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I think I got those two from the Lionhead people. Around here, they are called "Dutch-marked." When two breeders are discussing them, they may use the verbal shorthand of just calling them "Dutch," but of course they understand that they aren't referring to the Dutch breed.
In this area, you might encounter Holland Lops, Netherland Dwarfs, and Jersey Woolies in BEW, but nowhere near as often as other colors. Because of the high percentage of unshowable offspring, BEW and chocolate are colors best bred only to themselves, so (like I said) they are seen relatively infrequently. Some people charge more for any rabbit in one of these "rare" colors, or any rabbit that they think might carry that color. If you get the right combination of agouti, chinchilla, and non-extension, you get an Ermine. Ermines' eyes can be any color that a chin's eyes can be (or a squirrel, which is a dilute chin), and they have completely white coats. I have seen people trying to pass off an Ermine as a BEW, but they didn't know enough about the genetics to know that it was impossible to get a BEW from those parents. The BEW's eyes are cornflower blue. If the eyes are blue-grey, sorry, no dice, it's an Ermine!
I THINK I might have an Ermine, he has a snowy white coat, but his eyes are dark brown. He is a much older rabbit, so his eyes may have been blue-gray at one point, later on going brown. I thought perhaps Ghost Chin, but he has absolutely no ticking in his coat. He drives me nuts with my not knowing what he carries
I have four does bred to him (bred before I bought them) so it'll be interesting what comes out. Their all fat as butterballs and not one is making any move to nest. Arrrg.
I've seen some Ermines trying to be passed as BEW's, and some stunning BEW's with bright, china blue eyes. Theres one breeder that I know of-I can't help it, they make me cringe-thats now starting to breed BEW's. I was talking with him one day about a pretty little self blue I had bought, and he hadn't a clue what a 'self blue' was! His words, "I'm not good with colors!" er...you think?
Sad thing is that he actively breeds and produces rabbits, and has a massive rabbitry. Oi oi oi! I can see someone with a couple pets, but a
breeder with over a hundred rabbits?.
The only reason he's breeding BEW's is because of the prices they command. Around here a low quality one will run you about $75, thats for a pet quality, regular, little bunny. A fine, show quality rabbit is $100+.
I want to breed for quality, temperament, and type. I really love the BEW's and their a challenge to produce so I figure-if I'm going to have a rabbitry, why not keep pretty rabbits?
chickenwhisperer; That actually looks to be a Dutch, or a authentic Dutch Cross.
My Dutch girl looking horribly irritated that I bothered her. She's a poorly marked Dutch, as her blaze isn't proper:
This breeder has several good pictures of VM, VC, and BEW's.
http://www.sweetheartbunny.com/id84.html