English Spot facts for kids
The English Spot is a special type of domestic rabbit. It was first developed in England during the 1800s. People used selective breeding to create its unique look. This means they carefully chose rabbits with certain traits to have babies.
English Spots are medium-sized rabbits. They usually weigh between 5 and 8 pounds. What makes them stand out are their cool markings! These include a butterfly shape on their nose, circles around their eyes, spots on their cheeks, colored ears, a stripe down their back called a herringbone, and a chain of spots along their sides.
Their fur is called "flyback" fur. This means it springs back quickly when you stroke it. You can find English Spots in seven different colors: black, blue, chocolate, lilac, tortoise, gray, and gold. They have a unique arched body shape. Their long front legs lift them up, so you can see light under their belly. English Spots are also known for being curious and playful pets!
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History of the English Spot Rabbit
The English Spot is thought to be one of the oldest types of "fancy" rabbits. Fancy rabbits are those bred for their looks or specific traits. We don't know the exact beginning of the English Spot. However, many believe it came from the English Butterfly rabbit.
It might also be related to the Checkered Giant rabbit. This is because they share similar markings. Both have cheek spots, butterfly nose markings, eye circles, colored ears, and a herringbone stripe. The Checkered Giant is a much larger rabbit. It typically weighs between 10 and 14 pounds.
This breed has been popular in England since the 1850s. It arrived in North America around 1910. The American English Spot Rabbit Club was started in 1924. The French called this rabbit "Lapin Papillon Anglais." This means "English Butterfly Rabbit," because of the butterfly mark on its nose. Over time, the clear markings we see today became more defined.
What Does an English Spot Look Like?
The English Spot is a medium-sized rabbit. It usually weighs between 5 and 8 pounds. They are famous for their arched body shape. Their two front paws lift them up. This allows you to see light under their belly. Their hips should be round and a bit wider than their shoulders. Their legs are long and thin. The back legs stay straight with the body. Their ears should stand straight up. A well-marked English Spot needs the right body shape to show off its patterns.
An English Spot has six main types of markings:
- Butterfly: This is a butterfly-shaped marking around the nose. If you look at the rabbit's nose straight on, the butterfly will have a peak in the middle and a "wing" on each side.
- Cheek Spots: These are colored dots found below each eye.
- Eye Circles: These are solid colored circles around both eyes.
- Colored Ears: Both ears should be a solid color.
- Herringbone: This is a straight, solid line. It runs from the base of the ears all the way to the tip of the tail. It follows the rabbit's backbone.
- Chain of Spots: This is the most famous feature! It's a chain of individual spots. These spots sweep along both sides of the rabbit's body. They run from the neck down to the back legs.
English Spot Lifestyle
English Spots are active rabbits. They need an hour or two to run around every day. They are most energetic in the morning and at night. During the day, they usually sleep. Because of their arched body, English Spots are often judged while they run. This helps show off their unique body shape.
These active rabbits also have a good appetite! Like most rabbits, hay is the most important part of their diet. Hay is a rough food that helps prevent tummy problems. It also provides fiber to keep their gut moving. Grass hays like Timothy hay are usually best. Hays like clover and alfalfa are higher in protein, calories, and calcium. Too much of these can cause kidney stones or loose poop. These richer hays are better for young baby rabbits or mothers feeding their babies.
Rabbits enjoy many vegetables. Some favorites include parsley, thyme, cilantro, dandelion, and basil. The green, leafy tops of radishes and carrots are also great sources of nutrients. They are even better than the vegetable root itself! Always introduce new vegetables slowly. Rabbits have sensitive digestive systems. It's best to avoid cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, and cabbage. These can cause gas and lead to serious health issues. Vegetables like potatoes and corn should also be avoided. They have too much starch. All rabbits need unlimited fresh water. This can be given in a heavy ceramic dish or a hanging water bottle.
Reproduction and Kits
The female English Spot, called a doe, is a good mother. She will often care for her own babies and even babies from other rabbit breeds. A normal litter usually has 5 to 7 young rabbits, called kits. The mother rabbit is pregnant for about 30 to 32 days.
When two marked English Spots have babies, the kits will have different patterns:
- About 25% will be a solid color. These are called "Sports."
- About 25% will have only partial markings. These are called "Charlies."
- About 50% will have all the correct markings of an English Spot.
This happens because of a special gene rabbits have. Solid-colored rabbits (Sports) have "enen" genes. Marked rabbits have "Enen" genes. Charlies carry "EnEn" genes. If you breed a Charlie and a Sport, all the babies will be marked! It's not usually recommended to breed a Charlie with a marked rabbit. If you do, you'll get 50% Charlies and 50% marked kits. Breeding Sports and marked rabbits will result in 50% Sports and 50% marked kits. Breeders sometimes keep Sports and Charlies if they have a good body shape.
A pregnant English Spot needs enough food to support herself and her babies. About four weeks into the pregnancy, breeders often give the doe a nest box. This box is filled with straw. The doe will dig into the straw. She will also pull hair from her stomach to line the nest. This helps keep her babies warm. When she is ready, she will have her kits in this nest. When the kits are 8 weeks old, it's a good idea to separate them from their mother.
