Breed History
In 1932, Mr. Walter Huey, of Indiana, first discovered the Satin mutation by chance in a litter of chocolate Havanas. In the beginning, these shiny Havanas were exhibited alongside the normal Havanas, causing much protest. Soon the new coat mutation was given the name Satin Havana. By 1946, the name was changed to Chocolate Satin, the American Satin Rabbit Breeders Association was formed, a Breed Standard established and Satins were recognized by the A.R.B.A. 
Satins are categorized as a large commercial breed; raised for show, pets, meat and their unique fur. The average adult weight ranges from 8.5 to 12 pounds, with Does weighing slightly more than Bucks. There are eleven accepted colors (varieties): Black, Blue, Broken Group (which is any recognized variety in conjunction with White), Californian, Chinchilla, Chocolate, Copper, Otter Group, Red, Siamese and White, with Lilac currently in development.
Satins are known for their lustrous, glossy fur. The 1 to 1-1/8 inch, glass-like hair shaft is translucent and fine, thus highly reflective of light, giving the coat it's brilliant sheen and depth of color. The fur is dense with beautiful flyback. For years, Satin fur has been used as the "faux mink" in the fashion industry. One touch and you'll see why!
Satins have friendly often comical personalities. The Does are easy breeders, make excellent mothers and foster mothers, kindling from 5-15 Kits, easily nursing them all. Bucks are usually calm and easy to handle, too. They are great for 4-H and FFA projects, although because of their size, not recommended as pets for very small children.
Satins are popular on the show circuit among both Open and Youth exhibitors, with most varieties being well represented. Attend a rabbit show near you to get an up close and personal view of the unforgettable Satin rabbit!
Satins are categorized as a large commercial breed; raised for show, pets, meat and their unique fur. The average adult weight ranges from 8.5 to 12 pounds, with Does weighing slightly more than Bucks. There are eleven accepted colors (varieties): Black, Blue, Broken Group (which is any recognized variety in conjunction with White), Californian, Chinchilla, Chocolate, Copper, Otter Group, Red, Siamese and White, with Lilac currently in development.
Satins are known for their lustrous, glossy fur. The 1 to 1-1/8 inch, glass-like hair shaft is translucent and fine, thus highly reflective of light, giving the coat it's brilliant sheen and depth of color. The fur is dense with beautiful flyback. For years, Satin fur has been used as the "faux mink" in the fashion industry. One touch and you'll see why!
Satins have friendly often comical personalities. The Does are easy breeders, make excellent mothers and foster mothers, kindling from 5-15 Kits, easily nursing them all. Bucks are usually calm and easy to handle, too. They are great for 4-H and FFA projects, although because of their size, not recommended as pets for very small children.
Satins are popular on the show circuit among both Open and Youth exhibitors, with most varieties being well represented. Attend a rabbit show near you to get an up close and personal view of the unforgettable Satin rabbit!
General Description
"The body is of medium length, with depth and width approximately equal throughout the animal, showing a slight taper from hindquarters to shoulders. The top line is to be smooth, continuous curve, starting at the nape of the neck rising gradually to a high point over the center of the hips, then falling in a smooth curve downward to the tail. The ideal fur should be silky, fine, dense, thick, and soft to the touch, due to the interspersed dense undercoat of the animal. The sheen of the animal, due to clarity of the glass like hair shell and it's ability to reflect light, emits brilliant richness of color. Senior Weights: Ideal: Bucks 9-1/2 lbs. Does 10 lbs. Registration: Bucks 8-1/2 to 10-1/2 lbs. Does 9 to 11 lbs."
From "Official Guide Book, Raising Better Rabbits & Cavies"- ARBA
From "Official Guide Book, Raising Better Rabbits & Cavies"- ARBA
Our Satin Herd
BUCKS~
| Variety |
DOB |
Ear # |
Reg. # |
Wt. |
Sire |
Dam |
| Chocolate |
11/16/'05 |
SS3 |
F858D |
9.15 |
SwagMan |
Santana |
Wins: BOV- 5/6/2006, NWRB Spring Show, Monroe, WA
BOSV- 10/14/2006, NWRB Fall Show, Monroe, WA
BOSV- 10/14/06, Satin Specialty, Monroe, WA
BOSV- 11/11/06, ERBA Fall Show, Chehalis, WA
Type: A dark chocolate. Nicely balanced, great head and ears, nice coat. Sires large litters. His sire is a Grand Champion. Sitka is A.R.B.A. Registered.
Personality: This guy is a true sweetie! Loves forehead rubs and giving whisker kisses. He wants to know everything we're doing, very curious. Runs around his hutch doing "binkies", head flicks and huge flops! A real happy, funny bunny.
DOES~
TwoHunnyz T81
| Variety | DOB | Ear# | Reg.# | Wt. | Sire | Dam |
| Broken | 4/24/08 | T81 | 9.00 | Klondike | Trillium |
Type: Really good topline, gorgeous fur, beautiful head, great overall balance. Her markings are very nice, quite similar to her Sire's, with deep chocolate.
Personality: Calm and sweet when handled, doesn't like her ears touched much like her dam.
In Memory~
MountainView's Camas
| Variety |
DOB |
Ear# |
Reg.# |
Wt. |
Sire |
Dam |
| Chocolate |
10/14/2005 |
SA4 |
10.15 |
SwagMan |
Angel's Angel |
Wins: Second Place- 5/6/2006, NWRB Spring Show, Monroe, WA
Type: A dark chocolate. Well balanced, good coat, nice head and ears. Her sire is a Grand Champion.
Personality: Another very curious one. Camas is very playful, likes to play peek-a-boo under and over her feeder. Gives whisker kisses and begs for forehead rubs! This girl loves her Timothy hay... and oat treats rarely make it to the dish before she is nudging us out of her way! Camas is the most vocal of the herd; whimpering and whining, she sounds sort of like a pig. Camas is sweet tempered, if a bit flighty when handled, but settles nicely. Gets grumbly when pregnant and for a week after kindling, but not aggressive. An easy breeder and good mother. Her first litter she kindled 11. The size of litters has been consistent.
MountainView's Trillium
| Variety |
DOB |
Ear# |
Reg.# |
Wt. |
Sire |
Dam |
| Chocolate |
10/09/2005 |
NS4 |
F859D |
10.05 |
Nevell |
Santana |
Wins: BOSV- 5/6/2006, NWRB Spring Show, Monroe, WA
Type: A deep chocolate. A bit low in the shoulders, beautiful head and ears, nice coat. Trillium is A.R.B.A. Registered.
Personality: Trill is as sweet-as-pie, through and through! Calm and easy going, just takes everything in stride, with a subdued curiosity. Likes to flop and loves forehead rubs. She's really easy to 'trance', even during a nail trim! Easy breeder and great mother, just a bit grumbly when she has new babies. Large first litter of 10, since then each litter is larger, the latest being 13!
The Color Brown
In our Satin Breeding Program, we focus on the chocolate color variety. The years breeders spent developing winning chocolate stock are starting to pay off. Chocolates are receiving their due recognition on the judges table. Our goal is to continue the development of consistent breed winners.
But that's just the breeder talking. What's the underlying reason? We love chocolate brown! Color psychology analyzes the effects of color on human behavior and feelings. "Brown" is associated with: strength, quality, sensuality, endurance, harmony and home, to name only a few.
Wrap all those up in a gorgeous Satin rabbit. How could anyone resist? No wonder why we couldn't!
But that's just the breeder talking. What's the underlying reason? We love chocolate brown! Color psychology analyzes the effects of color on human behavior and feelings. "Brown" is associated with: strength, quality, sensuality, endurance, harmony and home, to name only a few.
Wrap all those up in a gorgeous Satin rabbit. How could anyone resist? No wonder why we couldn't!
