Blanc de Hotot Rabbit: Appearance, Lifespan, Temperament, Care Sheet

We all desire to have cute cuddle buds around our lovely and cozy home. Blanc de Hotot rabbits are big bunny boos having a white, majestic coat. They have expressive eyes that feel like it is telling us to take them home.

Naturally, Blanc de Hotot Rabbits have a sweet and calm disposition. They are easy to care for and maintain. However, various conservatory agencies have listed them as rare to find in this modern-day age.

Do you have a Blanc de Hotot rabbit? Let us start digging and knowing more about them in this guide.

Overview

Quick Facts
Scientific Name:	Oryctolagus cuniculus
Country of Origin:	France
Breed Size:	Giant;
Breed Weight:	4.1-5.0 kilograms (9-11 pounds)
Body Shape	Commercial;
Life Expectancy:	5-10 years of age;
Care Level:	Medium
Coat Texture:	Thick, Soft, Rollback, Lustrous, & Short;
Color:	White with surrounding black lines on its eyes:
Characteristics:	Fighter, Sociable, Kid-Friendly, & Smart;
Similar Breeds:	White Vienna Rabbit & Checkered Giant Rabbit;
Breeding Purpose:	Fur & Meat Commercial Production, Family or Household Pets, Exhibition or Show Rabbit;
Best Suited for:	Singles, Couples, Families w/or w/out kids, & Senior Citizens;
Rarity:	Critically Endangered;

Blanc de Hotot Rabbits are adorable puffballs with a unique and notable black circle surrounding their eyes.

They are designer rabbit breeds coming from White Vienna and White Flemish Giant. Surprisingly, Blanc de Hotot rabbits’ exceptional survival instincts are distinct. They possess excellent eyesight, smell, and hearing.

On top of that, Blanc de Hotot is affectionate and friendly, making them wonderful household pets. Most often than not, Blanc de Hotot is bred mainly for fur and meat commercial production. But still, this does not erase the fact that these rabbit breeds are awesome fur friends.

History and Origin

Blanc de Hotot Rabbits evolved from Hoton-en-Auge in Normandy, Germany. At the onset, in 1902, Eugenie Bernhard aspired to create a perfect breed for fur and meat production.

Having this goal in mind, she begins to cross a White Vienna with Papillion. Later, she also mixed these rabbit breeds with a White Flemish Giants.

After two decades, in 1920, Eugenie Bernhard was able to show the universe the perfected breed that we now call and recognize as Blanc de Hotot Rabbit. Sometime in October 1922, France officially acknowledged this rabbit breed.

Eventually, Blanc de Hotot rabbits were exported and introduced to the United States. Unfortunately, they did not last long enough up until 1978.

However, during the late 1970s, a man in Texas named Bob Whiteman successfully imported eight Blanc de Hotot rabbit breeds.

On March 5, 1979, the American Rabbit Breeder’s Association granted Blanc de Hotot Rabbits full status. But Blanc de Hotot rabbits are close to extinction in this day and age. They are considered a critically endangered rabbit breed.

 

Breed Standard and Appearance

Blanc de Hotot rabbits have a giant, commercial body physique. When you hold them, you will notice that they possess pointed and erect ears that are medium in size. Their eyes have come in popular color shades of dark eye band and dark brown with a ring marking.

Blanc de Hotot rabbits have a relatively short, dense but straight-to-the-touch coat texture. They have soft, lustrous, and rollback fur with a frosty appearance.

Because of this, Blanc de Hotot rabbits have an irresistible cuteness and charming look. On top of that, this fur is one of the most fascinating and prominent features of Blanc de Hotot rabbits.

Size and Weight

Blanc de Hotot Rabbits are incredibly giant bunnies. They have an overall physical structure that typically ranges from 1/8 inches to ¼ inches. Surprisingly, female Blanc de Hotot rabbits are much heavier than male Blanc de Hotot rabbits.

Females have an average weight of 4.1-5.0 kilograms (9-11 pounds). On the other hand, male Blanc de Hotot rabbits can grow to 3.6-4.5 kilograms (8-10 pounds).

Overall, Blanc de Hotot Rabbits have an average height of 15-17 inches (38-43 centimeters) and width of 17-19 inches (43-48 centimeters).

Shedding and Grooming Needs

Blanc de Hotot Rabbits are not high-maintenance bunnies since they are infrequent shedders. They do not need much grooming.

During the non-shedding time of the year, you can use a slick and firm brush once every two weeks. On the other hand, during molting seasons (autumn &spring), you could at least brush them once or twice per week when they are beginning to shed.

Like any other bunnies, Blanc de Hotot does not want to take a bath as much as possible. Unless they are too dirty, do not try to bathe them since these can be a traumatic and terrifying experience for these boo bears.

Always check their ears if there’s any sign of infections like foul smell, inflammation, and wax build-up. Plus, trim their nails when needed.

Weather Conditions

Blanc de Hotot rabbits can tolerate and are suitable for all weather conditions. However, experts said Blanc de Hotot rabbits could endure only up to 55 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Blanc de Hotot rabbits cannot survive extreme temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If this situation happens, pet parents should be responsible and offer these bunnies sufficient shade to keep them cool.

Experts recommend that owners protect Blanc de Hotot rabbits from chilling temperatures: rain, snow, and wind.

Rarity

Blanc De Hotot is a scarce breed of rabbits. Today, the Livestock Conservancy considered these animals globally endangered rabbits. Being critically endangered means only 50 or fewer yearly registrations in the United States.

Also, there are only less than 500 species of Blanc De Hotot rabbits worldwide.

Personality

Fighter

Blanc de Hotot rabbits have exceptional survival instincts. They have excellent eyesight and sharp hearing and smell senses. Because of this, Blanc de Hotot rabbits can guard themselves against predators and help them survive.

Excellent Household Pets

Blanc de Hotot Rabbits are fantastic family fur buddies. Without a doubt, they would make a perfect fit for families with or without kids alike.

Altogether, Blanc de Hotot rabbits are calm, kind, and loving. But still, they are a breed of lively and enthusiastic rabbits that are always on the go and like to explore.

However, at first sight, Blanc de Hotot rabbits would not seem to be clingy and friendly with other bunnies. Since they will be naturally shy around other rabbit breeds, fur parents should have considerable patience in introducing them. Blanc de Hotot would be a sweet friend with proper and frequent socialization.

Kid-Friendly

Blanc de Hotot rabbits have a calm disposition and love kids of all ages. However, kids should know to handle and interact with Blanc de Hotot rabbits.

Pet parents should supervise their children when they are playing with these bunnies. Also, it is helpful if you teach your kids never to surprise these rabbits to avoid accidents such as bites and scratches.

Aggressiveness

Naturally, Blanc de Hotot rabbits do not have violent tendencies. They do not bite except when mishandled, surprised, or threatened. Nonetheless, their bites are not potentially harmful or dangerous like the venom of snakes.

Nonetheless, suppose you have wounds from rabbit bites. In that case, experts recommend that you wash your injuries and immediately apply an antiseptic solution. It is always better to seek urgent medical help.

Easy to Train

In general, Blanc de Hotot rabbits are not difficult to train. However, this is not always the scenario with teaching your bunnies.

Pet parents often have a hard time training bunnies compared to other pets like birds, cats, and dogs. Nonetheless, patience and persistence is the key to handling these rabbit breeds.

You can find treats helpful in training these little pets for positive reinforcement. In addition, you can place two little boxes in your house. Doing this can help you to potty train your bunnies.

Here is the overall rating of Blanc de Hotot Rabbit’s personality.

Blanc de Hotot Rabbits Temperament	Rating
Family-friendly	4
Kid-friendly	3
Stranger-friendly	3
Bunny-friendly	2
Trainability	3
Energy Level	3
Mental Stimulation Needs	3

Daily Physical Activity

Blanc de Hotot Rabbits are not an overly active breed of rabbits. These boo bears need only at least one to two hours of daily exercise.

Rabbit-savvy experts advised that fur parents let Blanc de Hotot rabbits roam, hop, climb, and run freely in a fenced yard. In addition, pet owners should give these baby bunnies a daily dose of human interaction and socialization.

Along with that, Blanc de Hotot rabbits need constant mental stimulation. To prevent them from being bored, restless, and destructive, you should provide these bunnies with a toy they like and enjoy. Interaction, entertainment, and socialization will make them happy and satisfied.

Adaptability

Blanc de Hotot rabbits are very adaptable. If you dwell in a studio unit or an apartment, this bunny is the perfect fit for you. Blanc de Hotot rabbits are not that active, and they are not noisy and loud. For this reason, they are a good match for first-time or novice rabbit owners and apartment occupants.

Population

There are no available records of how many Blanc de Hotot rabbits worldwide. This rabbit breed was imported recently to the United States.

Nonetheless, the different conservatory agencies have declared the Blanc de Hotot rabbit a globally endangered species. Today, the American Livestock Conservancy listed them as rabbits which are rare to find.

Standard Lifespan

Blanc de Hotot Rabbits are hardy and sturdy. Overall, they have a healthy and fantastic life. Blanc de Hotot rabbits found in the wild have a shorter life expectancy.

The standard lifespan of these rabbits living in the wild is 5-8 years of age. On the other hand, those Blanc de Hotot rabbits that are domesticated can live up to 10 years of age provided they are given proper support, care, and nutrition.

Major Health Concerns

Blanc de Hotot rabbits do not have breed-specific or hereditary health problems. But still, similar to other rabbit breeds, they are prone to the same health concerns that other rabbits are experiencing. Here are some of the significant health concerns that Blanc de Hotot rabbits encounter to guide you.

• Overgrown Teeth: Blanc de Hotot rabbits are susceptible to having overgrown teeth. For this reason, pet owners should take these bunnies for dental check-ups yearly. If you notice that your bunny boos have increased drooling, jaw swelling, reduced appetite, and eye discharge, never hesitate to take them to the nearest vet.
• Flystrike: Blanc de Hotot rabbits can also suffer from flystrike. Flystrike occurs when a fly lays its egg on bunnies’ fur and coat. When these laid eggs are hatch, they will slowly eat your bunny inside out. The common symptoms of flystrike are skin irritations, seizures, and loss of motion.
• Ear Mites: Blanc de Hotot rabbits also suffer from common parasites threatening other bunnies. If you notice that your bunny is constantly shaking its head, please visit your vet as soon as possible.

Recommended Food Diet

Rabbit-savvy veterinarians advised fur owners to feed Blanc de Hotot rabbits only once every day. But water should be made accessible and available for them 24/7. Plus, food and water containers should be sleek, clean, and germ-free.

The ideal nutritional food diet for Blanc de Hotot Rabbits is high-quality hay. Grass hay and fresh grass should compose about 80% of Blanc de Hotot rabbit’s overall diet.

However, rabbit owners need to avoid alfalfa hays and clover as much as possible. These can cause rabbits to develop urinary or kidney stones.

On top of these things, leafy and green veggies should make up about 10 to 20% of this rabbit’s food plan. You can offer these bunny boos with pellets, sunflower, oats, fruits, and seeds as a dietary supplement or quick treats and snack bites.

Nonetheless, it would be best to avoid Blanc de Hotot rabbits consuming more than one tablespoon of pellets daily.

Look at this care sheet to give better care and love to your baby bunnies.

BLANC DE HOTOT RABBITS CARE SHEET
RECOMMENDED FOOD	70% Timothy Hay, ¼ cup of high-quality pellets, leafy veggies, and 1 to 2 slices of fruits and vegetables;
FOOD TO AVOID	Avocado, Walnuts, Cookies, Cereal, Pasta, Crackers, & Bread;
COMMON HEALTH ISSUES	Overgrown Teeth, Flystrike, & Ear Mites;
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES	Running, Roaming, Climbing, & Hopping;
MENTAL STIMULATION NEEDS	Tunnels, Cat condos, Cardboard boxes, & Paper bags;
MINIMUM SIZE CAGE	Four square feet/rabbit;
HABITAT	Wire Cage, Burrow, Apartment, & Fence;
STRESSORS	Bathing, Sudden Noise, & Social Stress;
SHEDDING	Occasional or infrequent shedder;
GROOMING NEEDS	1x every two weeks; molting season: 1x-2x/ week;

Standard Cost

Blanc de Hotot is more expensive than any rabbit breed. Since Blanc de Hotot are threatened and endangered species, you can expect that they are much pricey.

Blanc de Hotot has an average price of $50-$150. Overall, experts considered the yearly expense of feeding and maintaining Blanc de Hotot Rabbits as average.

Final Thoughts: Is Blanc de Hotot your Ultimate Fur Buddy?

Now we discover how wonderful Blanc de Hotot rabbits are. They will surely melt and captivate your hearts once you set your gaze and meet these bunnies.

Blanc de Hotot rabbits are precious friends you will ever meet in this lifetime. With their adorable puffiness and cuteness, you will instantly fall in love with them.

Do you own a Blanc de Hotot Rabbits? What are your cherished moments with them? If you want to share, we are glad to read your comments.