Black with brown patches on silver fox

I’ve got an opportunity to buy a grand champion black silver fox buck from a very reputable breeder. But I’ve never seen coloration before like this in a black. The picture below is not the rabbit I’m considering but coloration is similar. Are those brown patches detractors? I talked with another breeder who said they are sun bleached areas and according to a judge we’re not disqualifiers. I’m not sure this is correct, but I wanted to ask the group your thoughts.

CedarRidge said:

I’ve got an opportunity to buy a grand champion black silver fox buck from a very reputable breeder. But I’ve never seen coloration before like this in a black. The picture below is not the rabbit I’m considering but coloration is similar. Are those brown patches detractors? I talked with another breeder who said they are sun bleached areas and according to a judge we’re not disqualifiers. I’m not sure this is correct, but I wanted to ask the group your thoughts.

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Sometimes rabbits who are kept in areas where sunlight hits them directly get sun-bleached; sometimes even rabbits kept out of the sun get brassy-looking when they're molting out their old coat.

Without seeing the rabbit, it's hard to really say about yours, but what the breeder said about sun-bleached/molt areas is correct in terms of showing/DQs. Judges will recognize it for what it is, maybe mention it as a fault, and move on.

If it's sun-bleaching or molt discoloration, those areas eventually will molt out, and if you keep him properly he will regain the proper color.

CedarRidge said:

I’ve got an opportunity to buy a grand champion black silver fox buck from a very reputable breeder. But I’ve never seen coloration before like this in a black. The picture below is not the rabbit I’m considering but coloration is similar. Are those brown patches detractors? I talked with another breeder who said they are sun bleached areas and according to a judge we’re not disqualifiers. I’m not sure this is correct, but I wanted to ask the group your thoughts.

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I don't show so can't answer to that, but my silver fox also get brown patches. They go away. The first 3 I had grew what I called punk rock hair dos. One looked like a heavy shawl across shoulders.may have been the change from cages indoors to lots of outdoor time. I had no interest in showing or selling so was even a little disappointed when they lost their "distinctive looks"

Discoloring may appear by light, salvia, urin. This rusty discoloration/alteration of melanin pigments may be heritable.

dlynn said:

I don't show so can't answer to that, but my silver fox also get brown patches. They go away. The first 3 I had grew what I called punk rock hair dos. One looked like a heavy shawl across shoulders.may have been the change from cages indoors to lots of outdoor time. I had no interest in showing or selling so was even a little disappointed when they lost their "distinctive looks"

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Yes, one of your pics looks like the pic I've posted, which also looks like the one I'm considering purchasing. Maybe it's a sun thing. I've never experienced it because our rabbits are kept indoors.

I was wondering the same thing on an American blue buck that I want. I'm aware of sun discoloration and that that fur will eventually molt out. I know that in dogs saliva can discolor and in horses so can urine and sun.

CedarRidge said:

Yes, one of your pics looks like the pic I've posted, which also looks like the one I'm considering purchasing. Maybe it's a sun thing. I've never experienced it because our rabbits are kept indoors.

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These happened at about 5-6 months. I thought maybe a teenage thing. The kits raised from these haven't had those distinct patches and once they shed these never had them again. Mine now live in colonies with free access to the outside. They sometimes get a little brownish cast before shedding at change of season.