Holland Lop

What are Holland Lops?

Holland Lops are the smallest of the lop breeds. They are usually between three and four pounds as adults. They are a dwarf breed of rabbit. They are very sweet, friendly, and curious little animals. They love for people to pet them and spend time with them.

What should I feed my Holland?

Holland Lops require a diet of low protein and high fiber. Find a brand of feed which has no more than 16% protein, and no less than 21% fiber. Always check your Holland's feed to make sure that it is dry and smells good. If your Holland refuses to eat his food, check it to see if there's a reason he didn't want it. Feed should be stored in a metal trash can. The smell of plastic from a plastic bucket or trash can permeate the food. When you switch feed on your Holland, do it little by little over a week's time. A quick change of feed can cause a great amount of stress to their delicate systems. As a general rule, Holland's need one ounce of pellets per pound of body weight daily. Most Holland's do well on 1/2 cup of feed. Hay should be fed to your Holland preferably every day, but at least three times a week. Make sure it is clean hay which is sweet smelling and not musty or moldy. Good snacks for Holland's are: cheerios, rolled oats, unfrosted shredded eat, and oiled sunflower seeds. Vegetables and fruits should be fed in very small quantities and only to Holland's over 6 months of age. These should be fed in small amounts. Do not feed your Holland lettuce or grass, as it can be very deadly. Always have fresh water available to your Holland.

How should I house my Holland?

Holland Lops can be kept indoors or outdoors. When housing them outdoors, make sure they are always in the shade with a roof over their cage. In the heat of the summer, you can freeze water in coke bottles and give them to your Holland to lean against. Do not assume they will be okay in the shade when it is over 85 degrees. Holland's have very thick coats, so they do fine outside in the winter in most areas of the U.S. If you are concerned that it may be too cold outside, give them a big bunch of hay to burrow in. A Holland's cage should be at least 24 X 24. Holland Lops make great house pets, and can be litter trained. For more information on house training, a great book to read is "LOP RABBITS as pets" by Sandy Crook.

What type of care does my Holland need?

Hollands do not need to be brushed most of the time, but they do enjoy it. Howevr, they do need to be brushed when going through a molt. The old fur needs to be removed before they ingest it. You should clip your Holland's nails about every eight weeks. You should always check your rabbit daily for any abnormalities. Sometimes rabbits are plagued with ear and fur mites. The fastest and best way to take care of both of these is to administer Ivomectrin 1% for cattle and swine orally. The dosage is 1/10cc per pound. Repeat the dosage seven days later and then every three months thereafter. Another cure for ear mites is to put a few drops of mineral oil in each ear and rub gently. Do this twice a day for three days. If you have any other medical problems with your rabbit, contact a Holland Lop breeder who can help you figure out what to do.