zoo animal health. By using their vast knowledge of animal health needs, nutrition requirements and the technical ability to make unique products, Vetafarm are a valuable resource for zookeepers.


Thank you so much to Vetafarm for support a small but passionate club like ours. 

Hello and welcome to the new website for Queensland Rodent Fanciers Inc. (QRF)

In early 2018 it was decided that QRF needed a bit of an update on our website and here it is. On this site you will find much of the same information that our old website held as well as some exciting new features such as:

• News blog to keep you updated with club events, shows and much more.
• A new sponsors page dedicated to all the amazing sponsors who help QRF to offer amazing prizes at our shows
• Cutest Rat and Mouse competition winners featured on our website. 
• Continuing updates on our Show Results pages.  Each page will feature a list of all our winners and photos of all the major winners. 
• Updated Registered Breeders lists.
• Information about the QRF Management committee on our About page

Many of the QRF committee members helped to make our new website and we hope everyone love it as much as we do .