Wish someone had the answer to the crazy Blue/Dilutes.

Some Musings on the Smoke Pearl Variety

   It seems to me what is deemed the correct shade in Smoke Pearl would be considered way to light in Sables. The Standard calls for the two colors shading to be the same. I took a program I have that can tint pictures. I tinted a light Smoke Pearl into a Sable not what you see win Sables. So I turned a darker Smoke into a Sable that was much more what you see win the Sable Classes, yet they should be the same.

   Also when the Standard calls for a two tone leg and foot how can it be expected to have one shade of nail color. And to top that off we are dealing with a shaded variety, shading is shading, means not all of the same color tone. Very few Breeds have accepted the Smokes and they all have nail issues. Sables also have nail issues but it seems as long as a pure white nail does not appear they pass in most cases.

My Observations on Blue Variety

Some years back the Standard for the Blue variety was changed from a Medium Blue to a Dark Blue. I never understood why. But a thought just dawned on me, maybe because most Blues seen are really Blue Seals. Was it to include the Blue Seals or exclude a True Blue.  A good Blue Silver Marten is really a Blue Seal Silver Marten. It's genes are c (chd)  c (chd). If you look at a Blue Otter it is a much Lighter Blue. So a Self Blue out of Blue Silver Martens would be a Blue Seal. I guess this would mean a Black Self out of Black Silver Martens are Black Seals?  Are they then Blacker then a true Black thats out of 2 Black Otters?  And do the Black and Blue Seals show any shading???? 

My thoughts on the C series genes.

I believe many of the miss understandings of these genes comes from the common names given them.  And the many combinations they can form. To simplify I will not add the dilute or chocolate genes at this time. I will just deal with Blacks and Chestnuts.

C  = Full color as in Blacks or Chestnuts.

cchd  = Commonly called chinchilla gene but it only expresses it's self as Chinchilla when the A for agouti gene is also present other wise it might look like a Black or poor Black.

cchl  = Commonly called Siamese Sable or shaded gene.

cch  = Himalayan or pointed white gene.

c  = Albino gene

Now for the combinations and what they might look like. First is listed Self coat and second Agouti coat colors.

CC =  1. Black or 2. Chestnut, rich deep colors.

C  cchd  = 1. Black or 2. Chestnut  paling color, they both may not show as intense of color especially in summer.

C  cchl   = 1. Black/Seal or 2. Chestnut usually pale color on flanks and sides, they both may not show as intense of color especially in summer .

C  cch  = 1. Black/Seal or 2. Chestnut very poor coloring, they both may not show as intense of color especially in summer.

C  c = 1. Black or 2. Chestnut, May or not show some effect of the Albino gene? I think they do? JMO

cchd  cchd  = 1. Poor Black/Seal or 2. Chinchilla

cchd  cchl  =  1. Seal often mistaken as a Black  or 2. faded Chinchilla

cchd  cch  =  1. Seal sometimes mistaken as a Black or 2. faded Chinchilla

cchd  c  =  1. Black or 2. Chinchilla. I don't know if the albino gene has effect but my guess is it does.

cchl  cchl  = 1. Seal/Dark Siamese Sable or 2. Very faded Chinchilla

cchl  cch = 1. Siamese Sable most often lacking dark color on back/saddle due to the cch/Himi gene moving the color towards the points or 2. Very faded out Chinchilla.

cchl  c  = 1. Siamese Sable or 2. Very faded Chinchilla to the point it almost looks like a frost point.

cch  cch = 1. Himalayan or 2. Frost point.

cch  c  = 1. Poor faded Himalayan or 2. Very faded frost point.

cc  = Albino

So as I see it, it would be just a guess as to which of some of these combinations of genes the rabbit might carry.  My method is to breed first for type, then to look very close to make a best guess on color genes and select a mating that I think will give me the best chance of correct colored kits in the litter. By keeping records of kit colors one can figure out to some degree what genes the rabbit might carry. Until DNA testing is FREE that's the best I can do. Any questions or suggestions are welcomed.

EMAIL:   SugahDayZ@aol.com        SanDee