About Lionheads
Breeding good-quality Lionhead rabbits is a complex process. Because the breed is so new and a standard has only recently been established, different breeders have been working toward different goals with their herds. Here at Grande Lions we are working toward developing a small, compact rabbit with short, upright ears and a luxurious mane.
Lionheads come in two varieties: single mane and double mane The only sure way to tell a single-maned Lionhead from a double-maned one is at birth. The fur of the single-manes will grow uniformly until the mane starts to grow in when the kits are about three to four weeks old. The double-manes will appear bald on their cheeks and flanks for about a week. The wool will grow more slowly than their normal fur so the kits will appear "shaved" until they are about two to three weeks old. Then they will start to "fluff out".
Mane modifiers determine how much wool a Lionhead will have. Lions with lots of modifiers are sometimes referred to as "super manes" which are often mistaken for "Teddy" Lions. Teddy Lionheads posses the wool gene like Jersey Woolies or American Fuzzy Lops. The wool gene is separate from the mane gene. This causes wool all over the body which will never shed out. Teddies can make wonderful pets, but should be avoided in a breeding herd.
Breeding good-quality Lionhead rabbits is a complex process. Because the breed is so new and a standard has only recently been established, different breeders have been working toward different goals with their herds. Here at Grande Lions we are working toward developing a small, compact rabbit with short, upright ears and a luxurious mane.
Lionheads come in two varieties: single mane and double mane The only sure way to tell a single-maned Lionhead from a double-maned one is at birth. The fur of the single-manes will grow uniformly until the mane starts to grow in when the kits are about three to four weeks old. The double-manes will appear bald on their cheeks and flanks for about a week. The wool will grow more slowly than their normal fur so the kits will appear "shaved" until they are about two to three weeks old. Then they will start to "fluff out".
Mane modifiers determine how much wool a Lionhead will have. Lions with lots of modifiers are sometimes referred to as "super manes" which are often mistaken for "Teddy" Lions. Teddy Lionheads posses the wool gene like Jersey Woolies or American Fuzzy Lops. The wool gene is separate from the mane gene. This causes wool all over the body which will never shed out. Teddies can make wonderful pets, but should be avoided in a breeding herd.
This single-maned lionhead shows a nice mane around the head with very little flank wool. This wool pattern is most desirable in show rabbits.
This double-maned rabbit shows good, clean ears and back. Note the break between the mane and flank wool.
The ‘super maned’ lionhead is a double-maned rabbit with excessive wool on the face, ears and/or back. They may look like a teddy when young, but the excess wool will eventually shed out.
The ‘teddy bear’ lionhead has wool all over the body. It may be single or double maned.