The Dwarf Gene

One of the most challenging problems many rabbit breeders run into is the unfortunate case of peanuts. Peanuts are babies much smaller than the rest that do not grow and always die. Because they are so small, they are usually unable to nurse or disfigured. Some breeders choose to put them out of their misery humanely, while others decided to simply let the babies die naturally. This is one of many reasons why rabbit raising is not for the faint of heart.
Peanut babies are malformed because of genetics. The dwarf gene causes this malformation. Rabbit breeds that carry the dwarf gene are Mini Satins, Polish, Netherland Dwarf, Holland Lop, Dwarf Hotot, Mini Rex, Britannia Petite, American Fuzzy Lop, and Jersey Wooly.
***Note: There may be others I forgot to mention***
Dwarf rabbits come in three types: true dwarfs, false dwarfs, and the aforementioned peanuts. False dwarfs tend to be longer, larger, and usually exceed the maximum weight for their breed. True dwarfs are the ones that generally do better on the show table. They tend to be truer to their breed type: more compact, short, balanced, and more likely to stay within the appropriate weight.
How do you tell if your newborn babies are peanuts?
When my brother used to breed Polish rabbits, we were quite anxious about our first litter, since the dam was a true dwarf. Afraid that we would not be able to recognize a peanut and dispose of it properly once deceased, we went online and did our research. Research certainly helped, but you really will be able to tell the difference between normal kits and peanuts easily. At birth, peanuts weigh 3/4 of an ounce, whereas the others will weigh about 1 1/2 ounces or more. Peanuts may have bulging heads, crossed back legs, and may also be disfigured and elongated.
For more information on the dwarf gene and what you will get with different true dwarf/false dwarf breedings, thenaturetrail.com is a good place to visit.