HOLLAND LOP RABBITS

DIET/FEEDING

All rabbits need to eat a lot of hay. Many people are allergic to hay!  Holland lop rabbit diet should be made of mostly fiber from Timothy hay and other grass hay like brome, orch ard and rye and others.
Pellets should be fed in moderation as recommended by your vet.
Rabbit pellets: Plain Timothy/alfalfa based pellets low in calories and high in fiber are best for adult rabbits. They also need as much fiber as they can get. 18-23% is just the right amount.
Adult rabbits: They need 15% protein to maintain their healthy weight.
Babies: 3-12 weeks of age rabbits need at least 16% protein (Baby Formula)They could also have Timothy hay with his mother.
Pregnant does and lactating does : Needs 18% protein and a little bit of carbohydrates. A pregnant doe should eat the Adult formula until she kindled. Then it is recommended that she should eat Baby formula free choice until she naturally weans her babies, at that point she should return to her regular adult formula.
1 teaspoon of Old fashioned rolled oats will provide her with the extra carbs needed during her pregnancy.

CARE & TRAINING

Holland Lop rabbits require the same care as most pet rabbits. This means offering proper diet, housing, and companionship. Rabbits mainly eat hay; it’s the bulk of their diet. Some rabbit-specific pellets add necessary vitamins and minerals. You can also offer vegetables and limited quantities of fruit, plus some healthy treats like Hey!Berries.

“The most important aspects to caring for your rabbit is to make sure they have UNLIMITED fresh water and as much hay as they would want to eat,” Hyatt says. “Hay keeps the digestive tract regular and productive. A good-quality pellet is necessary for nutrition, but hay and water are essential.” Hyatt’s rabbitry in Louisiana is named Hyatt’s Hops And Lops.

Murphy says that Holland Lops are good pets for adults and for children 9 years and older. She recommends that anyone considering owning Holland Lops watch the rabbits for any signs of illness and also interact with the rabbits daily.

“An owner who has the time to devote to them and to interact with them on a regular basis is preferred over an owner who plans to put them in a cage and then ignore them,” Murphy says. “Most thrive on social interaction with their owners.”

Rabbits are social animals, so it’s best to adopt them in pairs or groups. If you share your life with rabbits, expect to interact with them daily for several hours. Out-of-cage time is special for bonding and also for letting your rabbits kick up their heels and enjoy themselves.

Handling rabbits takes extreme care. Rabbits have delicate skin that can tear and fragile bones. Most rabbits don’t enjoy being held, and petting is usually only permitted by people the rabbit trusts. It’s also true that some rabbits might not ever allow petting because they’re not comfortable with it.

“Like most rabbits, they generally do not feel safe when being held unless they are held correctly,” Murphy says. “Unfortunately, they are a smaller breed and easier to injure than some of the larger breeds.”

NAIL: Regular nail trimming will be easier, if your rabbit is used to being handled. Hold your rabbit daily and he will get use to it. We recommend trimming their nails every 30-45 days.

GIVE THEM WATER: Water must be clean and fresh at all times. I feed water with a water bottle, however if you can provide a clean heavy bowl with fresh water for your bunny daily, they can use a bowl.

PUT IN Litter box: I recommend using a cat litter pen filled with Aspen Wood Shavings. I have never used any other type of litter, so I recommend using Aspen.

Holland lops require plenty of exercise in order to be healthy. They cannot be locked in a cage all day.

BEHAVIOR /PERSONALITY

Individual rabbit personalities vary, but the majority of Holland Lops do share some personality traits. Holland Lops as a breed are friendly, and male Holland Lops might be friendlier than females.

“The Holland Lop Rabbit is an easygoing and easy-to-handle rabbit,” says Stacy Hyatt, zone 6 director of the Holland Lop Rabbit Specialty Club. “Bucks are very outgoing and love to be pets. Does are a little shyer and can go through a nippy stage when they want to be bred, but this passes with age. They are very sweet, just not quite as animated as the bucks.”

LIFE SPAN

They live very long lives if provided with healthy diet and appropriate housing. The average lifespan for a dwarf rabbit is 7-10 years!

HOUSING 
Holland Lop rabbits are very neat and clean already and with my potty training program you can keep them indoors. Of course potty training is a process that starts here at my rabbitry but you will have to follow my instructions and continue to train your baby after you take them home, but I guarantee you that if you do so ,as your baby Holland grows it will be better and better.
There are many more ways to keep a rabbit than inside a wire cage. We recommend a Hutch of 48" long and 26.5" wide which gives then plenty of room to stretch and relax.
We also recommend  hard wood floors for all my rabbits because I hate the idea of their foot sitting on a wire cage, but you can house your rabbit however you choose.
When planning your bunny house, the number one concern should be space. Unless you are going to keep them free, just be sure to provide your bunny with as much room as possible.
Ventilation is also very important so be sure to have some wire on the sides so the air can pass thru.
Make sure if you are keeping a bunny outside ( for playtime) that you will provide shade at all times as they are very sensitive to heat.