American

The American is a large domestic rabbit developed in the United States in the early twentieth century. Adults usually sit between 4 and 5.5 kilograms (roughly 9 to 12 lb), with does typically a touch heavier than bucks. The breed is picked out by its semi-arch body type, often called mandolin-shaped, where the back rises in a smooth curve from behind the shoulders up over the rounded hindquarters.

Two colour varieties are standard: a deep slate blue and a clear white. The blue American is one of only a few breeds anywhere to carry a true slate-blue coat right across the body, and that colour was the whole point when the breed was first promoted. The white variety has pink eyes and a dense, even coat.

Owners here mostly keep the American as a calm companion and a heritage conservation project rather than for meat or fur. It is gentle and quiet, copes well with handling, and settles into a routine quickly. Being a larger rabbit, it needs a fair bit more space and tucker than a dwarf breed, which is worth sorting out before one comes home.

Who it suits

The American suits an owner who can offer a roomy hutch and run, plus daily time out on the floor or lawn. Its quiet, biddable nature makes it a sensible option for older children who already handle animals gently, and for adults after a low-fuss companion rather than a lap pet. It is not the right fit for a small flat, or for anyone who cannot commit to daily care for up to 8 years.

The American rabbit was developed in California during the 1910s. Lewis Salisbury of Pasadena gets the credit, having worked to fix a deep blue colour and the distinctive semi-arch body shape in a large dual-purpose meat and fur rabbit.

The breed was first shown and recognised in 1917 under the name German Blue Vienna, a nod to the European blue breeds behind it. Once the First World War turned public feeling against anything German, breeders renamed it American, a change that helped it find favour at the time.

The blue variety came first and built the breed's early reputation, since an even slate-blue coat over the whole body was unusual for the period. A white variety followed later to widen its appeal for both pelt and meat production. Through the middle of the century plenty of farms in the United States kept the American for its dense pelt and solid carcass size.

Once commercial rabbit raising shifted to faster-growing breeds, American numbers dropped away sharply, and it now sits on heritage conservation watch lists overseas. New Zealand has its own separate rabbit story that shapes how a breed like this is seen here: European rabbits released in the 1800s went on to become one of the country's most damaging farming pests, and wild rabbits are still managed as a declared pest under the Biosecurity Act. Pedigree breeds such as the American are a different animal altogether in that context, purely domestic stock kept under registered rabbitry conditions, and getting live breeding stock into the country is tightly controlled by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). In practice that keeps the American close to unheard of in New Zealand, known mostly to breed enthusiasts through overseas standards rather than through local rabbitries.

The American carries a long, deep body in the semi-arch class. Looked at side on, the topline climbs gradually from the shoulders, peaks over the hips, and rounds off at the rear, the outline that earns it the mandolin comparison. The ears sit upright and in proportion to the head and body. The overall look is of a solid, well-muscled rabbit rather than a compact one.

Coat and colour

The coat is dense and rolls back slowly when stroked against the grain, which is exactly what judges look for in this breed. The blue variety shows an even, medium to dark slate blue right across the body, with the same tone carrying down into the undercolour. The white variety is a clean, pure white with pink eyes. Both varieties should be uniform in colour, with no stray off-colour hairs, brassy tinge, or patchiness.

The American has a steady, good-natured disposition. It is generally docile and puts up with being picked up and held far better than many highly strung breeds, provided the handling is calm and well supported. Does have a name for being attentive, settled mothers, which fits the breed's easygoing reputation.

Around family the American is usually placid and takes to gentle attention once it trusts the people handling it. With strangers it tends towards cautious rather than fearful, and it warms up once new voices and routines become familiar. It is a quiet rabbit that rarely thumps or struggles without good reason.

With other rabbits, the American can share a hutch or run in compatible pairs or small groups, provided introductions are gradual and both animals are desexed. As with any rabbit, dogs and cats need supervision, since even a placid rabbit can be stressed by a predator species nearby. Patience in the first few weeks pays off, because a settled American ends up calm and predictable to live with.

The American is a hardy breed with straightforward care needs, but its size means it wants more room and a bigger setup than a small rabbit.

Grooming

• Brush once a week to clear loose fur and keep the dense coat in good order.
• Brush more often, every few days, during a seasonal moult.
• Check nails roughly every 4 to 6 weeks and trim when they get long.
• Check ears and the rear end regularly for cleanliness, since a large rabbit can struggle to reach that far round.
• Skip full baths, which stress rabbits out; spot-clean soiled fur instead.

Exercise

• Give at least 3 to 4 hours of supervised time out of the hutch each day in a rabbit-proofed space.
• Allow room to hop, stretch up tall, and have a proper run, which a large breed needs to stay in condition.
• Offer tunnels, cardboard boxes, and safe chew toys for something to do.
• Keep the play area clear of power cords and toxic house plants.

Environment

House the American in a roomy, dry hutch away from draughts and direct sun. Rabbits cope with cold far better than heat, so shade and airflow matter through a Kiwi summer. Fit solid flooring or a resting board, since wire floors can leave a heavy rabbit with sore hocks.

Grass hay should make up the bulk of the diet and be on offer around the clock. Timothy, orchard, or meadow hay keeps the gut moving and wears down teeth that never stop growing. A measured amount of quality pellets and a daily serve of fresh leafy greens round things out. Fresh water needs to be available at all times, in a heavy bowl or a clean bottle.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats small and occasional. A few pieces of carrot, apple without seeds, or herbs such as parsley and coriander make suitable rewards. Bring in any new green slowly over several days to avoid loose droppings. A rabbit on unlimited hay and fresh greens generally does not need extra vitamin supplements.

The American is a robust heritage breed without major breed-specific defects. With good husbandry it typically lives 5 to 8 years. Most health issues in the breed are the same ones that affect rabbits generally, and most trace back to diet, dental wear, and hygiene.

Preventive care

• Feed unlimited grass hay to protect the gut and teeth.
• Book an annual check-up, including a dental and weight check.
• Vaccinate against rabbit calicivirus (RHDV1 and RHDV2). The virus is endemic in New Zealand's wild rabbit population, so vets here treat vaccination as essential for any pet rabbit, not just an optional extra.
• Desex to prevent reproductive cancers and reduce hormonal behaviour.
• Keep the hutch clean and dry to prevent skin and respiratory problems.

Because the American is a large breed, its housing needs to be generous. The hutch should let the rabbit lie fully stretched out, sit up with ears clear of the roof, and cover several hops end to end. A common guideline for a large rabbit is a hutch of at least 1.1 square metres attached to a run of around 2.2 to 3 square metres. Solid flooring, with a resting board if the base is wire, protects the feet from sore hocks.

Setup checklist

• A roomy hutch with a solid resting area.
• A heavy water bowl or drip bottle, checked daily.
• A hay rack or pile kept constantly topped up.
• A litter tray in one corner with rabbit-safe litter.
• A hide box or covered nook for security.
• Chew toys and a digging box for enrichment.

As a heritage breed kept partly for conservation, the American is bred to hold its body type and the two standard colours. Bucks and does of large breeds mature a bit later than small rabbits, so breeders typically wait until the animals are physically mature, often around 6 to 8 months, before a first mating. The doe is taken to the buck's hutch rather than the other way round, since does can be territorial.

Gestation runs about 31 days. A nest box with clean straw goes in a few days before the due date, and the doe lines it with fur pulled from her own body. American does have a name as good, calm mothers, which fits the breed's gentle reputation. Kits are born blind and hairless and open their eyes at around 10 days.

Young rabbits start nibbling hay and pellets from about 3 weeks and are usually weaned by 6 to 8 weeks. Handling kits gently from an early age helps them grow into the docile adults the breed is known for. Breeders working with this rare breed overseas often coordinate to keep bloodlines diverse and conserve the line, though within New Zealand itself the breed remains largely a name on paper rather than a going concern for local rabbitries.