What could cause this? Gene or environmental?

[ek.blair]

First of all these are not my buns, I pulled the pictures off of one of the FB groups I am on. But it has me baffled and super curious

Here is the background: They are purebred NZ and they start out looking like blues then turn this silver at about 2wks. These pictures are taken at 4 wks and then they lose all of the silver by 10-12 weeks and are solid black by the time the gal butchers them. She said that this is the first time she has seen it and a previous litter between this buck and these does (this has happened to two litters) has not produced this. Any idea what this is and what causes it?

 

[Dood]

Cool!

I'm pretty sure it must be genetic but the only way to know is if you breed them

If it is a type of pelage the rabbits might cycle between silvered and black every year, just like snow shoe hares that are white in winter but brown/agouti during the summer.

 

[akane]

What color NZ? Could some other C locus gene have snuck in besides the rew? Still would be odd though. I don't see how si could get in there and again it would be an odd change for that color. They might have actually come up with something new.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I have no idea, but I'll tell you this... if they were in my barn, I would keep a brother/sister pair and breed them. At the very least I'd hold them back to see if the coat goes through any more changes.

 

[ek.blair]

If it is a type of pelage the rabbits might cycle between silvered and black every year, just like snow shoe hares that are white in winter but brown/agouti during the summer.

That would be SO cool!

What color NZ? Could some other C locus gene have snuck in besides the rew? Still would be odd though. I don't see how si could get in there and again it would be an odd change for that color. They might have actually come up with something new.

Not sure what the parent's colors are...

I have no idea, but I'll tell you this... if they were in my barn, I would keep a brother/sister pair and breed them. At the very least I'd hold them back to see if the coat goes through any more changes.

I know that she mostly just uses them as meat buns, but maybe I can convince the hubby to let me get a brother sister pair! :mrgreen:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I know that she mostly just uses them as meat buns, but maybe I can convince the hubby to let me get a brother sister pair! :mrgreen:

They're LOCAL?!?!

You MUST get some. Tell your hubs that MamaSheepdog said so! :gettowork:

the rabbits might cycle between silvered and black every year

Imagine the fame and fortune that may come to the Blair Bunny Project! :greedy: :money:

 

[ek.blair]

I know that she mostly just uses them as meat buns, but maybe I can convince the hubby to let me get a brother sister pair! :mrgreen:

They're LOCAL?!?!

You MUST get some. Tell your hubs that MamaSheepdog said so! :gettowork:

the rabbits might cycle between silvered and black every year

Imagine the fame and fortune that may come to the Blair Bunny Project! :greedy: :money:

Well... Local as in they are in AK at least, but still 466mi from me :| I might have to message the gal and see if we can arrange something.

 

[JessicaR]

I had color similar in my red new zealands. At about 8-9 weeks old they developed a silvery color to their fur but when their adult coat came in it was a nice red color.