Where can I get a Holland lop?

[BunnyBears10]

My daughter has been studying on rabbits for a long time.

She said she wants a Mini lop baby bunny. I want a breeder or shelter near Jacksonville, FL.

I hope for one to be under 50$. Thanks!

[Harley&Thumper]

A breeder for a holland lop will typically charge around $125+ for a baby bunny. I understand your daughter has been studying but you as the parent should be the primary care taker of any bunny that you get, unless your daughter is nearing the age where she can drive and get a job.

[MountainBuns]

You could adopt an adult bunny from a shelter that has already been spayed/neutered. Those are the best!

[Deleted User]

I agree with H&T. We see a lot of instances on here where kids have done all the research, and the parents still neglect to provide what a bunny needs. Bunnies are very time consuming and a lot of work and patience. It is your responsibility, not your daughter’s responsibility, to take care of the bunny. Bunnies are far too much work to be a starter pet, and the amount of money they can potentially cost can add up. If you end up with a bunny with teeth issues, or frequent GI problems, or anything else, those costs can be a lot of money. An emergency vet visit can cost upwards of $1000 and then they require you give them round the clock care. If you get a female you will need to get her spayed because there is a 65% chance she could develop reproductive cancers. Spays can be costly.I highly suggest YOU do your own research before you take on a 10-15 year commitment. Especially if your daughter is at the age where she will be off to college within a few years, you will be the one stuck with it. Are you okay with a bunny and all of it’s behaviors? The digging, the chewing, the potential incontinence if they are ever sick, the hormonal behaviors if you get a baby, and litter training, not picking it up and cuddling it, altering your lifestyle. Make sure these are things you are comfortable doing. 

[joea64]

I consider my own Panda and Fernando easy to take care of as rabbits go (they’re blessed with exceptionally sturdy health, among other things), but they still require a significant daily investment of time; they have to be fed and watered twice daily (pellets in the morning, greens in the evening, hay both times) and have a decently lengthy floor session every evening so I and they can spend time with one another, plus which I talk to them frequently whenever I’m at home with them even if I’m not actually physically interacting with them. (Living in a small efficiency apartment helps interaction because I’m always within sight/hearing/smell range of them unless I’m in the bathroom or walk-in closet.)

They also cost a nontrivial amount of money to properly upkeep each month. An average month’s worth of hay costs $12 for a 1/3 bale when I buy it from the rabbit rescue, and a 5-pound bag of Oxbow Bunny Essentials pellets costs $15. Carefresh paper litter – I’ve been meaning to try wood pellets for quite a while but never got around to it – can cost up to $25-$30 for a 25-liter bag (again, about a month’s worth) depending on the variety. Treats (usually Oxbow Simple Rewards and old-fashioned plain oats) cost something like $10-$15 per month. A week’s fresh greens costs between $8 – $15 depending on what you get. So for regular bunny living expenses, you can expect to put down $100 a month or more if you can find reliable low-cost sources for the aforementioned things (for instance, Simple Rewards treats are a lot less expensive at Petco than Petsmart). Leaving aside emergency expenses, you should also expect to put down $80 – $100 for regular wellness checkups for your bunny (or bunnies, if you have more than one), plus, if you don’t feel up to doing it yourself, paying for things like nail trims. Proper housing for your rabbit can also be pricey – the really good pre-made condo-type cages from vendors like Leith Petwerks can run $300 – $400 or more (most cages that you see in pet stores are too small to make proper homes for rabbits), plus which you’ll likely need a big exercise pen (X-pen) if you don’t plan to free-range your rabbit.

[joea64]

Also, the cost of spaying (or neutering) is a good practical reason to consider adopting rather than buying. Many rabbit rescues arrange for their charges to be fixed as part of the process of preparing them for adopting; the adoption fee you pay helps defray the cost of this and any other necessary treatments. Essentially, if your daughter wants a young rabbit, it’s best to get one that’s old enough to have been properly weaned and transitioned to solid food, and either spayed or neutered with the appropriate recovery period.

[Gordo and Janice]

I second what “Asriel and Bombur” and “joea64” have said. I could have spent a lot of time thinking and writing out a response and never had it stated as accurately and thoroughly as joea64. And that is with very robust and healthy bunnies, which is not always the case.

[mschoonover11]

I was born and raised in Florida but I now live in Atlanta. I’m pretty sure the Jacksonville area had a House Rabbit Society. Most shelters have Holland Lops. I got my Holland Lop from a breeder for $85. He was 8 weeks old when I got him. If you get a baby bunny, you have to make sure it’s at least 8 weeks old. Rabbits cannot leave their mothers before that because they can easily get sick and die.

Also, how old is your daughter? You need to take into consideration that a rabbit isn’t just a whatever pet that can be left in a cage all day. They won’t stay a cute little baby bunny their whole life. They grow (Holland Lops grow pretty big) and require a lot of care and time. They can be a bit expensive.

PLEASE don’t get it a pet store bought cage. A good starter for a cage is an exercise pen for a dog. They sell them pretty much anywhere. Make sure it’s at least 36 inches high. Rabbits can jump!

Rabbits are amazing pets. That’s if the person caring for them is mature enough. Is your daughter really ready for this commitment? Will she give her rabbit the time care and exercise it needs?

[Deleted User]

Hi there. To reiterate the others, rabbits are a huge responsibility and commitment. Domesticated rabbits can live for 8-12 years when cared for properly, and they do require quite a bit to be “happy”. However, rabbits have the reputation as cage animals and are often regarded as a “good starter pet” for kids…this is, however, very untrue. Based on the information you’ve given, I have a few concerns that tell me that a rabbit may not be the best option for you.

How old is your daughter? Rabbits are not good pets for children, despite what you may have heard. They are quite high maintenance, and they are considered “exotic” animals so you have to see a special vet. (Which is quite pricey)

You specifically want a Holland lop, which tells me that you’re more concerned with aesthetics. Rabbits are a lot of work. They take a lot of time to trust you, which is why children often get very bored when they realize that their rabbit doesn’t love them back. LOTS of patience is required to truly understand their intricacies, and if you don’t have a genuine passion for them, I don’t think that they are the right pet for you.

That being said, if you decide you are truly up for the challenge, then I STRONGLY advise you to look into rescuing a rabbit from the Gainesville Rabbit Rescue. They are located in Williston, and they have a ton of rabbits up for adoption. A single rabbit is $50 and will already be spayed/neutered. As a first time owner, I think it would be extremely wise to get a rescue rabbit. They know the personalities of their rabbits very well and will be able to tell you which rabbits are good with children and which aren’t. I really recommend that you don’t go in looking for a certain breed rabbit… spend some time with the rabbits, and the right one will choose you.

[Deleted User]

Hollands are dwarf bunnies. The most they’ll ever weigh is 4.5 pounds, so not big. A mini lop will be 6-7 pounds. But a Holland usually weighs 3-4 pounds and is among the smallest breeds.

Echoing BN about everything again.

[MountainBuns]

I completely agree with everyone else.

[BunnyBears10]

I understand you are concerned. We have had rabbits before, and we know the supplies needed. We understand the price and things like that. Thank you for for being concerned, I bet your a great rabbit owner. By the way, Our breeder is no longer breeding rabbits and thats the reason we are looking for a new breeder. My daughter is 10 years old. I will be mainly taking care of it though.

[Harley&Thumper]

http://www.hoobly.com/11998/114/0/

I would still recommend adopting from a shelter.

[MountainBuns]

Do you have multiple rabbits at home now?

[Author]

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