At a glance the quick version
Coat and looks how to spot one
dense, glossy normal fur on a stocky, cylindrical body
A sturdy, well-muscled medium rabbit with a cylindrical body and firm, rounded hindquarters. Bucks carry broader heads and chests, while does are a little longer in the body. Ears ideally stand 11.5-12.5 cm. The shiny, thick coat is about 35 mm long and coloured an even, deep russet-fawn that goes right down to the skin, softening to paler shades around the eyes, chin, belly and under the tail.124
Personality what they are like
A friendly, sociable rabbit that French sources rate highly as a companion, while still being valued as a hardy utility breed.13
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Needs daily time out of any hutch or cage to run, hop, stretch and dig, plus toys, forage trays or puzzle feeders to keep it busy.6
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
A short normal coat needs only a weekly brush, a little more often while moulting. Keep plenty of hay available so the constantly growing teeth wear down naturally.6
Home where they are happiest
The RSPCA recommends a living area of at least 3 m x 2 m x 1 m high so a rabbit can move, play, hide and stand up fully; a hutch alone is not enough and works only as a base joined to a large run or free-roam space.6
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Unlimited fresh hay as the main food, a daily portion of leafy greens, a small measured amount of rabbit pellets, carrots and fruit only as occasional treats, and constant fresh water.6
Company who they like around
Rabbits are social animals and the RSPCA advises keeping them with at least one compatible neutered rabbit companion, plus calm daily contact with people. Lift them with the back and bottom supported.6
The story where it all began
The breed grew out of fawn-coloured farm rabbits in Burgundy in the early 1900s. Albert Renard fixed its type and colour before the First World War and wrote up its history in 1919, and a breed club followed in 1928. German breeders took it up as the Burgunder in the 1980s.123
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Albert Renard published the breed's history in the French magazine L'Acclimatation in 1919.1
- 2
It grows quickly, reaching adult size at about five months.1
- 3
In Germany it is called the Burgunder and is noticeably lighter in colour than the Sachsengold or Red New Zealand.2
- 4
French conservation work has stored embryos and semen of the breed through the RESGEN programme.1
- 5
Outside France it is also kept in Switzerland, Belgium, Spain and Italy.1
Recognised by the official bits
- A.E.L.F.B. (French breed club)
- Breed association founded in 1928; Omlet dates official recognition to 1928.1
- East and West Germany
- Recognised in East Germany in 1980 and West Germany in 1986 as the Burgunder.2
- British Rabbit Council
- Recognised; standard N.41 in the Normal Fur section, under the Rare Varieties Club.7
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Fauve de Bourgogne. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- BrushingDaily while moultingevery week
- Nail trimevery 6 weeks
- Teeth checkTeeth never stop growingevery week
- Fresh hayUnlimited hay every dayevery day
- Spot cleanevery day
- Full cleanevery week
- Bottom checkCheck the fur around the tail stays clean, especially in summerevery day
- Free roamAt least 4 hours of running space a dayevery day
- VaccinationsSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upevery year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- Fauve de Bourgogne - Wikipédia (French) fr.wikipedia.orgused for origin, history, club, weight standard, coat and body description, temperament, fun facts
- Burgunder (Kaninchen) - Wikipedia (German) de.wikipedia.orgused for origin, German recognition dates, weight, body type, colour comparison
- Fauve de Bourgogne Rabbit - Omlet omlet.co.ukused for recognition year, weight, lifespan, uses
- Fauve de Bourgogne - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for colour, size
- List of rabbit breeds - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for weight range
- Rabbits - RSPCA rspca.org.ukused for space, diet, social and enrichment guidance
- Breed Standards - The British Rabbit Council thebrc.orgused for BRC standard number and Rare Varieties grouping
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.