Apache Junction, Arizona
Rex Rabbits
Agave Creek Ranch raises Rex rabbits in Apache Junction — the velvet-coated breed, bred here for correct type, a calm temperament and sound health. We're a short drive from Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek and Gold Canyon, and we sell pedigreed kits and breeding stock throughout the Phoenix East Valley.
About the breed
The Rex is known for one thing before anything else: its coat. A recessive gene shortens the guard hairs to the same length as the undercoat, so the fur stands straight up and feels like velvet — dense, plush, and unlike any other rabbit. The breed appeared in France in 1919 and reached the United States in the mid-1920s; today it's shown in a long list of colors, from the original castor through black, blue, chocolate, lilac, otter, red, and broken patterns.
Rex are a medium-to-large rabbit, usually seven and a half to ten and a half pounds when grown, with a rounded, well-fleshed body. The Mini Rex is a separate, much smaller breed that shares the coat but not the size.
What we breed for
We keep a small Rex herd and raise a few litters a year rather than many. Every pairing is planned in our herd book against pedigree, coat, body type and the temperament of both parents, and we keep records on every animal we sell.
- Coat — density, texture and evenness, the trait that makes a Rex a Rex.
- Type — a rounded, balanced body with good depth and width, true to the standard.
- Temperament — calm, easy to handle, and comfortable around people.
- Health — sound feet, clean eyes and teeth, and vigorous, fast-growing kits.
Temperament & care
Rex are among the calmest of the larger rabbit breeds — steady, tolerant of handling, and content to sit with a person, which makes them a favorite with families and first-time rabbit owners. With good care they live eight to ten years.
A few things matter especially for a Rex in Arizona:
- Heat. Rabbits handle cold far better than heat. In our summers a Rex needs shade, moving air, and frozen water bottles or a cool room. We're glad to walk you through how we keep ours comfortable.
- Feet. Rex have thinner fur on the soles than other breeds, so they need a solid resting surface — a mat or a board — rather than bare wire, to prevent sore hocks.
- Coat. Leave it alone. The Rex coat isn't meant to be brushed much and should never be clipped; a light hand now and then is plenty.
- Diet. Unlimited grass hay, a measured portion of good pellets, fresh water always, and treats sparingly.
Our Rex breeders
Pulled straight from our herd book, so it's always current.
Herd sires
Does
Our Rex breeders aren't listed online just now — text us and we'll tell you about them.
Recent litters
Buying a Rex from us
Kits leave here at eight weeks or older, weaned and eating well, with their pedigree and a note of what they've been fed. Breeding stock comes with a full pedigree. Our current listings are on the For Sale page, updated straight from our herd book; if you don't see what you're after, the breeding schedule shows which litters are coming, and we keep a list.
Are Rex rabbits good pets?
Yes — they're one of the calmest breeds and tolerate handling well. Like any rabbit they need daily attention, room to move, and in Arizona a cool place through the summer. Plan on eight to ten years together.
Are they good with children?
With supervision, very. A Rex is larger and sturdier than a dwarf breed, which helps, but every rabbit should be picked up properly — supported under the chest and hindquarters — and never by the ears or scruff.
What's the difference between a Rex and a Mini Rex?
The same velvet coat on two different breeds. A standard Rex is a medium-to-large rabbit of eight to ten pounds; a Mini Rex is a small one, under four and a half. We raise Rex.
How much does a Rex cost?
Prices are on each listing on our For Sale page. Pet-quality kits cost less than show or breeding stock; what you're paying for in a breeding animal is the pedigree and the selection behind it.
Do you ship, or deliver?
We don't ship live animals. Pickup is at the farm in Apache Junction by appointment, and for buyers in the East Valley we can sometimes arrange to meet partway — ask.