Rabbits
June 2010
Our Astrex litter!
We have seven kits in this litter. We have two blues, a lilac, a charcoal, a broken lilac, and REWs.
(Wow! The traffic for these rabbits was surprising! To pre-answer the majority of inquiries, yes, you can contact us at zukeypr2@yahoo.com to be added to the waiting list.)
We raise Lionheads, Astrex, and Mini Rex. We also have a pair of dutch harlequins that we are very much enjoying - very pretty!
Yes - We raise the Astrex rabbit - a breed that is considered rare, but is often actually a cull from rex, harlequin, and lop litters because they don't fit the 'show standard'. They pop up in pet stores and are suprisingly easy to find - when you're not looking for them that is =). Visit a rabbit forum, and you'll see that they just crop up in litters and people will post "ever seen a curly rabbit - I just got this WEIRD litter - they are *so* cute!"
By far and large, most of the questions we have recivied lately have been about Astrex rabbits. So here is a bit of info on them:
Breed info:
Astrex - not recognized by ARBA
FIRST OFF - Astrex are not new. The British Harlequin rabbit club added the curly Astrex coat type as a third fur variety in 1946.
Before THAT, in the 1930's, a woman named Nina Ennismore from Cornwall, England raised rex rabbits and came across the Astrex fur coat.
So in July 1950 when her barn cat gave birth to a curly, wavy-haired kitten, she saw that it very much resembled the Astrex rabbits she used to raise.
And as any cat fancier worth their salt knows - from that cat came the Cornish Rex - so named after Cornwall (the birthplace) and the Astrex - a curly, wavy rabbit coat.
The Astrex rabbit is any breed or variety of rabbit that displays curly or wavy textured fur - similar to that of a Teddy Guinea Pig (cavy), a poodle dog, or a Rex rat, or an Astrex mouse.
In researching this coat variation, we've found that most breeders cull this type out, as the breeder is generally under the belief that this is not the fur type they are striving for (if they are attempting to breed showable Rex, mini rex, Harlequin, etc).
We are in the process of putting more information together about this breed. If you have photos or stories of Astrex rabbits that you'd like to share, we would be very interested in this information.
Thanks!
FAQ about Astrex:
Q: Are Astrex as soft as Mini Rex?
A: Remember that the term "Astrex" refers to the COAT TYPE - not necessarily a 'breed'. So the curly, lamb-like coat can be found in ANY breed (we've recently seen some nice lops with Astrex fur) so whatever breed the rabbit is - that's the traits they'll have. They just happen to have curly fur.
Q: How big do Astrex get?
A: That depends entirely upon the breed (or breeds if a mixed animal) makeup - remember that "Astrex" refers to a fur type, not a breed in itself.
Yet. =)
Q: Can an Astrex rabbit be shown?
A: Youth 4H classes almost always have "Pet" or "Specialty" classes that allow for animals not yet recognized OR for 4H breed projects, to be shown and compete for winnings.
Breed projects are SO MUCH fun to see - the 4H'er decides they want to create a breed, or go for a specific 'type' and they work that year or several years to produce what they've outlined for themselves.
But as for the ARBA - the Astrex is not recognized, although as a sidenote, Harlequin rabbits originally imported with an Astrex option for their coat (again, like Teddy Guinea pigs or rex rats here) - but the ARBA decided to drop that fur type and stick to the color versions of the rabbit breed instead.
Q: How do Astrex handle hot and cold temperatures?
A: As mentioned, Astrex is just a coat type not a breed - so they handle the heat and the cold as well as any rabbit, and as well as the breed of rabbits they belong to.
Q: At what age do they start showing curly fur?
A: As soon as their fur starts coming in. Now, here's the thing: Astrex coats have been around A LONG time. (The British Rabbit Council revised the Harlequin Breed standard to include an Astrex coat variety back in 1946 - so this coat was available and seen long before that) BUT - it seems that breeders are pretty much few and far between. So it's just people like YOU - yes you, since you're reading this now you must be at least somewhat captivated, right? =) that take enough of an interest to raise these rabbits.
Because of this, there isn't a whole lot of printed info on Astrex. From what we've gathered mostly from TALKING to people who've been raising them 10, 15, and 20 years, we've heard that litters can come out slightly wavy, and then they 'molt' - lose their hair! - and a week or two later it grows back and their fur is even CURLIER than before! Neat!
In our experience, some rabbits (Like Drexter) don't have a whole lot of curl as an adult. But WOW does he throw curly offspring! Even when he's bred to normal coated does, we've always had one or two curly kits pop up in the litter. In the case of Carmel and Rex, when paired together ALL the offspring are Astrex.
To summarize the rambling ;) kits can come out curly, then as they age they lose some of their curl - but they still PRODUCE curly offspring. Some are born barely curly, and then they lose their fur and GROW IN A TON OF CURL.
Helga from Golden Spike Rabbitry has informed us that the best time to determine how curly they will be is to view the kits at 14 days. Plus, seeing them after 14 days can be a bit alarming if they have started to moult - hairless rabbits are kind of cute in a homely way, but imagine your horror if you have bred your furred rabbits and open up the nestbox to see THEM GOING BALD!!! You'd probably think something was terribly wrong! But rest assured - and in Astrex, moulting out is actually a GOOD thing - the curls should come back even better.
Q: I have Astrex to Sell, or I want to purchase an Astrex - what is a good price?
A: This will depend on many factors - but from looking to purchase unrelated astrex myself, I have to say I've never seen them priced less than $20. Some far, far more than that!
It depends on the quality of the animal of course, but you'll have to feel out the current market. Now the good (and bad) think about Astrex is that a lot of producers that show their rabbits or raise rabbits for the purpose of showing DO NOT want to go out to their nestbox and find that their pedigreed, gorgeous, uniform pair of awesome rabbits has... produced CURLY rabbits? WHAT IS THIS! they exclaim - some with horror, some with a little fondness (remember, they are so very cute!)
The more I read on lists the more it makes me sad - the majority of breeders cull these curly furred animals out and they either don't pair the parents together again or they get rid of them entirely. Because the ARBA does not recognize astrex as a showable fur type not only do breeders who show NOT want curly furred animals, some also don't know that they are 'worth' anything.
So what does this mean for you?
As a person looking to sell your curly, wavy rabbit - keep looking for your niche market. Other astrex breeders are out there and waiting.
As a person looking to BUY - this is great! Somehow... you just have to get the breeders whose first instinct is to cull these kits to WAIT - save them for me! Best way? Rex and Mini Rex and Harlequins so far, in my experience, seem like the best ones to watch. Go on boards, forums, groups, sit in on meetings, connect, and chat - find out who will admit to having these curly kits and see if they'll hold them for you next time.
Basically, let them know there IS a market for their animals and you have just CREATED a market for them. NEAT, huh? =)
Astrex Breeders:
TENNESSEE
www.dumansark.com (that's right - you're already here =)
SOUTH DAKOTA
http://www.marnasmenagerie.com/ - she trains her rabbits for agility, she sells rabbit clothes, and her Astrex are SO BEAUTIFUL! Really Nice Dutch Harlequins too.
WISCONSIN
Jeanne's Rabbits
CANADA
Golden Spike Rabbitry
Photos of Astrex Rabbits:
Pemburu's purebred New Zealand kit - the litter turned up with Astrex fur.
Above: Harlequin kits sporting a lovely Astrex coat from www.DownTheRabbitHole.ca/Astrex . (If you visit the site, you'll see a mention of the Mini Rex breed and Astrex fur type as having poor feet. This is actually to do with the breeidng stock - not the Astrex type itself. Mini Rex breeders out there know that not ALL mini rex are prone to sore hocks - those that have sore hocks should be weeded out of the breeding program.) The Harlequin breed has had Astrex fur since before 1946 - the year the British Rabbit Breeder's Council added this as a third coat variety to the Harlequin Breed standard!
DumansArk Rabbit Care tips
The #1 ultimate rule to remember - no rule is perfect for everyone. This is not a 'one size fits all'. Time and experience will show you, the rabbit raiser, what methods, products, and ideals work best for YOU and YOUR animals.
Feeding
Water: IS A MUST. Rabbits overheat quickly, so in the summer, fresh water is an absolute necessity. In the winter, you'll still need to go out and give fresh water too if your pet does not live indoors. Everyday, several times a day, rabbits will need water bottles and bowls refilled. Pellets: A good quality mix will have the nutritional value that your rabbits need to grow strong and healthy. For instance, if you are raising meat rabbits, you may want a higher protein percentage to ensure faster growth. Hay: Young rabbits are often fed alfalfa hay, however, rabbits that are 6 months and older are given Timothy hay. Roughage is an important componant to the rabbit diet - remember that undomesticated rabbits don't have an extruder just popping out perfectly balanced pellets, and our domesticated pets still need more than what those pellets offer. |
Fresh Fruits and Veggies: Not only are they good treats in moderation, they are healthy for your rabbits to eat. For a good list of vegetables safe for rabbits, visit: |
Breeding
Lingo/Terms: A female rabbit is referred to as a 'doe'. A male rabbit is referred to as a 'buck'. When a doe gives birth, it is called 'kindling'. Her group of young are referred to as her 'litter' and the babies are called 'kits'. Once she has had a litter, she is a mother rabbit, or more properly known as a 'dam'. The father of the litter is known as the 'sire'. A buck can be sexually active at 6 weeks of age. The litter is generally sexed and seperated by gender at this time to prevent the bucks from impregnanting their dam. When does reach approximately 6 months old, they can be bred. The gestation period for rabbits is 28 to 32 days. The size of the litter will vary - five kits being fairly common although you will want to research your breed as some are known to have more or less on average in their litters. Kits are generally born hairless and blind. Does that do not go into labor until after the 32nd day may give birth to large babies that are more fully developed - this is not necessarily a good thing, as it is more taxing on the doe and may result in litter loss and/or the loss of the doe herself. Litters kindled too early due to pregnancy complications will also have a significantly lower survivablity rate. The kits' eyes will begin to open shortly after the first week of life. |
A doe does not have a 'heat cycle' like a dog would. Instead, ovulation is spurred into action when the doe is mounted by a buck. This means that a female can become pregnant ANY TIME she is mounted by a buck - even if she just had a litter! So it's important to seperate the doe once she's been bred to ensure that in 28 to 32 days, she can kindle and raise her kits in peace without having to fight off the attentions of an arduous buck. |
Housing
This varies depending on the breed of rabbit you keep. If you have a mixed breed and it is not easily determined what breeds made up your pet, you'll have to guess and may need to upgrade to a larger enclosure as your pet grows. Essentially, you want to determine if this is an indoor or an outdoor enclosure. Indoor enclosures don't have to be weatherproof, obvisouly. That determined, both types of cages will need to be big enough to allow the animal to move freely in all directions, to stretch out fully lying down, and to be able to excersise lightly. An outdoor enclosure also needs to have a nestbox area where the rabbit can go to stay warm and dry - the rest of the cage can be made of wire. If you will be using the cage for a breeding doe, you will want a nestbox that is big enough for her to kindle in - she must be able to stretch out fully, and turn around comfortably. |
Colony enclosures and set ups are once again becoming popular. Some farmers never stopped using them - we've had the pleasure of meeting a third generation farming family that, for as long as they can remember, their father and his father, and his grandfather have had rabbits living in the chicken coop and chicken run. There are certainly pros to such an option. But there's good and bad in everything right? Be sure to research which housing option is right for *your* situation. For information on colony set up, we recommend visiting |
Above: Astrex Mini Rex kits
Frequently asked questions about RABBITS:
My mother tends to fall in love with great mother rabbits & persnickity bucks. Is it because my mom just appreciates good mothers & bucks that have a great sense of their own style? I don't know. I love great moms - I couldn't raise rabbits without girls that nurture and love their litters and who can't use a guy that knows just knows how gorgeous he is?
