The Rex rabbit is a domestic breed known for its exceptionally dense, plush coat, often described as having a velvet-like texture. The breed originated in France in the early 20th century from a naturally occurring genetic mutation that causes the guard hairs and underfur to grow to nearly the same length, resulting in a uniformly dense, upright coat that lies close to the body. This characteristic distinguishes the Rex from virtually all other domestic rabbit breeds and remains its defining trait.
Standard Rex rabbits are a medium-to-large breed, with adults typically weighing between 7.5 and 10.5 pounds. A smaller variant, the Mini Rex, was developed in the United States and is recognized separately by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA), typically weighing under 4.5 pounds.
Rex rabbits are raised for meat production, pelt harvesting, exhibition, and companionship. Their calm temperament and adaptability to varied housing systems have made them a common choice on small homesteads and hobby farms.
The Rex coat mutation is caused by a recessive gene that shortens the guard hairs to approximately the same length as the undercoat, typically around 5/8 of an inch. In most rabbit breeds, guard hairs protrude visibly above the undercoat, giving the fur a layered appearance. In the Rex, the absence of this protrusion produces the characteristic plush, uniform surface.
The coat is recognized in a wide range of color varieties by both ARBA and the British Rabbit Council (BRC), including Castor, Black, Blue, Chinchilla, Chocolate, Lilac, Opal, Red, White, and several broken patterns among others. Pelt quality is sensitive to husbandry conditions — wire flooring abrasion, unsanitary housing, and nutritional deficiencies can all degrade coat texture and marketability.
| Variety | Description |
|---|---|
| Standard Rex | The original breed, 7.5–10.5 lbs, recognized in numerous color varieties |
| Mini Rex | Smaller variant developed in the US, under 4.5 lbs, highly popular in exhibition |
Meat Production — Rex rabbits produce a well-muscled carcass suitable for small-scale family meat production. They are not as fast-growing as specialized commercial breeds such as the New Zealand or Californian, but their dual-purpose utility makes them practical for homesteaders who want both meat and pelts from a single herd.
Pelt Harvesting — Rex pelts are among the most commercially recognized of any domestic rabbit breed, valued by crafters, furriers, and hobbyists. However, local markets for rabbit fur vary significantly by region and should be researched before production is scaled toward pelt sales.
Exhibition — The breed is actively shown through ARBA and BRC sanctioned events, with a detailed breed standard governing coat texture, body type, color, and condition.
Companionship — Rex rabbits are commonly kept as pets due to their docile temperament and distinctive coat. They are generally tolerant of handling and adapt well to indoor and outdoor environments.
Rex rabbits are housed in a variety of systems including suspended wire cages, colony housing, and rabbit tractors. Each system involves trade-offs in labor, predator protection, sanitation, and pelt condition. Outdoor systems require protection from dogs, raccoons, foxes, snakes, and birds of prey.
The breed is heat-sensitive, as are most domestic rabbits, and requires adequate shade, ventilation, and access to fresh water during warm weather. Heat stress is a common cause of illness and reproductive failure in poorly ventilated housing.
Diet typically consists of commercial rabbit pellets, grass hay, and fresh water, with forage supplemented where available. Record keeping on breeding dates, litter sizes, weaning weights, and health observations is standard practice in productive Rex herds.
Costs vary by region, breeder reputation, housing style, and production scale.
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