Little One’s Rabbitry
Care Guide for Holland Lops
Feeding:
You should feed your Holland Lop as much fresh rabbit pellets as it wants until it reaches about 3 months old. After that, the standard rule is 1 ounce of feed per pound of the Holland Lop. Most Holland Lop’s do well on a ½-measured cup of rabbit pellets per day. That should keep them at a happy and healthy maintained weight.
Of course, an extra busy Holland Lop will require more food. If you let your Holland Lop get too fat, it can cause serious health problems and even death.
Holland Lops require low protein, high fiber. You should feed your Holland Lop rabbit pellets that are between 15 and 16 percent protein, and at least 20 or 21 percent fiber.
If you decide to "change-over feed" from what we are feeding, please change the Holland Lop over to your brand of feed slowly. Any changes in feed should be done over about a week's time. This also applies if you are changing the brand of feed you are currently feeding, to something different.
It is also highly recommended that you feed your Holland Lop as much fresh timothy hay as it wants to eat everyday.
As a treat, you can give your Holland Lop Cheerios and Plain Oats (not quick oats).
And of course, make sure your Holland Lop has as much fresh, clean water as it wants at all times.
Do not…. Feed your Holland Lop Ice burg lettuce. It can be very deadly. This also includes grass. It is recommended that you do not feed your Holland Lop any vegetables until it reaches at least 6 months of age.
Some safe things to feed your Holland Lop when it becomes of age are: raisins, apples, oranges, spinach, collard greens (most dark leafy greens) and sweet potatoes. If you decide to feed any of the above foods, do so in moderation.
Housing:
A Holland Lop does well in an 18"x 24", or a 24" x 24" cage (the larger the better). If your Holland Lop is housed outdoors, make sure it has a leak-proof roof on it, and it has at least one solid side on it. (preferably two). They will enjoy a daily hop around out side the cage as well.
Rabbits have a fur coat so cold is not a concern. In case of extreme cold weather, a nest box, a board or a thick pile of hay may be added for your Holland Lop to sit in or on.
Heat can be very deadly for a Holland Lop, so make sure the cage is in a shady spot with good airflow. Also make sure that the sun never hits inside the cage in the afternoon. When it is really hot in the summer, you can give your Holland something to lie against to stay cool. You can give a frozen 2-liter bottle of water.
Only use Aspen bedding for your Holland Lop, Pine can cause health problems. Also change bedding once a week to keep a healthy living space.
Grooming:
Holland Lop do not require a lot of brushing, but they do love it and it is a great way to stay bonded. Rabbits molt usually twice a year with the change of seasons. When they do this you will need to brush it to help remove the hair before they ingest it. If you don’t, your Holland Lop can develop a deadly fur ball from licking the fur out themselves.
You will need to clip their toenails about every other month.
It is recommended that you do not give your Holland Lop a bath.
You should also check your rabbit's ears for wax build up, you can clean the ear out with a q-tip and some mineral oil.
Enjoy your new family member!
Any questions… Contact Us
Ashleigh Robson~ |
