Welcome to Holland Lop Life!
Congratulations on your new floppy-eared family member! Holland Lops make wonderful companions with their adorably floppy ears and charming personalities. Here's what you need to know to give your bunny the best start. Let's hop right in!
This is a compiled list of our favorites that we utilize in our Rabbitry regularly. This is meant to help with the sometimes overwhelming task of shopping and preparing for your new bunny. These are our suggestions, you are always welcome to choose whatever you prefer. We know that transitioning to a new environment can be stressful for a kit, so our goal is to help you make this process go as smoothly as possible and without common mistakes
Nourish & Graze
Bunnies need fresh unlimited timothy hay/orchard grass daily. Our bunnies are extremely particular about the freshness and quality of hay they are consuming. We only recommend purchasing the most recent cutting of organically grown hay from a local farm. Hay purchased online or at a feed store is not recommended as this has commonly been stored for an unknown period of time compromising its freshness and quality. If you are unable to find your hay locally or simply do not want to purchase it in the large quantities offered by local farms, please reach out to us. We would be more then happy to sell you a flake or two. If you don't live close to Medina or any rural areas, the two online sources that we have found to be the most reputable/best quality are Small Pet Select & Farmer Dave Pet Supply.
Kalmbach 18% Best Of Show Professional Rabbit Feed
We feed our Holland Lops with Kalmbach 18% Best In Show, which has proven exceptional for our herd's health and condition. When selecting rabbit pellets, Timothy hay-based formulas are essential as they support proper digestion, prevent GI issues, and provide appropriate fiber levels without the excess calcium and protein found in alfalfa-based options that can harm adult rabbits.
If you're looking for an alternate option, Mazuri & Oxbow are both excellent brands. If you decide you would like to switch to a different feed we provide a transition bag and instructions on how to switch your bunny safely to their new feed.
Kalmbach Belly Booster - Probiotics
We add belly booster a premium pre- and probiotic supplement to our bunnies pellets. This specialized formula supports optimal digestive health by introducing beneficial microorganisms that strengthen their delicate gut ecosystem. For our younger kits, this supplement provides essential support during the critical weaning transition, helping establish robust gut health from the earliest stages of development. For our adult breeding stock, it enhances their ability to efficiently process nutrients, contributing to optimal condition and overall health
Organic Old Fashioned Oats
We supplement with a teaspoon of old fashioned rolled oats daily (not quick oats) and find this particularly important for growing kits under 6 months of age. Old-fashioned oats provide excellent digestive benefits for Holland Lops with their high fiber content that supports gut motility and helps prevent dangerous GI stasis. They're packed with essential nutrients like manganese, phosphorus, and B vitamins that contribute to your bunny's overall health and vitality.
Sustenance Keepers
Rabbit water bottles, zero-gravity waterers, and food dishes and hay feeders are essential for keeping rabbits hydrated and well-fed. Water bottles help prevent spills and keep water clean, while zero-gravity waterers provide a steady supply with minimal mess. Food dishes, preferably heavy or tip-resistant, ensure easy access to pellets. Hay racks help keep hay clean and accessible. Choosing the right setup keeps your rabbit’s cage clean and their feeding area organized.
Lixit Quick Lock Crocks
The best bowls we have found are the Lixit Quick Lock Crocks (10 ounces). They lock in to place so bunnies can't dump or spill their food which makes for less wasted pellets in the long run. If you find that your bunny is digging in their food bowls due to oats being added weekly, we recommend adding oats to a separate food container.
Lixit Cage Water Bottles
Our kits learn to drink from a water bottle. The model that we have found to preform the best without leaking is the Lixit Wide Mouthed Bottle. We fill their bottles with fresh filtered water & one capful (per 32 oz) of organic apple cider vinegar. This will aid in digestion and help condition your bunny. Aldi carries a great brand of ACV that is budget friendly.
Zero Gravity Waterer
Another great option to keep your bunny hydrated are zero gravity waterers. This makes water readily available and is sometimes less strenuous in the realm of exerted effort and may be a better option especially in the summer months when the weather is hotter.
X Large Rabbit Hay Feeder
A hay feeder is an essential accessory that keeps hay clean, dry, and elevated off the floor where it might become soiled. These cleverly designed feeders come in various styles including wall-mounted racks, free-standing mangers, and cage-attachable baskets that allow rabbits to pull hay through small openings while minimizing waste.
Rabbit Retreats
Wire floor rabbit cages provide an ideal environment for your furry friends, promoting good hygiene and ventilation. These designs helps prevent urine and feces buildup, ensuring a cleaner living space. Additionally, wire floors allow for better airflow, keeping your rabbits cool and comfortable. By choosing wire floor cages, you can support your rabbits' health and well-being while making cage maintenance easier.
OIIBO Small Animal Cage
MidWest Homes for Pets 158 Wabbitat Deluxe Rabbit Home,
HOMESTEAD Bunny Cages with Tray - 24-inch Rabbit Cage
Travel Carriers
Providing your Holland Lop with a secure, properly-sized travel carrier is essential for their safety and well-being during transportation. These sensitive creatures experience significant stress when moving between environments, making a thoughtfully designed carrier crucial for minimizing anxiety and preventing injury. The ideal rabbit carrier offers adequate ventilation, solid construction to protect from potential impacts, and enough space for your bunny to sit comfortably without excess room that could cause tumbling during movement.
Kathson Small Animal Carrier Bag
This Small Animal Carrier offers the ideal balance of safety and comfort for Holland Lop transport. Its breathable mesh panels provide excellent ventilation while allowing your bunny to see outside, reducing anxiety. It's convenient dual openings make loading stress-free & washable interior pad, shoulder strap for easy carrying.
Petsfit Bunny Carrier
The Petsfit Bunny Carrier offers exceptional quality for Holland Lop transportation with its sturdy, eco-friendly construction and thoughtful design features. Its spacious interior provides ample room for your bunny to adjust position during travel while maintaining security. The carrier features multiple mesh panels for superior ventilation and visibility, reducing stress during transit
Rabbit Carrier, Large
This versatile carrier offers the perfect travel solution for your Holland Lop with its thoughtfully engineered design and premium features. The spacious interior provides ample room for comfort while maintaining security during transit. The waterproof pad creates a comfortable resting surface while protecting against accidents during longer journeys.
Habitat Helpers
Rabbit cage accessories are essential for creating a comfortable, stimulating, and healthy environment for your bunny. A well-equipped cage should include a cozy hideout or nesting box where rabbits can retreat for rest and security. Hay racks help keep hay clean and accessible. Chew toys, such as wooden blocks are important for dental health, preventing overgrown teeth. Cage resting mats to provide a soft, comfortable surface that protects your rabbit’s feet from wire flooring, helping to prevent sore hocks and adding extra warmth and cushioning to their enclosure. Rabbit playpens or x-pens offer a safe and spacious environment for bunnies to hop, explore, and play while keeping them protected from potential hazards.
Trained Treasures
Our kits come 75%-100% litter trained as they have had a litter pan in their cages since birth. Bunnies generally eliminate close to where they eat so keep that in mind when designating your food and hay area. While our kits are learning, we set up their cages with both a plastic litter pan that is placed directly beneath the hay feeder and a small animal litter box sprinkled with compressed pine pellets. As your Holland matures you can do away with the dish pan and graduate to only having to use/change the litter box.
Small Animal Litter Box - Large
A wire grate litter box provides excellent hygiene for rabbits by keeping them elevated above their waste. The solid bottom pan collects droppings and urine while the removable wire grid prevents your bunny from sitting directly in soiled litter, keeping their paws and fur much cleaner.
Plastic Litter Pan
Plastic litter pans are a simple and effective solution for rabbit toilet training. These lightweight containers are easy to clean, typically requiring just a rinse with vinegar solution to eliminate odors and bacteria. Many rabbit owners prefer shallow pans with low entry points, making them accessible for young babies.
Compressed Pine Pellets
Pine pellets are an excellent choice for rabbit litter boxes due to their superior absorbency and natural odor control properties. These compressed wood pellets expand when wet, making it easy to spot clean soiled areas while leaving dry pellets intact. They're also environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and typically dust-free, which helps prevent respiratory issues in sensitive rabbits.
Cage Bedding
Proper rabbit bedding is essential for keeping your bunny comfortable and healthy. The ideal bedding should be soft, absorbent, and dust-free to prevent respiratory issues. Popular options include paper-based bedding, aspen shavings, and specialized hemp bedding, which help control odor while providing a cozy environment for burrowing. Remember to change the bedding regularly, typically once or twice a week, to maintain cleanliness and prevent ammonia buildup from urine.
Tidy Whiskers
Proper rabbit grooming begins with regular brushing sessions, ideally once or twice a week during normal periods and daily during seasonal molts, using appropriate tools. Nail trimming should be performed every 4-6 weeks using specialized small animal clippers, being careful to avoid the quick (the pink blood vessel visible in light-colored nails). Check your rabbit's ears weekly for signs of dirt, wax buildup, or mites, gently cleaning the outer portions with a pet-safe ear cleaner like witch hazel if needed, but never inserting anything into the ear canal. Avoid full-body bathing; instead, spot-clean dirty areas with pet-safe wipes. Regular grooming sessions also provide opportunities to check for abnormalities like lumps, sores, or parasites.
Water Wipes
Nail Clippers with LED
Fine Toothed Comb
Water wipes offer a gentle alternative to traditional bathing for rabbits, who typically don't need full baths & can cause harmful stress. These alcohol-free, fragrance-free wipes can be used to spot clean dirty areas like paws, bottoms, or urine stains without risking the hypothermia or respiratory issues that can occur when rabbits get fully wet. Remember that healthy rabbits are excellent self-groomers, so regular brushing combined with occasional spot cleaning is usually sufficient for keeping them clean.
Rabbit nail clippers with LED lights provide an innovative solution for the often challenging task of trimming a bunny's nails. The built-in LED illumination cleverly highlights the quick (the pink blood vessel inside the nail) making it much easier to see exactly where to cut, even on dark-colored nails that typically obscure this crucial boundary. This added visibility helps prevent accidental injury to your rabbit, reducing stress for both pet and owner during grooming sessions.
A fine-toothed comb is an essential tool for thorough rabbit grooming, particularly during shedding season when removing loose fur prevents digestive issues from excess hair ingestion. The narrow spacing between the teeth effectively captures small tangles, loose undercoat, and debris that wider-spaced brushes might miss, especially in dense fur areas around the neck and hindquarters. When using a fine-toothed comb, always work in the direction of hair growth with gentle, short strokes to avoid pulling on the rabbit's sensitive skin.
Flop & Frolic
Bunny toys are essential for providing mental stimulation and preventing boredom. Simple items like cardboard toilet paper tubes stuffed with hay create foraging opportunities that mimic natural behaviors. Rabbits particularly enjoy toys they can toss, nudge, or chew on—like willow balls, untreated pine cones, or specialized wooden blocks designed for small animals. The best rabbit toys encourage natural behaviors such as digging, chewing, and exploring while helping maintain dental health by wearing down their continuously growing teeth.
Tunnels
Rabbit tunnels provide fun hiding spaces that satisfy a bunny's natural burrowing instincts while offering security and mental enrichment, whether made from cardboard, fabric, or specialized pet-safe materials.
Rolling Chew Toys
Rolling cage toys provide both entertainment and nutritional enrichment, satisfying a bunny's natural chewing instincts while offering a tasty reward. Bunnies enjoy pushing, chasing, and tossing these toys across the floor, particularly ones with bells or rattles inside that appeal to their natural curiosity.
Apple Sticks
Apple sticks are a popular natural chew toy for rabbits that provide both enrichment and dental health benefits. These untreated wooden branches from apple trees help wear down continuously growing teeth while satisfying a rabbit's natural urge to chew. The slightly sweet taste appeals to most bunnies, making them a preferred alternative to synthetic toys, and they're safe if ingested in small amounts as part of normal chewing behavior.
Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard boxes are an inexpensive yet highly valued enrichment item for rabbits, satisfying their natural instincts to hide, chew, and remodel their environment. Bunnies often spend hours gnawing on the corners, pushing and flipping smaller boxes, or simply relaxing inside their cardboard retreats. These recyclable toys double as stress relievers during startling situations, giving rabbits a safe place to retreat when they feel threatened.
Wellness Wisdom
First and foremost it is important to find a rabbit-savvy/exotic pet vet prior to adopting should any emergencies surface. Common signs of illness in rabbits include reduced appetite or refusal to eat, smaller or fewer droppings, lethargy, hunched posture, grinding teeth (indicating pain), nasal discharge, labored breathing, head tilt, and unusual behavior such as sitting motionless in corners or reluctance to move. Rabbits should typically be spayed or neutered at 6 months of age. This helps to reduce territorial behaviors like spraying and aggression, & regression in litter box training. Remember, Holland Lops typically live 7-12 years with proper care. Take your time bonding, and soon you'll discover your bunny's unique personality. Welcome to the wonderful world of Holland Lop companionship!
Oxbow Critical Care
Critical care for rabbits focuses on addressing life-threatening conditions that require immediate veterinary attention. GI stasis—when a rabbit's digestive system slows or stops—is one of the most common emergencies, identifiable by reduced appetite, small or absent droppings, and lethargy. This condition can rapidly deteriorate within hours, making prompt intervention with fluid therapy, pain management, and specialized feeding formulas like Oxbow Critical Care essential.
Appetite Restore
Sherwood Pet Health's Appetite Restore is a specialized nutritional supplement designed to stimulate eating in rabbits experiencing decreased appetite or recovery from illness. This palatable formula contains a blend of herbs and nutrients specifically selected to encourage natural feeding behaviors in reluctant eaters. The syringe-friendly consistency makes it easy to administer directly or mix with water for rabbits needing hydration support alongside appetite stimulation.
Digestive Supplement
Oxbow Digestive Support is a specialized supplement designed to promote healthy gut function in rabbits experiencing minor digestive upset. The tablet formula contains a blend of prebiotics, probiotics, and natural plant ingredients that help maintain proper intestinal flora balance and support normal digestive processes. Many rabbit owners keep this product on hand as a first-line defense when they notice subtle changes in their pet's eating habits or stool production. The easy-to-administer tablets can be given directly or crushed and mixed directly into pellets
Gas Relief Drops
Gas drops can be a helpful aid for Holland Lops experiencing bloating or gastrointestinal discomfort. Hollands have sensitive digestive systems that can sometimes develop painful gas bubbles, especially during diet transitions or stress. Simethicone drops (the same active ingredient found in infant gas drops) are generally considered safe for rabbits when used occasionally and at appropriate dosages. Always consult with a rabbit-savvy veterinarian before administering any medication, as proper diagnosis is crucial..
Making The Decision To Spay or Neuter
Once your bunny reaches their hormonal stage (typically 6 months), we strongly recommend spaying or neutering if breeding isn't in your plans. Here's why this matters:
Your sweet bunny's personality can go through dramatic changes as hormones kick in. Some may begin mounting, spraying urine, or developing nipping behaviors. Their previously perfect litter box habits might suddenly deteriorate. Many become territorial over their living space, toys, and even their favorite humans!
Female Hollands may experience false pregnancies where they pull out fur to build nests and sometimes even produce milk. You might notice increased vocalization with grunting and thumping, along with new destructive chewing behaviors.
I should mention that not every intact Holland will display all these behaviors - some might just occasionally mount things, while others remain their perfect angelic selves! In our experience none of our intact adults bite (that's typically an extreme case we hear about from pet homes where territorial or hormonal issues weren't properly addressed).
The benefits of spaying/neutering far outweigh the drawbacks. The only real concerns are the cost (which varies widely by region) and the minimal anesthesia risk when performed by qualified professionals. This leads to my most crucial advice: always choose an experienced exotic vet for rabbit procedures. Regular dog/cat veterinarians without small animal expertise should never alter your precious Holland Lop - that's when anesthesia complications typically occur.
Quality exotic veterinary practices have the specialized knowledge and equipment that rabbits require for safe procedures. Reputable clinics will actually decline to treat animals they aren't properly equipped to handle. Check out the link below to locate an exotic vet in your area.
