Learn more about the Mini Lop Rabbit Breed. Discover cool facts, pictures, resources and find information about caring for Mini Lop Rabbits.
This rabbit breed information page is part of our rabbit breeds article series.
Table of Contents:
- Breed Info
- History
- Facts
- Breed Varieties and Colors
- Weight and Size
- Lifespan
- Caring for Pets
- Cages and Supplies
- How to Breed for Show
- Breed Resources
- Buying
- Price
- Locating a Breeder
Mini Lop Rabbit Breed Info
Recognized colors: Many. Shown in broken pattern and solid pattern groups.
Size: Ideal weight 6 pounds.
National Specialty Club:
amlrc.com
Mini Lop Rabbit Breed Photo Credit:
Shay Stenchever
Mini Lop Rabbit Information and History
Mini Lop Rabbits make great house pets due to their endearing personality. This breed of rabbits is small, weighing 4-6 pounds. They are naturally clean animals that can be easily trained to use a litter box. They are low odor pets who thrive in a quiet environment. They appreciate affection and can bond with their owners. Because they are small in size, they do not take up much room. In case they go out to exercise, keep an eye on them as they can be preyed on by predators. Mini lops love to explore due to their curious nature.
History
Mini lops arose from cross-breeding of different breeds of the rabbit family. Domestication of rabbits began with Monks Central Europe. Selective breeding of wild rabbits resulted to lop-eared rabbits. Mini lops spread from France to German, with the early rabbits called Andalusian rabbits. In Germany and France, rabbits were bred mainly for meat production. Exhibition of rabbits in shows began in the 1840s as people focused on developing new breeds.
Mini lops come in many different colors; either solid or broken. Selective breeding aimed at size reduction resulted in a compact bodied rabbit. Mini lops were first referred to as Klein Widders when exhibited at shows. Their names were later changed to mini lops to draw more attention during presentations. This breed was further improved through cross-breeding in an attempt to make them even smaller. By 1978, many people recognized and supported the mini lop rabbits. They were accepted as a breed in 1980 at an ARBA national convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Today, there are mini rabbit clubs in America that support and promote the domestic breeding of mini lop rabbits.
Interesting Facts about the Breed
Mini lop bunnies are house pets that come in many colors. This breed of rabbit stays small, weighing about 6 pounds. They are lively and active animals that love to explore and even learn tricks. These sweet, cuddly pets love to be noticed and appreciate the attention. You need to consider if you have time to adequately care for a mini lop rabbit before you purchase one. They are a great company, and they love a quiet environment. Mini lops have floppy ears and a compact, muscular body. These non-aggressive pets have life spans of about 10-14 years. The average lifespan is 6 or 7 years. Even though they are indoor pets, they are active and sociable. First-time owners should choose a buck over a doe are they are they don’t need as much care and attention. Their short compact bodies are densely covered with fur.
The diet of mini lop rabbits consists of pellets and hay. You have to be careful with their dieting so as not to upset their digestive system. Mini lop rabbits can also feed on;
• Clovers
• Dried papaya
• Green vegetables
• Dandelion
Mini lops are generally healthy, and they won’t have any health issues if they feed on the right diet. Buy your mini lop from a reputable breeder to avoid getting one that has health issues. Ensure you take your rabbit to the vet on a regular basis for a checkup.
Breed Varieties and Colors
Mini lops are one of the smallest breeds of bunnies. These stocky and sturdy rabbits have ordinary length fur and ears that hang down. They are bigger than Holland lops but with a shorter neck and a compact body. Breeding German big lops and Chinchilla rabbits result to Klein Widders which of German for the little hanging ear. Mini lop rabbits were imported to America in 1970; three Klein Widders that were bred to achieve much smaller rabbits. This breed of rabbits was recognized in 1980 after the name had been changed to mini lop. Their 4H rabbits have thick short legs and broad shoulders. Mini lops come in the following variety of colors;
• Agouti – chinchilla, chestnut agouti, opal.
• Broken — white with colored spot or patterns. Can be tri-colored.
• Ticket — steel gene and ticking.
• Shaded — shaded markings
• Wideband — cream, red, orange, fawn.
• Self — solid colors; black, chocolate, blue, ruby, lilac, and white.
Weight and Size
There chubby cheeked house pets weigh about 4-6 pounds. They don’t require much room because of their small bodies. When buying a cage, ensure it will accommodate their stretching and a place to rest. Mini lop rabbits are very active despite their small sized. They are heavy boned and stocky hence they seem rounded. Their ears hang down and have furred tips. They are among the smallest breeds of rabbits but are bigger than Holland lops.
Lifespan
These house pets have a lifespan of up to 10-14 years, with the majority of them living average an average of 6 or 7 years. How long your mini lop will depend on their diet and how well you take care of them. They have excellent body temperatures, and it is recommended that you don’t expose them to extreme weather conditions. Some have a ‘windy eye’ and do not do well outside. Make sure you take your mini lop rabbit to the vet regularly for a checkup. They have an aesthetic and visual appearance with the most colors being the tortoise, shell, broken, black, brown, grey, orange, and blue. Mini lop rabbits are generally healthy house pets, and they will likely get along with your other house pets.
Health problems mainly arise due to poor dieting and inadequate care. In rare cases, mini lops might have malocclusion or ear mites. Buying from a reputable breeder guarantees healthy mini lop rabbits. Keep your mini lop rabbit well sheltered and protect them from predators.
Litter size
The number of baby rabbits mini lops have per litter will depend on their bloodline, and they line they have been bred from. Some of the mini lop rabbits have 2-3 rabbits per litter and others have 8-7. On a broader spectrum, it is safe to say than mini lop rabbits have 3-10 baby rabbits per litter. Some people breed mini lop rabbits for shows while others breed to sell. In case you won’t be able to care for anymore mini lop rabbits, it is safe to ensure the does not conceive. If you want to breed your mini lops, make sure you have a buck and a doe.
Caring for pet Mini Lop Rabbits
Mini lop rabbits are easy to care for as they are naturally clean house pets. In case you have other house pets, they are likely to get along with them. Their rabbits are active but thrive in a tranquil environment. You need to be careful when picking them up as sometimes they will resist. It is safer to let them hop into your lap rather than pick them up. Mini lop rabbits are non-aggressive, and they love to be noticed. When they don’t get enough attention, they might begin to bite and kick. Ensure you adequately care for them and feed them on the right diet. Mini lops feed on plain rabbit pellets and timothy hay. Mini lop rabbits also feed on the orchard, brome, oat, and mixed grass.
Even though they are naturally clean, you can bath them and adequately dry them. Cleaning routines should also include nail clipping and clean the inside of their ears. Every once in a while, let them out to play, while keeping an eye on them. Mini lops can be preyed on by predators if you let them out for long.
Cages / Supplies
Ensure that the cage you buy for your mini lop rabbit is accommodative enough. The size of the hutch should have enough room for your rabbit’s stretching. The cage’s door should open outwards so that your pet won’t be restricted from hopping out. There should be room for a litter box, a food dish, and water. Ideally, you should have two litter boxes, one for the cage and another for their exercise area. Litter box training of mini lop rabbits is an easy task as they are naturally clean animals. There should be a solid surface in the cage of your mini lop for when it wants to rest.
Nail trimming can be done with scissors or human nail trimmers. Your rabbits should have a constant supply of hay and water. Mini lop rabbits also feed on vegetables and dried papaya. You should also feed them on plain rabbit pellets to balance their diet. Provide your mini lop rabbit with toys to curb their instinct to gnaw and dig into surfaces and furniture. The litter you use should be organic or paper-based so that in case they chew on them; their digestive system is not upset.
How to Breed Mini Lop Rabbits for Show
Being a mini lop rabbit breeder for shows, you will need to have a rabbitry. Research about available breeds and the best way to breed mini lop rabbits. Having many mini lop rabbits come with great responsibility and you will need to be committed to ensuring they are safe and healthy. Before you decide to breed for show, ensure you have the time to cater for all your rabbits’ needs adequately.
Breed Resources
There are clubs and associations in America where you can get information and resources as a mini lop rabbit breeder. USA rabbit breeders, as well as ARBA, are open for new membership. Members of these clubs and associations advice each other on the best way to take care of mini lop rabbits.
Buying a Mini Lop
Before you buy a mini lop rabbit, ensure you that you have the time to care for one adequately. Buy your rabbit from a trusted breeder to ensure the mini lop you get is healthy. Look for websites that sell mini lops online and browse through their rabbitry for the rabbit you want.
Mini Lop Price
The price of mini lops ranges from $30 to $200 depending on the line they have been bred from. Ensure you confirm with the seller that the rabbit you are buying has the color you want. Look through rabbit breeder directories for mini lops to buy. Many people who sell rabbits submit their rabbitry to directories, making it easy to find what you are looking for.
Locating a Mini Lop Rabbit Breeder
Many mini lop rabbit breeders can be found on rabbit breeders’ directories. Whether you are buying nationally or locally, it is easier to locate breeders this way. Having a state map makes locating a trusted breeder eve easier.
Conclusion
Many people today keep mini lop rabbits as house pets. Their small size ensures that they don’t take up too much space. They have a low odor and are naturally clean, and their litter box training is quite easy. Find a trusted mini lop rabbit breeder when purchasing one.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_Lop
Have comments or questions regarding this mini lop rabbit breed page? Feel free to ask us on our Rabbit Breeders Facebook Page. Also be sure to click the “like” button below if you found this rabbit breed information page useful.