History of raising rabbits part 2.

Since man has been raising rabbits for meat and fur for more then two millennia one question often arises; how did they keep them? There were three main systems used historically.

1.) Rabbit warrens
2.) Rabbit courts or gardens
3.) Rabbit Islands.

Warrens: A warren was a walled or a fenced area that allowed the rabbits to burrow and live as "Wild Rabbits" some warrens spread over many acres. In fact in Norfolk England large tracts of land were said to be more profitable under rabbits then cultivation.

Warrens were often divided into different sections. One section was for rabbits to be taken as food and fur, one section was for rabbits raised to be deliberately set loose in the wild to be hunted for sport.

The warrens that kept rabbits for food and fur were a substantial source of income for their owners for many generations. The warrens that kept rabbits to be released for sport hunting continued right up until just after the 2nd World War.

Warrens were wiped out after the disease myxomatosis effected most of the rabbit population in the 1950's.

Rabbit Courts or Gardens: Although very similar to warrens the rabbit court was a much smaller affair. In the "court" the rabbits were allowed to run free within an enclosed area while a large degree of management was applied to control the production of stock. We know from historical records that rabbit courts had been employed in monasteries since before the 5th century, and it was in these courts that genetic selections began to take place as different colours an mutation occurred. If you want to pin point the history when the domestication of wild rabbits started you should look to the papal edict issued by Pope Gregory the Great in 600CE

Pope Gregory decreed that rabbits (more correctly the unborn young or pre-furred young) were not to be classed as a meat and therefore could be eaten by the monks during Lent. Thus the monks could adopt the Roman habit of eating unborn or newborn rabbits which were called laurices.

Since the rabbit was an ideal source of protein and the fur could provide warm clothing for the monks in their closed societies both these desirable features were doubtlessly being selectively bred in the the types of rabbits the monks kept, as well as one more important feature: Tameness.

Rabbit Islands: The raising of rabbits on Islands in a warren setting was easy; no walls, hedges, or fences needed. Most rabbit islands were very successful and their histories and effects of the isolation on a rabbit population have been the subject of numerous studies.

Pens: Some sort of pen (cage, or hutch) has been used to confine rabbits since the days of the Phoenicians, who took rabbits on their sea journeys as a self-replacing source of meat. Following Pope Gregory's papal edict of 600CE that monks particularly in France started the process of domesticating rabbits in a combination of rabbit courts and pens. With the pens the monks could selectively breed for size, colour, coat, or body shape. As well as genetic mutations that started to occur the Monks would keep the ones that appealed to them and continue to breed that mutation into future stock.

Seeing is not always believing.

Recently I have been browsing a couple rabbitry websites (mainly Mini Rex) so of course I want to see pictures, scope competition etc. I make my way to the does page or the bucks page, and the for sale page. My first reaction to the pictures is whoa! That is one heck of a nice looking rabbit, mine cannot compare to that. My second impression is that something with the picture is slightly off. There is a slight distortion in the picture had I not been immersed in the world of photo-editing I probably would have passed off as a bad quality photo.

I have also had a couple fellow breeders mention after buying a rabbit from a picture, that when they got the rabbit in their possession no matter what they did they could not get the rabbit to pose as nice as the picture they were sent of said rabbit.

So what are people doing to their photos to make them look better? I did a little experiment to see what someone with a bit of photo editing knowledge can to to enhance a picture, and how easy would it be to do it.

The test? Use an editing program that is available for free download online, one I am not familiar with (or it wouldn't be that much of a test). Then see how fast I can edit a photo of a mediocre rabbit to make it look better then what it really was.

The original photo:


Not the prettiest pre-junior out there. A grand total and I'm not kidding you: 3 Minutes later she looked like this:

A grand total of 3 tools had been used. "Resize" "Smudge" and "Blur" and voila suddenly this rabbit has depth a short midsection and smaller ears, and a more finished looking coat instead of the wooly Jr one.

The moral? People are not always honest, as I just demonstrated a simple knowledge in photo editing can go a long way to make someones stock to "look good on the internet"

And when purchasing a rabbit it is always a good idea to see it in person before committing to it, or at least have someone you know and trust see it in person if you can't.

Common questions I receive.

I receive a whole variety of questions on a weekly basis, so I'll be posting some of the more common ones I receive with their answers.

1.) I bought a rabbit with a full pedigree, but when I entered it in a show the judge said (s)he wasn't all that great. I don't understand.

A.) A pedigree does not in any way guarantee that the rabbit is show quality, it is just a record of the rabbits lineage.

2.)Do I need a pedigree to show my rabbit?

A.) No, as long as the rabbit is an accurate representation of the breed you can show it. A Pedigree is not necessary but it helps to have one when trying to sell rabbits for show or brood, and if you wish to register the rabbit a pedigree is required.

3.) I saw a rabbit I really want as a pet, but it is listed as "show quality" can I still inquire about that rabbit.

A.) Yes, often times you'll find show rabbits make excellent pets because they are well socialized from being handled by many different people (judges) at shows, as well as easy travelers. Most "pet qualities" have never left the rabbitry and are only use to certain people handling them.

4.) Can I breed my pet rabbit?

A.) Can you? Yes. Should you? No. There are enough sub-standard rabbits born to show rabbits you don't intentionally need to make more.

5.) If I buy a rabbit from you and breed it; will you take the kits I don't sell?

A.) No. If you choose to breed a rabbit you bought it's your responsibility to look after the kits.

6.) I want to show rabbits where do I start. http://drcba.ca http://arba.net.

History of raising rabbits Part 1.

(116-27 BCE) Varro, the Governor of Spain wrote in his treatise on farming (De Re Rustica) the following description for rabbits "Everyone knows, too that if you put but a few rabbits of both sexes the warren will swarm with them in a short period of time."

it is believed that the rabbit actually originated in Spain, or at least in the Iberian Peninsula. It was the Romans who discovered rabbits kept in cages could successfully be bred, which gave them a portable meat (and fur) for their armies. Which ensured the rabbits distribution all over the Roman Empire. Seeing as the cage to house a rabbit is relatively small it made it ideal for transportation on ships as well to feed crews and again armies because the journey on ships were lengthy and a rabbits gestation period short, the meat supplies could be replenished during the voyages.

(Romans are equally responsible for the spread of the Pheasant, Quail, and edible door mouse).

The two theories of the domestication of the rabbit:

1.) Caged rabbits (and tamer) rabbits lived longer thus having more litters, so it is in fact caged animals that are continually breeding, thus furthering the domestication of the species. Therefore caging enhances the development of the domesticated rabbit.

2.) But if the caged animals are killed for food and fur, then it is these tamer animals that will continually be eliminated, leaving the wild rabbits to proliferate. Thus caging does not enhance domestication.

Which ever theory you choose to believe (or even if you theorize your own) It should be considered that rabbits have been managed by man, and thrived, in a variety of situations for at least the last two millennia.

I could have sworn I knew what I was going to write before I signed in, now that I have I cannot possibly remember what it is. So I'll just ramble on a bit until I remember it again.

ohhhh yes Now I remember !

The Silvering gene ! The great debate on the silvering gene. This is kind of really bugging me right now. Every genetic website and genetic wiz I've talked to about it is absolutely irrevocably convinced that the gene is recessive. From what I have witnessed and I'm sure several others have as well, that is definitely not the case the silvering gene is dominant.

Case #1 : Brun X Harlequin the cross resulted in 8 chocolate kits all of which silvered (I have pictures !)

Case #2 : Brun X Harlequin X Satin (1/4 Brun) 8 Kits, 2 black 2 chesnut 2 Jap Harlequin 2 Magpie Harlequin. All 8 Started to silver before they left. I don't have any pictures but I can track down the man I sold them too if need be.

Case #3 : Champagne Netherland Dwarfs. All F1's HAVE silvering. I can provide links if needed.


I could go on but my point is, I think some genetics need to be re-examined before it is stated as the absolute truth.