Havana Rabbit

Facts about Havana Rabbits. The Havana Rabbit is not actually from Havana, Cuba. Instead, the breed appeared in a Dutch breeder’s litter around 1898. Its deep, rich, brown color was compared to the appearance of a Havana cigar.

In 1916, the Havana Rabbit was brought to the United States. The American Rabbit Breeder’s Association accepted the chocolate Havana Rabbit shortly thereafter. In 1965, the blue Havana Rabbit was accepted by the ABRA. The black Havana Rabbit was formally recognized in 1980. The specifications for the broken Havana Rabbit line was made official in 2008.

As with all rabbits, the Havana is a member of the cuniculus species. "Scientific name for Havana Rabbit is Oryctolagus cuniculus". "Fear of Rabbits Leporiphobia". All rabbit breeds are "lagomorphs" various plant-eating mammal of the order Lagomorpha ; a hare, rabbit, or pika.

Appearance of Havana Rabbit

The Havana Rabbit comes in several colors such as blue, black, and chocolate. Another formally recognized color is “broken”, best described as a mix of colors like a Dalmatian or Palomino pony. The most common “broken” pattern is mostly white with black marks on its body. They have thick, soft fur. In all cases, the fur is shiny, and in some cases, satinized. You can tell if the fur is satinized at an early age by checking on the underside of the rabbit.

When a Havana rabbit is taken for competition, the quality of fur, such as its depth and consistency of color and thickness are the major source of points in the judging.

Physical Characteristics of Havana Rabbit

The Havana Rabbit is a compact breed. Males and females both range from four and a half to six and a half pounds. They have short, round bodies. Their ears are short, relatively close together and upright. The Havana Rabbits have a body that looks like half of a basketball. The top line should be a curve that rises over the hips before rounding down to the tail. The ideal Havana Rabbit has short straight legs, medium sized eyes and a short head with full cheeks.

Behavior of Havana Rabbit

This is one of the calmest breeds of rabbit, making them ideal pets. They are affectionate and attention seeking. Some rabbits are semi-aggressive, so ask about the temperament of the parents before buying one as a pet. Fixed rabbits will be less aggressive.

Care and Up keep of Havana Rabbit

These rabbits require a weekly grooming with a slick brush. When they are shedding, brush them twice a week. They rarely require bathing. Brush the rabbit’s coat with a damp brush to remove static.

The Havana rabbit needs daily feeding and fresh air. Those rabbits being raised for show and has periodic litters need sixteen to eighteen percent protein in their diet. Rabbits eat three to four percent of their body weight each day. You can provide the right diet simply by buying mineral supplements in one pellet. You can also give the rabbit hay, but this is not essential.

Deworming is a major concern and should be done in the spring and fall. A pea sized amount of deworming paste in the rabbit’s mouth is sufficient for the Havana rabbit.

The male Havana Rabbit is called a buck and a female Havana Rabbit is called a doe, also both known as a bunny. A young rabbit is called a kit "kitten" or baby bunny.

Havana Rabbits have long ears which can be as long as 4 in" (10.2 cm). Havana Rabbits are herbivores (a herbivore, eats leaves, grass, hay and furns (plant eaters) and also mammal.

Trivia about Havana Rabbit

This breed is sometimes called the mink of the rabbit family. Their flyback fur is soft, thick and lustrous like thar of a mink. However, given their personality, they are usually raised for show or companionship, not the fur industry.

The Havana Rabbit has an owner’s association, the Havana Rabbit Breeder’s Association or HRBA.

Rabbits are born without fur and its eyes are closed. Half of the rabbits in the world live in North America. Havana Rabbits are comfortable living in groups. European rabbits like to live in burrows underground. Warren is known as a group of burrows. Cottontail Rabbits are the only rabbit that does not live under ground.

Havana Rabbits have an outstanding sense of vision, smell and hearing. Having eyes on the side of their head and being so big, gives them nearly 360 degrees vision, allowing them to see predators from all directions. The Havana Rabbit can see everything behind and in front of them and have just a small blind-spot in front of their nose.

Pet Havana Rabbits should be kept in pairs for Companionship, its important for a rabbits happiness and it can live longer with a companion. In the wild, rabbits are very social. Female Havana Rabbits can produce about 2 to 4 litters of bunnies per year with 4 to 6 babies

Havana Rabbits are very clean animals and will groom themselves and also each other. Havana Rabbits are crepuscular-(meaning the are most active at morning and evening) and do most of there feeding in the evening. Havana Rabbits on average sleep about 8 hours.
Havana Rabbitts as pets enjoy wet food, carrots, hay or lettuce, dark leaf lettuce is good. (Iceberg lettuce contains too much water and too little fiber to be suitable.) Limit giving them fruit with sugar in it. Alfalfa provides the high caloric content necessary for baby bunnies development. Once Havana Rabbits reach seven months of age, gradually switch them over to timothy hay, oat hay, or orchard grass. Avoid giving them yard clippings, since grass is often sprayed with fertilizer, insecticides, pesticides, and other chemicals rabbits should not be eating. The Havana Rabbit diet should consist of 70% of Hay and make sure they have fresh water every day.

For bedding, give Havana Rabbits wood pellets or aspen. You can use pelleted horse bedding. Do not give them pine or cedar. Clean the cage with either white vinegar or a cage safe cleaner; don’t use bathroom cleaner or other things that are toxic for the pet cage..

Havana Rabbits love to run and can reach speeds of 30 to 40 mph. The average lifespan of a Havana Rabbit is around 5 to 8 years and in captivity can live up to 10 years. Havana Rabbits have 28 teeth and an incredible fact, a Havana Rabbits teeth never stop growing throughout its life.
Havana Rabbits can jump up to 36 inches (91.4 cm) and sometimes higher.