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Beveren rabbits are among the oldest known “heritage” rabbit breeds; these rare rabbits have been around since 1989s, and they originate from Belgium. People worldwide were amazed by this rabbit breed due to their stunning blue color, which wasn’t so common in rabbits.
As Beveren rabbits’ popularity grew, the first Beveren Club was founded in Birmingham in 1918. This rabbit species also started spreading to the USA; they were recognized in 1915 and classified as Beverin rabbits instead of Beveren.
If you’d like to know more about this unique rabbit breed and its heritage, check out the rest of our article.
| Size: | Medium/Large |
| Weight: | 8–12 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 5–12+ years |
| Similar Breeds: | Argente rabbits, Florida white rabbits, silver rabbits, Saint Nicholas blue rabbits, Vienna blue rabbits, Brabanconne rabbits |
| Suitable for: | Experienced rabbit owners |
| Temperament: | Friendly, docile, intelligent, calm, good-natured, curious, playful |
These majestic rabbits carry a lot of heritage, and they represent a crossbreed between the Saint Nicholas Blue rabbit, Vienna Blue rabbit, and Brabanconne rabbits.
Originally, these rabbits had strictly blue coats; however, Europeans developed various other Beveren rabbit colors, such as lilac, black, white, brown, and blue, while the Americans also developed blue-eyed Beveren rabbit types. However, ARBA recognizes only blue, black, and blue-eyed Beveren rabbit varieties.
With the development of newer rabbit breeds, Beveren rabbits fell out of style, and their popularity decreased; however, these gentle souls are slowly making a comeback as pet rabbits due to their sweet, gentle nature.
Beveren Rabbit Breed Characteristics
How Much Do These Rabbits Cost?
Beveren rabbits originate from Beveren, Belgium; due to their country of origin, these rabbits quickly spread throughout Europe, and they also managed to reach US ground. Although this breed was extremely popular in the past, its popularity decreased, leading to the breed being somewhat rare.
That said, there are still reputable breeders across the world who could help you with adopting/purchasing a Beveren rabbit. Although rare, these rabbits are typically not too expensive and shouldn’t cost you more than a hundred bucks.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Beveren Rabbit
Beveren rabbits are lively, playful, and friendly; this rabbit breed is typically active and loves to spend time outdoors. As these rabbits prefer to be outdoors, they can be kept as outdoor pets; however, keeping them inside your home may not be the best option due to limited space and temperature changes.
Beveren rabbits are intelligent and curious, so you’ll be able to enjoy all kinds of games together. These rabbits can also recognize their owner’s voice and can respond to their names.
They require socialization from an early age, but as long as they receive it, Beveren rabbits will love and care for you and your family. As these rabbits are very smart, you can also include potty training, teaching them where to go potty, as well as leash training, as you can take your Beveren rabbit for a walk.
These rabbits are generally active during the daybreak, and they require a predator-safe outdoor space where they can freely roam and explore their surroundings.
Do These Rabbits Make Good Pets? 👪
Beveren rabbits can be excellent pets due to their sweet nature and calm temperament. As these large rabbits have plenty of energy, they can play and interact with you, showing affection and often cuddling.
Due to their size, Beveren rabbits are the most suitable pets for people who have large outdoor spaces, as these bunnies need outdoor housing. They also have moderate grooming needs and may be hard to find in the US, which is something to consider before choosing this breed as your furry companion.
Does This Rabbit Get Along With Other Pets?
Most rabbit species love to have companions; Beveren rabbits who are socialized from a young age can get along well with other animals, such as:
It may be best for your rabbit to have companionship from other rabbits and animals similar in size, such as guinea pigs. However, if you have a well-trained dog or a cat, you could try introducing the animals and see how the introduction goes. Typically, these animals can get along very well, or they may not pay much attention to each other.
Although your Beveren rabbit could get along with your house-trained animals, you should still keep your rabbit away from unknown animals to prevent stressful and dangerous situations.
Things to Know When Owning a Beveren Rabbit:
Food & Diet Requirements 🥕
Beveren rabbits are herbivorous, meaning they only consume plant-based products. Their diet mainly consists of hay, grass, and occasional leafy greens, which provide them with nutritional benefits and wear down their teeth to prevent dental issues.
You could also offer veggies such as carrots and fruits, although these should be a treat, and your rabbit shouldn’t consume them every day. Your Beveren rabbit will also need constant access to fresh, drinking water; it’s best to change their water every day to keep it clean.
Habitat & Hutch Requirements 🏠
Beveren rabbits need to be kept outdoors, which is why you need to have an available outdoor space where you’ll create the hutch for your rabbit. The space needs to be large enough for your Beveren rabbit to stretch out fully, hop, run, dig, and do any other activity rabbits like to do.
As these rabbits are quite large, they also need a large cage; preferably, the cage for Beveren rabbits should be at least four times larger than your rabbit. The space needs to be large enough to also fit a water bowl, litter box, hide box, and food area for hay and grass.
You should also provide an exercise area where your rabbit can freely roam and explore the environment.
Exercise & Sleeping Needs 🐇
Beveren rabbits are playful and active, which is why these lovely bunnies need a lot of exercise. It’s best for your Beveren rabbit to exercise at least 4 hours per day, including hopping around, jumping, and running.
As rabbits require plenty of physical and mental stimulation through exercise, you can enrich their exercise space with tunnels, platforms, hide holes, and provide rabbit-appropriate toys. You should ensure that all outdoor areas are safely closed to prevent your rabbit from escaping and stop possible predators from reaching your furry friend.
As for their sleeping needs, Beveren rabbits need almost as much sleep as humans, meaning that they need at least 8–10 hours of sleep. However, some studies suggest that rabbits may need between 12–14 hours of daily sleep to develop properly and be healthy.
Training
Beveren rabbits will require socialization, potty, and crate training from an early age. Your rabbit will need to get used to using the crate, using a particular area to go potty, and learning how to behave around other animals and humans.
As Beveren rabbits are very intelligent, you could also introduce leash training and teach your Beveren rabbit to walk on a leash.
Grooming ✂️
Beveren rabbits have moderate grooming needs, which include checking their ears regularly, brushing their fur twice a week, checking their teeth, and clipping their nails. Most rabbits are very good at cleaning themselves, but you may also give them an occasional wipe to ensure they’re clean.
As your rabbit will spend most of its day outside, also provide something for repelling ticks and fleas, and ensure to also regularly check your Beveren’s bottom for signs of impacted scent glands. Usually, a rabbit can take care of this themselves but it never hurts to check.
Lifespan and Health Conditions 🏥
Beveren rabbits are generally healthy, and their lifespans are usually between 5- 12+ years. However, you should still ensure your rabbit gets regular vet checks to verify everything is okay with its health.
It’s best to take your rabbit to a vet check-up right after getting it and then have yearly vet visits to follow how your pet’s health is progressing.
Male vs Female
In Beveren rabbits, there are no major differences between males and females. Both sexes have long, glossy coats, mandolin-shaped bodies, and lively personalities. Beveren does are typically slightly larger and heavier than bucks.
Due to their maternal instincts, does may be a bit more affectionate and caring, but both sexes are still pretty similar and make gentle pets.
3 Little-Known Facts About Beveren Rabbits
1. Beveren Rabbits Have Various Other Names
Beveren rabbits got their name due to their place of origin, which is Beveren, Belgium. However, when these rabbits entered US grounds, they were mistakenly registered as Beverin rabbits.
That said, after that mistake, people started making various names for these rabbits, with some of the most popular ones besides Beveren and Beverin being:
As there are Beverin fanciers all over the world, everyone has a unique name for this stunning rabbit breed.
2. The First Exhibition of the Beveren Blue Rabbit Occurred in Norwich, Great Britain, in 1905
Beveren rabbits have been around since 1989, but it wasn’t until 1905 that their first exhibition occurred in Norwich, Great Britain. After their first exhibition, Beverin rabbits grew in popularity due to their interesting appearance and stunning color, which wasn’t so common in other rabbit breeds.
3. ARBA Doesn’t Officially Recognize All Beveren Rabbit Colors
Although Beveren rabbits nowadays come in a variety of colors, ARBA doesn’t officially recognize all the colors of this rabbit species. ARBA only accepts blue, black, and blue-eyed Beveren rabbit varieties; any other Beveren rabbit color is not accepted by ARBA standards.
Final Thoughts
Beveren rabbits were once extremely popular; although their popularity in the US decreased, these stunning rabbits still make excellent companions, which is why there’s hope for them to become popular again.
Due to the lack of popularity in the Beveren rabbit breed, these bunnies may often be hard to find. However, if you manage to get yourself a Beveren rabbit, be sure that you’ll have an excellent, lively, and playful companion to keep you company.
- Related Read: Wild vs Domestic Rabbits
Featured Image Credit: Helen J Davies, Shutterstock
