Holland Lops are the smallest, most popular breed of the lop-eared rabbits. They have a wonderful temperment and are curious and easily trained, They are also fun to watch and work with. On average they weigh from 2-4lbs and can live an average of 7-12yrs. The Holland Lop is a dwarf rabbit, having Netherland Dwarfs as part of their original makeup. Holland Lops have a compact body type and are posed sitting up straight, unlike some other compact rabbit breeds, resting lightly on their front feet. This pose shows off their shortness, high head mount, depth at the shoulders and nice top line. Part of the attractiveness of Holland Lops is the massive look in a small package.
How to Care for Your Holland Lop
When setting up for your new rabbit it's important to remember a few things. Your bunny will need 1/2 cup of pellets a day when full grown. I use Producer's Pride from TSC, along with unlimited access to Timothy/Orchard Grass mix hay which makes up a major part of their diet, and constant supply of clean water. My Hollands drink from a water bottle with a ball in the end, which can be found at Wal-Mart or your local farm/pet stores. During the cold winter months, I add a teaspoon of Old Fashion Oats and (6)Black Oil Sunflower Seeds(BOSS) as treats to their food. This helps keep them warm while adding extra protein to their diet. It also helps keep their coat shiny and smooth. I give my rabbits 1-2 tablespoons of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar(w/ the "Mother") per gallon of water daily. This provides many healthy benefits for your rabbit. Fresh fruits and vegetables can also be added to their diet daily.
It's also important to keep a block of untreated pine wood in their cage for them to chew on to keep their teeth filed down. When buying bedding for your rabbit, always buy pine shavings or recycled bedding and NEVER use Cedar. Cedar is poisonous to rabbits.
Rabbits can become stressed very easily, so it's important to make the transition go as smoothly as possible. Allow your rabbit time to get used to their new surroundings. It's important to transition them over to their new food slowly. They could easily develop a very serious, but fairly common digestive problem called Gastointestinal (GI) Stasis. It is a potentially deadly condition in which the digestive system slows down or stops completely. Contact your rabbit savvy vet immediately. They may recommend syringe feeding Critical Care or sometimes using Infant Gas Drops to help with the gas build up.
To keep your rabbits nails trimmed you can use a pair of finger nail clippers or i use dog nail clippers every 4-6wks as needed. Hollands are very curious and enjoy playing with plastic igloos, log or cat tunnels, cardboard boxes, paper towel or toilet paper tubes, hanging toys or plastic cat/baby toys with the bell in them.