Holland lop rabbit is a miniature breed among a variety of breeds. It is easy to groom and train them because they have small bodies. They are sweet and calm companions of humans. It looks like a bulldog, which is considered the ultimate aim of breeders to produce such species.
Holland lop rabbits are dwarf bunnies having droopy lop ears. They have short, wide, and heavy bodies. They are brown, white, black, creamy, frosty, and chocolaty brown in color. They have a large head, round face, and round or flat nose. Their eye color is red, black, or blue. Their body weight is 2.2 pounds to 3.8 pounds. While body size ranges between 8 and 12 inches. They live for 15 years at maximum. The gestation period of Holland lop rabbit lasts for 28 and 34 days. They produce 5 to 8 kits in one litter.
Holland lop rabbits or Oryctolagus cuniculus are easier to handle. Also, they need low maintenance and food. These are good to keep in apartments. Their notable features are a muscular body, floppy ears, and a broad head with a crown. They are dwarf bunnies, so they are not raised for commercial use.
Content
Characteristics of Holland lop Rabbits
What does Holland lop rabbits look like?
What is the size and weight of Holland lop rabbits?
What do Holland lop rabbits eat?
What is the origin and history of Holland lop rabbits?
Can you keep Holland lop rabbits as pets?
How long can Holland lop rabbits live?
How long are Holland lop rabbits pregnant?
Characteristics of Holland Lop Rabbit
| Characteristics | Holland lop Rabbits |
| Scientific name | Oryctolagus cuniculus |
| Type of species | Domestic |
| Weight | 2.2 to 3.8 Pounds |
| Body length | 8 to 12 inches |
| Food | Fresh hay, fruits, leafy greens, & pellets |
| Litter size | 5 to 8 kits |
| Physical Appearance | Dwarf, droopy eared |
| Temperament | Friendly and shy |
| Origin | Netherlands |
| Duration of Gestation | 28 to 34 days |
| Life expectancy | 11 to 14 years |
What does Holland lop rabbit looks like?
Holland lop rabbits have a small and wide body with a large head. They have a small round face with a little rounded nose. They have puffed furs at the back of their head, called a crown region.
Their bodies appear in 25 colors, but the most common are opal, creamy, frosty, white, etc. Others include black tort, chestnut, and chocolate blue. Some uneven markings are present on their nose.
Due to their wide and square head, there is a noticeable distance between their eyes. The eye color varies between black and red. Also, a striking blue color of their eyes with white markings is found in them.
In addition, they have short, thick, wide, and fully furred ears. These are not fully erected, as seen in other breeds. The droopy ears make them a distinct species.
Their ear size is about 11 to 13 cm and appears in the shape of an almond. The legs of Holland lop rabbits are short, straight, and stocky with large-sized feet.
Furthermore, their body posture is similar to that of a cat as they lie back on their hind legs most of the time while taking rest.
What is the size and weight of Holland lop rabbit?
Holland lops are only 0.998 to 1.72 kg (2.2 pounds to 3.8 pounds) because they are a miniature breed.
In addition, they are 5 to 6 inches (12.7 cm to 15.24 cm) tall and body length is 8 to 12 inches (20.3 to 30.5 cm). Their bodies cannot extend beyond 12 inches as it is the maximum length achieved by stretching out the body muscles.
The females are slightly larger than the buck of this breed. The overall appearance of this breed is a wider, shorter, and stumpy body, which makes it different from other giant and normal-sized rabbits.
What do Holland lop rabbits eat?
Holland lop rabbits need adequate nutrients to have a balanced diet. It can be maintained by providing unlimited hay (timothy or oat hay).
Also, they love to eat leafy green vegetables that positively impact their teeth growth and ensures a healthier lifestyle. They can also chew and digest fresh fruits, but they should be provided with a treat.
Only 1 or 2 spoons of fresh and ripened fruits are good to offer them, in addition to their regular diet. Moreover, high-quality pellets can be provided to pet Holland lop rabbits.
Besides food, fresh and clean water is essential for these bunnies because they need water to digest the food. It ensures the health and joyful life of your pet bunnies.
Furthermore, avoid feeding starch and fat-rich food to them. Provide less salt and more vitamins or minerals, particularly calcium. Never feed them with the corn, as it is tough to digest.
Ask a nearby vet for help if you are an amateur pet owner and lack knowledge about their food requirements. He can guide you well about the dietary requirements of a particular species.
What is the origin and history of Holland lop rabbit?
In the Netherlands, the dwarf breed of Holland was first bred in the early 1950s. The first cross was made by a Dutch breeder between Netherlands Dwarf Rabbits and French Lops.
Due to various dissimilarities, the desired characteristics were not found in each generation. The new breed had long erect ears instead of drooped or loped ears.
The female doe was crossed with a buck of English lop. Fortunately, the desired characteristics were found in the new breed, which was dwarf in size, bulky, and had droopy ears. The breeders named this new breed as Holland lops rabbit.
Can you keep Holland lop rabbit as pet?
Holland lop rabbits are good to be kept as pets. They can be your good friends. Their small body structure makes it easy for pet owners who lack expertise to deal with pets.
You can keep them at home even if you have less space or a cage area. In addition, it is easy for people to maintain them. They have simpler dietary needs and pay less attention.
Their chubby body is appealing as most owners feel happy to cuddle them. The Bucks of Holland lops are more friendly than their does.
Holland lop bucks are lovely and outgoing pets. Their does are also sweet, but shy at the same time. These take more time than usual to build a strong bond with their companions or owners.
In addition, they are suitable for both indoor and outdoor settings. They are the best choice for those living in small apartments without space to provide them with separate living areas.
These bunnies are very active and energetic. They are playful and love to play with cat toys. An adult Holland lop rabbit will cost you >$100. In contrast, young bunnies are available for $40 to $50.
How long can Holland lop rabbit live?
The Holland lop rabbits generally live for 11 to 14 years. However, the healthy bunnies can live for about 15 years at maximum. Their lifespan decreases if they get diseased or injured. Also, unhealthy and susceptible bunnies can live for around 8 to 12 years.
These are vulnerable to injuries or respiratory infections. Also, they suffer from different types of diseases related to digestive problems.
It is challenging for this domestic breed to survive in the wild. They lack an adaptation to manage their survival. They are highly desirable for predators for their muscular bodies. In an open environment, they cannot live for more than 48 hours.
How long is Holland lop rabbit pregnant?
The Holland lop rabbits have been bred by two dissimilar breeds, so their mortality rate and gestation period are of great concern. The gestation period of Holland lops is about 28 to 34 days.
Moreover, the female does reach sexual maturity at the age of 5 months. It means they can get pregnant after 5 months of their birth. Their litter size ranges between 5 and 8 kits.
However, the life expectancy of the first two kits is lower than that of the others. The largest litter size of this breed is found to be more than ten kits per litter. Furthermore, Holland lop kits are totally hairless and blind for around ten days. Small hair begins to appear on their bodies after two weeks.