Where are all these black otters coming from

[bunnychild]

Howdy! I have had two litters so far this year and all but one has been black otters. I have no idea where this is coming from. I looked on the mothers' pedigrees and I found a chocolate otter, but this was the great great grandfather of one mother, and the great great great grandfather of the other. I don't have a pedigree for The sire but I know his parents were a self black and a chestnut. His aunt is a chestnut and his half brother was a black otter. I can understand maybe one every once and a while, but in every litter? How can it be that strong?

 

[Sinnfox]

sorry my fault...I wanted some so bad a while back I was praying for them...must be delivering them to the wrong place O_O

maybe there have been otters in every generation you just got the ones from each litter that weren't bred down through your pedigree? if it is that strong in the line the odd balls would stick out so would explain why they were held back in that case...to try and thin out the trait maybe? that's just a guess on my part I have never been lucky enough to get my hands on any kind of otter

 

[bunnychild]

Want one?

 

[Sinnfox]

I'm right around the middle of Texas..otherwise I'd say yes even though I'd get in a lot of trouble (I'm not supposed to get any more rabbits yet )

 

[bunnychild]

Darn, Mims would have loved you. Texas isn't to far away though. I have some good chums in Texas.
I will definitely try to isolate and lighten the trait.

 

[Sinnfox]

Well if any of your friends decide to visit any time soon...sucker them into bringing her to me >.> I just realized I'm not sure what breed they are....but I like the otter color that much

 

[bunnychild]

Jersey Woolies. I like to call them tribbles (star trek reference)

 

[Sinnfox]

>.> I had a rabbit named tribble a few years ago...so um >.> granted he when crazy insane so I don't tend to refer to them that way anymore @.@ at least not the sweet ones

 

[jessie15273]

What color are the rabbits you are breeding?

It probably just happened that your doe may have had that otter gene passed down in the background for a couple generations.

 

[MamaMandy]

I would imagine if you're getting that many otters that maybe both parents are hiding the tan gene. I'd like to have some otters here...especially a blue one! LOL

 

[bunnychild]

Chestnut agouti to siamese sable and chestnut agouti to rew

 

[Dood]

The chestnuts and REW can easily hide the otter gene.

If the chestnut is a carrier then when crossed with the siamese sable it should produce 50% agouti based and 50 % otter based

There could be any colour hiding under the white fur of your REW so if you get all otters it is likely an otter as well.

 

[bunnychild]

How can a white rabbit hide such a strong gene?
it's funny when I asked on another forum what I would get from a chestnut and a siamese sable they said I wouldn't get any showable colors.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

How can a white rabbit hide such a strong gene?

Think of REW as a white sheet that you are using to cover an old couch. The couch looks white, but underneath it could be ANY color.

Your REW could even be a broken... the only way to know is to breed to a solid colored rabbit, and if any kits are broken, you will know she is too.

 

[bunnychild]

I know there is some brokens in her. I plan on breeding her to a self grey in the future.

 

[Dood]

they said I wouldn't get any showable colors.

what breed do you have?

Chestnut is very dominant and is a showable colour in most breeds.

 

[bunnychild]

I have Jersey Woolies. It is a showable color but people said that having an agouti mixed with a shaded would give me pretty but useless colors. But I loved both of these rabbits enough to try and I got 3 Black Otters which I was thrilled to have because this was my first litter EVER. I was a little disappointed that I didn't get multiple colors though. I did get one chestnut in the REW and chestnut litter. She is beautiful. She is filled out in the right places and I can tell she will have a nicely colored senior coat.

 

[skysthelimit]

Hmm. I know what they are trying to say, since agouti and shaded are not the best combination.
But agouti can hide so many things, you are bound to get something showable, even if was just another agouti.
just watch for shaded agoutis and you will be fine.

 

[bunnychild]

I just remembered that I have a picture of my REW with her only sibling. The sibling was a self black.