Help select a good breed for my mother

[Frecs]

This started in the tread asking about Holland Lops and Hotots but thought I should start a new thread as the topic is now changed a bit. The thread on Holland Lops has me thinking that perhaps that isn't the best choice of breed for my mother's first adventure in rabbit breeding. So, what breed is?

Information to help you make suggestions: Mother is about to turn 69, is not schooled in genetics so breeding for special colors or such would be outside her grasp. Mom is very tender-hearted and not good at handling a high mortality rate so a breed that has a good track record for kindling is a better fit. Mom is interested in show/pet markets, decidedly not interested in meat rabbits (she loves my Silver Fox breeders but the idea of sending the babies to freezer camp is hard for her).

She really likes the floppy eared rabbits, friendly/docile, and on the small side. She wants to have a hobby she and I can both enjoy together -- me with my heritage/meat rabbits, she with her "pet" (heritage is nice but not a necessity for her) rabbits. "Cute" is definitely high on her value scale.

 

[Random Rabbit]

Himalayans are a fairly docile breed.... not droopy eared... but their colors are basic and they are quite attractive... They are small Could be a nice choice for an 'older beginner'....

 

[Peach]

Mini Lops are a small medium breed and only slightly larger than the holland. I can't say all are docile but if you handle them from birth, it makes a huge difference in temperament. Depending where I got my lops from, their temperaments matche them, I like my small Rabbitry so I can give each I then handling time and it's nice to know them by name

 

[Frecs]

Mini Lops are a small medium breed and only slightly larger than the holland. I can't say all are docile but if you handle them from birth, it makes a huge difference in temperament. Depending where I got my lops from, their temperaments matche them, I like my small Rabbitry so I can give each I then handling time and it's nice to know them by name

Do the Mini-Lops have issues with kindling?

 

[skysthelimit]

I believe they are better than the Hollands, and since they are not dwarfs, you don't have to worry about kindling peanuts, which are abnormally small babies with two dwarf genes, that usually die before 3 mos. old. If I am not mistaken, there is an even larger lop breed.

 

[siddsaysgimmie]

Agreed.. if she wants a smaller breed with floppy ears and better luck with litters, go with Mini Lops. Since Hollands are a dwarf breed you can run into peanuts (which don't survive), DOAs because of small mothers and general complications. While still possible with ML, it's less likely.

French Lops are huge, English Lops are large with ears to match. Amercian Fuzzy Lops are dwarfs like Hollands.

 

[5dognightfarm]

I second (or third?) the Mini Lops. They're wonderful mothers, cuddly, small but not dwarf-y, and have the floppy ears that she's looking for.

 

[Frecs]

Awesome, thanks ya'll!

 

[Peach]

So far so good with my kindling does it's good to start of with does that are proven or come from a line that are known for good maternity skills which the breeder I got one of my does let me know. Cant guarantee something that isn't proven but it is good chance that if the other mothers in the line have done a great job, then she will too. They are a real joy Love their personalities

 

[curlysue]

The minilops we had did not have kindling troubles.no peanut babies.temperments were good too.

 

[SatinsRule]

She really likes the floppy eared rabbits, friendly/docile, and on the small side. She wants to have a hobby she and I can both enjoy together -- me with my heritage/meat rabbits, she with her "pet" (heritage is nice but not a necessity for her) rabbits. "Cute" is definitely high on her value scale.

Sounds like everything on your list points directly to a smaller breed, and most likely that should include Hollands. I'd suggest maybe getting a red mini-satin or a mini rex, but they lack in the lop-eared department.

If you do go with a Holland, I'll tell you what a Holland breeder told me with regard to pets--get a buck.