Himalayan Rabbit

Facts about Himalayan Rabbits. The Himalayan Rabbit origination is a mystery, but the thought that it originated from the Himalayas is the source of its name. The breed reached the United States around 1900.

When Himalayan Rabbits are raised in cold climates (like the Himalaya mountains), they become overwhelmingly black. Baby rabbits regularly exposed to the chill develop dark bands or many dark spots. The Himalayan Rabbit raised in a cold environment end up looking like normal black or brown rabbits.

Appearance of Himalayan Rabbit

The Himalayan Rabbit has a white body, colored ears, nose, and legs. The body colors may be black, chocolate brown, blue, or lilac. The Himalayan Rabbit looks a lot like the Californian Rabbit. You can tell the difference between the two because the Himalayan’s body is long, about three and a half times the length of the head. California Rabbits are descended from the Himalayan Rabbit but are bulkier and heavier, since the California Rabbit was primarily raised for meat. California Rabbits have retained the same red eyes; Giant Agoras and Florida White Rabbits also only have red eyes.

Physical Characteristics of Himalayan Rabbit

The Himalayan Rabbits range from two and a half to four and a half pounds, with the ideal weight being around three and a half pounds. The Himalayan Rabbit are considered small rabbits. The Himalayan Rabbit possesses a unique body shape: cylindrical. The Himalayan Rabbit also have red eyes unless crossed with another

The Himalayan Rabbit has markings linked to those of the Himalayan Cat. The markings change with age and exposure to the environment. The Himalayan Rabbit markings tend to darken with colder weather. With age, new markings around the eyes and genitals may appear. When white fur appears in the dark markings, this is called frosting. Additional markings disqualify the rabbits from show.

The first Himalayan Rabbits were black. The blue Himalayan Rabbit was developed later. The chocolate and lilac Himalayan Rabbits were developed in the United States. Early Lilac Rabbits looked a lot like Blue Himalayan Rabbits. There are genetic factors that affect their coloring. Chocolate Himalayans have bb variations of the B gene, while blue Himalayans have two copies of the D or Dilute gene. Rabbits with the dd gene are lilac.

Behavior of Himalayan Rabbit

The Himalayan Rabbit is an old breed with a calm disposition. The Himalayan Rabbits have been bred for show and companionship, as well as for their white fur. The Himalayan Rabbit have historically been raised for fur, but not meat. The Himalayan rabbit is docile enough to be safe for children. These rabbits do not demand as much attention as the Havana Rabbit.

Care and Up keep of Himalayan Rabbit

Baby Himalayan Rabbits are especially sensitive to cold. Exposure to the cold instead of the ideal 95 F leads to dark bands in their otherwise white fur.

Himalayan Rabbits 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 Himalayan 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 Himalayan Rabbit diet should consist of 70% of Hay and make sure they have fresh water every day.

Himalayan Rabbit. "Scientific name for Himalayan 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.

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

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

Himalayan Rabbits are born without fur and its eyes are closed. Half of the rabbits in the world live in North America. Himalayan 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.

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

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

Himalayan Rabbits are very clean animals and will groom themselves and also each other. Himalayan Rabbits are crepuscular-(meaning the are most active at morning and evening) and do most of there feeding in the evening. Himalayan Rabbits on average sleep about 8 hours

For bedding, give Himalayan 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.

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

De-worming is a major concern and should be done in the spring and fall. A pea sized amount of de-worming paste in the rabbit’s mouth is sufficient for the Himalayan Rabbit.