Origin of the Silver Fox Rabbit
The Silver Fox rabbit was developed in the United States during the 1920s after 14 years of selective breeding by Walter B. Garland of North Canton, Ohio. The breed was recognized and a standard approved in 1925 under the name American Heavyweight Silver. In 1929 the name was changed to the American Silver Fox, eventually being changed to simply Silver Fox. The genetic make-up of the breed has never been divulged. What is known is that Garland was one of America’s earliest breeders of the Checkered Giant breed and kept Champagne D’ Argents as well. Crosses in more recent years using Champagne D’ Argents with self-colored rabbits have produced reasonably nice examples of a Silver Fox type rabbit. It is likely that Garland used self-colored Checkered Giants for the very large size; Champagne D’Argents for the silvering; and perhaps an infusion of American Blue to improve the blue color.
Silver Fox rabbits are one of the rarest breeds in the United States, and are considered threatened by The Livestock Conservancy.
Kits are born solid black and begin to show silvering of their fur at about 4 weeks of age. The silvering process takes about 4 months to complete. Silver Fox can be found in 5 color varieties; black, blue, chocolate, lilac, and red eyed white. Only black is recognized for showing. (The breed has always been recognized in two varieties - blue and black. During the 1970s, however, the blues were dropped from the American Rabbit Breeders Association standards due to lack of numbers being shown.) The fur is one of the most attractive and unusual features of the breed, it is extremely dense and 1 1/2 to 2 inches in length. When the fur 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. Body is to be of medium length and well filled. Color is to be jet black with a dark slate undertone, and even silvering throughout. Mature bucks weigh 9 to 11lbs while mature does weigh 10 to 12lbs.
Here at Two Pines Farm we raise black and blue Silver Fox rabbits. We do not sell pet quality Silver Fox. We sell show and brood quality Silver Fox that come tattooed and accompanied by full pedigrees.
NOTE: The coat of a Silver Fox rabbit is very sensitive to both sunlight and humidity. Florida is famous for both, so you might see some discoloration on our Silver Fox rabbits. This is normal, and they are the correct/recognized color otherwise. The discoloration molts out but returns.
Silver Fox rabbits are one of the rarest breeds in the United States, and are considered threatened by The Livestock Conservancy.
Kits are born solid black and begin to show silvering of their fur at about 4 weeks of age. The silvering process takes about 4 months to complete. Silver Fox can be found in 5 color varieties; black, blue, chocolate, lilac, and red eyed white. Only black is recognized for showing. (The breed has always been recognized in two varieties - blue and black. During the 1970s, however, the blues were dropped from the American Rabbit Breeders Association standards due to lack of numbers being shown.) The fur is one of the most attractive and unusual features of the breed, it is extremely dense and 1 1/2 to 2 inches in length. When the fur 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. Body is to be of medium length and well filled. Color is to be jet black with a dark slate undertone, and even silvering throughout. Mature bucks weigh 9 to 11lbs while mature does weigh 10 to 12lbs.
Here at Two Pines Farm we raise black and blue Silver Fox rabbits. We do not sell pet quality Silver Fox. We sell show and brood quality Silver Fox that come tattooed and accompanied by full pedigrees.
NOTE: The coat of a Silver Fox rabbit is very sensitive to both sunlight and humidity. Florida is famous for both, so you might see some discoloration on our Silver Fox rabbits. This is normal, and they are the correct/recognized color otherwise. The discoloration molts out but returns.