Tell me about Lionheads please

[joybellfarm]

Well looks like my daughter will be getting a pair of lion heads to go with her hl. Had hopped to get mini rexs or something else but we only had lionhead breeders interested in what i had to trade. So I found info out there on the net about HL but Lion heads i found hardly anything. So how many are in a litter typicaly? Do they have problems? Good mothers? Best comb to comb them with? Any other problems i should know about? LOL Websites with info?

 

[Bad Habit]

Litter size depends on the doe - a doe with the dwarf gene will have 3-4 on average. I have had a number of false dwarfs, however, and had an average litter size of 6-8. The only problem I have with my litters have been peanuts, which you get from dwarf to dwarf breedings. I've found the majority of my does to be good mothers, no real first time doe idiocy. I use a simple black plastic people comb for mine, and have found it works very well. Other problems you could anticipate are babies with dirty butt hair, having to trim vent hair on both jrs and srs, wool block can be an issue(I've got mine on a daily regimen to prevent wool block).

 

[Peach]

Lionheads are tricky because a lot of people are breeding them and not to the standard that has been written. You will find all kinds of Lionheads, but the COD holder has the written standard that everyone should be breeding for.

If you are raising them for show, assuming they pass this year at Convention, you might want to look into some quality ones that fit the working standard. You can still show them, but they will not be eligible for BIS or legs since they are unrecognized at the moment. If they pass, you don't want to be stuck with flemish sized lionheads.

Right now, the hot debate is that a lot of people are selling anything lionhead as show/brood quality, and it's hurting the breed. Usually when some of the higher end breeders find this out (happens with a lot of breeds actually) they will refuse to sell to you in the future. So careful to not step on any toes.

If you aren't familiar with how to breed for the correct type,wool, manes,etc..., I will recommend a breed that has a similar body style to work with. I think it's better to learn with a developed breed and gain experience so you know how to get the traits that you want and be able to cull accordingly.<br /><br />__________ Wed Sep 18, 2013 9:00 am __________<br /><br />Because they are being bred to be small, you will have normal dwarf problems. Cull,cull,cull for hindquarters. Pinched HQs is the leading cause of stuck kits. Big hips = easier births.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Because they are being bred to be small, you will have normal dwarf problems. Cull,cull,cull for hindquarters. Pinched HQs is the leading cause of stuck kits. Big hips = easier births.

This x2. I had a buck with pinched HQ, after talking to a lot of more experienced breeders I sold him as a pet and got a pair of better bucks. I have been told over and over from people I trust that "breeding out" bad hindsides is near impossible; in a true dwarf it can be deadly. My tiny, TINY little dwarf doe (Mini Rex) delivered all stillborn except the runt and some peanuts on her first litter, but with that nice big booty she's got none were "stuck." I expect her next litter (DUE NEXT WEEK YAY) to be MUCH easier for her.

Surprised you couldn't find any good Mini Rex, they're thick as anything around here.

 

[joybellfarm]

Ok so i need to see the rumps of the 2 im getting. The doe im getting has had 1 litter on the wire there was 6 of them. So i know she can deliver fine. Hope she figures it out this go round. The lady is a member of the ARBA and the buns are fully pedigreed. So im guessing there the legit ones. Mostly they will be shown in 4-h but it would be nice if she can show in the real rabbit shows.<br /><br />__________ Wed Sep 18, 2013 11:14 am __________<br /><br />O i also found Mini Rex but none of the breeders wanted to trade a holland lop pair lol.

 

[Peach]

http://www.lionhead.us/aboutlionheads/standards.htm

 

[Dood]

My experience with lionheads has not been good but it might just be the bloodlines in Southern Ontario. Or at least the ones sold as pets here.

I find they have the feisty/bad attitude of ND but are more nervous/skittish and tend to be difficult to litter train. I do not believe they make good pets or mothers.

That being said I do like the conformation of the Frosty doe you posted on another thread but I'm not surprised she had them on the wire, hopefully she does better next time.

 

[Peach]

Pedigreed doesn't always equal quality so make sure you know the type you are looking for. Anyone can put pedigrees on their rabbits. I would probably recommend getting proven (and raised litter successfully) stock.

With the Lionhead breeders I've talked to, they haven't been able to really get past skittishness and some degrees of aggression and that's coming from people that have been in the breed for 5-10 years. So something to watch for.