Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Home > Rabbits > Argenté Brun Rabbit: Care, Pictures, Temperament, Habitat & Traits

Argenté Brun Rabbit: Care, Pictures, Temperament, Habitat & Traits

argente brun baby bunny

The Argenté Brun isn’t a new rabbit breed, first appearing in France in the late 1800s. But they’re not as common as other household breeds like the Angora or French Lop. We’re lucky to have the Argenté Brun today, as the breed almost entirely disappeared. Thank goodness for revival, too; otherwise, we wouldn’t have one of the friendliest, most laid-back, and affectionate rabbit breeds out there.

Read on to learn more about the Argenté Brun to see if it’s a good fit for your family.

Height: Up to 13″ tall
Weight: 6–11 pounds
Lifespan: 7–10 years
Similar Breeds: Argenté Bleu, Argenté Noir, Argenté Crème
Suitable for: First-time rabbit owners, families with children
Temperament: Sweet, placid, playful, affectionate
 

The Argenté Brun is one of several recognized Argenté rabbits, alongside varieties such as the Argenté Bleu, Argenté Noir, and Champagne d’Argent, to name a few. The color mentioned in each breed’s title does not refer to its top color but the lower portion of the hair shaft. The Argenté top color is always silver.

The Argenté Brun, according to the British Rabbit Council (BRC), has deep brown undercoloring with long dark brown hairs interspersed throughout. The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) describes the Brun as having even silvered or frosted chocolate brown surface coloring and long dark brown guard hairs.

Argente Brun Characteristics

Energy:
Trainability:
Health:
Lifespan:
Sociability:

divider-rabbitpaw1

How Much Do These Rabbits Cost?

Argenté Brun rabbits can be found for as little as $50 or as much as $300. However, finding one at a local shelter for less may be possible. You should expect to pay more if you buy from a reputable breeder. However, Argenté rabbits aren’t that rare, so finding one shouldn’t prove to be too challenging.


Temperament & Intelligence of the Argenté Brun

The Argenté Brun is a very active breed that enjoys interacting with its humans. Its docile and calm demeanor makes it a great pick for people looking to adopt their first rabbit. They enjoy being handled and can become very loving and attached to their humans.

Despite their large and heavy frames, this breed is rather active and playful. They’re gentle giants who enjoy nothing more than spending time with their families.

Do These Rabbits Make Good Pets? 👪

The Argenté Brun makes a fantastic pet, thanks to its friendly and sweet temperament. They are low-maintenance rabbits that don’t require special care like other highly demanding breeds.

Bruns can be great companions for children because they tend to be less timid and enjoy being handled. Of course, you’ll always want to watch young children closely when they’re around your pets.

Does This Rabbit Get Along With Other Pets?

Argenté Bruns can get along with other pets, provided the appropriate introduction techniques are used. You should never leave a new pet alone with the other household pets unsupervised. Expect an introductory period of at least several weeks to give your older pet time to become accustomed to your Brun.

Of course, you should always keep a close eye on your pet around other animals, especially dogs, as they often have high prey drives and may see your Brun as prey instead of as a family member. The Brun is usually too big for cats to attack, but they still shouldn’t be left alone together.

Divider-rabbit2

Things to Know When Owning an Argenté Brun

Food & Diet Requirements 🥕

The diet of the Argenté Brun is like any other rabbit. It will need a diet consisting of high-quality hay (Timothy hay is what most breeders recommend), fruits, vegetables, and pellets. Hay should be the main component of your rabbit’s diet as it’s important for grinding down its teeth to prevent overgrowth.

Not all fruits and vegetables are suitable or safe for rabbits, so familiarize yourself with what you can and can’t feed to ensure you’re offering appropriate produce.

The best fruits and veggies for your rabbit include:
  • Asparagus
  • Arugula
  • Broccoli leaves
  • Collard greens
  • Cucumber
  • Dill
  • Mustard greens
  • Parsley
  • Romaine
  • Strawberries
  • Bananas
  • Raspberries
  • Apples (without seeds)
  • Melons
Foods you should never offer your rabbit include:
  • Avocados
  • Chocolate
  • Fruit seeds or pits
  • Raw onions
  • Raw garlic
  • Rhubarb
  • Meat
  • Eggs
  • Dairy
  • Iceberg lettuce
  • Mushrooms
  • House plants
  • Processed food

Habitat & Hutch Requirements 🏠

Like all rabbits, the Argenté Brun needs plenty of space to explore, play, and stretch its legs. The bigger the enclosure you can provide, the better. We don’t recommend going smaller than 30″W x 30″D x 24″H. A good rule of thumb is to buy a habitat at least four times the size of your pet.

Your rabbit can also spend time outside if you have a safe, fenced-in enclosure for it in your yard.

Exercise & Sleeping Needs 🐇

Rabbits have exercise needs just like any other animal. Not only will daily exercise keep them at a healthy weight, but it will also provide the mental stimulation they need for enrichment. A bored rabbit is an unhappy rabbit, not to mention a recipe for disaster, as understimulation can lead to destructive behaviors.

The Argenté Brun will need time outside of its enclosure every day to roam around and be free. You can also let your rabbit outside if you have a safe outdoor area where no predators can get to your pet. High-quality rabbit toys are also recommended for mental and physical stimulation. You don’t need to spend much on toys; even something as simple as an empty toilet paper roll can provide hours of entertainment.

Training 🥎

Rabbits, in general, aren’t as easy to train as dogs or cats, but it’s not entirely impossible. The Argenté Brun is an intelligent breed, so you can train it with time and patience (and many tasty treats). For example, you can teach your Brun to use a litter box and simple commands like “stay” or “come.”

Grooming ✂️

The Argenté Brun has a short coat that doesn’t require much maintenance to keep it looking its best. The exception to this rule is during molting season, when you may find your rabbit shedding more than usual. During this time of year, we recommend outdoor grooming sessions with a slicker brush at least once weekly. During the rest of the year, brushings every two weeks should suffice.

Nail clipping is an important part of grooming your rabbit, too. Their nails can get very sharp and do quite a bit of damage if left unattended. We recommend watching videos on how to clip rabbit nails to ensure you’re doing it properly and not trimming them too short.

Lifespan and Health Conditions 🏥

The Argenté Brun is susceptible to many of the same health conditions as other rabbit breeds, including overgrown teeth, ear mites, and flystrike. They can also develop infectious diseases such as rabbit hemorrhagic disease encephalitozoonosis and respiratory infections caused by the Pasteurella multocida bacteria.

Minor Conditions
  • Overgrown teeth
  • Ear mites
Serious Conditions
  • Rabbit hemorrhagic disease
  • Encephalitozoonosis
  • Respiratory infections
  • Flystrike

divider-rabbitpaw1

Male vs Female

A rabbit’s gender is typically not a main determining factor in its personality or traits. That said, there may be some common differences between the two genders that can affect their behavior.

Male rabbits tend to be more laidback and easygoing than their female counterparts. Neutered males will be less destructive than intact ones, which may mark their territory by spraying urine or mounting objects.

Females can be territorial and growl or lunge at you if you’re in their personal space.

Of course, these are all generalizations. Your rabbit may break gender stereotypes!


3 Little-Known Facts About the Argenté Brun Rabbit

1. All Argenté rabbits are born with a solid color

When Argenté rabbits are born, they’re a solid color. They may begin developing their adult coloring as early as six weeks, though some can take as long as four months to start showing color.


2. The American Rabbit Breeders Association just recently recognized them as a breed

Though the Argenté rabbit is an old breed, it wasn’t until 2016 that the ARBA recognized it. Even though there are a handful of other Argenté breeds, the ARBA only recognizes three: the Champagne d’Argent, the Crème d’Argent, and the Argenté Brun. On the other hand, the British Rabbit Council (BRC) recognizes six Argenté breeds.


3. The Argenté Brun has roots in Canada

Argenté rabbits are one of the oldest French rabbit breeds, having been developed in the 1800s. However, it wasn’t until the 1920s and 1930s that the breeds made their way to America and Canada. It was in Canada where the Argenté Brun was first developed.

divider-rabbitpaw1

Final Thoughts

The Argenté Brun is an incredibly friendly and docile rabbit breed that makes a fantastic family pet. They’re typically easygoing, affectionate, and always up for a good play session with their humans. Because they’re so laid-back, this breed can cohabitate with other animals like cats, though we’d exercise caution leaving the two alone together.

Argenté Bruns don’t have specialized needs like other higher-maintenance rabbit breeds, making them easy to care for. What more could you ask for?


Featured Image Credit: Antonia Giroux, Shutterstock

Our vets

Want to talk to a vet online?

Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers!

Our vets