The Silver Fox
By Eric Tudor of Riverwind Rabbity and Farm The Silver Fox is a large rabbit with senior does weighing 10 to 12 pounds and senior bucks between 9 and 11 pounds. The body is medium in length with well filled shoulders and hindquarters. The two important features of the breed are its unusually long fur and evenly silvered coat, which usually does not fully develop until the 6th or 7th month of age. The coat is longer than normal commercial rabbit fur, with a slightly coarse texture that should resemble the pelt of a fox. Silver tipped or white hairs will be present along the flanks and all over the body, including head, feet and tail. The black color should run deep to the skin with a slate under color. The most unusual quality of the fur is that when it is slowly stroked backwards from the tail to the head, the fur "stands up" and it requires another stroke from the head to the tail to return it back in place. Another desired feature to breeders are black toe nails, rather than white, this is a trait of the original Silver Fox. Lack thereof is an automatic disqualification for any show exhibiter. Silver Foxes are wonderful mothers, have sweet personalities and love attention. The black is the only variety allowed to show at present. The blues are being worked on for presentation to be readmitted to the Standard. Recently, Meara Collins has developed chocolate foxes as well. Both the Blue and Chocolate varieties are under review with ARBA. |
Silver Fox Rabbit
The Silver Fox rabbit is the third breed developed in the United States. It was created by Walter B. Garland of North Canton, Ohio. The Silver Fox is truly a multi-purpose breed, raised for meat and fur. 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 and later to Silver Fox. 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 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, fur length, and meat qualities; and perhaps an infusion of American Blue to improve on the meat producing qualities and the blue color. The Silver Fox is a beautiful rabbit, which stands apart from other breeds. It was the first large breed produced that dressed out at 65% of its live weight. Does have large litters, produce plenty of milk, are excellent mothers, and make wonderful foster mothers. Silver Fox are known for their docile and gentle nature. he young are born either solid black or blue and begin to show silvering of their fur at about 4 weeks. he silvering process takes 4 months to complete. 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 Artic. The Silver Fox is a large breed with bucks weighing up to 11 pounds and does reaching 12 pounds as adults. The breed is not recognized in other countries, although in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom there is a breed called Silver Fox, which is actually the same rabbit breed as the Silver Marten in America. |