Should NZ have a dew lap?

[GBov]

My two rew nz does have pronounced dewlaps. Is that normal or are they, perhaps, not as pure as the seller said they were?

They were the first NZ in my herd. My hubby bought them for me at the farm swap so we never saw the parent stock or his rabbitry.

But we bought a new rew buck from a really NICE seller and got to see his herd and WOW! He is only 11 months old but is half again bigger than our girls and no dewlap to be seen so its got me wondering about the girls we have. :?

 

[Iggysbabysitter]

My female NZ both have it. A friend exlained to me that they are the bunny version of breasts... some are more well endowed than others, hence the extreme presence or lack there of... My white one is VERY well endowed... where as my agouti NZ has just a little ponch. They are the same age, eat the same and get about the same exercise. It took a while to show up, but once they had their first litters the dew lap almost doubled in size.
I don't think males get the dew lap, though. I've not seen it on any of my males. I could be wrong, but I thought males got a "dew lap" if they are over weight?

 

[Nyctra]

I think girls are meant to have dewlaps 'cause it's an extra flap of skin to pull for from. Boy's don't have to pull fur, so why would they have one? XD<br /><br />__________ Thu Jul 12, 2012 11:03 am __________<br /><br />oh gosh i think of dewlaps like boobs too. XD I have a boy who's got a little dewlap thing, it's just kinda silly. Like how a fat man might look like has boobs, or how there's "flat chested" women. My pet rabbit gets smothered by her dewlap. /giggles

 

[LadyKarli]

YES! All true. All my NZ have dew laps except my black. Don't know why. But my red had 2 & one hangs to 1 side & one hangs to the other!

 

[skysthelimit]

I would say many does of many breeds have dewlaps, but the standards calls for males without dewlaps. I do think there is one breed, netherlands I think, where does are not supposed to have dewlaps.

 

[GBov]

That's OK then. Thanks guys! Now to see how the new buck does with the older does.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I think girls are meant to have dewlaps 'cause it's an extra flap of skin to pull for from.

I thought so too, but I have never seen a doe pull fur from her dewlap. Now my hypothesis is that it is a reserve "food supply", and is there in case a doe kindles and there is not enough forage available to sustain her litter.

 

[Nyctra]

One of my rabbits pulled a huge bald spot from her dewlap when she had a false pregnancy and the rabbit I got who'd just had a litter had a bald spot too from pulling. >>

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Really? Mine always pull from their sides and bellies- sometimes above the front legs too.

 

[Nyctra]

Well maybe my rabbits are just weird.. :lol:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Or mine are! :?

 

[Donna]

ONE OF MY DOES PULLED FROM HERS SHE HAD A BIG BALD SPOT

 

[arachyd]

Does have dew laps but not all does. They help in kit snuggling. If your male has a dewlap it is about 99.9% sure not to be a male. Does will pull fur from whatever catches their fancy, including cats, dogs and rabbits in the next cage. They will also grab hay, toys and whatever else they can carry to make their nest. I had one that continually covered the babies with her pellet bowl. Of course she turned it upside-down while holding it over the kits. The poor kits were repeatedly showered with pellets till I got a bowl that attached to the cage.

 

[GBov]

Does have dew laps but not all does. They help in kit snuggling. If your male has a dewlap it is about 99.9% sure not to be a male. Does will pull fur from whatever catches their fancy, including cats, dogs and rabbits in the next cage. They will also grab hay, toys and whatever else they can carry to make their nest. I had one that continually covered the babies with her pellet bowl. Of course she turned it upside-down while holding it over the kits. The poor kits were repeatedly showered with pellets till I got a bowl that attached to the cage.

That would explain the doe that kept doing that with her kits here! But as she was using a heavy ceramic bowl it was just luck she didn't flatten them!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I've had does put their whiffle balls in the nest. Too cute- it was like they were giving a toy to the kids!

 

[kjwpals5]

Due laps are perfectly fine in NZ does but bucks can be disqualified for having one. Good rule of thumb on weather or not it is considered a due lap is if you can "pinch an inch." There are 7 breeds that can not have a due lap: Polish, Netherland Dwarf, Tan, Himalayan, Silver, Britannia Petite and Dwarf Hotot.

I love the due laps on my Pal girls

Rep thought it was bring your own pillow day at the show lol.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I love big poofy dewlaps, I think they are cute. I hope I'm not weird. XD

 

[SatinsRule]

I think girls are meant to have dewlaps 'cause it's an extra flap of skin to pull for from. Boy's don't have to pull fur, so why would they have one? XD

Depends upon the breed. With Satins, males can (and often DO) have dewlaps and it's normal.

And yes, it is normal for a NZ to have a dewlap, although I'd check the SOP for guidance on whether or not it is allowed on bucks.

 

[Diamond]

My pedigreed NZ doe, Jasmine has a nice dewlap. This was before her 1st litter. Now it is much bigger.

 

[GBov]

My pedigreed NZ doe, Jasmine has a nice dewlap. This was before her 1st litter. Now it is much bigger.

OMG she is BEAUTIFUL!!! I hope my two black does turn out as pretty as she is!