What colors do holland lop rabbits come in?

This was a question I found after reviewing the search strings people used to find my Blog.  I guess I would start with, what color DON’T Holland Lops come in?!  I believe they have the most recognized colors of any ARBA breed.   Here is a list using the 2006-2010 Standard of Perfection.  Note – most all of these colors can be solid or broken.

(7) Agouti Group – Chestnut, Chocolate Agouti, Chinchilla, Chocolate Chinchilla, Lynx, Opal,  Squirrel (Blue Chin).  It’s interesting that Lilac Chin’s are not recognized…

(4) Pointed White Group – Black, Blue, Chocolate and Lilac

(6) Self Group – Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Blue Eyed White (BEW), Ruby Eyed White (REW)

(8) Shaded Group – Sable Point, Siamese Sable, Seal, Smoke Pearl, Tortoise (Black Tort, Blue Tort, Chocolate Tort, and Lilac Tort)

(4) Tan Pattern – Otters in Black,  Blue, Chocolate and Lilac

(8) Ticked Group – Steel in Black, Blue, Chocolate and Lilac with Gold or Silver Tipping.

(5) Wide Band Group – Cream, Fawn, Frosty, Orange, Red.  Note: Just because they are in the wide-band group, does NOT mean they are genetic wide-bands.  As a rule, ONLY the Red are actually genetic wide-bands (ww).

That is a total of 42 colors (phenotypes).  Most of those can also be broken or solid.  So, 84 colors total.  However, REW’s and BEW’s look identical no matter if they are broken or solid.  So, that brings us down to 82.  Then, broken Pointed White’s would most likely be unacceptable so I’m ignoring them (you would not want to introduce the broken allele into Pointed Whites anyway).  So, 78 recognized colors (phenotypes) for Holland Lops.  Hope I did that right!

I have a work-in-progress page on my website, showing pictures of Hollands in the different colors as I come across them:  Holland Lop Kit & Coat Colors.

Oh my gosh.  I completely forgot about the Tri-colors (not listed in the Standard as they were approved after it was printed).  So, 4 more colors to add – Black/Orange Tri, Blue Cream Tri, Chocolate Tri, and Lilac Tri’s.  Now we are back up to 82 colors.

Peanut Peek

He opened his eyes today; Day 12.

"What's out there?"

LL Avalance x Broo's Chase

Avalanche had one live kit today.  He is enormous – a normal I’m sure.  He was two days over and you can tell.  A little bit of fur showing up on him.

This should give you some idea of how small the peanut is.  Peanut is 12 days and the kit is not even 10 minutes old.  Two kits at opposite ends of the spectrum!

“No Fly Zone”

GBF's No-Fly-Zone

Ha – get it?  NO butterFLY…no fly zone?  Sigh…

BJD 2.5 months old.  This litter was pretty unique.  Three does.  One with no butterfly.  One with a half butterfly.  And one with a full butterfly.  And, one solid buck.

Jess’s Peanut

Here are some pictures of Jess’s 3 kits that are now 10 days old, particularly of the little Harli peanut.  I’ve never had them make it long enough for their eyes to open.  13 days is my oldest.  Maybe this little one will will be the first…

The Harli peanut and his Lilac sibling.

So tiny.

Broken cream and Lilac.

Could be a Chocolate-Cream...

Jess Preparing Her Nest

ARR’s Jess was due yesterday, August 15th.  She starting snatching up hay in the afternoon to prepare her nest for the babies to come.  She was so funny.  I’d give her a handful of hay and she would immediately start stuffing it into her mouth to put into her nestbox.  I would go back later and all the hay would be off the cage wire and in the box.  So, I’d give her another handful of hay.  She would hop right up and start gathering it all.  I did that three times.  Busy mama!

When I checked on her last night, about 10:30, she had delivered SEVEN kits.  One was DOA.  And there were several peanuts.  More pictures to come.

Holland Lop Photo Shoot: Color Projects & Others

Finally got around to taking some pictures of the Holland Lops on Monday.  It was cool enough and a beautiful day, so I figured I had better take advantage of it.

Chocolate Project Juniors

These first two are lilac factored does.  They aren’t perfect, but they do have good bone and have nice type.  Would like to bring the crowns up higher on their heads.

GBF's Airdrie (GBF's Enderby x Holland Haven's Lila); SJD

GBF's Ella (GBF's Enderby x Holland Haven's Lila); SJD

Then the sibling bucks.  GBF’s Milo, could carry chocolate and/or dilute as both of his parents were lilac carriers.  Doesn’t it figure that the broken tort buck would be tons nicer then his lilac tort brother?

GBF's Milo (SA's Magnum x Dowling's Calla); BJB

GBF's Manitou (SA's Magnum x Dowling's Calla); Lilac Tort SJB

Cream Project

Cream Jr. Doe (ELS Columbus x LL Julia)

Young Seniors

GBF's Beretta (GBF's Pistol Pete x GBF's Topeka)

GBF's Beretta - 7 mths.

GBF's Brimstone (GBF's Indy x GBF's Simone) - just turned Sr. She is still filling out.

GBF's Bronwyn (L&R Emerson x GBF's Tahlia)

Bronwyn just turned senior on the 24th.

2010 St. Joseph County 4H Fair

Haley in her 'show whites' - Sr. Showmanship - Rsv. Champion

The goat show started first thing Monday morning.  Showmanship classes were first.  This was Haley’s first year in Sr. Showmanship.  She was thrilled to get Rsv. Champion.   This was Abby’s first year in Intermediate Showmanship and she did well also – 4th place.

Abby & Skipper on the cart course.

Skipper was a bit balky this year and Abby had to keep him focused.

Almost done.

Finished. Whew. Mom can breath now. Rsv. Champion.

The Cart Class immediately followed Showmanship.  Abby & Skipper had won Champion Cart Goat for the past 2 years.  They were ‘dethroned’ this year by our friends daughter and her goat.  But Abby & Skipper still did very well.

Haley walking in Nellie (5+ milking Swiss Sr. Doe Class). 1st Place.

Swiss class winners: Haley & Nellie (5+ yrs); Abby & Tabu (2 - 3 year); Lucas showing Ju-Ju (1 - 2 year).

Nellie won Champion and Tabu was Rsv. Champion.  They both went on to compete against the Nubian winners.  Nellie won Grand Champion Sr. Dairy Doe and Tabu was Rsv. Grand Champion.

Haley & Abby walking in two of our March kids.

Haley showing Jezabelle in unfreshened doe class (1 - 2 yr).

Lucas holding Nellie and Haley holding Elenore in Mother/Daughter. Winners.

Abby with her trophies and Nellie. Abby actually won Rsv. Grand Champion Sr. Dairy Doe with Tabu, but the heat was stressing Tabu and we didn't want to pull her out of the barn to take her picture.

Abby with Toots - Champion Swiss Jr. Doe

Abby with her buddy, Skipper.

The Rabbit Show was on Thursday.  The EA’s were on the table fairly early, with the Hollands immediately after.  The girls were the only ones there with EA’s – they took 3 total – so winning BOB & BOS wasn’t a surprise.   The girls also won BOB & BOS in the Holland Lops.   Abby won BOSG with her Netherland Dwarf Chestnut Sr. Buck, Napoleon.   So, they had 2 rabbits up for 4Class.    It WAS a surprise when Baize (the Jr. English Angora) was chosen as 4-Class winner!

Abby and Ki (both in purple) at the table watching the EA's being judged. Haley is behind Ki, you can't really see her.

BOB Holland Lop: GBF's Airdrie; Blue Jr. Doe

Haley waiting with Baize (4 Class winner) and another 4H'r with her Black Satin (6 Class winner) for the BIS announcement.

Haley just found out Baize had won BIS!

It was a REALLY BIG surprise, when Haley and Baize won Best in Show!

Abby was a bit disappointed with the fair this year, although, she still did really well.  We were putting the turkeys in the carriers to take them to the fair, and her hen got away and was totally uncatchable.  So, Abby was only able to enter her Tom (a pair is required).  Haley ended up winning Grand Champion Exhibition Turkeys with her pair of Bourbon Reds.

When they were deciding which bunnies they would take, Abby had the EA that I thought was the best and Haley had the Holland that I thought was the best.  The other bunnies were divided fairly between them (or so I thought).  Ha – so much for trying to guess what the judge likes.  Both the Hollands that won BOB & BOS were entered by Haley.  As was the EA.  So, Abby was quite irritated that her sister was getting all the hardware and glory.

She also got a short-straw with her market goat.  There were 2 heavy weight classes.  Haley’s goat (86#) was the heaviest in his group and Abby’s (90#) was 2nd to lightest in her group.  Haley won her class.  Abby was next to last.  This judge likes to pick a very heavy market goat and Abby didn’t stand a chance against the 122# monster the judge picked.  Haley ultimately lost to the 122# goat.  You just never know.

I purchased a hog from 4H friends and had it processed, so our freezer is full of yummy smoked pork chops, hams and sausage.  We also bought and processed a goat.  AND the broilers were taken in shortly after fair.  So, we are stocked for the winter.

Another fair done.  Now for the aftermath… cleanup.

GC GBF’s Topeka: My First Litter

Had a quick photo shoot today.  These are 3 of Topeka and Pistol Pete’s babes (there is a fourth solid tort, but he just refused to pose – he’s a leaner).  They are just shy of 3 months.  Do you notice a theme with the names??

GBF's Kimber (doe). Nice heavy bone.

GBF's Kimber.

My pick of the litter, GBF’s Beretta:

GBF's Beretta (doe). Short, compact.

GBF's Beretta

GBF's Beretta

And, her brother Wesson:

GBF's Wesson

Gbf's Wesson (buck). Heavy bone.

GBF's Wesson

Junior Pictures

Finally able to get some pictures taken… many still left to do, but here is a start on some of our young juniors that we have right now.  I seem to have a lot of does for a change!  Following pictures are all does:

GBF's Alameda (thf Saynora's Zorion x GBF's Quicksilver)

GBF's Brimstone (GBF's Indy x GBF's Simone)

GBF's Brimstone.

GBF's Surrey (Broo's Chase x L&R Sedalia)

GBF's Surrey.

GBF's Fernie (GBF's Pistol Pete x GBF's Petals)

GBF's Sydney (ARR's Angry Squirrel x Karrot Kreek's Quay)

GBF's Noir (SA's Magnum x GBF's Cadee)

GBF's Jello (GBF's Opie x Cox's Kinzee) - Cream doe. I call her Brooks, and Haley calls her Jello. What kind of name is "Jello"??

Friday at Last

I hate winter.  All the water dishes are froze like a rock now, and it sure doesn’t take very long for that to happen either.  Thank goodness the poultry waters have heated bases and goats have heated buckets, so they are easily taken care of.  But the bunnies… that’s another issue.

While banging out frozen dishes last night, about 9:00 pm I think, Sasha started barking.  Not that THAT is anything usual.  But, when Toby follows suite, you know something is up.  I hurried out the North-east end of the barn to see Toby and Sasha chasing three coyotes off across the field.  I’m not sure how close they were to the barn when Sasha encountered them.  (Yes, it was dark, but there is snow on the ground and you can see fairly well even when it’s dark).  The coyotes sauntered towards the woods, stopping occasionally to see if the dogs really meant business or not.  They must have kept slinking back towards the barn, because the dogs would errupt into barking once in awhile.  Neat to see the coyotoes, but kinda of scarey at the same time… how close do they really get to the barn?  Do they actually ever come into the barn?  I’m not worried about them attacking us, but worried about the animals.

Snapping a few pictures today…

GBF’s Charlemagne (GC GBF’s Caden x Cox’s 3J224).  He is 5-months old today.

GBF's Charlemange

Then, GBF’s Caldera (GBF’s Tobias x L&R Cookie).   She is a normal, but I think she is very nice for a normal.  Breeding her to L&R Emerson today.  She has such a clean coat and big head!

GBF's Caldera.

GBF’s Baron (ELS Elden x GBF’s Bridgette) is due today.  (Her dam is also sired by Elden.)   She’s been pulling a little fur this morning, but nothing at last check.   I bred her to Pistol Pete (ELS Elden x ELS Lucy) this time.  A ‘little bit’ of line breeding going on there.  We’ll see how it turns out.