Kaye's bunny journal

[Bunnylady]

Thumper is a rabbit that has done a partial molt and hasn't completed it. The darker color is the newer hair, the lighter hair has faded somewhat from exposure to light and just aging. Some rabbits never completely molt, it is a nuisance in animals intended for show (and therefor something that show breeders try to breed away from). Many animals that do this will have just a little bit of fur on their hips and shoulders that never sheds out; it may be quite a few shades lighter than their body color. Animals of many breeds may do this, it is not attributable to the Lionhead breed. Occasionally, you run into animals that do this repeatedly, who are wearing patches of hair that may be half a dozen different shades.

 

[DutchBunny03]

Yep. It looks cool, but is a HUGE disqualification. But, if you are not intending on showing them, it would be awesome!! I wonder if someday, someone will create a breed that has different fur textures as a requirement.

 

[Kaye]

Nice!! Didn't you say he was a Lionhead/Dutch mix? I can feel a little bit of texture difference between the white abd colored hair on my Dutch.

Yes he is

Thumper is a rabbit that has done a partial molt and hasn't completed it. The darker color is the newer hair, the lighter hair has faded somewhat from exposure to light and just aging. Some rabbits never completely molt, it is a nuisance in animals intended for show (and therefor something that show breeders try to breed away from). Many animals that do this will have just a little bit of fur on their hips and shoulders that never sheds out; it may be quite a few shades lighter than their body color. Animals of many breeds may do this, it is not attributable to the Lionhead breed. Occasionally, you run into animals that do this repeatedly, who are wearing patches of hair that may be half a dozen different shades.

He's been this way his entire adult life... I brush him, but it just stays!! I guess he has never been one fur type his whole (almost) 4 years. I didn't think it was a 'breed' trait, as much as just a 'Thumper' trait. I do know he sheds WAYYYYYY more than most rabbits, perhaps I have found why?? Will he continue this way?? I'm not really worried about the shedding unless it causes him some kind of problem, I'm jw. It's only the two colors and lengths, but he could get more colors/textures??
Thank you for all of your input

 

[DutchBunny03]

The shedding won't cause any problems, as long as he doesn't ingest too much. Keep the fur out of his food and water.

 

[Bunnylady]

I wonder if someday, someone will create a breed that has different fur textures as a requirement.

They already have - the Lionhead.

If I looked around this site long enough, I know I can find several pics that members have posted of rabbits wearing at least 3 or 4 different shades - sometimes the old hair can fade to nearly cream color, and urine on the coat can turn it a sort of orange. This is one of the more recent pictures:

 

[DutchBunny03]

That Lop is awesome. By different textures, I mean like that Lop you posted, not a Lionhead.

 

[Kaye]

@Bunnylady That's really interesting. His babies also carry the same 'pattern' does this mean they will have the same problems??
The 'chocolate' (not so chocolate anymore) one even has the pattern in grey.

 

[Kaye]

Thumper looked like this one when I got him, but he was more of a darker color overall. Has he cursed these kits?? Lol

 

[Bunnylady]

The chocolate colored kit is showing some variation of the Agouti pattern; it might be a Chocolate Steel. The orange kit is an Orange; Oranges are all dark on the back and light on the sides like that. Even Reds often start like that, then get more of the red coloring as they grow in later coats.

This is a 3-week-old Broken Red Mini Rex:

 

[Kaye]

That is almost what color Thump was when I got him. Maybe more of the orange than the red, but darker than the kit. SoThumper just didn't shed the bottom art of his pattern?? I will try to find a picture from him as a baby. Thump has the same pattern as the orange or red.
Sorry for all the questions