American

The American rabbit is a large, heritage breed of domestic rabbit developed in the United States in the early 1900s. A mature specimen typically weighs between 4 kg and 5.4 kg (about 9 to 12 lb), with does generally a touch heavier than bucks. Breeders recognise the semi-arch body shape, often called mandolin-shaped, where the topline lifts in a smooth curve from just behind the shoulders up over the rounded hindquarters.

Two colour varieties meet the breed standard: a deep slate blue and a clean white. The blue American is one of only a handful of breeds carrying a true, even blue coat over the whole body, and this colouring is what first drew attention to the breed. The white variety carries pink eyes and a dense, even coat.

These days the American is kept mainly as a placid companion rabbit and as part of heritage conservation efforts. It settles well once it knows its routine, handles calmly, and rarely fusses. Because it is a big rabbit, though, it eats more and needs a roomier hutch or run than a dwarf breed would, so factor that in before bringing one home.

Who it suits

The American works well for keepers who can offer a spacious hutch and daily time out of it. Its quiet, unbothered nature makes it a fair option for older children who already know how to handle animals gently, and for adults after a companion without much drama. It suits South African households with room to spare rather than a small flat, and it is not a breed to take on lightly, since it can live to 8 years and needs that commitment for the long haul.

The American rabbit took shape in California, in the United States, during the 1910s. Lewis Salisbury of Pasadena gets the credit, having worked for years to lock in a deep blue coat colour and the semi-arch body type in a rabbit large enough for both meat and fur.

The breed was first exhibited and formally recognised in 1917. Back then it went by the name German Blue Vienna, a nod to the European blue breeds behind it. Once the First World War turned public opinion against anything sounding German, the name changed to American, and the new label helped the breed find favour with fanciers of the day.

The blue variety came first and built the breed's early reputation, since an even slate-blue coat across the whole body was unusual at the time. A white variety followed later to widen the breed's appeal for fur and meat production alike. Through the middle of the twentieth century, farms across the United States kept the American for its thick pelt and solid carcass weight.

Once commercial rabbit farming moved toward faster-growing breeds, American numbers dropped off sharply. The breed is now classed as heritage stock and has featured on conservation watch lists, which has pulled in a new wave of small breeders determined to keep the line alive.

The American carries a long, deep body that falls into the semi-arch class. Seen from the side, the topline climbs gradually from the shoulders and peaks over the hips before curving down at the rear, the shape that gives the breed its mandolin nickname. Ears sit upright, in proportion with the head and body. The overall picture is of a solidly built, well-muscled rabbit, not a compact one.

Coat and colours

The coat is dense and springs back slowly when stroked against the grain, the quality fanciers prize most. The blue variety wears an even, medium-to-dark slate blue over the whole body, with the same tone running right down into the undercolour. The white variety is a clean, pure white with pink eyes. In both varieties, judges look for uniform colour, with no scattered off-colour hairs, brassy tinge, or patchiness.

The American has a name for a steady, good-natured disposition. It tends to be docile and puts up with being picked up and held better than many highly strung breeds, as long as handling stays calm and supported. Does have a reputation as attentive, settled mothers, which fits the breed's easygoing image.

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

Kept with other rabbits, the American can live in compatible pairs or groups where introductions happen gradually and both animals are neutered or spayed. As with any rabbit, dogs and cats need supervision, since even a friendly rabbit can be stressed by a predator species nearby. Patience in the first few weeks is worth it: a settled American is calm and predictable.

The American is a hardy breed with straightforward care needs, though its size means it needs more room and a bigger setup than the smaller breeds do.

Grooming

• Brush once a week to clear loose fur and keep the dense coat in good shape.
• Brush more often, every few days, during a seasonal moult.
• Check the nails roughly every 4 to 6 weeks and trim once they grow long.
• Look over the ears and rear end regularly for cleanliness, since a rabbit this size can battle to reach its own back.
• Skip full baths, which stress rabbits out; spot-clean soiled fur instead.

Exercise

• Give at least 3 to 4 hours of supervised time outside the hutch each day, in a rabbit-proofed space.
• Allow room to hop, stretch up tall, and run, which a large breed needs to stay in shape.
• Offer tunnels, cardboard boxes, and safe chew toys to keep it occupied.
• Keep play areas clear of electrical cords and toxic houseplants.

Environment

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

Grass hay should make up the bulk of the diet and stay available round the clock. Timothy, orchard, or meadow hay (or a local grass hay such as Eragrostis where it's available) keeps the gut moving and wears down teeth that never stop growing. A measured amount of good-quality pellets, plus a daily serve of fresh leafy greens, rounds things out. Fresh water must be on hand at all times, in a heavy bowl or a clean bottle.

Treats and extras

Keep treats small and occasional. A few pieces of carrot, apple with the pips removed, or herbs such as parsley and coriander make suitable rewards. Bring in any new green slowly, over several days, to avoid runny droppings. A rabbit getting unlimited hay and fresh greens generally needs no extra vitamin supplements.

The American is a robust heritage breed without major breed-specific defects. Given good husbandry, it usually lives 5 to 8 years. Most health issues seen 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 regional rabbit diseases where a vet recommends it.
• Spay or neuter to prevent reproductive cancers and cut down on hormonal behaviour.
• Keep the hutch clean and dry to head off skin and respiratory problems.

Because the American is a large breed, its housing needs to be generous. The hutch should let the rabbit stretch out flat, sit up with ears clear of the roof, and take a few hops from end to end. A common guideline for a large rabbit is a hutch of at least 1.1 m² attached to a run of around 2.2 to 3 m². Solid flooring, or 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 topped up at all times.
• A litter tray in one corner with rabbit-safe litter.
• A hide box or covered nook for security.
• Chew toys and a digging box to keep it entertained.

As a heritage breed kept partly to conserve the line, the American is bred to hold on to its body type and the two standard colours. Bucks and does of large breeds mature a little later than the small breeds do, so breeders usually wait until the animals are physically mature, often around 6 to 8 months, before a first mating. The doe goes to the buck's hutch rather than the other way round, since does can turn territorial.

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

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 often coordinate with each other to keep bloodlines varied and conserve the line.