Argente Brun Rabbit: Facts, Lifespan, Behavior & Care Guide (with Pictures)

The Argente Brun rabbit is one of the oldest of the French show rabbits. It’s a large adaptable rabbit with a long lifespan. We’re going to take an in-depth look at these rabbits to learn more about them to see if they would make a good addition to your home.

Quick Facts about Argente Brun Rabbits

Argente Brun Rabbits Overview

Brun is a French word for brown, and the Argente Brune rabbit is the brown version of an Argente rabbit. You can find several other Argente rabbits, including Argente Bleu, Argente Clair, Argente Noir, Argente St. Hubert, and several others. The American Rabbit Breeders Association recognizes the Argent Brun as a separate breed that qualifies for exhibition, but many breeders will sell it for meat due to its large size.

How Much Do Argente Brun Rabbits Cost?

You should expect to pay between $50 and $300 for your Argente Brun rabbit. However, it may be possible to find and purchase one from a local pet store at a discounted price, depending on your location. Buying directly from an experienced breeder may make the rabbit less likely to have a genetically transmitted disease.

You will also need to purchase a large cage along with several accessories, like a water bottle and food bowl. Vet visits, food, toys, and treats will also raise the overall cost of owning a rabbit.

Typical Behavior & Temperament

The Argente Brun rabbit is comfortable in captivity. It likes to be around people, and many owners will tell you it’s friendly, social, affectionate, and calm. It makes an excellent first pet, as they will often sit on your lap and allow you to carry them.

Appearance & Varieties

The Argente Brun rabbit is one of the larger breeds of domesticated rabbits, and it can weigh more than 10 pounds. Your Argente Brun will be brown and will have a plump, round body. Its hips tend to extend further from the body than the shoulders. The ears are erect and close together on the top of the head.

How to Take Care of Argente Brun Rabbit

Habitat, Cage Conditions & Setup

Enclosure

The ideal rabbit enclosure is four times the length of your rabbit and four times the width. Since you don’t know how large your rabbit will be, we recommend purchasing a cage 30” W x 30” D x 24” H.

Bedding

Many people like to use a wire bottom cage because it’s easier to clean. The waste falls through the cage to a tray below. You can clean this tray without entering the cage or disturbing any of its inhabitants. However, we recommend using a pen with a soft bedding floor. The soft bedding is much easier on your pet’s feet and can prevent injuries associated with the wire floor. A soft floor is especially important for rabbits that don’t spend enough time outside the cage.

Other Items

Your Argente Brun rabbit will also need a clean food bowl and a water bottle filled with fresh water. While often heavier and more expensive, we recommend using a glass water bottle because many plastic bottles flavor the water, which can discourage your pet from drinking. Plastic bottles can also leak harmful BPA and other chemicals into the water, which can cause health problems for your rabbit.

Do Argente Brun Rabbits Get Along with Other Pets?

Your Argente rabbit has a friendly personality, and it will get along with any pets that aren’t aggressive toward it. It’s usually a little too big for cats to attack, especially if you socialize them early. However, some larger dogs may naturally chase your rabbit, so you will need to tread carefully when allowing these animals to share the same space.

What to Feed Your Argente Brun Rabbit

Your Argente is an herbivore, which means it will consume a diet of plants. It needs a never-ending supply of Timothy hay to help wear down its front teeth so they don’t get too long. It will also get much of the fiber it requires from Timothy hay and other grasses. Besides grass and hay, your rabbit will need plenty of fresh vegetables to get the nutrients it needs, and you should also provide it with some commercial rabbit pellets like the type made by Oxbow to help improve nutrition. Your rabbit will also enjoy some treats that you usually supply in the form of fruit.

Keeping Your Argente Brun Rabbit Healthy

The primary thing to ensure your rabbit’s health is to provide them with sufficient amounts of Timothy hay. You will also need to make sure that no animals are chasing it and causing it to have high anxiety. Also, be sure you are offering your rabbit time outside its cage each day. We recommend 1-3 hours per day of free roam time, so it will engage in enough activity to stay at a healthy weight. Plus, exploring will help with mental stimulation.

If you are using a wire bottom cage, check the feet often to ensure no damage occurs and only bathe your Argente Brun when necessary. Rabbits don’t like to take baths, and they rarely need them.

Breeding

Argente Brun rabbits, like all rabbit breeds, are easy to breed and can have multiple litters per year. However, unless you have a commercial space set up, breeding rabbits is not recommended. Your pet will multiply extremely quickly, and you will soon run out of room to hold them and people that want them. If you don’t have experience in genetic defects you could breed unhealthy rabbits. What’s more, storing too many rabbits in your home may cause legal issues and bring fines. Overall, it is recommended that you leave rabbit breeding up to professionals.

Are Argente Brun Rabbits Suitable for You?

Argentine Brun rabbits make amazing pets that are suitable for children and adults. Its friendly and loving nature will often have the rabbit sitting on your lap or right next to you. Its large size means it can cohabitate with a cat. It has very few health problems and a long life.

We hope you have enjoyed our look into these huge rabbits and have learned something new. If you know someone who would enjoy these adorable pets, please share this guide to the Argente Brun rabbits on Facebook and Twitter.

Featured Image: Shutterstock, Antonia Giroux