Champagne d'Argent Rabbit Care Sheet

Scientific Facts

Common Name:	Champagne d’Argent Rabbit
Scientific Name:	Oryctolagus cuniculus
Life Span:	About 7 to 9 years
Size:	Large
Weight:	9 to 12 pounds
Body Shape:	Commercial
Country of Origin:	France

Fast Facts

Best Suited For First-time rabbit owners, families that have older children, single people, senior citizens

Temperament: Affectionate, curious, and gentle

Comparable Breeds: Crème d’Argent Rabbit

Physical Description

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The Champagne d’Argent Rabbit is known for having a commercial body shape, which can weigh between 9 to 12 pounds once that they are fully grown. Their bodies have deep hindquarters, full shoulders, and medium or long sized ears.

When these rabbits are born, the Champagne d’Argent Rabbits are a completely plain black in color. Once they mature, they develop a silver color. This silver coating starts at their belly, travels up, and finishes up over their face and their back when they are about 6 to 8 months old. Their coat coloring even lightens up as they grow older. Additionally, because of color variations depending on their age, they will also have black hairs scattered all throughout by the majority of silver colors overall. Their noses and ears are usually darker compared to the rest of their bodies, as well.

Behavior

Champagne d’Argent Rabbits are sociable pets that enjoy human attention as well as interaction with other rabbits. They have temperaments that are comparable to nice cats, in a way that they just enjoy napping in a little corner and loves greeting their humans while they are petted. They are not as active compared to other rabbit breeds, but they also enjoy hopping around their enclosures or outdoors, as well.

Unlike dogs or cats, it is almost impossible to train Champagne d’Argent Rabbits in using the litter properly. But, if the owner is patient enough, these rabbits can still be potty-trained. If you can, you can spread a couple of litter boxes around the house, so that your pet rabbit can have some options to enjoy.

You can also provide rabbits with some toys like balls, to provide them with some entertainment while they are in their cages.

Common Health Problems

Though the Champagne d’Argent Rabbits are not prone to many diseases because of their strong systems, they are still prone to some health concerns if they do not receive the appropriate care. As a responsible owner, you should make sure that the cage of your Champagne d’Argent Rabbit is made of galvanized steel and that a section for their droppings is prepared so that their feces will not stick to their fur. This will result in a risk of acquiring flystrike. Flystrike is a condition that will bring pain to your Champagne d’Argent Rabbit that can lead to paralysis or even death.

Rabbit owners must also look into giving their pets an ear check-up regularly to make sure that there will be no ear mites. Ear mites will initially start off as scaling and then progress into a thick crust that will build up in their ears. If you see ear mites inside your rabbit’s ears, consulting your veterinarian as soon as possible for treatment options, should you be your best action?

Environment and Housing

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Champagne d’Argent Rabbits can reside in enclosures indoors and outdoors, depending on the weather conditions of the place where their new owner resides. Because this breed of rabbit is primarily used for fur, meat, and show, outdoor enclosures are rampantly used. If you plan on doing the same, the outdoor cages must be protected from other elements and must be made of wire or wood. Regardless of indoors or outdoors, the cage bottom must have a solid floor so that bedding can be constantly replaced. Owners must also spot clean this every day, and this area must be replaced at least once a week. Owners should also make sure that the enclosures must be large enough that the Champagne d’Argent Rabbit rabbit will be able to stretch up to their full length.

Fun Facts about the Champagne d’Argent Rabbit

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The Champagne d’Argent Rabbit was first developed in Champagne, France, which is why they got their name.

The Champagne d’Argent Rabbit is known as the French Silvers in France.
Champagne d’Argent Rabbits were exported in large quantities from France to England in the 1920s.
The Champagne d’Argent Rabbits were also exported to the United States in 1912.
Some rabbit enthusiasts call these breeds Argente de Champagne, or simply, Champagne.

Where Can You Get a Pet Champagne d’Argent Rabbit?

If you are interested in owning a Champagne d’Argent Rabbit to place under your care, you can get one or a pair from pet stores, online breeders, and from some animal agencies.

How to Care for a Pet Champagne d’Argent Rabbit?

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Like most breeds of rabbit, the Champagne d’Argent Rabbit will also go through a seasonal molt, similar to dogs shedding their fur. When these rabbits undergo the same experience, owners must expect their clothes and other linens to be full of fur. Daily brushing should be more than enough to deal with this, as well as spot cleaning the fur every once in a while.

Another similar rabbit care requirement of the Champagne d’Argent Rabbit is a diet that consists of at least 70 percent of hay. Aside from this, these rabbits must be fed with pellet mixes, green leafy vegetables, and some fruits. But, do not feed the following vegetables that can be harmful to your pet: cabbages, beans, and potatoes.

Additionally, if you are keeping the Champagne d’Argent Rabbit as a pet, you should make sure that they are regularly socialized with humans so that they will remain to be friendly and well-rounded. This thing means taking the rabbits out of their cages every once in a while. It would do them good to be able to play with kids or any person, really, that would be willing to pet them and cuddle with them. This practice will make sure that the Champagne d’Argent Rabbit will develop a tame attitude as well as being socialized and affectionate to other animals.