One must also bear in mind that some breeds are only one colour (Chinchilla, Deilenaar, Smoke Pearl, etc) And the differences between the colour in these breeds are not about to be dealt with in depth on this site. Briefly the small differences between these are to do with modifying genes and often many hundred of a variety of these are necessary to improve one chinchilla over another.

What this site is aiming to achieve is a basic understanding of colour genetics of the different colours, which may help you to understand why putting two red eyed white rabbits together will never produce anything other than red eyed white. You may also be able to work out how you can create a particular colour that you do not own, from the rabbits that are available to you, rather than trying to purchase one (which is not always possible).

Should you have any questions, or constructive criticisms which may help someone else to understand a particular section, I would appreciate your feedback. It is important to let me know if this site has been helpful or not.

Please remember that the information in this site is ALL FACT, and has been scientifically proven. There are instances where I have drawn conclusions and can hypothesise from long experience and breeding the more unusual colours over many years and with a large stud of rabbits at my disposal. However, if this is the case, I will try to make it very clear which are my opinions only. The rest of the data in this site is PROVEN SCIENTIFIC FACT.

I hope you do not let the letters confuse you. These are written separately and each one explained. The site is designed as a series of modules. It would help you most to learn and understand each module before going on to the next. There will be some suggestions for you at the end of each module and some photographs which may help you to understand.

Introduction to Simple Coat Colour Genetics in Rabbits

In order to help understand colour genetics, one way is to master one section of it at a time. If we firstly accept that coat colour genetics are largely a scientific fact which have been proven over many years of breeding it will help to understand better.

Unfortunately rabbits are very clever survivors and have developed certain strategies in breeding which helps their survival in the wild. Some of these strategies are still found in domesticated animals. For instance, it is a documented fact that a female can and will, on occasions, re-absorb a litter; she can also produce two litters to one mating! This is, I understand, due to the fact that their uterus is made up of two "horns" in which the foetus grow. The babies from one horn are born and the other fertilised foetus remain in situ until the doe produces the hormones to start them growing into a viable litter. A doe can also use this mechanism to make her pregnancy seem to last several weeks. Unfortunately this can confuse breeders as an apparent mating can appear to have 'missed' but in fact will become viable when the doe produces the relevant hormones. These hormones can even be produced after she has been mated to another buck! This is, however fairly uncommon, but since it can happen, one must keep it in mind.