Holly's Hollands Rabbitry
Raising Holland Lops exclusively with the mindset of quality over quantity.
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Signs of a Healthy Rabbit

9/28/2013

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Rabbits are generally very healthy animals. However, getting to know your rabbit is the best way to know when it's not feeling like itself or when it's getting sick. 
To keep your rabbit healthy, the most important thing is to give it a proper diet, keep its living space clean, and allow it to exercise regularly. 
When you feed and give water to your rabbit, check up on it and make sure it's doing okay. Some people feed twice daily as an easy reminder to check up on the rabbit(s) and make sure that they are still healthy. Rabbits can go from being completely healthy to life-threatening ill in less then 24 hours. 
I only feed once a day, however, but I check up on my rabbits several times per day. 
A healthy rabbit will show the following signs:
  • Bright, wide, and alert eyes (if the rabbit is relaxed the eyes will either close or half-close)
  • Turning to your voice, or getting excited when you come to see them
  • Moving normally and not favoring any part of their body
  • Have a dry, twitching nose
  • Have a soft, dry, bright coat
  • Eating consistently and with vigor
  • Drinking water regularly or as is normal for the rabbit and weather
  • Is friendly, playful, and seems happy and comfortable
If your rabbit isn't behaving like itself, ask yourself why. Rabbits are usually pretty consistent in behavior and manner, unless they don't feel well. 
If you think your rabbit is sick or something could be wrong with it, feel free to contact me immediately, even if it seems silly. I'm very knowledgeable on the subject of rabbit health and hopefully I'll be able to help you. If I can't, I'm sure I'll be able to advert you to someone who can, or to a website with the information you're looking for. 
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What's Next?

9/21/2013

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All the babies have been sold and weaned! We have a little guy going home today, and one bunny is leaving every day after that until Wednesday! 
So you might be asking "What's next?" at Holly's Hollands Rabbitry?
We will be keeping Cinnamon and I'm going to try and show her before she becomes a breeder in January or February. 
I want another litter. I'm already missing tiny newborn baby bunnies. So we'll be breeding Gracie again in about 3 weeks (ish) to another stud buck. I don't know what buck I'll use yet, I have a few I can choose from:). 
If Gracie is bred near October 11, she'll have babies around November 11. The babies will be weaned and ready to go to your home mid January. However, the babies can be reserved (or put "on hold"), when they are as young as 4 weeks. 
Do you want a baby from Gracie's litter? Let me know if you would like to add a member to your family in January. They probably won't last long!
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Rabbits and Cold

9/18/2013

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Now that it's basically the end of September, autumn is almost here and winter will soon be on the way. Here is Everett, WA, it hardly ever gets below 20*F, though, luckily! I would die if it did. 
Rabbits do pretty well when the temperature drops, if they are properly sheltered. Inside, they have the human luxury of a furnace. 
Even outside, the rabbits do completely fine unless the weather really turns bad and it drops way below 0*F. Make sure the hutch is sheltered from rain and snow. If the rabbit gets wet, it can't stay warm, and then there are problems. 
The worst problem for rabbits, when the temperature gets to freezing, are keeping the water bottles from freezing. The nozzles freeze first, so even if your rabbit has liquid water in its bottle it might not have access to it. The water will need to be changed daily, maybe even a couple times a day. Warm water will take longer to freeze, but some people say that it can cause stomach aches. Water bottles can crack and break as the ice expands (if it's not seen to soon enough). Ice is also hard to break/melt once it's in the bottle. Some people recommend crocks (heavy rabbit bowls) to keep water in during the winter. They don't crack as the ice expands and you can bang them against stuff to break the ice. 
I've never tried to provide water in a bowl, so I can't give my own opinion on that. I may need to try it though, when winter comes. This is my first winter with the outside rabbits. It did snow when Gracie was a baby, but we got her in March. I didn't notice any problems with her water bottle freezing even then. 

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Bunny Field Trip!

9/15/2013

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My grandma has been living at the Forest View Transitional Health Center here in Everett for about two years now. It's only a few minutes away from my house and within walking distance. I read to her every Tuesday, our whole family visits on Sundays, and my parents go in on Thursday and Saturday nights. 
This Tuesday, I'm going to bring Gracie and our last available baby in to see the residents. I think they'll all have so much fun! It'll be a nice little outing for the bunnies, and I hope everyone at the facility will really enjoy it. If all goes well, we can make this a once or twice a month thing! If we don't have any babies, we'll just bring in Gracie or another one of the adult rabbits. I'm pretty excited! 
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What Do I Need?

9/13/2013

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Rabbits in general are pretty inexpensive with the monthly costs. However, the initial startup cost can be quite high with all the below items:
Cage 
Litter pan (if inside)
Water bottle and Water Bottle Brush
Food dish 
Feed
Litter (if inside)
Hay 
Toys 
Grooming supplies (nail clippers, brushes, combs)
Rabbit run, playpen or harness and leash (if the rabbit is kept outside)
Pet carrier (a box can be used for transportation to the breeder and back, but you should have one on hand in case of an emergency visit to the vet or if you want to bring your rabbit anywhere)
Newspaper (usually free)
Beds and Hide-a-ways (optional)

All this usually comes to a grand total of over $200 for just one pet. But the monthly or bi-monthly costs are very low. For my pet rabbit, I would spend about $30-$40 a month on her before I started buying in bulk with the rabbitry. 

A word about buying in bulk: 25-50lb bags of feed and hay can go bad really fast if there is only one rabbit consuming it. Feeding mold to a rabbit can be very fatal. 
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FOUND RABBIT IN EVERETT, WA - UPDATED!

9/13/2013

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This little guy was found by the side of the road under a bush day before yesterday. He's very affectionate, really friendly and loves to be pet and held. He seems healthy and well-kept. 
Right now he's staying in my empty hutch. We need to either find his home or find a new home before 9/18, when they babies have to be weaned. He's a very handsome rabbit and deserves a great home. CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY IF THIS IS YOUR MISSING BUNNY! hollywisniew@gmail.com. 

UPDATE: We were, unfortunately, unable to find his home, but he has been placed! He is going to be the house bunny companion for a nice spayed female. I'm glad we found him such a great home! He really deserved it!
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Rabbit Q & A

9/7/2013

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Q: DOES A HOLLAND LOP MAKE A GOOD PET?
A: Holland Lops make very good pets. They are sweet, gentle and small. They are not for everyone, as most do have very high amounts of energy. They prefer to be on the ground and not carried, but if they are trained from birth they can easily adapt to being held. Before buying a Holland Lop, make sure you have time in your day to play and be with them, every day. Holland Lops love the company of people. If you don't have much time to spend with them, consider buying another rabbit to keep each other company. 

Q: WHICH MAKES A BETTER PET, BOYS (BUCKS) OR GIRLS (DOES)?
A: Bucks are generally very sweet and loving. Bucks can spray pee when they go through sexual maturity to mark their territory. Does can become very hormonal and angry when they reach 6 months old. Does can also be very sweet and gentle. 
At Holly's Hollands Rabbitry, our rabbits (especially the babies) are all very sweet, loving and affectionate. It all depends on your personal preference, as well as what you care to go through when they reach sexual maturity at 6 mos before they get spayed/neutered. 

Q: DO RABBITS NEED VACCINATIONS OR IMMUNIZATIONS? 
A: In the US currently, there are no recommended immunizations for rabbits. 

Q: HOW MUCH SPACE DO HOLLAND LOPS NEED? 
A: Being a small rabbit breed (not over 4lbs generally) they don't require very much space. For an outdoor rabbit, the hutch should be at least (for a single rabbit only) 18" by 18", but 24" by 24" is better if you cannot provide playtime outside the hutch weekly. Indoor rabbits can either run around the whole house after they have been properly potty-trained, or they can be confined to one or two rooms, ect. 

Q: HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CLEAN UP AFTER MY RABBIT?
A: For a single rabbit indoors, the litter pan should be rinsed out monthly. The litter should be changed as often as necessary, usually once a week or so. For a single outdoors rabbit, their poop pan should be dumped anywhere from daily to weekly. 

Q: CAN RABBITS BE EASILY LITTER TRAINED? 
A: Rabbits litter train very easily. Some say they are tidier than cats. 

Q: DO RABBITS MAKE GOOD HOUSE PETS?
A: Holland Lops make especially good house pets because of their high amounts of energy and playfulness. They will never stop making you smile with their funny antics. 

Q: SHOULD MY RABBIT BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED?
A: Yes. Spaying or neutering a pet rabbit prolongs their lifespan, promotes better behavior and gives them a happier life.  

Q: HOW OFTEN SHOULD I TRIM MY RABBIT'S NAILS? 
A: About once a month or as often as needed. 

Q: HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GROOM MY RABBIT?
A: Holland Lops do not need to be brushed often. When they are not shedding, just lightly dampening your hands with water and petting your rabbit about weekly should be sufficient. For shedding, or molting, rabbits, they should be brushed a few times a week. 

Q: DO HOLLAND LOPS MAKE GOOD PETS FOR KIDS? 
A: No rabbit should be just a children's pet. All rabbits should be shared with the family. A young child can help take care of the rabbit, but a child under 10 years old (there are exceptions) should never be the primary caregiver of the rabbit. Rabbits do nip and scratch when they feel insecure. Rabbits do not like to be held all the time and should be treated with respect and gentleness. Rabbits in general are fragile and sensitive to noise and sudden movements, so they don't make very good pets for very young children. 

Q: HOW LONG IS A HOLLAND LOP RABBIT'S PREGNANCY?
A: 30 - 31 days, on average. 

Q: WHAT SHOULD I FEED MY BABY HOLLAND LOP?
A: Baby rabbits should only eat pellets, hay and a tablespoon of oats on their food once a week. 

Q: WHEN CAN MY HOLLAND LOP BABY HAVE FRUITS AND VEGGIES?
A: Once the rabbit is full grown (6 months old), the rabbit can be slowly introduced to fruits and vegetables.

If you have a question that you don't feel I covered well enough or isn't listed, contact me and I will do my best to answer. 
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    My name is Holly.

    I'm glad you're here! Don't be a ghost; leave a comment every once and a while! Let's talk ;) 
    A little about me - I love breeding and raising Holland Lop rabbits! I have been blessed the with the opportunity to raise rabbits in the city, and I am so grateful!
    Besides rabbit breeding, I have a babysitting business, and I am an author. I hope to have a novel published in the next couple years or so!
    In this blog I hope to post daily articles and updates on the rabbitry. Thank you for following and I hope you enjoy! Don't be shy; feel free to leave a comment once and a while! I would love to get to know you.

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