Lop eared Bunny are different from other rabbits as they have their ears dropped down instead of straight and erect. Due to their big droopy ears, they can be effortlessly identified. Among the rabbit breeds, almost 15% is lop-eared rabbit breed according to the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA). Some of the Lop-eared bunnies are: Holland Lop, English Lop, French Lop, American Fuzzy Lop, German Lop, Dwarf Lop.
Lop eared bunny are famous among the pet owners as they are very lovely and friendly. Their droopy ears also need extra care as well and it is important to clean their ears on both the sides to prevent debris and pathogen accumulation. Let’s dive into the characteristics of different lop-eared bunny breeds.
English Lop-Eared Rabbits
They are also known as original lop-eared rabbits. Their ear length is longer than any other breed of lop-eared bunnies and is approximately 20 inches long. Moreover, their ears become longer than their whole body when they turn 1 month old. Most of them are obese as they are lazy and inactive. More feed is required to fulfil their requirements due to their large body size.
French Lop-Eared Rabbits
They were first produced in France by cross-breeding two types of lop-eared rabbit breeds. They are the largest breed of lop eared bunny breeds and show unique characteristics. Their droopy ears are long enough to reach the length of their feet and they mostly weigh 10 pounds as adults. They are not commonly kept as pets but some rabbit lovers keep them as pets who can take their extra care and play with them. However, they are active and energetic and need more space to play and exercise. They also need a companion to play otherwise they will get bored.
American Fuzzy Lop-Eared Rabbits
They are fluffy and short-sized breed of lop eared bunny. They are somehow similar to Holland lop-eared bunnies but their distinct feature, furry wool makes them different and unique among all the breeds. But some extra care is required to clean the fur to prevent debris. They are short, compact, and weigh about 4 pounds when reach their adulthood. Their droopy ears are also short as compared to other lop-eared bunnies. Their friendly nature makes them better to keep them as pets. They are very active, social and playful. They enjoy the company of other rabbit fellows or the pet owners.
Holland Lop-Eared Rabbits
Holland lops were first produced by cross-breeding the Dwarf lop eared bunny and French lop-eared bunnies. They are also smaller and compact but have muscular bodies. Their floppy ears fall at the level of their face. They weigh about 4 pounds at adulthood. They exhibit different colors and patterns of their coats. They are also very active and playful and enjoy the company of other friends.
Dwarf Lop Eared Rabbits
They make a smaller breed among lop-eared bunnies and weigh about 3.5 pounds. They have furry bodies and are very playful. Children love to play with them due to their smaller sizes, friendly nature, and non-aggressive behavior.
Mini Lop Eared Rabbits
They are most common as kept as pets. They are the second smallest breed among the lop-eared rabbit breeds. They weigh about 6 pounds at adulthood. They are easy to manage as pets because they don’t need much space and are playful and calm in nature.
Lop Eared Bunny Lifespan
Lop eared bunnies have different lifespans for different breeds. They maximum live for about 10 years. However, the lifespan of Holland lops ranges from 7 to 10 years. While the mini lops live between 8 to 10 years.
Lop Eared Bunny for Sale
Lop-eared bunnies can be purchased from the private sellers, pet fairs, or pet shops. Their prices vary depending upon their breed, history, health status and other attributes. The price ranges between 20 dollars to 40 dollars.
Grooming of Lop Eared Bunnies
Grooming and extra care is needed for lop eared bunny to prevent them from health hazards and to maintain their lifestyle.
- Lop eared bunny require extra care than other rabbits due to their large floppy ears which can be a home of pathogens and dirt if not properly cleaned
- Their coat requires brushing regularly about once or twice a week to prevent infections and pathogens
- Their nail growth is fast which needs trimming about once a month
- Grooming and extra care is needed for lop-eared rabbits to prevent them from health hazards and to maintain their lifestyle
Conclusion
Lop-eared bunny are unique and are well-known because of their droopy ears. Some of the breeds of lops are larger and have large floppy ears which fall at the length of their feet. While some lops are smaller in size with small half- loped ears that reach the length of their face. They are beautiful and exhibits unique color patterns of their coats. Some of them are popular among pet owners due to their friendly nature and energetic lifestyles. However, their droopy ears need some extra care to avoid infections due to pathogens.
