Keeping Miniature Bunnies at Home
Families with small children often decide that dwarf and miniature rabbits are a good choice. Everyone can pick them up and handle them and of course, they are cute! Singling out which of the smaller breeds to go for is not easy. It can of course be limited by the availability of breeders in your local area. Smaller rabbits are ideal for indoor rearing, of course. They can live in a manageable rabbit cage, rather like a guinea pig. What follows is a quick hop through the very smallest breeds.
Weighing a maximum of 2lbs 8oz, the Netherland Dwarf is the tiniest of all dwarf rabbits. While the male can be bad tempered, the doe Netherland Dwarf is known for her placid temperament, making her a good choice for young members of the family and she won’t require a particularly large rabbit cage. Not only the smallest, this is the rabbit breed with the largest number of possible colours. The Art Garfunkel song ‘Bright Eyes’ must surely have been composed in honour of this twinkly button-eyed little gem.
Also decidedly dinky is the rabbit sometimes referred to as ‘Polish’, the Britannia Petite. Very ‘classic ‘in shape, it is not unlike a miniature common rabbit. Among ‘standard’ rabbits the Britannia Petite, in keeping with its name really is the smallest. Often with a white coat and red eyes, they do come in other colours. Gentle handling of their delicate bodies is necessary, so they may not be suitable pets for the youngest family members. As they are very active and alert, they might not be content to spend too much time cooped up in a rabbit cage. Potential owners need to be aware of their reputation for giving little nips with their teeth!
Another very popular choice is the Mini Rex with its special coat. So fine are the hairs of its pelt, it feels just like velvet. Its ears are endearingly upright, as well as being quite short and chunky. Its bigger relative is the rex, and they share the same colour variations.
The charmingly named American Fuzzy Lop weighs up to 4lbs, when fully grown. The curiously flattened-looking face is sometimes likened to that of a bulldog, the other striking feature being of course those lop ears. They are fancied, too, for their long fur. Being what is known as a wool breed, they have to be groomed frequently. With rather a ‘hunched’ look, the American Fuzzy Lop may not be to everyone’s taste.
Not quite so well-known in the UK is the extremely friendly Himalayan, a rabbit distinguished not just by being miniature, but also because of its interesting colouring. The Himalayan, not surprisingly, given its name, has a white coat with black, blue, lilac, or chocolate markings. If you buy a youngster, you will see that there is a light grey tinge to its coat. This will grow out until it turns a snowy white. This is possibly the best choice of all for a cage rabbit.
Another little rabbit, the Holland Lop, isn’t always friendly, so with this one you pays your money … Interesting to look at, the distinguishing feature is a flattened head, making the eyes very far apart, combined with a large-looking body. The crown (the part of the head between its ears) is raised on the Holland Lop. Its lopped ears, deep-set eyes and soft coat make it popular.
Rarely weighing more than 3lbs 8oz, the Jersey Wooly is exceptionally fluffy. There is a bewildering array of possible colour combinations with this one. Interestingly, its face and ear fur is short, while the rest of its hair is thick, long and very soft. Not for the faint-hearted, these bunnies have specific dietary requirements and their coats need extra daily attention.
Once you have picked your small rabbit, you will be concerned to make the right investment in a suitable rabbit cage. A respectable decent-sized cage is likely to cost you from £45 to £109, with some exclusive styles, and two-storey versions with an internal ramp, costing more.
Once you have your rabbit cage, you will no doubt be tempted by the plethora of possible accessories. The bunny tent is just like a tiny one-man igloo tent and works as a great hideaway when the rabbit is in its run. Little squashy armchairs, rabbit beds of every conceivable shape, tubes to run through, the ultimate, balls to roll around which let dry food escape in small quantities, the latest in drinking bottles and non-tip feeding bowls, toys that rattle, and other fun items are waiting to fill up that rabbit cage, so no matter how miniature the rabbit you have acquired, where the cage is concerned, don’t get a small one!
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