My Suburban Micro-Farm: It's Rabbit Time Again!

This Sunday coming up, I'm going rabbit hunting! Not with a gun, but with sharp eyes. Well I guess you need that too. I'm rabbit shopping, for some new rabbit companions here on the micro-farm. I've been wanting to breed rabbits for very long time, but more so after getting Henry my first lionhead rabbit. Unfortunately after his passing, I no longer had a rabbit and I loved Henry very much. I would have purchased a breeding pair in the spring but the usual selling fairs were cancelled due to a commercial outbreak of avian flu. This fall the buy and sell events are back up and hopefully full of bunnies that suit my needs!

My Henry, I really miss this rabbit.

Henry was special. He was a light "super" maned lionhead - meaning his fuzzy, fluffy coat covered his entire body - a shaggy lion look if you would. Even his ears had a thicker fuzziness to them.

The photo above shows examples of mane types in lionheads. The single mane is a tricky one, because it often means a lionhead has been crossed to a dwarf or polish rabbit breed. I'm not entirely picky about this, as I am more after fur colour, a good personality and blue eyes. The double mane is the most common form of the breed and can be distinguished by it's smooth back area and fluffy underbelly leading up to it's head. Most lionheads are very unique, so it's a fun breed to look at. Personality wise, they tend to be a bit brutish, and stubborn, however Henry was very sweet and curious and he enjoyed being gently handled.

For my pair or trio of rabbits I am hoping to create chocolate, mauve or marble vienna marks (blue eyed) kits. It would be nice to have two litters - one this winter and one in the spring. I'm not interested in breeding beyond two litters, unless there is a desire for more of my kits. Vienna marks is the genetic term for any rabbit that has colour and blue eyes. White rabbits with blue eyes are more desirable because they are showable in pure breed form and carry a stronger blue eye gene. Below shows the genetic map for blue eyes in rabbits. "BEW" meaning blue eyed white rabbit.

BEW X BEW = 100% BEW

BEW X "Normal" = 100% Vienna carriers, 0% BEW

Vienna Carrier X Vienna Carrier = 25% BEW, 50% Vienna carriers, 25% "Normal"

Vienna Carrier X BEW = 50% BEW, 50% Vienna carriers

So as you can see, the vienna gene is almost always passed on in these combinations, but is called a carrier because the kits themselves may not actually display the vienna gene with blue eyes, although they're kits could have blue eyes. The best combinations for achieving my breeding project are to have a BEW over a VM or Normal, or a VM with another VM. Once this criteria has been evaluated, I can look for mane type, personality and size. I'm very excited, it's going to be fun imagining the outcome.

I'm keeping my eyes pealed for rabbits much like those pictured above. Fluffy, cute and unique. The nice part about keeping myself to a breeding plan, is that I actually have to be strict about which rabbits I bring home. There is no minimum, I don't have to bring any rabbits home if I don't find what I like. Taking on more animals or pets is always a big decision and responsibility, and I am only moving forward with an understanding of this, appropriate housing, food and a knowledge that they'll be cared for to the best of my abilities. Breeding animals carries a heavier weight because you need to make sure you can find adequate homes for them and rear them to be happy and healthy.

My next post before Sunday will show you my new quail and rabbit housing set-up! I'll take you through my shed's new make-over and supplies needed for rabbit keeping. Here are some more pictures of Henry. Maybe I'll name one of the kits Henry Jr. if it resembles him.