About Dutch Rabbits
The Dutch Rabbit is a very gentle and a well dispositional animal. They make a make a great rabbit for the beginner to the well advanced exhibitor.
Housing: Dutch rabbits are a smaller breed, thus they don't need a huge cage. 24"x24" is a good size.
Ventilation is a key to raising rabbits. If your rabbitry is too enclosed, the ammonia from their urine will be make a very unhealthy environment.
But rabbits do need protection from the cold winter winds.....and rain.
Breeding: Dutch rabbits gestation period is around 28-32 days. Average litter size is 6 kits. Kits are born blind, and eyes will open from 7-14 days.
When breeding rabbits, always remember to put the doe in the bucks cage. Does are very territorial and will attack the buck if he is placed in her "realm". :-)
Feed: Somehow a story got started on how rabbits live off of carrots and lettuce, this is NOT true. To maintain a happy healthy rabbit, you should feed them a quality rabbit pellet, which you can find at your local feed store. It is also good to feed them grass hay. Hay has lots of fiber, so it helps to keep them from blocking up with hair.
Treats: Rabbits love their treats, but they should not become their main food source. Here is a list of some of the treats you can feed your little bundle of joy: clover, carrots, apple slices (no seeds), Dried whole wheat bread, oats, dandelions, plantain leaves & sunflower seeds.
Please make sure when you are feeding things like dandelion and clover, that they have not been sprayed with chemicals.
Colors: There are 6 recognized colors in the Dutch rabbit. Black, Blue, Grey, Tortoise, Chocolate and Steele.
Housing: Dutch rabbits are a smaller breed, thus they don't need a huge cage. 24"x24" is a good size.
Ventilation is a key to raising rabbits. If your rabbitry is too enclosed, the ammonia from their urine will be make a very unhealthy environment.
But rabbits do need protection from the cold winter winds.....and rain.
Breeding: Dutch rabbits gestation period is around 28-32 days. Average litter size is 6 kits. Kits are born blind, and eyes will open from 7-14 days.
When breeding rabbits, always remember to put the doe in the bucks cage. Does are very territorial and will attack the buck if he is placed in her "realm". :-)
Feed: Somehow a story got started on how rabbits live off of carrots and lettuce, this is NOT true. To maintain a happy healthy rabbit, you should feed them a quality rabbit pellet, which you can find at your local feed store. It is also good to feed them grass hay. Hay has lots of fiber, so it helps to keep them from blocking up with hair.
Treats: Rabbits love their treats, but they should not become their main food source. Here is a list of some of the treats you can feed your little bundle of joy: clover, carrots, apple slices (no seeds), Dried whole wheat bread, oats, dandelions, plantain leaves & sunflower seeds.
Please make sure when you are feeding things like dandelion and clover, that they have not been sprayed with chemicals.
Colors: There are 6 recognized colors in the Dutch rabbit. Black, Blue, Grey, Tortoise, Chocolate and Steele.