Move Over Bugs Bunny, There's a New Breed in Town

Rare breed rabbits are furry, fun, and in need of good stewards. Here are some facts about rare breed rabbits!

The American Chinchilla rabbit is a large docile breed. At first glance they are salt and pepper colored but once the fur is blown into, four distinct bands of color will appear. They are a fast growing breed that in 8-10 weeks of age can be processed to produce 2 ½ - 3 lb fryers.

When the fur of the Silver Fox rabbit is stroked from tail to head, it will stand straight up until stroked in the opposite direction. This trait is found in no other breed and greatly resembles the pelt of the silver fox of the Arctic. They are large sweet rabbits suitable for first time rabbit owners.

The Belgian Hare is not a hare at all but is a true rabbit breed created to look like a wild hare. Their unique “rufous red” color and curious personalities endear Belgian Hares to their owners who find managing this active breed a pleasurable challenge.

The trademark of the Blanc de Hotot rabbit is its lustrous white fur with a black ring around the eyes. Their short fur makes them fairly heat tolerant. Some lines of Blanc de Hotot are even known to even thrive in the extreme heat and cold conditions of the high desert in California without fans, heat, or air conditioning.

The ancient Silver rabbit breed is one of the oldest known breeds of domestic rabbit. There exists in England to this day, continuously inhabited warrens of Silver rabbits whose origins can be traced back to the rabbits brought to England by Sir Walter Raleigh in the 1500’s.

The Beveren rabbit, although developed in Belgium, became a favorite of the royal family in England and has the distinction of having been kept at Buckingham Castle. They also served as the mascot for the Royal Air Force.

The Crème D’Argent rabbit is now extinct in its native land of France. All but a small handful of the remaining Crème D’Argent rabbits are now found in America. According to the Crème D’Argent Rabbit Federation, there are only 700-800 of these beautiful rabbits world-wide.

The Giant Chinchilla rabbit is an American original. Adults can reach 15-16 lbs at 8-9 months of age. The docile does are excellent mothers and can often foster kits from other litters.

The uniquely colored Lilac rabbit has a pelt of beautiful pinkish dove gray. They are docile and are reputed to be good with children when handled often.

The Rhinelander rabbit is an active rabbit breed that is known as the “calico of the fancy” due to its white coat with black and orange markings. Producing Rhinelanders with correct coloration is a relished challenge for breeders of these active and likeable rabbits.

American Sable rabbits were rescued from the brink of extinction through the “S.O.S.” (Save our Sable) campaign of dedicated breeders in the early 1980’s. They are docile and make excellent pets for first time rabbit owners.

Each of theses rare rabbit breeds has much to offer in terms of personality and production qualities for future aspiring rabbit fanciers. For more information about each breed, check out ALBC's breed profiles.