The Polish rabbit is believed to have been developed in England, with the first mention of the breed found in their literature in the mid-1800s. The exact development of the breed is uncertain. It is said this breed descended from the white hutch rabbit and was first bred as a ruby-eyed white rabbit. The American Polish Rabbit Club points to their introduction to the United States as being in 1912. The red-eyed white Polish rabbit was the first accepted by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA). Other colors followed over the decades and the lilac Polish was accepted as recently as 2020.
Polish Rabbits Over Time
Polish rabbits were originally larger and were popularly used as meat rabbits. The modern-day breed is small – weighing no more than 3.5 pounds – and is known for its unusually short ears. They somewhat resemble the Netherland Dwarf rabbit in this way but with several differentiating characteristics in their body conformation. They also do not carry the “dwarf gene” despite their small size.
Polish rabbits are docile, and their small size and easy care make them popular as pets. They are listed on many rabbit sites as good choice for someone living in an apartment, seniors or someone with a tight budget.
Polish Rabbit Breed Standard
For those looking to show Polish rabbits, the largest segment of the judging points is in the body. According to the American Polish Rabbit Club, the breed should be compact. The hips should be rounded and wider than the shoulders. The core should taper evenly from the hips to the shoulders. The body being too long is considered a fault, as is the hips flaring out from the body. Unlike many of the larger breeds, a dewlap in the does is considered a flaw and the rabbit will be disqualified.
Head, ears and eyes are all considered separately, but are weighed equally when showing. The skull should sit low on the shoulders and be slightly rounded. Pinched or pointed noses or a longer head are considered faults. The eyes should be large, while the ears will be disqualified if they are over three inches. The ears should be parallel and close-set enough to touch from the base of the skull to the tips.
Polish Rabbit Fur
The coat of a Polish rabbit should be soft, short and “flyback.” This type of coat, when stroked backward, instantly returns itself to its original position.
The first accepted color to the show ring was the red-eyed white Polish, with blue-eyed white following quickly. Currently, the American Rabbit Breeder Association accepts these colors, as well as black, blue, chocolate and lilac. “Broken” – a white rabbit with colored spots – is also accepted.
The fur should be glossy, and rabbits with a “cottony” texture are disqualified from ARBA showing.
Polish Rabbit Care
While Polish rabbits are not prone to anything other than the normal rabbit ailments, the lifespan of breeding Polish is much shorter than the average rabbits. While many breeds live to about ten years of age, the Polish rabbit’s lifespan is often only five to six years. Rabbit care that includes neutering and careful oversight of their diet will help extend this, and a few have even been known to live to around eight years old. Recommended feeding is only 20 to 25 grams a day (.7 to .88 ounces). Breeders will find that the litter size for Polish rabbits is quite small since Polish rabbits only produce half the ova as other tested rabbit breeds. Most does produce only two to four kits per litter. Because their lifespan is so short, they can also only be bred for a narrow window, hitting menopause between three to four years of age.
This article about the Polish rabbit was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.
