Silver Marten Rabbits

Fact about Silver Marten Rabbits. The Silver Marten Rabbit is a domestic rabbit breed. Early rabbit breeders of Chinchilla Rabbits, tried to perk up the color and pattern of the Chinchilla Rabbit breeds by introducing tan and black bloodlines. Later, these genes manifested as black color spots described as the odd little black color rabbits, in addition to similar silver rabbit breeds among normal Chinchilla rabbit litters. These strange little black color rabbits bred true and were called as a separate rabbit breed in 1924, the Silver Marten Rabbit breed.

Later in 1927, the American Rabbit Breeders' Association established a working standard for chocolate and black varieties and chartered the first Silver Marten Club. The blue variety Silver Marten Rabbit was acknowledged by the club during 1933, whereas the chocolate variety of the breed was approved some years later in 1993. Although the Silver Marten Rabbit breeds are raised to compete in agricultural shows and pet shows, they are considered lovable and attractive pets, as well.

Features of Silver Marten Rabbit

The Silver Marten Rabbit is an average-sized rabbit breed that has a body weight, ranging from 6.5 lbs to 8.5 lbs (2.9 kg to 3.9 kg) when they are fully grown. Silver Marten Rabbits are strong and have a soft fur, with a stunning polished look.

The Silver Marten Rabbit comes in four varieties, such as:

Black Silver Marten

Chocolate Silver Marten

Blue Silver Marten

Sable Silver Marten

The Black Silver Marten Rabbit is the most admired variety of the rabbit breed. These rabbits have a jet black color body, and they have a black color fur as far down their hair as possible, with complementary silver markings, which are suitably shaped and distinct. The Silver Marten Rabbit variety will have dark brown color eyes and a dark slate blue underside.

The Chocolate variety of Silver Marten Rabbit will have rich, dark brown color body similar to semi-sweet rather than the color of the milk, chocolate candy, and brown color eyes. The belly of the Silver Marten Rabbit variety has the same color, but it is somewhat lighter, with the color only at the tips of its fur. However, the color of the fur of these Silver Marten Rabbits has a propensity to fade in due course, particularly if it is exposed to excessive sunlight.

The Blue Silver Marten Rabbit is the next most popular rabbit variety after the Black Silver Marten Rabbit variety. The body color of this Silver Marten Rabbit variety will have an even dark blue color everywhere. Their eyes will be bluish gray in color. The Silver Marten Rabbits will have sharp markings and they are habitually slower to develop completely.

The Sable Silver Marten Rabbit is the last rabbit variety to be approved by the ARBA. These rabbits have a medium sepia tan color on their saddle, shading consistently down their sides to a lighter color. The face, ears, tail, lower legs, and exterior of the feet of this rabbit variety will be extremely dark sepia tan, almost black, that offers the rabbit a different contrast to its body color. The sables are properly colored and will be a silvery color by birth, but as they grow old, they assume a blotchy look. The coat usually darkens throughout the lifetime of this Silver Marten Rabbit variety.

Temperament of Silver Marten Rabbit

While Silver Marten Rabbit breeds are shyer than some bigger rabbit breeds, they are still measured as an outstanding pet. The Silver Marten Rabbit breed is playful, takes pleasure in romping around, and it likes toys and it will throw them around its cage.

The average lifespan of the Silver Marten Rabbit ranges from 5 years to 8 years.

"Scientific name for Silver Marten 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 Silver Marten Rabbit is called a buck and a female Silver Marten Rabbit is called a doe, also both known as a bunny. A young rabbit is called a kit "kitten" or baby bunny. Silver Marten Rabbit

Silver Marten Rabbits love to run and can reach speeds of 30 to 40 mph. Silver Marten Rabbits have 28 teeth and an incredible fact, a Silver Marten Rabbit teeth never stop growing throughout its life.
Silver Marten Rabbits can jump up to 36 inches (91.4 cm) and sometimes higher.

Rabbits are very clean animals and will groom themselves and also each other. Silver Marten Rabbits are crepuscular-(meaning the are most active at morning and evening) and do most of there feeding in the evening. Silver Marten Rabbits on average sleep about 8 hours.
Silver Marten Rabbits as pets enjoy wet food, carrots, hay or lettuce, dark leaf lettuce is a good one. (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 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. Their diet should consist of 70% of Hay and make sure they have fresh water every day.

For bedding, give Silver Marten 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.

Silver Marten 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 the Silver Marten Rabbit to see predators from all directions. They can see everything behind and in front of them and have just a small blind-spot in front of their nose.

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