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Animal-World > Small Animals > Pet Rabbits > New Zealand Rabbits

New Zealand Rabbits
Pet Rabbits Index

New Zealand Rabbit

Family: Leporidae Picture of New Zealand Rabbit babies! Oryctolagus cuniculus Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough
Latest Reader Comment - See More
I LOVE my NZ rabbits! They are so sweet and they follow me around whereever I go. They are both potty-trained, too!... (more)  ABBY  2008-03-27

   You can't help falling in love with a New Zealand rabbit, especially when it gently nudges you, wanting a petting on its soft snowy white fur!

   The New Zealand babies in the picture above are just about 7 weeks old and are only about 2.2 pounds each. They are just as sweet and cuddly as any rabbit can be. They are munching on a green apple while they pose to have their pictures taken!

   The New Zealand is a wonderful rabbit and makes a great beginner bunny. They are quite social and outgoing, and enjoy being part of the family. They like everybody and most household pets, and they are not biters.

   One of their greatest features is that they usually love to be handled. Pick them up, set them down, or hold them in your lap! They are often likened to "big rag dolls" because they flop down kind of like a rag doll, accommodating any cuddly manner in which you wish to hold them. They can even be carried across your shoulder!

"Bob" is a New Zealand Rabbit

Dr. Jungle shares what Kim has to say about her New Zealand Rabbit..."Bob"!

 

"I'm the proudest mum ever!" ...Kim

Photo Courtesy: Kim

   As with all good sized rabbits, the New Zealand will need a bigger area to move around in. They do need regular excercise as they can gain weight easily. Keep treats to a minimum...even though you pet will beg you for them! The babies in our picture above will soon outgrow the cage we have them in!

For more information about Rabbits and their care:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Rabbit


Background:
   The New Zealand rabbit was first a red variety and became known in the United States about 1912. It is thought to be a cross between a Belgian Hare and a white rabbit. The white variety came about from cross breeding among several breeds such as the Flemish, American Whites, and Angoras. A black variety was also developed from various crossings which include the Giant Chinchilla.

   Historically thought of as a utility or working rabbit, the New Zealand rabbit has been selected for hundreds and hundreds of generations by people who work with rabbits. This is because they have good outgoing personalities and are easy to work with. They don't tend to bite or struggle and they don't get sick or have health problems nearly as often as other breeds.

Description:
   A medium sized rabbit, the New Zealand adult will get up to 11 pounds.

Color differences:
   As you can see in the picture above, the New Zealand rabbits are generally pure white rabbits with red eyes and pinkish coloring in their ears, but they can also be brick red or black.



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Latest Comments
I LOVE my NZ rabbits! They are so sweet and they follow me around whereever I go. They are both potty-trained, too!
ABBY
2008-03-27
Our little "Honey Bun" is 1/2 New Zealand and 1/2 Mini Lop. She is very gentle, active & clever. Her name is Kiwi, she loves apples & pears and is starting on her litter training. Kiwi loves to be held & cuddled, especially while we watch TV.
Amy Curtis
2008-03-26
New Zealand Rabbits are wonderful pets. I have had over 4 of them and i have shown them for over 3 years. I love working with them. They are very good show rabbits if you are interested in showing. They are fun to handle and they are very sweet animals to have. They do very well in shows. The thing that i like about the shows is that you have thounsands of other New Zealands to go against. It is a lot of fun.
Katie Dukeman
2007-12-11
My black 1-year old female new Zealand is a very kind and a very fast little bunnie. She is so much fun to hang out with.
matthew
2007-11-29
My New Zealand white is very calm and very nice.
Verity Johnson
2007-11-12
Some of the coolest comments:
What lovely buns! And what lovely people saying they love their buns! I love my little four pounders very much but I cannot resist dreaming about a huge New Zealand! Friends who have these huge buns always seem to have funny stories about them. But mine do the same things, only less visibly because of their size. Hugs from me and my house buns Bunkie and Taco who send bunny kisses to all these documented well cared for NZs
teri
2004-03-21
I also have a New Zealand white, but mine is a HUGE BRAT, but I dont blame her, she was raised in a chicken coop with other rabbits. So basically she had to defend herself from other territoral does(Girls) and horney bucks(Boys). All thay had to eat was chicken poop and algae infested water. This guy did not even get the breed name right! He called them californians. I am in rabbit 4-H so I show her, She does GREAT! She gets best of breed almost every show! So I basically rescued her. I named her Frost, But she still trys to defend her territory, but thats ok, because of her past. Owner of White rose Rabbitry Kristina
Kristina
2004-02-23





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