Bunny Breed Guide: New Zealand White Rabbit
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New Zealand Whites are popular rabbits as pets, in the show ring, and unfortunately in the laboratory and meat/fur farm. New Zealand White Rabbits are easily distinguished by their relatively large and solid bodies covered in dense white fur, their upstanding white ears, and their red eyes. New Zealand Whites have become the poster child of the Easter Season, and are often depicted as being the Easter Bunny.
The name "New Zealand White" is a bit of a misnomer however, as New Zealand Whites were originally bred in America. They were destined for the meat and fur trade even at their inception, and fate has not been much kinder with their widespread use in laboratories. However, as with many animals bred to be slaughtered or tested on, the New Zealand White Rabbit has a cheerful and friendly disposition. They are affectionate, intelligent, and one of the easier breeds to teach tricks. These factors make the New Zealand White an ideal pet choice, as unlike many of the other rabbit breeds, they are less likely to be standoffish and aggressive.
How big will they get ?
Generally New Zealand White Rabbits grow to the following sizes:
Buck: 4 - 5 kgs / 9 - 11 lbs
Doe: 4.5 - 5.5 kgs / 10 - 12 lbs
If you are interested in showing your New Zealand White Rabbit, here are some of the characteristics you should be looking for:
Head: Should be strong and muscular looking, but should not be out of proportion with the rest of the body. The neck should not be long, in fact, a non-existent looking neck is highly regarded in the New Zealand White Rabbit. Those little red eyes should be bright and alert, and should be a nice deep red, and the ears should stand erect.
Body: The New Zealand White should have a broad and muscular body, well shaped, with large, long back feet and short front feet. There should be plenty of 'meat on the bones', though this should not tip over into sloppy heaviness. The toenails should be either white or flesh colored. The fur should be nice and dense, and should be a lovely white color. It should not be too soft, but have a stiffness to it. If your rabbit is moulting, it is not a good time to show him or her.
Faults: It is not considered positive if a New Zealand White is too long, or too short in the body, has fur that is woolly or stained, or that tends towards a yellowy cream color rather than white. Long narrow heads also find disfavor, as do ears that don't stand nicely erect.
Showing rabbits can be a lot of fun, but even if your New Zealand White isn't a champion, they are sure to be a delightful pet and a quiet and gentle companion.
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Comments
I love to play volleyball too! And I have 2 dogs. My buck rabbit right now is named Tibble. I still dont know what to name the others. I was thinking either Rose, Bell, or Lily. What do you think?
I am going to get 1 rabbit. It is going to be a New Zealand. I am going to name it blossom. Do you think that is a good name?
great name Abby! I'm also looking to get a new zealand white rabbit. I am still looking at different names as i love to name my pets and it take sme a long time to find the perfect name!
Well, bunniez...It's so true about a New Zealand White.... My Felix is a New Zealand White, he's so friendly, intelligent, and seems to understand few things. Once he sees me packing my things to my bag (the routines before I go to campus) he'll hop to his cage and sit sweetly... and when he sees me coming home, he'll bite the wire-wall, asking me to get him out of his cage, and then dance around my feet happily. The surprising thing (maybe because he's a male) he always thumps at me, or growls, or nips my toes everytime he sees me talking to a man/boy... and the more silly thing, he likes to tease the neighbor's dog until the dog's crying in desperation (he'll approach the dog only if the dog's tied in a leash...if the dog in unleashed, Felix won't even dare to wander out of the house!).... Smart, isn't he?
I just can't understand why many people say "I'm getting sick of seeing those red eyes" everytime they see a New Zealand White.... perhaps they should stay with me overnight and watch Felix...it would make them understand how precious this breed is.
iv got a new zealand and its called bruce, its growlls at people and like salt and vinigar french fry crisps, and buscuits.
Salt and vinegar crisps and biscuits are not very good for your bunny. It may like them, but they can make it sick.
My grandad bought me and my sister a newzealand rabbit each on the 21/08/08 and he is going to get us a buck to breed. My sisters is called paige mine is called fluffy their both females.
Unfortuantely the author of this piece on New Zealand Whites is oblivious to the fact that many people,myself included, gain sustenance from these animals and have every right in the world to continue doing so. To list as "unfortunate" the fact that some are used for food is ridiculous. We need , as a society , to get away from wimpy and politically correct notions of how others are supposed to "feel" about animals. I do not believe in cruelty and cull my meat rabbits quickly and efficiently, and they make absolutely fabulous meals and this is indeed a very "local" food as it is produced in my backyard. I take umbrage at those who are so ignorant of sustainable farming and are such wimps they have to resort to talking about how "cute" animals are to get their point across. If this is all the intellectual weapons they have, God help them!
i just got a mini lop/new zealand white and he is 10 weaks old i whanted to know about how big he will get.and what to name him he is so cute.
They may make good pets but they taste even better!!
I have a one year old New Zealand white and her name is Sparkle! I love her very much, and she is an excellent pet! Very friendly and playful! :)
Hi does anyone know were to find a nz white breader in NewZealand??? Im wanting to get one but dont know anyone that breads rabbits. lolz, thanks.
i have a doe new zealand white and her anme is cloe.she is sooo cute and already knows a trick!!!im sooo happy but i still dont no how much im sposed to be feeding her...any ides?
boo
theese rabts r cool
Im adopting a NZW this wensday 1-21-09 from the San Mateo SPCA
So i am reachering them. This page was helpful ^.^
my friend told me to feed him pineappel once in a while, to help disolve the hair in his tummy. That true?
anyways iv named my bunny "Iko Iko"
i am getting 2 new zealand rabbits in a day or two and i am so exited about it!!! They are so cute!!! Just thought that id share that with you.
I also love NZW. I enjoyed this site very much with the pictures, captions, and espically the coments. I am a God fearing man and I love the Lord. In his book he tells me that all living things were put here for the benefit of Mankind. It tells me that if it benefits Mankind to eat the flesh of a rabbit then God bless them. Likewise if it benefit Mankind to love and befriend a rabbit then God blesses them also. Thank you, and God bless all Rabbit Lovers.
i like to eat them
i just got a new zeland white for my birthdaty. she is a month old nd i named her q-tip cuz she's all white but her feet,tail,ears and nose are grey. she's adorable and so friendly.
great starter bunny!
I just got three new zealand whites, 2 females and a male. and we are going to be breeding them. One of the females are 5 weeks old, and i wanted to start training her to walk on a leash. are there any tips that anyone knows on how to do that?
I don't have experience with that sort of training but can suggest a walking leash, that doesn't put a lot of pressure on the neck but distributes it over the shoulders so you don't break its neck or back. It's a harness actually. Works on cats.
Thats what I read online. Im going to get a cat harness at first. and a light weight leash.
I just got two New Zealand whites. I wanted to show them at the fair...but I don't know what to feed them. Anyways I realy like them.
my doe has in the last couple days given birth to ten babies but as yet i have not seen her feed them is this normal they all seem well but i am worried they will starve because i do not want to interfere thanks urgent reply please
I would ask a vet!!!
It´s really ironic, because rabbit is my favorite food...
But my bunny is also just about the best pet I´ve ever had, new zealand white :D .. will that stop me from eating rabbit? no, will it stop me from loving my bunny and not eating him? no...
however lab testing on animals is wrong, test on yourselves but not animals..
as for farming them, we are humans we require it :/
Hi my name is marie i have 10 bunnys i love bunnys. i have 1 newzealand bunny..... see you leter.
hi i have 104 bunnys 51 of them are new zaelands this wedsid is dum
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hi i have 3 bunny i love this web sit
Jessica says:
2 years ago
Hey I love rabbits. I just started 4-H and I have 1 rabbit so far. I am going to get 5 more soon! Just thought I would share with you.