Rabbit Color

Question
QUESTION: My rabbit just had kits and no one seems to know what color they will be. The doe is a chocolate and the buck is a red. Do you have any idea what color they might be?
ANSWER: Well I would need their complete pedigree's to know what is in them to give you a more complete genetic profile.  What I can tell you is that since red is essentially a wide-band non-extension agouti you can have just about anything. The genetic possibilities are far to vast with this combination.  One way to tell if they are true red is that babies will actually be born red instead of pink.  There is no mistaking it.  So anything in your nest that is true red you should be able to pick out right away.  The rest you will probably have to wait until they get a bit of fur.  Also remember that their baby fur will usually darken up after they lose it the first time.

I don't know what breed you are raising but mixing a chocolate and red don't generally produce good results.  Certain breeds have a larger group of showable colors.  Let me know what breed you are raising and I can give you some suggestions on color compatibilities if you like.

Sorry I can't help much but just look at it this way... there is nothing wrong with a pleasant surprise.

Pam

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QUESTION: All of them are a light brownish color and a friend of mine that raises them said that this was normal. Also, they are mini rex.
ANSWER: If they are light brown they are most likely going to be chocolate, castor or a castor/red mix.  If you plan on raising rabbits and showing them let me know.  I would love to help you find compatible colors.  Your friend may be able to help you also.  It is not so much that the chocolate and red are incompatible its more that chocolate is a self color and red is a non-extension agouti... so you can end up with many babies that are amber or other non-showable colors.  If you don't plan on showing them but just raising them for fur or pets then it won't matter as much.  

If you need more help please let me know.

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QUESTION: I actually am raising them to show in 4-H. This is also the first year I am raising rabbits. I currently have three plus the six kits and two of the adults are both chocolate but also related. And I had originally planned on breeding my red with a tri-color but she died of an upper respitory disease, and most of the other rabbits I find around where I live come from the same place that she did, and most people have had the same problems with any of the rabbits they get from her. I got my other two from a friend that has been showing them  for a few years in 4-H and always does well, but it is very hard to find good breeding rabbits around here.

Answer
Hi Kara,

Well first it is ok to breed mother to daughter and father to son or any other distant relative combination.  It is not ok to breed whole brother to whole sister.  It is actually called in-line breeding and if you were to look at the pedigree's of some of the top show winners you will see in-line breeding in them somewhere.  

If you send me a private message and let me know where you live I might be able to find you a mini rex breeder.  I have been showing for over 5 years and I travel all over the country.  I have bought rabbits from California all the way to New York.  

It is to bad your tri died.  She would have been a perfect match for red.  Look at the pedigree's for the 2 chocolates and see if they are whole brother and sister.  If they aren't then it is ok.  If they are well we are going to have to find you a breeder somewhere.  4-H shows usually aren't as strict as ARBA shows but I always tell my kids that if your going to do it, you might as well try to do it so you can show in both if you want.

At the very end of a question it will ask if you want to keep it private.  If you check yes and tell me your location I will see what I can do for you.  You are smart not buying from that breeder.  Clearly she must have some sort of illness running wild in her barn or all the rabbits wouldn't be dying.

Let me know if you would like more help.

Thanks

Pam