Heritage American Rabbit Breed for Homesteaders
The American Rabbit Breed is one of the oldest rabbit breeds developed in the United States and one of the rarest today. Originally bred as a practical farm rabbit, the American combines a calm temperament, efficient growth, excellent mothering ability, and beautiful fur in a breed that has stood the test of time.
At USA Duck Team, we are committed to preserving this historic American breed while providing healthy, productive breeding stock to homesteaders, small farms, and conservation-minded breeders. Our slogan is, “Best Genetics to Homesteaders,” and that’s what the American Rabbit Breed is, one of the best homesteader breeds around.
Why Choose American Rabbits?
American Rabbits were developed for utility. They are known for:
- Calm, easy-going temperament
- Excellent mothers with strong maternal instincts
- Efficient feed conversion
- High-quality meat production (just as much meat as New Zealands but more babies)
- Beautiful dense fur (and more fur than commercial breeds because of their mandolin body type).
- Mandolin body type gives better heat tolerance
- One of America’s rare heritage livestock breeds
Whether you’re raising rabbits for meat, breeding stock, youth projects, or conservation, the American Rabbit remains one of the best all-around breeds available.
Our Colors
We specialize in the two historic American varieties.
Black Americans
Rich jet-black rabbits with dense, glossy fur. The Black American is an outstanding utility rabbit. The color is not yet approved for show but the standard is in development by the breed club, the Breeders of the American Rabbits. Last year for a while we were ranked 19th in the nation for their show sweepstakes.
Blue Americans
Perhaps the signature color of the breed, the Blue American carries a unique slate-blue coat that is reputed to be a richer, darker blue than any other breed. The coat is a navy blue. Their color, body type, and calm disposition have made them favorites among American Rabbit enthusiasts for over a century.
White Americans
Our White Americans are red-eyed whites (REW), the historic white variety recognized for the breed. They possess the same outstanding mandolin body type and gentle temperament as the colored varieties while offering the clean white pelt valued for generations.
Built for the Homestead
American Rabbits fit naturally into sustainable homesteads.
They produce flavorful meat, high-quality pelts, excellent compost through their manure, and breeding stock that can be maintained for generations. Their calm personalities also make them enjoyable to work with, even for beginning rabbit breeders.
Many commercial meat breeds have been selected primarily for rapid growth. The American has been selected for balance—combining productivity, mothering ability, hardiness, and longevity in a true dual-purpose heritage breed.
Conservation Matters
The American Rabbit remains one of the rarest domestic rabbit breeds in North America.
Every responsible breeder plays a role in preserving the genetic diversity of this historic breed. By raising Americans, you become part of a nationwide effort to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy one of America’s original livestock breeds.
We believe these rabbits deserve more than survival—they deserve to thrive.
Our Breeding Program
Our breeding program emphasizes:
- Correct American mandolin body type
- Sound temperament
- Excellent maternal ability
- Strong overall health
- Genetic diversity
- Productivity for homesteads
- Preservation of historic American bloodlines
We breed for rabbits that perform in the rabbitry first while remaining true to the breed standard.
Available Stock
We periodically offer:
- Breeding pairs
- Junior bucks
- Junior does
- Proven breeding stock
- Show prospects
- Homestead breeding trios
Availability varies throughout the year.
Text 816-726-9626 for current availability.
