New Zealand Rabbit

Author: John Stephens
Date Of Creation: 28 January 2021
Update Date: 23 November 2024
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What Are New Zealand White Rabbits? | Pet Rabbits
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New Zealand rabbits are one of the bigger and thicker rabbit breeds in the world. These big guys are very calm and peaceful, being famous for their laid-back and friendly personality.

These rabbits have spread around the world, reaching almost every country. Do you want to know where the race of New Zealand rabbits? Interested in meeting these peculiar giant rabbits? Today, at PeritoAnimal, we want to tell you all the details about these furry animals in this sheet about New Zealand rabbits.

Source
  • America
  • U.S

Origin of the New Zealand Rabbit

Although, due to the name, it may appear that the New Zealand rabbit originates from the homonymous country, its origin is actually quite distant geographically speaking. These rabbits appeared in the California in 1919, when American white rabbits were crossed with giant Flemish rabbits and Angora rabbits. In its origins, this rabbit was widely used as a laboratory animal and in the meat industry, although today it is more common to find it as a pet.


From these intersections, the New Zealand white rabbit, registered by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) in 1920. Currently, different colors are officially accepted in addition to white, as we will see below.

New Zealand Rabbit Characteristics

The New Zealand rabbit is one of the giant rabbit breeds as it can weigh up to 5.5 kg! In general, the average weight is around 4.5 kg, except in the case of the New Zealand Reds, as this variety is the smallest, not exceeding 3.5 kg. Your life expectancy varies between approximately 8 to 12 years.

These rabbits have an extremely muscular and compact, in addition to being very long, with a proportionally large, wide and round head. The legs are long, especially the hind legs, and they have great strength. Their cheeks are round and their ears are long and erect.


Its coat is short and very soft, with four varieties depending on the color. The hair grows close to the skin and is satiny.

New Zealand Rabbit Colors

There are 4 colors that are accepted by ARBA:

  • Red: Rabbits of this variety have a bright red coat and deep brown eyes, reaching to the shade of the hair root. They may have a slightly different belly, but they are not accepted as bred rabbits if it is too different. They may also have a whitish tint at the base of the tail as well as the foot pads.
  • Black: His coat is jet black, always uniform, with a slate blue undertone and dark brown eyes.
  • broken: Being the newest variety, the broken ones have a coat of any breed color (red or black) combined with white. They have a pattern called broken, marked, or broken, in which the colored parts must match the pattern of the red and black varieties.
  • White: the first to appear, the coat is pure white, with pink eyes. Stains and discolorations are not accepted on any part of the animal's body.

Rabbit Personality New Zealand

New Zealand rabbits have a friendly personality, being rabbits very sociable and peaceful. They are generally never aggressive, being very sensitive and attentive to their loved ones. They really enjoy receiving caresses, hugs and being on their owners' laps for hours, in addition to having good times for fun.


Are rabbits suitable for live with small children, because they are calm, accept to be manipulated and are also very patient and understanding. Obviously, they should always be treated with love and respect, regardless of the age of the person treating them.

They also adapt with remarkable ease to the coexistence with other animals, especially when there is an early habituation for both parties. In general, it can be said that the New Zealand rabbit is suitable for any family, as it adapts well to smaller families or single people, as well as to large multigenerational families.

Rabbit Care New Zealand

These rabbits require an adapted space for them. This space, which should not be a cage (because in addition to its large size, it is always advisable to keep rabbits in less confined spaces), it must be suitable for a series of requirements.

One is that it is big enough, leaving quite space for the animal to move freely, to be able to play and have its drinker and hay, as well as toys and the like at its disposal. You can also include a corner where he can do his business, something they get used to very easily. Also, it is important to know that rabbits must be in relatively soft ground; otherwise, they will develop plantar sores, which can cause them to limp and have serious, not to mention very painful, complications.

As for food, it must be based on a combination of hay, which must be of good quality, fresh vegetables and fruits, being the green leafy vegetables the most beneficial. It is also essential that they have access to fresh water at all times, as that is the only way they can be sufficiently hydrated. Here we explain rabbit feeding in more depth.

The coat of New Zealand rabbits requires minimal care, including a coat. regular brushing. This brushing should be done with a comb or brush special for rabbits, and once a week will be enough.

New Zealand Rabbit Health

To date, no particular or typical diseases of New Zealand rabbits have been detected, so they do not have breed-related congenital pathologies. However, several diseases to which all rabbits are susceptible must be considered.

One of the biggest problems of rabbits are those related to teeth, which never stop growing, so that if they are not properly worn down, several problems can arise. Some of the most frequent are abscesses, malocclusions, infections and dental and gum diseases. To avoid them, the rabbit's mouth should be checked regularly, monitoring tooth wear and going to the vet if changes of any kind are observed.

Likewise, you also need to keep an eye on the ears, eyes and nose, because a bad state in these areas is a clear sign that something is not right. Veterinary examinations must be carried out regularly, and it is also recommended to follow the vaccination schedule and carry out regular deworming.

New Zealand Rabbit for Adoption

If you are considering adopting a New Zealand rabbit, you will need to consider several aspects. The first is whether you can properly care for it throughout its life. This means serving you correctly, providing company, attention and care all the time. That is, everything that is required in rabbit care.

It also means providing him with everything he needs to be in good condition and be happy. For this, you need to have an adapted space, offer quality food and guarantee moments of activity and daily games. Only then can he be completely healthy and happy.

If you are absolutely sure you can fulfill all of the above, we highly recommend using animal associations or protectors in your area, as they may have a copy for adoption or foster care that can adapt to your needs.