The first Silver Martens were developed in the 1920's. Standard Chinchilla breeders had introduced Tan bloodlines into the breed in the hopes of improving color and pattern. This resulted in the tan pattern genes being carried on in the offspring. The Chinchilla genes affected the tan coloring in the offspring causing it to turn silver. Some of the correctly colored kits were saved and line bred. These black and silver colored rabbits were named Silver Martens in 1924 and the standards were written for the blacks and chocolates in 1927. The blues were accepted in 1929 and the sables were accepted in 1933.
Silver Martens have a very sweet temperament and make great pets.
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thanks for the breed history.
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