Rabbit Color Calculator – Guide & Formulas
Predict your rabbit's kit coat color using genetics. Enter parent colors to see possible offspring colors, patterns, and genetic combinations.
Try the free calculator
Put these formulas into practice with our instant, step-by-step Rabbit Color Calculator.
Use our **rabbit color genetics calculator** to **predict kit coat colors** from any pairing of parent rabbits. Enter the **sire and dam** coat colors and patterns to see the **probability** of each possible offspring color. This tool models the **five major gene loci** (A, B, C, D, E) that control **agouti pattern**, **base color**, **dilution**, and **extension** in rabbits. Whether you are a **hobby breeder** or a **genetics enthusiast**, this calculator helps you understand **coat color inheritance** and make informed **breeding decisions**.
Key Takeaway
Use the free Rabbit Color Calculator to predict your rabbit's kit coat color using genetics. enter parent colors to see possible offspring colors, patterns, and genetic combinations. Get instant results with step-by-step explanations.
How to Use the Rabbit Color Calculator
- Select the sire (father) coat color and pattern from the dropdown — choose the visible phenotype and any known carrier status.
- Select the dam (mother) coat color and pattern from the dropdown — include carrier information if known from pedigree.
- Review the possible offspring colors with probability percentages for each genotype combination.
- Read the genetics explanation for each color outcome to understand dominant and recessive allele interactions.
- Use the results to plan breedings toward desired colors or avoid producing unexpected color combinations.
The Formula
Variable Definitions
- A locus: Agouti gene — controls banding pattern. A (agouti/wild) is dominant to a(t) (tan) which is dominant to a (self/non-agouti)
- B locus: Black/Brown gene — B (black) is dominant to b (brown/chocolate)
- C locus: Color gene — C (full color) is dominant to c(ch) (chinchilla), c(h) (Himalayan), and c (albino)
- D locus: Dilute gene — D (dense) is dominant to d (dilute/diluted color)
- E locus: Extension gene — E (normal black/brown extension) is dominant to e (orange/fawn)
- Genotype: The genetic makeup of the rabbit (e.g., AaBbDd)
- Phenotype: The visible coat color and pattern expressed by the genotype
Crossing a Black Agouti Sire with a Chestnut Dam
Predict offspring colors when crossing two heterozygous rabbits.
- Step 1: Sire genotype: Aa Bb Dd Ee (Black Agouti, carrying chocolate, dilute, and orange).
- Step 2: Dam genotype: Aa Bb Dd Ee (Chestnut/Agouti, same carrier status).
- Step 3: Cross each locus independently using Punnett squares.
- Step 4: Possible offspring: Black Agouti (25%), Chestnut (25%), Chocolate Agouti (12.5%), Lilac Agouti (12.5%), Orange (12.5%), Fawn (6.25%), and others.
- Step 5: Each kit has roughly equal probability of each color, determined by which alleles it inherits from each parent.
Financial Advisory Notice
This Rabbit Color Calculator uses standard Mendelian genetics models for educational and breeding planning purposes. Actual results may vary due to polygenic modifiers, environmental factors, and unknown carrier alleles. For critical breeding decisions, consult a rabbit genetics specialist or use DNA testing services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does rabbit coat color genetics work?
Rabbit coat color is determined by 5 main gene loci (A, B, C, D, E), each with multiple alleles. Each parent contributes one allele per locus. Dominant alleles mask recessive ones. The combination of alleles across all loci determines the visible coat color.
What is the most common rabbit color?
Agouti (wild-type) colors like Chestnut and Orange are the most common in wild rabbits. In domestic rabbits, solid colors (Black, White, Blue) and broken patterns are very popular. The exact frequency depends on breed and breeding population.
Can two white rabbits produce colored kits?
Yes! If both white rabbits carry the recessive color gene (genotype cc × cc won't work, but Cc × Cc will), 25% of kits can be colored. However, two albino (cc) rabbits will only produce albino offspring since both can only pass the c allele.
What is the dilute gene in rabbits?
The dilute gene (d) lightens the base coat color. Black (BB DD) becomes Blue (BB dd). Chocolate (bb DD) becomes Lilac (bb dd). Orange (ee DD) becomes Fawn (ee dd). Dilute is recessive, so both parents must carry it to produce dilute offspring.
How do I know my rabbit's genotype?
Without DNA testing, you can infer genotype by: (1) observing the phenotype, (2) reviewing pedigree/parents' colors, (3) test breeding — breeding to a known genotype and observing offspring. A black rabbit showing no tan markings is likely aa (self).
What is the broken pattern gene?
The broken pattern (En) creates white spotting. EnEn is "Charlie" (mostly white, often health issues). Enen is "Broken" (proper spotting). enen is solid (no white spots). Broken is incompletely dominant — breeders should avoid En × En crosses.
Do rabbit colors change with age?
Some colors develop or change as kits grow. For example, orange rabbits may darken with age. Sable rabbits darken significantly. Himalayan rabbits develop points in cooler temperatures. Some babies are born a different color than their adult coat.
What is the difference between agouti and self rabbits?
Agouti rabbits (A_) have banded hair shafts with lighter rings and usually have a white belly and eye circles. Self rabbits (aa) have solid-colored hair shafts from base to tip with no banding pattern. Agouti is dominant to self.
What rabbit colors can two black rabbits produce?
Two black rabbits (aaBbDd) can produce black, blue, chocolate, and lilac kits if both parents carry the recessive dilute and brown alleles. If both are aaBBDD (homozygous black), all kits will be black. Check pedigree for carrier status.
Can I breed two orange rabbits together?
Breeding two orange rabbits (ee) is possible but produces only orange and fawn offspring (depending on dilute status). Orange is recessive at the E locus, so both parents must be ee. Add an agouti partner if you want non-orange colors in the litter.
What is a Himalayan rabbit's genotype?
Himalayan rabbits have the genotype c(h)c(h) at the C locus, combined with aa at the A locus. The temperature-sensitive albinism gene produces dark points on the ears, nose, feet, and tail where body temperature is cooler. Himalayans are always cc at C and typically self (aa) at A.
How does the tan pattern gene work in rabbits?
The tan gene (a(t)) produces tan markings on the belly, inside the ears, around the eyes, and on the nostrils when combined with certain agouti or extension genotypes. Tan is recessive to agouti (A) but dominant to self (a). The classic Tan breed shows this pattern prominently.
What color will a blue-eyed white rabbit's kits be?
Blue-eyed white (BEW) rabbits are genotype c(h)c(h) at the C locus. They carry full color genes underneath. When bred to a colored rabbit (C_), all kits will be colored (C_). BEW × BEW produces 100% BEW. The blue eye color comes from the Himalayan gene.
How accurate is this rabbit color calculator?
The calculator is accurate for standard Mendelian color genetics. However, it cannot account for polygenic modifiers, environmental factors (temperature affecting Himalayan coloring), epistatic interactions beyond the five main loci, or unknown carrier status in parent rabbits.
What is the difference between Vienna and white rabbit genes?
Vienna (v) produces blue-eyed white when homozygous (vv) and Vienna-marked when heterozygous (Vv). Vienna is a separate locus from the C gene. True albino (cc) rabbits have pink eyes, while Vienna whites (vv) have blue eyes. Both appear white but have different genetics.
Can a black rabbit carry orange?
Yes. A black rabbit can carry the orange gene (Ee) if one parent was orange. The rabbit will appear black because E (non-extension) is dominant to e (orange). When bred to another carrier (Ee) or orange rabbit (ee), some kits may be orange.
What is a tortoiseshell rabbit?
Tortoiseshell (or tort) rabbits have the genotype ee at the E locus combined with non-agouti (aa). This produces a dark body with lighter orange shading on the belly, inside ears, and around the eyes. Tort is a popular show color in breeds like Netherland Dwarfs and Mini Rex.
How do I breed for a specific rabbit color?
Identify the target phenotype, determine the required genotype, then select parents that carry the necessary alleles. Use test matings if parent genotypes are unknown. Recessive colors require both parents to carry the allele. Dominant colors can appear from a single carrier.
What is the chinchilla gene in rabbits?
The chinchilla gene (c(ch)) at the C locus removes yellow pigment from agouti hairs, producing a silver-tipped appearance. Chinchilla rabbits (c(ch)c(ch) or c(ch)c(h)) appear silver-gray with dark points. The chinchilla is dominant to Himalayan and albino but recessive to full color.
Do spotted and broken pattern rabbits have different genetics?
Broken pattern (En) and Vienna spotting (Vv) are different genes. Broken produces white body patches with colored spots. Vienna produces white markings concentrated on the head and feet. Some rabbits carry both, creating unique patterns. EN/EN "Charlies" have excessive white and may have health issues.
Can I predict rabbit kit color at birth?
Kit color may not be fully visible at birth, especially for sable, shading, and temperature-sensitive colors like Himalayan. Most solid and agouti colors are visible within the first week. Sable points darken over 6-8 weeks. Orange kits may darken with age. DNA testing is the only 100% reliable method.