A big thank you to Joanne Bernard of Chanel Stud for allowing me to have a trio of lovely Self Slates, one of which includes the 2011 National Best of ...
Well, I thought I had better post an update for this month. Firstly, all cavies are settled in, and the few hot days has seen the shed stay relatively cool thanks ...
Well my caviary is currently a 3m colourbond shed and although it does it's job, it's farm from what I want. So we are building a new wooden shed, complete ...
I have been involved with the show scene since the early 80s in Brisbane, Australia. I exhibited pet cavies as a child until the mid 80s, and soon after, I started to show pedigree cavies and registered my first stud name. Click the About Us button to find out more.
Hi and welcome to the Renaissance Cavies website. I’m Matt Gardiner, a registered breeder and exhibitor of pedigree exhibition cavies. I am owner of both Renaissance & Tantras Cavies, my two stud prefixes which are registered with the Australian National Cavy Council, Australia’s coordinating body for the Fancy. Please have a look around my website, I hope you enjoy your time here. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Happy Cavying, Matt
A big thank you to Joanne Bernard of Chanel Stud for allowing me to have a trio of lovely Self Slates, one of which includes the 2011 National Best of Breed Self Slate, Chanel Blue Spring.
Well, I thought I had better post an update for this month. Firstly, all cavies are settled in, and the few hot days has seen the shed stay relatively cool thanks to a huge pepper tree and climber that grows on the side and roof of the shed. We also have litters due in November and December, these being Silver Agoutis, Abyssinians, Self & Crested Black, Black & possibly Chocolate Dutch as well as a perhaps Cream and Lemon Agoutis from a side project I have going. I am also coating out a couple of young longhairs, and I will [ Read More ]
Well my caviary is currently a 3m colourbond shed and although it does it’s job, it’s farm from what I want. So we are building a new wooden shed, complete with insect screens, a kitchenette area, air-conditioning and more. It will be almost 4m x 4m so plenty of room, and situated between two other sheds and under a huge pink peppercorn tree. So it has a lot of shade through the hottest parts of the day. In winter it will have the morning sun to warm it up, and plenty of indirect light. Anyway here is a photo of [ Read More ]
I have just updated the Past Cavies page. You will find plenty of photos of our Dutch, Dalmatians and Self Blacks from the 90s.
Well, we have finally finished making a set of Hammerlock style cages. We wanted to make it look as “wooden” as possible so as to hide the metal frames of the hammerlock. I think the overall effect was a success. All up the block of hutches cost ~$350AUD, which includes the hammerlock shelving. They are fairly quick to assemble if you have some decent tools and pre-cut your wood. They measure 1800mm high x 1200mm wide x 600mm deep. Anyway here are some pics. The photo above basically just shows the hammerlock shelves, and we have added two of the [ Read More ]
These are some photos of my old hutches that myself and my partner built several years ago… okay okay, my partner did most of the work. If you need some ideas on how to build your own hutches you can perhaps get some starting points from these pictures below. The foundations. Getting the framework up. Nearly there. And finally the framework is finished. Now to wire it. Voila! Finished. The happy occupants! Photos like these and many more are included in my book, The Advanced Guide to Cavy Keeping.
The “Advanced Guide to Cavy Keeping”, which also includes my genetics guide “Colour Inheritance in Cavies”, is one of the most comprehensive up to date cavy guides around for Australian Fanciers. It contains many chapters on the facets of owning, breeding and exhibiting cavies in Australia. This guide is extremely helpful to those both new to the fancy and cavy keeping, as well as those more experienced owners, breeders and exhibitors looking for some new ideas, thoughts to consider, and an easy to understand introduction to all known colour and coat type genetics in Cavies. There are too many sections [ Read More ]
The Australian National Cavy Fanciers Online Community Forums is the best cavy forum on the internet aimed solely at registered breeders, exhibitors and judges of Pedigree Exhibition Cavies. Overseas members are always very welcome. You will find information on anything cavy related in Australia, including the Australian Cavy Clubs in each state, and their many breeders and exhibitors. This forum is now owned and run by Heather of Wotamess & Shemelle Cavies, in South Australia.