What's up with this coat?

Phrick · Sep 23, 2024

This is Flopsie, he's a 1.5yo American Chinchilla. His coat has pretty much always looked like this, it makes him look shaggy and a little ragged, but he's not. I got him at 6mo of age, and the first time I noticed it was maybe 3mo later - I thought maybe he was rumpled from laying on the cage wire so I put in a resting tile, but it made no difference. He seems very healthy, nothing I can see wrong, he sires litters just fine (although the last 2 were small litters 3 and 1, but it was also summer in Arizona). I'm planning to streamline my breeders and have a buck I prefer (color, shape) so I am going to sell Flopsie and a couple of does - but I figure it's finally time to ask about his coat before I do list him. Can anyone identify particular issues I should check for, or maybe give a reason it looks like that no matter what I change? All my rabbits are on Country Companion 16% pellets, rations for bucks & non-lactating does, with plenty of access to alfalfa/timothy hay cubes (I toss in a few every time I notice the last ones getting small)
Thanks!

RabbitsOfTheCreek · Sep 23, 2024

It could be constant overgrooming or fur loss, but could be molting (I wouldn't think so since it's been happening for so long, but)
If you grab a piece of fur from the edges and pull, can you pluck it off or does it seem stuck in?

Phrick · Sep 23, 2024

RabbitsOfTheCreek said:
It could be constant overgrooming or fur loss, but could be molting (I wouldn't think so since it's been happening for so long, but)
If you grab a piece of fur from the edges and pull, can you pluck it off or does it seem stuck in?

It's stuck in, not loose at all. I don't think it's molting either. None of his fur is thin anywhere so I don't think he's losing it, but it could possibly be over grooming - he doesn't get a lot of lady time (one of the main reasons I'm streamlining things). I bought more than I needed for starting out thinking my husband would help more; it doesn't seem fair to any of them for me to have so many bucks that don't get action very often. I haven't ever seen Flopsie groom (I've seen all the does groom regularly but not the bucks) but I have to say I wouldn't be surprised at all if he over-grooms himself out of boredom (or loneliness haha) and his coat is a result.

Scooter1A · Sep 24, 2024

I think he just has curly fur.

Phrick · Sep 24, 2024

Scooter1A said:
I think he just has curly fur.

that's an interesting idea too. I haven't really checked it close enough. he doesn't love being handled - doesn't run when I reach in but he does get mad if I try to pick him up (he lost a toenail last time and bled for what felt like ages but was really probably 10 seconds lol). I'll see if I can manage to evaluate if the rumpled parts are shorter hairs overall than the rest (which I think would point to a grooming issue) or if they appear to be the same length. Maybe I can get a few loosened up enough to come out so I look at them up close.

judymac · Sep 26, 2024

I also think you've got a buck with the curly gene (aka Astrex, the recessive wa gene). The amount of wave varies greatly, from a slight wave that the kit grows out of, to tight spitcurls.

Phrick · Sep 27, 2024

I wound up out of town unexpectedly early (I was planning to leave Sunday but left yesterday at Stupid O’Clock instead) so I didn’t get to look closer after all but that means I also didn’t have time to list any of the buns so I am keeping this all in mind for when I’m home. Thanks again everyone!