As a General rule, lop eared bunny is easily recognizable due to their large, floppy ears. The ARBA recognizes 5 breeds 1) American Fuzzy Lop, 2) English Lop, 3) French Lop, 4) Holland Lop, and the 5) Mini Lop. They have an average lifespan of 7-12 years. They can live outside in winter.
Lop Eared Rabbit Lifespan
It is necessary to provide a decent and comprehensive meal for your pet Lop rabbit as well as clean and maintain their living space. Also, try to groom them properly to ensure that they remain clean and healthy. This post includes all the information about Lop-eared rabbits, one of the most popular rabbit breeds globally. Lop Eared Rabbit Lifespan
Lop Eared Bunny – Origin
Lop ears in rabbits are said to have evolved due to their ears being too long and heavy to retain in an erect position as they grew older. Rabbit ears have the job of controlling the body temperature of the rabbit they inhabit. It is believed that the bigger a rabbit’s ears are, the more able it is to shed extra body heat and hence live in hotter regions
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According to current understanding, certain rabbits that lived in warmer climates finally acquired ears that were so enormous that they flopped over. As a result, the muscles at the bottom of the ears were no longer capable of supporting the ear structure, and some rabbits had lop ears as a result.
Lop eared Bunny – Due to their lop-eared appearance, people became drawn to these rabbits and began keeping them as pets, selectively breeding for the lop-eared trait. By the mid-nineteenth century, lop rabbits had been created as a display breed and had become more popular as pets during the following centuries.
Lop Eared Rabbits – Background
The lop-eared rabbit is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a rabbit with loping ears, rather than the upright ears that we’re used to seeing in cartoons and illustrations. All rabbits can have moments when one or both of their ears lop down, but the ears of the Lop-eared rabbit constantly remain in the downward position, unlike other rabbits. There are 305 different breeds of pet rabbits that are known to exist. Lop-eared rabbits are really relatively rare, accounting for just around 15 percent of the breeds officially approved as lop-eared rabbits by the ARBA (US) and BRC (UK).
Lop Rabbit Breeds
The English Lop rabbit is the most ancient known breed of lop rabbit. Most of the history of the formation of this breed has been lost to history; however, documents show that it existed as early as the 1700s. This initial lop rabbit breed served as the foundation for the development of what became known as the French Lop, which was in turn utilized to create many other varieties of lop-eared rabbits.
Lop-eared rabbits are officially recognized by the ARBA (American Rabbit Association) in five separate breeds:
1. American Fuzzy Lop
2. English Lop
3. French Lop
4. Holland Lop
5. Mini Lop
It is possible that other rabbits, including those that are not purebred, will also have this gene. For example, a couple of magnificent lion head rabbits with lop ears were also very large.
1. American Fuzzy Lop
American Fuzzy Lop rabbits are the latest breed of lops to be recognized as such. They were introduced to the world of floppy-eared rabbits in 1989 when a cross between Holland Lop and French Angora was used to achieve the fuzzy appearance. Long wooly coats and small lop ears distinguish these rabbits from the rest of the species. They may be seen in a wide range of bright hues, and they will have dark ears and dark marks around their snout to distinguish them. American Fuzzy Lops are a little breed of rabbit that can only weigh up to about four pounds at its full-grown size.
2. English Lop
English Lop bunnies are the most ancient breed of lop rabbits still in existence. Their exact origins are unknown, although they were raised as show rabbits in the 1800s and were highly regarded for the excessive length of their ears at the time. It is possible to find these bunnies in almost every hue, and their ears are so long that they drag on the ground. English Lop rabbits are actually rather large, weighing in at roughly nine or ten pounds in the wild on a regular basis.
3. French Lop
After the English Lop, the French Lop is the second breed of rabbit to be domesticated. These rabbits are the biggest breed of lop rabbit and may weigh between ten and fifteen pounds each! Due to its large size, this breed was traditionally kept as meat rabbits until it became increasingly popular in the twentieth century. They have a thick and stocky build, making them more able to put on weight fast than other animals. Because of the durability of this rabbit, it was utilized to generate the smaller varieties of lop-eared rabbits that are now so widespread.
4. Holland Lop
Holland lop rabbits are one of the most common kinds of rabbits kept as pets in today’s world. They are one of the tiniest breeds of lop rabbits, weighing no more than four pounds and sometimes less than that. Holland lops have a tiny and compact face with thick hair and short ears, and a short and compact tail. These adorable rabbits may be found in various colors and have earned a reputation as one of the friendliest types of rabbits.
5. Mini Lop
Mini Lop rabbits look like half-sized French Lop rabbits, although they are smaller in stature. Their body is small and spherical, and they have a thick coat that may be whatever color you like. Their ears tend to be a touch lengthy, resulting in the tips of their ears barely dragging on the ground. Even though they are known as Mini Lop rabbits, Mini Lop rabbits are actually medium in size. When they are completely grown, they will typically weigh between five and six pounds on average.
Lop Rabbit Life Span
The expected lifespan of this Lop rabbit is between 5 and 6 years, although they can live up to 17 years if given the proper care and attention.
Mini Lop Rabbit Lifespan
It is estimated that the typical life expectancy of a mini lop is between seven and twelve years. When compared to other breeds, this rabbit has a rather long life expectancy. For example, giant lops have an average lifespan of five to six years, but lion heads have 7 to 9 years. On the other hand, the mini Lop does not guarantee a lifespan of seven to twelve years; some people survive for only five years, while others have been known to live for fifteen.
Can Lop-Eared Rabbits Live Outside?
When properly cared for, they may live very happily outdoors. When housed outside, lop rabbits should be maintained in a safe and secure location. If Lops are to be kept outdoors, they will require a hutch as large as the available area allows and sufficient hay or wheat straw to keep them alive and well-fed.
Can Holland lops live outside in the summer?
If by summer you mean less than 85 F, then yes, they are capable of surviving if they are given adequate feed and water. The Holland Lops, on the other hand, may begin to suffer from heat-related stress when the temperature rises over 85 degrees. Heatstroke may be fatal to them; thus, keeping your Lop cool throughout the hot months is critical. If you keep your rabbits outside, try to locate them in an area with shade trees or structures that can give shade.
Can Holland Lops live outside in Winter?
Yes, they can, to a certain extent. Holland Lops are capable of withstanding temperatures that are well below freezing as long as two things are ensured: that they are kept out of the wind and that they can remain dry at all times.
The same can be said for low (freezing) temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, which means you will need to take some additional steps to keep your Holland Lop comfortable while it is out in the elements at these temps.
Giant Lop Eared Rabbit
These rabbits are enormous in stature and have lop ears. Various lop-eared rabbit breeds exist, but French lops are the most numerous and the largest breed of lop-eared rabbits.
When French Lops reach adulthood, they weigh between 10 and 13 pounds. They were initially developed in France in the 19th century by crossing English lops with wild rabbits and a gigantic breed that was not different from the Flemish giant. There is a lot of density to their coats, and their fur is velvety and medium length.
Giant Lop Eared Giant Breeds
There are a large number of Giant Lop-Eared Rabbits. However, the top four big lop-eared rabbits are as follows:
1. French Lops
2. Plush Lop Eared Rabbit
3. German Lop Eared Rabbit
4. English lop Eared rabbits
Breeds of Rabbits FAQ
| Breed of Rabbit | Origin | Weight | Purpose | Kits / Litter | Breed association |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealands | California | 5 kg 11 lbs | Meat | 8 | American Federation New Zealand Rabbit Breeders Assoc |
| Californias | California | 3 kg 7-10 lbs | Meat | 6 - 8 | California Rabbit Breeders |
| Rex | France | 4.5 kg 10.5 lbs | Meat | 2 - 4 | National Rex Rabbit Club |
| Satins | Michigan | 4 kg 9.5 lbs | Meat | 2 - 4 | American satin Breeders Association |
| Paliminos | American | 5.4 kg 12 lbs | Meat | 6 -8 | Palimino Rabbit Breeders Association |
| English Angora | England | 2-3 kg 5-7 lbs | Wool | 6 - 8 | National Angora Breeders |
| French Angora | France | 4.5 kg 10.5 lbs | Wool | 6 - 8 | National Angora Breeders |
| Giant Angora | Turkey | 4.5 kg 9 - 10 lbs | Wool | 6 - 8 | National Angora Breeders |
| Satin Angora | Turkey | 4.5 kg 6 - 10 lbs | Wool | 6 - 8 | National Angora Breeders |
| Mini Lop | UK | 3 kg 5.5 lbs | Dwarf | 2 -3 | American Mini Lop Rabbit Club |
| Dutch Dwarf | Netherlands | 1 - 2 kg 2,5 lbs | Dwarf | 2 - 4 | American Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Club |
| Pygmy Rabbit | North American | 500 grams 1 lb | Dwarf | 6 | ? |
| Britania Petite | UK / Polish | 700 grams 1 1/2 - 2 lbs | Dwarf | 2-3 | American Britiania Petite Rabbit Society |
Size
Purpose
Litter Size
Breed Association
Final Thoughts
Lop-eared rabbits may be a great option for a home pet, providing the owner with a beautiful, caring, and devoted companion. These droopy-eared heavenly creatures have special requirements that are closely tied to their adorable flopped-ear appearance. The adoption of a lop-eared rabbit may be the perfect pet for you if you are informed about and willing to embrace the responsibilities that come with caring for one of these beautiful little buddies.
