The lionhead rabbit originated in Belgium and has been recognized since 2002 by the British Rabbit Council and the North American Lionhead Rabbit Club. They have long hair that surrounds their face called a mane just like a male lion. They have a rounded head and usually weigh between 2.5 and 3.5 pounds. They have slightly shorter ears than most other rabbit breeds that usually grow no longer than 3 inches. The litter size for the lionhead is normally between 5 to 7 bunnies but can sometimes have more. There are multiple different color genetics for this breed. This includes colors from the self family, shaded family, agouti family, red or white banded family, tan pattern family, broken family, Vienna gene family, harlequin family, pointed white family and the steel family. Epilepsy is a common health concern in the English lionhead bloodlines. This is something to be aware of if you have or are planning on purchasing one of these rabbits. There is plenty of information on the internet about this problem. If you are planning on getting a lionhead, be sure to do thorough research so that your pet will be able to have a long, healthy, and happy life.
They are very well tempered and very friendly. They love attention and crave companionship. It is usually better to have 2 of these rabbits in a hutch together if they can get along. If they do not get along in the hutch together you should have a second hutch butted up against the first one so that they still have a companion close to them that they can still somewhat interact with. Hutches should be large enough for the rabbits to run around and get plenty of exercise. If your hutch is outside than you should make sure to have some kind of protection from the weather for them. During the hot summer days fill 2 liter pop bottles with water and freeze them. Place the frozen bottles inside the hutch and this will keep them cool. Plenty of straw should be placed in and around the hutches during the cold winter months to provide heat.
Water bottles, quality rabbit food, and timothy hay are best for these rabbits. Bunnies less than 4 months old should not be fed anything but pellet food and hay. You can use small water dishes for the rabbits but make sure that they are getting plenty to drink. Water bottles are a more sufficient choice for them. You can feed bunnies over 4 months things like dandelions, lettuce and grass in small amounts.
The lionhead rabbit needs lots of care when it comes to their hair. It needs to be brushed to keep from matting. Brushing the hair to hard can cause loss of hair. It can also cause you to pull out their mane, and undercoat. Use a wig brush, a slicker brush and a comb for mats. If you do not like to do a lot of brushing you should opt for a different breed of rabbit. Make sure to keep your rabbits hutches clean. They will choose one spot where they will do their business all the time and it may be easier for you to train them to use a small liter box.
The lionhead rabbit can be an excellent pet and excellent show rabbit. They have a beautiful unique look to them. They need attention, and actually crave it. Proper nutrition and care for your lionhead will give them a much healthier and happier life.
