Holland Lops are the smallest of the Lops:  and are
often confused with Mini Lops which are actually larger
than Holland Lops. The ideal weight for a Holland is 3
pounds although many get up to 4-1/2 pounds. The Mini Lop
is 5 to 6-1/2 pounds.
Holland Lops are very popular as a child's pet because of
the gentle nature and small size.  They have ears that flop
down as opposed to the upright rabbit ears. Cute as a
button, these bunnies will steal your heart.  They are like
little stuffed animals!
  

HOLLAND LOP:  

Developed by Mr. Adrian De Cock of the Netherlands. In
1949 he tried to produce a miniature French Lop by crossing
a French Lop with a dwarf and that offspring was bred to
an English Lop.
Later breedings brought another dwarf into the line
ultimately resulting in a new breed presented in the U.S. in
1976 and accepted for exhibition by the American Rabbit
Breeder's Association in 1980.
 

 MINI REX:
Known affectionately as the "Original
Velveteen Rabbit" because of it's wonderful
plush velvety fur and cuddly nature.   This is
probably the softest rabbit you will ever feel!
The short furred rabbits were originally
propagated by King Albert of Belgium.
The MINIREX is a fairly new breed developed
from crossing a standard size Rex rabbit with
a Netherland dwarf. The MINI REX was
accepted for exhibition by the American
Rabbit Breeder's Association in 1988.
The MINI REX makes an excellent child's pet
with a consistently good disposition and ideal
adult weight of only 3 to 4-1/2 pounds.  These
rabbits are very sweet and lovable. 
 

 Flemish Giant:   Also known as the Gentle Giant....

A History Of The Flemish Giant Breed

No one knows the exact origins of the Flemish Giant Breed.  Some people surmise that the during the 16th and 17th century, Dutch Traders may have brought back giant rabbits from the Argentine Republic to Europe.  The large rabbits of Flanders were well known at the time and may have been cross bred with them.  The name Flemish comes from Flanders.  But because the Flemish exhibits the same body type and and appearance as the rabbit from South America, it is most likely that our favorite Giant is decended from the Argentine rabbit. 
There is no verifiable record of the Flemish Giant Rabbit until 1860.  Travelers from Flanders spoke of the giant rabbits raised in that country.  English rabbit breeders, raising the typical 7-8 lb. rabbit, were having trouble meeting the demand for rabbit meat in their country.  So some of these "Giants" were imported to England and it was only a matter of time before they began showing up at local rabbit shows.  The original Flemish Giant was typically  impressive in size, about 14 lbs., and of a dirty iron grey color with sandy or white bars on the legs and long ears with bent tips.  Now, through the efforts of Flemish Giant Breeders Associations around the world, our Gentle Giants have evolved to 7 varieties (colors), Black, Blue, Fawn, Light Gray, Sandy, Steel and White, and sizes of 14-20 lbs.  In the United States, the National Federation of Flemish Giant Rabbit Breeders was founded in 1915 to promote and improve the breed.
(Thanks to the National Federation of Flemish Giant Rabbit Breeders for the historical information and for more information on the NFFGRB, please see my Rabbit Links page.)
 
                Care Below:

 

 

Care of your Flemish Giant Rabbit:

Because of their size, Flemish Giants require a little extra consideration and care than their smaller "cousins". They need a larger cage than the average rabbit.  To give them the space to grow and be comfortable, the cage should be a minimum of 24" high, 36" deep and 48" wide.  (Bigger is better!)  A larger door is needed on the cage to make sure the rabbit can easily be removed.  We recommend a 20" tall x 16" wide doorway. 

All rabbits need to be protected from direct sun, wind, rain and extreme temperatures.  Most rabbits and especially the Flemish Giant do very well outdoors.  The Flemish can handle cold temperatures but don't like the heat.  Temperatures above 90*F. can be difficult on them.  Direct sun can damage their fur.  In very warm weather, we fill 2-liter soda bottles with water, freeze them and lay them in the cages.  The rabbits will lay against them and even over them to cool themselves.

There is a lot of discussion about what kind of floor the Flemish Giant needs in the cage.  Most rabbits are comfortable on wire floors, that allow droppings to fall through.  Because of their size and weight, the Flemish can develop sores on their hocks (back feet).  Some breeders keep their Giants on solid wood floors with bedding like straw or shavings.  This bedding has to be changed often (at least every 3 days) to prevent disease and eliminate any build up of waste and odor.  We use a wire cage floor with 3/4 covered in plywood (or 1/2" thick white sheetrock/wallboard) that can be lifted out, cleaned or replaced.  This gives them the opportunity to sit on solid floor or wire.  And we provide a thick layer of straw bedding.  WIth the back 12" open wire,  all the liquid waste and most of the droppings fall through to the ground or trays below.  Most rabbits are very clean and use the same corner to eliminate.  They can even be taught to use a litter pan like a cat.  We recommend All Natural Kitty Litters, especially litter made from recycled newspaper (no cedar, clay or perfumes).   Flemish Giants make wonderful House bunnies, if you can provide the extra space and regular exercise that they need. 

A well balanced, pelletized rabbit food is best for overall growth and development.  The feed should have a minimum protein content of 15-17% (check the label).  The Flemish do better on a 17% protein diet due to their rapid growth and large size.  All rabbits need daily portions of fresh clean hay (alfalfa or timothy, depending on your bunnies age, condition and adult size).  Treats could be pieces of apple, carrot, orange, beet or raddish tops, endive, parsley, collard greens or clover and dandelion leaves (from an organic lawn).   Don't over do the treats.  Obesity will severely shorten your rabbits lifespan.  Lettuce is not a good food or treat and should never be fed to your rabbit.  It can cause loose stools and severe digestive problems and has no nutritional value.  And don't hesitate to consult your animals health care professional if you have any doubt's or questions.

Just like cats, rabbits groom themselves and keep their fur clean.  Fresh Papaya or Pineapple are excellent natural remedies to prevent hairballs caused by self-grooming.  You can also use Papaya Tablets (available at Health Food stores and Vitamin shops) once a day in their food.  The more you pet and handle your rabbit, the friendlier they'll be.  We always talk to, pet and handle them twice a day, when we feed and water.  Handling your rabbit will give you the first indications that anything is wrong.  Check teeth, feet, nails, vent, and ears for anything unusual.  Look for signs of overgrown or broken teeth, overgrown or broken nails, infections, dirty ears, etc.  Most problems are easily fixed when caught early.  

Rabbits will not tell you when something is wrong.  You have to get to know your bunny so you can see when something is a little "off", and take care of it,  before it becomes an emergency.

 Some of our rabbits enjoy walking on a leash.  We use a small dog harness and leash set (don't use a collar, they can break their neck!).  They don't exactly walk like a dog... they hop, you follow.  Please be careful to only let them play on a lawn that has no pesticides or fertilizers.  Both can be dangerous to their health. 


           Sulcata Tortoise... 

 

In general, the Sulcata will eat, and eat, and eat most any vegetables and plants. When they're finished, they'll eat some more. And then have dessert!

If you are keeping your Sulcata outdoors, it will graze on the grass and other plants growing. Make sure that you don't use any pesticides or inorganic fertilizers, or your Sulcata may get very ill.

 

Some Sulcata owners have reported good results feeding a diet of about 80-90% grass, plants and dark, leafy greens, with the balance made up of fresh vegetables, and ocassional small ammounts of fruit.

As with many herbivorous annimals, a critical aspect of Sulcata feeding is calcium. In general, a 2:1 calcium to phosphous ratio is recommended. Too little calcium may result in soft shells, or bone problems. A vitamin supplement designed for tortoises is recommended.

Here is a partial list of foods suitable for your sulcata. You will need to experiment to discover what yours likes best. Ideally, consult your vet to disucuss the most appropriate diet for your pet.

 
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