Red new Zealand question

[mjdafoe]

Hi! This is my first post as I am new!

I can post a pic in a bit but I found a "breeder" who breeds red nz and he has a litter (mom n dad there) all are red but one has blue around its eye and a blue stripe down its side. I know that is not a standard. Any ideas? Other than the lineage is a cross?

 

[Bad Habit]

Sounds like the rabbit was possibly stained, if it has blue around one eye and down its side. If it were tort, it would have blue(or black) on the belly and sides, on the muzzle and in the ears. Tort is possible in purebreds if the parents have self or tort in the background.

Unless it's the harlequin gene coming out. Then it would have been some sort of mix, most likely (red can't "carry" harlequin, it would be visibly harlequin.)

 

[mjdafoe]

What does attained mean? I am trying to get the pic on my computer. My smartphone fell in the toilet lol.

__________ Sat Nov 01, 2014 5:19 pm __________

Stained.... Darn autocorrect! <br /><br /> __________ Sat Nov 01, 2014 5:28 pm __________ <br /><br />

 

[Bad Habit]

That's harlequin.

Stained... like you stained your shirt? Just a non-permanent mark caused by something like dirty cage conditions, or rubbing against something, or rolling in the dirt outside. However, seeing the kit, I believe that's harlequin, which would mean one of the parents has to be harlequin(or hiding harlequin.)

 

[mjdafoe]

I don't know much about genetics. There is a harlequin breed and color right? I'm in love w it but I don't know if I should get it for breeding purposes. Help!

 

[Bad Habit]

Harlequin(with a capital) is the breed, while harlequin(without the capital) is the colour.

What are you planning on breeding for?

 

[mjdafoe]

Honestly it is hard to find reds here in NY. REW are allllll over.

Pets, meat, show? Eventually show when I learn more. I just don't want anyone to look at me and think.... Wth?!

The reds are gorgeous. The harlequin look is so my color. I cannot find ANY Harlequin here in NY.

 

[Bad Habit]

I do love my NZR buck. He's a pretty boy with a buttload of attitude, lol.

There are two methods of thought as to what you want to do when first starting out.

Either start out with inexpensive stock that would suit your needs(large breed rabbits are hard to sell as pets, I'm afraid) without worrying about quality/pedigree/breed, to learn the ropes with and get a feel for things, then upgrade to purebred/pedigree/better stock once you're more comfortable.

Or start out with high quality animals, and learn as you breed them.

 

[mjdafoe]

That is sad that people don't like large as pets I love them!! Lol what kind of attitude? What does he do?

 

[Bad Habit]

Oh he's just a funny boy. He was raised to be used for meat, so wasn't handled much. When I got him he was 7mths old and a big fat jerk. It took forever to get him to come around, and he still fights like the dickens when I go to take him out of his cage, but then snuggles right up to me once I've got him out. And there's nothing funnier than watching 10lbs of buck throw himself around the grazing cage in utter joy at getting to stretch his legs!