Learn more about the Holland Lop Rabbit Breed. Discover cool facts, pictures, resources and find information about caring for Holland Lop Rabbits.
This rabbit breed information page is part of our rabbit breeds article series.
Table of Contents:
- Breed Info
- History
- Facts
- Cages and Supplies
- How to Breed for Show
- Breed Resources
- Buying
- Price
- Locating a Breeder
Holland Lop Rabbit Breed Info
Recognized colors: Many. Shown in two groups, broken and solid pattern.
Size: Not over 4 pounds.
National Specialty Club:
hlrsc.com
Holland Lop Rabbit Breed Photo Credit:
Jennifer Berry
Holland Lop Rabbit Information and History
Rabbits are many people’s choice of pets around the globe. They are cute, cuddly, affordable, and low maintenance pets to own. There are numerous rabbit breeds; presently, we will be learning all about Holland Lop rabbits, including their appearance, care, temperament, breeding, and history.
History
As the name indicates, the Holland Lop breed originated in the Netherlands in the 1950s. Adriann de Cock was a Dutch breeder wanting to mix the qualities of the Netherlands Dwarf and the French Lop. This first litter did not produce the desired results, but rather rabbits with erect ears, unlike the droopy ears we see today. De Cock tried again in 1952 breeding a doe and an English Lop buck, and after a few litters, the Holland Lop appeared with those characteristic floppy ears. In 1964, the breed Holland Lop was officially recognized by the Netherlands’ Governing Rabbit Council, and in 1976, it was also recognized by the American Rabbit Breeder’s Association.
Breed Information and Interesting Facts
The Holland Lop’s Appearance
Due to its size, the Holland Lop is classified as a Dwarf rabbit. It is ideal for smaller homes and locations and only weights between 2 and 4 pounds. It’s lifespan ranges from 7-to-14 years. Their temperament is known to be mild, cuddly, and full of energy. Comparable breeds include the Netherland Dwarf rabbit and the French Lop.
Holland Lop Temperament
The best thing for a Holland Lop’s temperament and behavior is for them to get enough time outside of their enclosures. If your rabbit has to be kept indoors, it should still be let out of its hutch to roam so it can stretch its legs and avoid cramped muscle and leg issues, as well as getting some sun and affection from their owners.
Holland Lops are known as active bunnies that love to spend time outdoors in warm weather. If your yard is open, consider an exercise pen to give them a better quality of life. Your rabbit’s temperament will be much happier if their outdoor and exercise needs are being met.
Holland Lop Size
The Holland Lop has a wide and short body-type, giving them their compact shape. They are known to sit like a cat resting on their hind legs more so than their front. Their are best known for their furry floppy ears.
Holland Lop Coat
Holland Lop’s coats are coarse and medium in length. Their coat is very low maintenance as it does not require much grooming; weekly or bi-weekly brushings will suffice. In spring time, they start to shed a little more, but brushing slightly more often will more than take care of any extra hair loss.
Holland Lop Colors
The Holland Lop is divided into two main classifications: solid and broken (patchy colors). Some of the Holland Lop color options include chinchilla, tortoise, seal, sable, smoke pearl, cream, fawn, frosty, orange, red and chestnut.
Holland Lop Care and Diet
Holland Lops are known for their low maintenance, and their compact size makes them that much easier as they don’t take up much space indoors or outdoors. Two of the most important aspects of their care include diet and indoor/outdoor time.
An ideal rabbit’s diet contains a balance of 70-percent hay, and the other 30 percent is a mix of fruits, leafy greens, veggies, and pellets.
Holland Lop Health
Holland Lops are not particularly susceptible to hereditary health issues, so a few maintenance routines will ensure your rabbit has a long and healthy life.
Holland Lop Teeth
Part of Holland Lop ownership and care involves regularly checking their teeth to ensure their teeth are not becoming overgrown. That is why rabbits need to chew so much: to keep their teeth from growing too long. If their teeth do become overgrown, they can grow into the rabbit’s mouth and jaws and become very painful for the rabbit. That is also why a diet high in hay is so important as it naturally files down the rabbit’s teeth while they chew. Keeping an eye on this on your own can save you on costly vet bills down the road.
Spaying or Neutering Holland Lops
Spaying or neutering your rabbit can be done at a young age, but most veterinarians will wait until they are six months of age for the safest spaying practice. Although bucks can be neutered at as young an age as three months, which many people do to make them less aggressive, Holland Lops are unaggressive by nature so neutering the bucks is not necessary.
Cages / Supplies
A Holland Lop’s home should consist of a wire enclosure with a plastic bottom. Soft bedding should line the cage’s bottom so it is comfortable for the rabbit. As the Holland Lops are so small, you will not need a large enclosure.
You can also get rabbit hay feeders that attach to the enclosure’s side that hold hay your rabbit can pull out and chew when they are hungry.
Spot-cleaning the bedding daily and replacing it weekly to get rid of feces is necessary to keep the rabbit and its enclosure clean and fresh. This is not only good for the rabbit’s hygiene but also for the owners to minimize smell.
How to Breed Holland Lop Rabbits for Show
Avoiding the obvious jokes about rabbits breeding themselves, it actually does take a lot of time and planning to breed Holland Lops responsibly and effectively for show.
First Litters
The first thing to be prepared for if it is your first time breeding rabbits is that very often, a mother rabbit’s first litter can have low survival rates. Usually, subsequent litters are much more successful, but it is a good rule of thumb to be prepared to lose at least 50 percent of your first litters.
Breeding Responsibly
Before you start breeding rabbits, make sure you have reliable homes lined up for them. In case you don’t sell all the babies, you need to be prepared to keep them for a time, if not permanently. You will need multiple cages as male and female baby rabbits need to be separated by the age of 10 weeks. Overcrowding young rabbits can lead to fights, injuries, unsanitary conditions, and unhealthy litters.
Preparing for Birth
Bunnies can give birth at any time of day or night, so as the doe’s time approaches, be sure you are checking on her regularly. When the babies are born, they need to stay in the nest box to stay warm. Maintaining good enclosure sanitation at this time is also very important so ensure the health of the kits and the mother.
Choosing Your Pair
Choosing your buck and doe to get that ideal show-worthy rabbit is very important. You will want your pair to have show-worthy qualities with no visible or genetic flaws. A healthy coat, those adorable furry long floppy ears, bright eyes, and perfect teeth that are not too long are excellent ways to gauge if a rabbit is worthy of breeding or whether you should move on to find better stock. Do some research about rabbit husbandry before you start breeding, and it is also recommended to live with your pair for at least a few months to observe their habits before you attempt to breed them.
For your rabbits to show, they must be purebred. Show rabbits are judged based on their conformity to the written standards of perfection.
Breed Resources
There is no shortage of rabbit-lovers out there as is evident by the numerous clubs and organizations: American Rabbit Breeders’ Association (ARBA), the American Cavy Breeders Association, American Fuzzy Lop Rabbit Club, and the Holland Lop Specialty Club.
Buying a Holland Lop
When it comes to buying a Holland Lop, the price range is all over the place, depending on whether or not you are buying it from a breeder, for a pet, or to show. Finding a reputable breeder is key to ensure you are not getting a rabbit with genetic disorders like malocclusion or hooked spines. Reputable breeders will selectively breed out these traits, and if you are wanting your Lop for show, you will want a purebred with no genetic disorders.
Holland Lop Price
From a breeder, pet-quality Holland Lops can sell from anywhere between $25 to $100; show-quality Holland Lops can range from $75 to $400, depending on the pedigree and quality. When you are buying a Holland Lop, ask yourself what you want it for. If you are wanting it for a pet, you don’t need to pay show-quality prices, but if you are planning to breed it or show it, you will need to spend more to ensure a certain pedigree and quality of breed.
Who wouldn’t want to own a sweet, curious, floppy-eared rabbit? Nowadays, with the numerous clubs, organizations, and shows fellow rabbit lovers can join, there is a great network and community for owners and breeders alike. Knowing the resources available to locate reputable Holland Lop breeders is a great place to start when it comes to purchasing your first Holland Lop. Knowing how to care for them including food, grooming, teeth, and enclosures will help ensure your Holland Lop lives a long and healthy life.
Locating a Holland Lop Rabbit Breeder
If you are in the market for a Holland Lop rabbit or two or a competent breeder, visiting https://rabbitbreeders.us/ is an excellent place to start for a comprehensive directory of rabbit breeders throughout the US. The site features the best Top Rabbit Breeders list on the Internet, and you can easily search out local breeders by state, region, or breed.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_Lop
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