It is not difficult to care for an American Blue Rabbit. Rabbit breeds exist in various shapes, sizes, colors, and personalities, making it difficult to choose the ideal one. The popularity of the American Blue Rabbit, formerly known as the ‘German Blue Vienna’ Rabbit, is increasing.
American Blue Rabbits are currently one of the rarest rabbit breeds. What is the best way to care for an American Blue rabbit?
We’ll go over all you need to know about an American Blue rabbit in this article. This guide contains comprehensive and helpful information on the best ways to care for your rabbits.
Overall Description
- Size: Medium/Large
- Weight: 9-11 pounds
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
The American rabbit has a semi-arch body type, which means the top line of the body flattens and bends upward at the middle rather than rising immediately behind the ears. Their ears are small, tapering, and proportionate in length. When completely mature, they can reach anywhere from nine to eleven pounds, making them medium-large rabbits in size.
American Blue Rabbit Appearance
The American rabbit comes in two distinct colors: blue and white. This rabbit is large, with a back that resembles a mandolin or a semi-arch and erect ears.
The coat of this rabbit is said to be particularly beautiful. If you want to keep this rabbit as a pet, you may anticipate its fur to be soft, fine, and velvety to the touch. Both white and blue American rabbits have short, flyback fur, which means the coat will return to its original position after being petted backward.
Temperament
The American Blue is a calm breed with strong mothering skills (which is one of the reasons they’re so simple to breed!). They’re loving and kind to their owners, although they’re not a particularly active breed. They would rather spend their time lazing about.
If it hasn’t been properly socialized or hasn’t grown up around humans, the American Blue Rabbit, like other rabbit breeds, might be wary of people. They may bite in self-defense if this is the case, but they are typically a calm and affectionate breed.
How to Care For an American Blue Rabbit
It is not difficult to care for an American Blue Rabbit, and it is pretty similar to that of other breeds. Ensure it gets the proper nutrition, housing, and companionship, and take it to the veterinarian for medical attention.
Rabbit Diet and Nutrition
Hay is the primary diet of domestic rabbits, such as the American rabbit. Hay should account for eighty percent of their diet. A well-rounded rabbit diet includes high-quality hay, quality rabbit pellets, veggies, and fruits.
Give them unrestricted access to fresh water and hay. Hay is abrasive, yet it aids in the health and regularity of their digestive systems. Fill a sturdy shallow dish halfway with water so your rabbit can comfortably drink from it.
A big bowl is necessary so that your rabbit does not knock it over while moving about inside the enclosure. You may also fill an inverted container with water and a spout.
Also, keep pesticides, poisons, and herbicides away from your rabbit. Alfalfa hay may be required for younger rabbits since it is high in calcium, which is necessary for bone growth.
Companionship
American Blue rabbits may make a wonderful pet, but they must be well-trained. Playing with your pet rabbits often is a great way to interact. Rabbits are sociable creatures who require human engagement in addition to engaging with their cage mates.
Housing
For domestic American Blue Rabbits, the cage or enclosure should be a wire with a sturdy frame. A removable plastic pan or tray at the bottom must be provided for the rabbit’s droppings to quickly fall. You can easily maintain your pet rabbit’s cage when cleaning. The cage floor must have soft bedding so that it is comfortable for your rabbit to stay on.
Attach a rabbit hay feeder to the enclosure’s side. When your rabbit is hungry, they can eat hay. Use hay, aspen, wood pellets, or pelleted bedding as bedding.
(Source)
Remove your pet rabbits from the cage and clean it with a safe cleanser or natural cleaning solution such as white vinegar, baking soda, or lemon. Please do not use the bathroom or ordinary home cleansers, as they may contain harmful chemicals that might harm your rabbit.
As long as adequate measures are followed, this breed may be maintained both indoors and outside. If you keep them outside, ensure no cats or other predators around that may stress them out.
Even if the predators cannot enter their cage, seeing them from outside the enclosure is highly distressing for your rabbit. Additionally, ensure that they have a spacious, weatherproof cage with a designated sleep and rest area.
It’s also a good idea to have a fenced-in outside area, preferably in your backyard, where your rabbits can run around and play on the grass.
Grooming
Make sure to brush your rabbit as needed to maintain their coat and keep it clean. Under no circumstances should you bathe them since this can stress them out, which is potentially dangerous and causes severe issues to their health. Instead, use a wet towel to spot-clean the areas that are soiled.
Bathing them also removes many of their fur’s inherent characteristics. Don’t worry; rabbits are generally clean critters who can take care of themselves when washing.
Please keep track of how frequently you brush your American rabbit as it molts. Keep brushing to a minimum if they are shedding a little. Depending on how much they shed, increase the number of brushings. Rabbits also have heavier shedding cycles at different times of the year.
Even though American Blues groom themselves and keep themselves clean, it’s still a good idea to brush them every now and again, especially when they’re molting and shedding a lot of hair.
American Blue: Health Issues
The American Blue rabbit is a healthy breed that is not impacted by the illness. However, pests such as mites, ticks, and fleas are the most likely to infect American rabbits since they are naturally prevalent in their habitat.
There are rabbits with delicate digestive systems that may be susceptible to a variety of digestive tract diseases, including enteritis, bloat, and gastrointestinal stasis. Rabbits under the age of two months may be affected.
Always keep an eye out for parasitic ear or hair parasites like mites, fleas, and ticks. The majority of the time, rabbits with these parasites have filthy surroundings and cages.
(Source)
Frequently Asked Questions
Are American Blue Rabbits Endangered?
Blue Rabbits were once classified as “critical” by Livestock Conservancy, indicating that the breed was on the verge of extinction. This is, thankfully, no longer the case! The popularity of the breed has risen in recent years, prompting breeders to produce more of them. Blue Rabbits are currently classified as “watch,” indicating that their population has exploded in recent years.
Are American Blue Rabbits Territorial?
American Blue rabbits can become territorial. During the mating season, males may become hostile against other males. To maintain a hierarchy, they may bite, scratch, or kick their opponents.
Are American Blue Rabbits for You?
American Blue rabbits are best suited for families with older children, seniors, or couples because of their calm and laid-back nature. The majority of American rabbits are docile, with a few teetering on the “lazy” side of the scale. This gentle breed is ideally suited for you if you’re searching for a companion rabbit who enjoys hanging around.
