Rex
The rex rabbit was the very first breed that I fell in love with, many years ago. I can still remember the day when I felt a rex for the very first time, which was a black one. I had gone to the Reading & County show, where I was asked if I would like to steward some rabbits. So, reluctantly at the time, I agreed, as I had never stewarded before. However, there’s always a first time, I thought and I had a go.
I was given a standard black rex to look after and, as I had never seen a rabbit with such a short coat before, I could not resist and I touched it. Its plush and very dense, cool coat drove a shiver down my spine: I was absolutely amazed that a rabbit could feel like that!
Needless to say that I wanted one, there and then, and it did not take long and I brought home my very own black rex, thanks to Jackie Cross. “Hazel” was a stunning rabbit, of a very good type and with a super coat.
As a lot of newcomers to the fancy do, I too got a ‘bit’ carried away and acquired a Himalayan rex buck soon after, who I mated to Hazel.
I read everything there was to know about the pregnancy and birth of rabbits and, 31 days later, Hazel and “Stupsi” produced a litter of 10, out of which five died within 24 hours. The remaining five kits grew up well and soon I started showing them, winning once 'best rex' with the best doe of that litter, "Buttercup", at the 
I soon caught the bug, as one does, and felt like breeding all the BRC-approved rex colours. Thankfully, the lack of space at the time stopped me from getting too carried away.
However, I could and never will resist the orange and castor rex and who can blame me for that? I remember a fancier once saying to me about the orange rex: “To have an orange rex in the shed is like having a ray of sunshine”. I thought and still do, that that statement is still valid today and, admittedly, I will always have some orange rex in my shed, and the castor rex, of course.
Other rex colours that I have bred successfully so far include the chocolate otter rex, lynx, harlequin and Dalmatian rex, all of which I will always have a small stud of.
Very sadly though time spent with the Plush Lop project and Himalayan rabbits have put the breeding of rex on a temporary hold. A lot of space will be required for both, especially the Plush Lop project. Thankfully, the Plush Lop project will keep my love for the rex coat alive and I am hoping that, one day, the coat of the Plush Lop will be as good as any standard or mini rex.
Meet some of the rex family
Toffee, Castor Rex
Skye, Smoke Pearl
Silke, Orange Rex
Hamish, Castor Rex
Purdy, tri.col. Dalmatian
Muffin, brindled Harlequin rex
Bobsy, Orange Rex
Archie, Black Otter Rex
Pongo, tri-col. Dalmatian
Bobby, Orange Rex
*** More photos to follow ***
BRC Breed Standard - Standard Rex
Ring Size E | ||||||||||||
|
FUR: To be approximately 1.27cm (1/2inch) in length. Fine silky texture free from harshness and wooliness, intensely dense, smooth and level over the whole body, of a lustrous sheen, firm and plush like character, devoid of projecting guard hairs. TYPE: Well proportioned and graceful carriage, the body sloping gently up to well rounded quarters set on strong hind legs, medium bone. Head bold and broad, ears erect and to be in proportion to body, dewlap should not be excessive, eyes and toenails should preferably match the body colour. COLOUR AND/OR MARKINGS: As below | ||||||||||||
| WEIGHT: Adults kg2.72 - 2.62 (6 - 8lbs)
FAULTS: Narrow wedge head, drooping ears, bare pads (patches on feet being devoid of fur, but skin unbroken), thin or curly triangle white hairs on coloured coats(not to be confused with ticking on ticked varieties) lack of density, harsh, wavy wooly or curly coats, adults over or under weight. Black hairs in Blues and Lilacs. For additional faults see individual standard. DISQUALIFICATIONS: Ill health, putty nose, white patches, crooked legs, excessive dewlap, sore pads (where skin is broken or scabbed) specked, wall or odd coloured eyes. |
Castor Rex
It is hoped that Bamby will further enhance this line and, eventually, be bred. First though she will be shown.
Here she is, at the Sunshine Show:
And here she is after her first night at her new home:
Isn't she gorgeous?
This date was one of the happiest days of this year as, finally, Bamby had given birth to five cracking youngsters!
Bamby had several matings since February but it was only in May that she finally got pregnant with 'Brambley', a son of 'Baba'. With this litter my old, established and very successful line of castor rex has been revived again, after four years.
The kits, all does (!!!), are still thriving, with one being outstanding in every way. I called her 'Babarella', in memory of my best ever bred castor, 'Baba', who was a quadruple club champion. At his time of being shown, he had won 57 stars, bless him. He sure did Goldiestud proud.
One kit recently found a loving home with one of my friends.
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