It is incorrect to compare the fur of a Rex rabbit with that of a regular rabbit. It is more reminiscent of valuable varieties of this material - chinchilla, squirrel or beaver. From the latter comes the second name of this fur - beaver. A Rex rabbit fur coat has certain advantages and disadvantages. We will talk about them in this article.
The official name of the breed translates as king or ruler . Designer items are often created from Rex rabbit skins and used to decorate evening dresses. Fur coats made from this fur have always enjoyed a reputation as fashionable and original winter clothing.
History of appearance
This fur became popular not so long ago, but immediately took its strong position in the field of outerwear production. It is soft and practical, versatile and very wear-resistant. Connoisseurs of luxury fur products paid tribute to him, and now chinchilla fur coats are considered a luxurious classic, designed to give warmth, comfort and a lot of admiring glances to its owner.
This valuable fur was brought to Europe by the Spaniards, who conquered South America. It was immediately appreciated at the royal court and began to be worn everywhere, but the rarity of this small animal and such a high demand for its fur led to the almost complete disappearance of chinchillas. Only a little over a hundred years ago, French breeders began to raise them in captivity, in limited quantities, and chinchilla fur coats are today considered one of the most expensive and exclusive products made from natural fur. Their cost can reach up to three million rubles.
Breed productivity
Since the breed is classified as a meat-skin species, it allows one to obtain not only fur, but also healthy meat. So, with an average body weight of four to five kilograms, the yield of the main product will be more than sixty percent.
At the same time, the rabbits grow slowly and gain weight. Only by the age of eight months their weight averages three kilograms. After this, the monthly increase decreases significantly.
Rex rabbits gain weight very slowly
Main advantages
In fact, chinchilla fur is a delicate layer of fluff about three centimeters high. It is unusually thick and soft, pleasant to the touch.
- Not a single forest animal can boast of such a dense fur coat. Usually only one hair grows from a hair follicle. A chinchilla can have up to eighty of them, each of which reaches a width of no more than one hundredth of a millimeter.
- Chinchilla fur coats are distinguished by their heterogeneous, interesting fur color, which favorably emphasizes the style of the finished product. The animal is characterized by a classic white belly, dark back and beautiful gray-blue color of the barrels, and with the right selection of skins, the product becomes truly unique and luxurious.
- Now breeders have developed a number of breeds that are distinguished by their special colors; fur coats made from this fur are expensive, sold in very limited quantities and intended for real aristocrats.
Description of the breed
Rabbits of this species have unusual short fur that grows upright, which is why it is actively used for making clothing, accessories and decorative items. Animals have their own standards:
- a small rounded body much wider than the head;
- the weight of an adult rabbit is from three to five kilograms;
- strong neck, medium-sized head;
- erect, rounded ears;
- short ears curled at the ends (in some cases they may be completely absent);
- medium-length dark nails;
- Brown eyes.
Rex rabbits are highly prized for their fur.
The following signs of marriage are possible:
- ears are too long (more than twelve centimeters);
- too small (less than three) or large (more than five and a half kilograms) weight;
- curvature of the paws and spine;
- long shiny coat;
- double chin.
Representatives of the breeds also have significant disadvantages:
- timidity and intolerance to noise;
- poor tolerance to high temperatures above twenty-five degrees;
- low survival rate and poor resistance to common diseases;
- poor fertility (up to six to eight rabbits in a litter).
Rex rabbits have poor survival rate because... not resistant to various diseases
Rabbit "Rex"
Not all representatives of the fair sex can afford such luxury, but every woman wants to own a truly exclusive and aristocratic product that evokes admiring glances from others. In such a situation, the ideal solution would be Rex rabbit fur coats made to look like chinchillas. Their cost is much lower than the price of exclusive aristocratic products, and they look no worse than luxurious chinchillas.
Feeding
The composition of the basic diet depends on the feeding season:
- in the summer, it is necessary to provide grain mixtures, combined feeds, fresh vegetables and tops, freshly cut greens, branches of pine needles and other trees;
- In winter, it is also necessary to provide grain mixtures and feed, as well as grass flour and hay, root vegetables and branches of fruit trees.
All feed mixtures must be enriched with vitamins and mineral complexes, meat and bone meal and fish meal. It is also useful to periodically feed animals with fermented milk products. Read about diarrhea in rabbits here.
The diet of rabbits depends on the season
Any vegetables and root vegetables must be extremely fresh and of high quality. Even slightly rotten foods can cause digestive upset.
Product advantages
This new product in the fur industry became available to fashionistas around the world not so long ago. For many years, breeders bred this breed of rabbits without publicity, and it appeared back in 1919 in France. It was there that she was given such an unusual name, translated as “king of the beavers.” The quality of a chinchilla rabbit fur coat is very similar to a natural one, which is why it is often called “chinchilla rabbit”.
- Most owners of this type of product note that it is incredibly soft and pleasant, and the appearance of the fur looks very attractive.
- The main advantage of this type of material remains its price (30-50 thousand rubles); in appearance it resembles the skin of a chinchilla or squirrel, but costs much less.
- A distinctive feature of these products is the length of their fur. Usually it is one and a half to two centimeters, which becomes especially practical to wear. The fur length of other rabbit breeds is much longer.
- Chinchilla-style Rex rabbit fur coats are distinguished by a dense down, much larger than that of an ordinary rabbit. Such a product can be worn well for at least five to six seasons, or even longer, it all depends on the quality of care and lifestyle of its owner.
Origin
Rex rabbits were created somewhat by accident. Their first representatives were bred in France at the beginning of the twentieth century from domestic and wild rabbits, then the animals were improved. Unusual short-haired rabbits with plush fur were obtained by accident as a result of crossing Belgian giants.
The breed with its unusual coat was established and officially registered. Since then it has become widespread throughout Europe and America. Later, Rex rabbits entered the territory of the USSR. Today they are actively divorced in Russia. This material will tell you how to care for a decorative rabbit.
Rex rabbits were bred in France
Secrets of the right choice
Focusing on which fur will be more preferable (rabbit, chinchilla), the fur coat must meet the following parameters:
- real high-quality fur is not cheap at all, so you should not believe the seller’s promises and hope for luck;
- be sure to feel the fur, it should be light and weightless, soft, like real fluff;
- It is advisable to inspect the product in bright daylight, when the fluffy, dense undercoat is clearly visible;
- a fur coat (chinchilla, Rex rabbit) can be made in the same way, but the fur of the original expensive product always remains cool, the rabbit under the palm will quickly warm up;
- a high-quality cut fur coat has a number of features - at the joints of its seams the hairline usually falls a little, and light bellies should be located on the sides of the product;
- It is precisely due to the production of whole skins and the peculiarities of their connection that the finished chinchilla fur coat has an interesting wavy silhouette; using rabbit skins, such an effect cannot be achieved.
Don’t forget to smell the product; an unscrupulous manufacturer can artificially give it a heterogeneous color. Chinchillas do not have sebaceous and sweat glands, so their fur cannot have foreign odors. Chinchilla fur coats should not be bought on the market; for such a valuable acquisition it is better to go to a trusted specialized fur salon.
Breeding
Reproduction of this breed is very difficult. A female rabbit usually gives birth to 4 to 6 rabbits. They require careful care; with minimal disturbances, the cubs quickly die.
Newborn rabbits are not particularly beautiful; rex rabbits “bloom” much later, when they reach maturity.
The first birth of a female is usually difficult and requires the assistance of a veterinarian or professional; during subsequent births, the female copes on her own. Usually, for the first time, the female rabbit is not able to prepare the nest on her own; she needs help with this, otherwise the death of the offspring is inevitable.
In addition, the giving birth female should have plenty of water available - she drinks liberally. Prenatal development of the expectant mother's nipples is also a prerequisite. If milk flows heavily, newborns cause pain to the rabbit and cause aggression, even to the point of destroying the offspring.
Rexes are not always caring mothers. If the mother rabbit’s attitude towards the cubs is negligent, then conditions for their survival should be created - artificial heating and lighting, formula feeding. Sometimes placing the baby rabbits next to another lactating female helps.
Special formulas or diluted condensed milk are used as artificial nutrition for babies. The rabbits are fed in this way for three weeks, then gradually plant foods begin to be introduced into their diet.
A novice farmer should not have this breed. Rex breeding is only possible for professionals in rabbit breeding.
Let's decide on the model
An exclusive and such an expensive product (its cost varies from three hundred thousand to three million rubles) can rarely be found in an elongated or long version. Typically, status and luxurious fur coats are shortened and flared “figaro” styles. Short chinchilla fur jackets, sleeveless vests and boleros are in great demand among customers, indicating the aristocracy of their owner, universal in terms of wear and more acceptable in the price range.
The myth about the fragility of rabbit fur has long been dispelled by experts, so products made from it are no less in demand, and there is more scope for imagination. Most of all, ladies like the classic chinchilla rabbit. A fur coat, the price of which varies between 30-50 thousand rubles, can be shortened or even classic. Often it is additionally combined with another type of fur. The arctic fox finish looks especially advantageous on high-quality products.
How to care
A chinchilla fur coat, the price of which is quite impressive, requires very careful care.
- Wet fur should be dried at room temperature.
- Be sure to periodically comb the product; this should be done both according to the growth of the villi and against it, thereby ensuring good fluffing.
- Once a year, do not forget to have your fur coat cleaned, and if it gets very wet, in order to avoid deformation, you should immediately contact an experienced furrier.
- Protect your expensive purchase from moths by packing it in a special duffel bag.
What to wear with
Fur products can hardly be called practical. This is an expensive material that is not wear-resistant, so it must be combined exclusively with things that cannot spoil the appearance of a chinchilla fur coat.
- To begin with, it is worth noting that this is far from an everyday type of clothing, so it must be combined with expensive materials that correspond to a specific event. So jeans with such an aristocratic-looking fur coat will look extremely ridiculous.
- Short fur coats look great on girls and younger ladies, which are distinguished by their versatility and are perfect for both business meetings and romantic dates.
- Chinchilla products go perfectly with beautiful stylish high-heeled boots made of genuine leather. Here you should rely solely on your taste preferences and general color scheme.
- Classic skinny trousers are a good substitute for everyone’s favorite jeans; they will make the owner of luxurious fur even more stylish and sophisticated.
Accessories play an important role in the organic look. Here it is better to give preference to laconic clutches, scarves in classic colors and leather gloves to match the shoes. The ideal headdress would be a fur hat of a similar color and texture. When it comes to jewelry, you need to choose flashy options made from expensive metals. Gold goes especially well with the expensive shine of fur.
