We raised this wonderful breed for about three years. As much as we loved them, we discovered that they really needed more room (especially when the does had a litter) than we were able to provide with our set up, and, as such, decided to let them go. We would not hesitate to raise them again if we ever moved to an area with more space.
Check out the "Watch Us Grow" page to see pictures and information of a couple of litters as they were growing.
Check out the "Watch Us Grow" page to see pictures and information of a couple of litters as they were growing.
The Silver Fox are a beautiful, rare heritage breed commonly known as the teddy bears of the commercial breeds. Their longer fur (1 1/2 to 2 inches long) is unique in that when it is stroked forward it stays in place standing up. Mature bucks weigh between 9-11 lbs. and the does 10-12. To see a short video of their stand up fur click here: FUR VIDEO
The few Silver Fox that we have had the opportunity to get to know are quite comical and very friendly. A couple of our does are a little shy but still very gentle. We have found that they love toys and will play with many different things to amuse themselves. Norm, one of our bucks, enjoys jumping in and out of his cage. If he finds a little thing on the floor (like a cap, scrap of paper, nail clippers, small piece of wood, toilet paper tube, or anything small enough that isn't too heavy) he will pick it up with his mouth and then hop around and around with his prize! Sometimes he will take objects in and out of his cage with him for days. He will ring a hanging bell half the day long and loves baby toys. He keeps us laughing!
Here are a couple of pictures of Norm with one of his baby toys.
The few Silver Fox that we have had the opportunity to get to know are quite comical and very friendly. A couple of our does are a little shy but still very gentle. We have found that they love toys and will play with many different things to amuse themselves. Norm, one of our bucks, enjoys jumping in and out of his cage. If he finds a little thing on the floor (like a cap, scrap of paper, nail clippers, small piece of wood, toilet paper tube, or anything small enough that isn't too heavy) he will pick it up with his mouth and then hop around and around with his prize! Sometimes he will take objects in and out of his cage with him for days. He will ring a hanging bell half the day long and loves baby toys. He keeps us laughing!
Here are a couple of pictures of Norm with one of his baby toys.
This is a link to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
with excellent information about the Silver Fox:
http://albc-usa.org/cpl/silverfox.html
with excellent information about the Silver Fox:
http://albc-usa.org/cpl/silverfox.html
Genetics
There is one dominant and one recessive gene for silvering (or not). Two recessive genes produce the silvering effect and modifying genes increase or decrease the percentage of silvering, which relates to breeder selection. The silvering gene produces no pigment in the guard hairs for the entire length of the hair shaft. A silvered animal (silvering gene) and a silver tipped steel (steel gene) are easily distinguished because the steels only have white tipped hairs.
Some do have the opinion that the "si" gene may be dominant, or that they feel the "si" gene is neither totally dominant nor recessive, possibly expressed much like rufous factors, on a sliding scale with partial dominance. However, most opinions are that the "si" gene is recessive and the amount of silvering is likely the response of the modifier genes which increase or decrease the amount of silvering.
The pictures of our two does (Carrie and Silverst) above are a good example of the differing amounts of silvering that can occur.
There is one dominant and one recessive gene for silvering (or not). Two recessive genes produce the silvering effect and modifying genes increase or decrease the percentage of silvering, which relates to breeder selection. The silvering gene produces no pigment in the guard hairs for the entire length of the hair shaft. A silvered animal (silvering gene) and a silver tipped steel (steel gene) are easily distinguished because the steels only have white tipped hairs.
Some do have the opinion that the "si" gene may be dominant, or that they feel the "si" gene is neither totally dominant nor recessive, possibly expressed much like rufous factors, on a sliding scale with partial dominance. However, most opinions are that the "si" gene is recessive and the amount of silvering is likely the response of the modifier genes which increase or decrease the amount of silvering.
The pictures of our two does (Carrie and Silverst) above are a good example of the differing amounts of silvering that can occur.