Mini LopBunnies 
ABOUT MINI LOPS 


Things you need to know.

So you have decided a mini lop is the perfect pet for you! But what happens next? 


On this page we will discuss what housing your mini lop needs, how to keep them safe around other pets, what foods are safe and what foods are not safe for your mini lop, and also cover weather conditions and how they can affect your new little bundle of love.


It is a great idea to do as much research as you can prior to purchasing any pet so you know the best way to take care of your pet and to understand the breed.


Lets look at Inside Housing: 


Mini Lop Bunnies can be an indoor or an outdoor pet, either way they still need a safe place to rest, play and sleep. Mini lops can be toilet trained with time and patience, so if you plan to have your mini lop inside a lot this is a great idea. Other inside considerations are to be aware of your cords. Mini lops do like to chew and also love little hiding spots under desks, so it is best to protect these areas and also your bunny by securing the area. It is best to still have a rabbit enclosure for you bunny to sleep in at night and rest in during the day, just like us they like the familiar feeling of their own bedroom.


How do mini lops go with other pets? Your mini lop will need protection from weather and from other animals both wild and domestic. Some domestic pets will get along fabulous with your mini lop, others will not. So it is best to separate them until you can safely introduce them and keep a close eye on their interaction. Do not leave them unattended especially when you have a kit (baby bunny). Older bunnies are better at getting away, but still it is best to be cautious. We have a Moodle dog who is great with all our bunnies. Our oldest mini lop Buck (male rabbit) is Batman and he is comfortable with all our domestic pets and hops around our yard freely with both our dogs without issue. They play together and even sleep together. But it takes time for pets to become comfortable and some cats and dogs will never make good play mates for a bunny, so just make sure you play it safe. 


Outside Housing: Your mini lop will need appropriate outdoor housing. The best are hutches that combine both a secure, protected space out of the wind and rain and also some space to hop around and play as well as exercise. If you google mini lop hutches, or rabbit hutches you will see many options an many different prices pop up. What you choose will depend on your budget, I highly recommend a wooden enclosure with a water proof roof. There needs to be a section where the bunny can hide away from wind and rain and also direct sunlight in the hotter months. This area should be filled with pasture hay available from any good pet store.  Pet stores can be more expensive than on line stores for bunny hutches, but can sometimes be better quality so it is a good idea to take a look and compare measurements. Mini lops are smaller bunnies so they don't need massive enclosures, but still some space to hop around is ideal. It is a good idea to talk to someone in a pet store and look at what they have even if you go for an online option. Most online hutches will come flat packed and need putting together. Full wire and plastic hutches are OK for indoor use or outdoor rooms that are sheltered and protected from wind and weather, but I don't recommend them for outdoor use. 
















You will also require a bunny run, or play pen. Bunnies need exercise time, so it is great to have a run for them. Some hutches have these already attached which is great. Just remember though that a portable one means you can move it around, and it will offer your bunny fresh grass and stop one spot on your lawn becoming muddy. Making a hutch or run portable also means you can move it around as seasons change. Your garage or a shed can also be a space you can put a bunny hutch, but remember to be careful in the hot summer months that these spaces don't overheat!! Overheating will kill your precious bunny. Also remember you bunny will love fresh air so an outdoor secured run is ideal! 










Let's talk water: On the right you will see a couple of images ofwater bottles I recommend. We use the glass ones. They hang upside down attached to the hutch wire, or play 

pen wire. There is a floating ball which indicates the amount of water

left. Make sure your mini lop always has fresh water!



Food and Water: Mini lops drink a lot of water and you need to ensure they stay hydrated. I prefer the use of water bottles as I mentioned above, rather than a bowl of water. Mini lops should not get too wet and if they have a bowl they are more likely to spill the water and wet their bedding.


Mini lops require some dried food everyday, a healthy rabbit mix from your local pet store will be ideal. I use the Pet Stores Rabbit Mix, or I can advise you of someone who makes up great feed. I also use Oaten Hay for their bedding which they eat as well as use to keep cosy. Your mini lop will enjoy eating your back yard grass. Make sure you look up what plants and flowers are dangerous for bunnies. If your plants are safe and you are happy to let your mini lop roam free in your fenced in yard, then they will happily nibble some leaves too. 


 Introduce fruit and veg in small amounts. Vegetables should not be cooked and you should not give your mini lop left overs from your own meal.












Surprisingly some foods you may have grown up to believe are what rabbits eat they are actually dangerous for your mini lop. Lettuce is usually the biggest surprise to people, but lettuce is not a safe food for your mini lop! 


DO NOT FEED YOUR MINI LOP

  • apple seeds
  • lettuce
  • tomato leaves
  • grapes
  • salad
  • orange peel
  • cherries
  • coffee beans
  • daisy flowers
  • daffodil bulbs 
  • fox glove 




What foods are safe for Mini Lops after 3 months?

  • carrots (not the roots though)
  • pumpkin
  • strawberries
  • cucumber
  • broccoli 
  • kale
  • blueberries
  • sage
  • green beans
  • apple (but no seeds)
  • turnip
  • parsnip
  • spinach
  • sunflowers and seeds
  • fennel
  • mint
  • beet tops
  • clover
  • asparagus
  • pear
  • peach

 

:did you know fresh cut home grown roses are a yummy food for your mini lop! Even the stems.


  :note root vegetables are better than fruit. Too much fruit can give your bunny the runs, so feed them fresh fruits in moderation.


  :You can google safe and unsafe foods if you are unsure. It is always best to keep a list handy so you remember what is safe.

OK so let's talk WEATHER.


Hot days: Mini lops need extra care in the hot months of the year. 

  • Make sure they have extra fresh water throughout the day. Water is a must! They will drink more in hot weather so make sure if you are out all day you give them an extra bottle!
  • Provide shade! 
  • On very hot days you can add a frozen plastic hard freezer pack/blocks in their hutch. Even fill old water, soft drink bottles with water and freeze those.
  • Make sure they have good airflow!
  • You can lightly spray mist onto your mini lop if they are over 3 months. Never soak a mini lop though.
  • Consider putting them inside on very hot days.
  • If weather reaches over 30 degrees please watch your mini lop closely and ensure their water remains cool to drink.
  • Give their faces a wipe with a cool face cloth
  • If you have more than one mini lop it may be best to separate them so they don't cuddle in the heat.
  • A damp towel can be placed over the roof of the hutch to help on hot days.





Cold Weather and Wet Weather:


Mini lops can not dry themselves, so therefore it is not a good idea for them to get wet! If your mini lop accidentally gets wet ensure you dry it gently with a towel and give it a cuddle. Ensure you put it back into a dry hutch with fresh, dry oaten hay!


Make sure you choose a hutch that is going to provide your mini lop with protection from rain, if the hutch or hay gets wet ensure you change it as soon as possible. Never bath your mini lop. You can wash their feet or around their bottoms if need be, but do it on a warm day and dry your bunny as best as you can.


Angle the hutch away from windy or rainy weather. Ensure roof does not leak.

  • Keep bunnies out of the rain.
  • Angle hutch away from rain.
  • Keep your mini lops dry.
  • check for leaks.
  • Keep hay dry and fresh always.