French Lop Rabbits – The Other European Big Boys

The French Lop has been in existence since the middle of the nineteenth century, the breed coming from the cross breeding of Flemish Giants and English Lops. As a result the French Lop has a slightly larger body than its cross channel cousin, and slightly less ear than its huge Flemish ancestors.

Definitely a Major League Rabbit

The average French Lop males weigh in at twelve pounds and up, with the females usually two to three pounds heavier. Their lop ears have a distinctive “horseshoe” shape and fall below the jaw by an inch or two. Most are found in a variety of darker colors, from sooty fawn and gray, to black and chinchilla.

Docile, Lazy and Loyal

Because of their huge size, if they are to be kept as pets in the home, the French Lop needs a good amount of space to himself. They are usually even tempered and docile, sleeping most of the day, after being fairly active and playful in the morning and evening. They are generally especially active late at night, so that should be a consideration for anyone thinking about keeping a French Lop as a house rabbit. They are affectionate creatures and usually make very loyal and loving pets. They can also thrive in an outdoor setting, provided their cage is spacious and well insulated.

Not too Much to Brush, But Watch Those Ears

The French Lop requires little grooming, but like most other lop eared breeds they are prone to ear mites. Using the medication Ivermectin under the supervision of a vet can greatly prevent and alleviate the problem. A regular check of the whole ear can spot problems before they get worse.

New Zealand Rabbits come in a virtual rainbow of colors, including red white and blue! Originally bred for meat and their unusually luxurious fur, the New Zealand is now one of the most popular breeds in the world of rabbit showing.

Usually bucks weigh ten pounds and females tip the scales at around eleven pounds.

Overweight New Zealand Rabbits are not as graceful as slimmer animals, though their bodies should be deep and broad.

The head should also be broad. New Zealand Rabbits are a medium length breed and have very straight, stocky front legs that are considerably shorter than many other breeds. They also have fairly short necks and carry their ears evenly, with little droop. The show rabbit’s ears should have round tips and should be quite furry! Doe New Zealand Rabbits are still considered attractive show animals even with a small dewlap.

Look at that Lovely Coat!

No matter what the color, the fur of New Zealand Rabbits is thick and glossy, neither too wiry nor too silky in texture. Blue New Zealand Rabbits’ color extends all the way down into the undercoat, and their bright eyes and toenails are dark blue or brown, though the fur should not have a brown tinge!

The color should be a medium blue, even and rich and without silvering. White New Zealand Rabbits should have a bright, clear color free of yellowing, and bright pink eyes! Black New Zealand Rabbits are a deep jet-black color, which should also extend deeply into the undercoat.

The toenails should be dark blue and the eyes brown, though again the fur should not have a brown tinge! The dense coat on New Zealand Rabbits grows to about three quarters of an inch and requires frequent and careful brushing.

They Breed Like, Well, Rabbits!

The New Zealand rabbit does enjoy a reputation as exceptionally easy to breed, making them a great breed choice for the inexperienced first timer. They are usually exceptionally good mothers producing large litters, averaging 7-12 kits per pregnancy.

When is a Hare Not a Hare? When it’s a Belgian Hare Rabbit

A Belgian Hare is a rabbit with a very unique appearance and as you may have guessed, they originally came from Belgium in the late 19th century. The Belgian Hare was deliberately bred to resemble a wild hare, and share some its’ basic traits. With a sleek and wiry coat, large straight ears and long back legs. Its slender, delicately boned appearance earned the Belgian Hare the nickname “Race Horse of the Rabbit Fancy.”

Fallen Superstars

The first Belgian Hares appeared in Belgium in the late 19th century and were introduced to English rabbit fanciers in 1874. Some twenty years later they made their way across the Atlantic, and quickly becoming hugely popular in the American show world. Their appeal was fleeting however, and by the 1930’s they were no longer rabbit de jour. These days the Belgian Hare is one of the world’s rarer rabbit breeds.

Ruby Red Runners

The standard Belgian Hare is a deep red in color, which is the only color recognized as show worthy by the American Rabbit Breeders Association. They can however also be found in black, tan or very rarely as a ruby eyed white. A Belgian Hare in any color variation is extremely attractive and they do make great pets, indoors or out.

The Belgian Hare is usually very slender looking, but they are actually fairly heavy, averaging 9 pounds in weight. They have unusually high metabolisms, and require feeding a little more often than other breeds.

Belgian Hares have a reputation for being an extremely intelligent breed they can usually be litter trained with ease, making them ideal house rabbits. However, because of their delicate bone structure, they need handling with a little extra care, making them a poor choice of pet for small children, who tend to be a little rough on their animals at times. Their short coats require very little grooming, but they do need a significant amount of exercise to stay healthy. If you are considering keeping a Belgian Hare their cage or enclosure should ideally have a decent sized run attached.