|
Hybrids like 3B's Pride shown here have ranked us 4th in the Nation in Sweepstakes points.the first year we showed.
Black otter jr. doe Best
of Breed at Watsonville
Click here to see our herd as it develops.
We are no longer raising these beautiful little guys. We decided to use the space to raise the rare breeds like Lilac and American Sables.
.
Won Best of Breed at Watsonville 7-13-03
I am well pleased with the small size and gentle nature of these cuddly little guys and look forward to many more along the way. This is the only breed I have ever raised where siblings never fight! I have had 3 bucks living together as long as six months without a scuffle! They do, however groom each other constantly which leaves the mane look like it was trimmed with pinking shears!
While they tend to be slightly timid they soon develop their own personalities and rule their world as a real King of the Jungle!
The challenge of this breed as with any developing breed is to maintain consistency in type, fur, mane and temperament. At this point it is difficult to guarantee that any Lionhead, hybrid or purebred, will hold it's mane as a senior. It is still one of the big challenges of the breed.
Breeding Lionheads is not for those short on patience and perserverence. It requires lots of cage space and a willingness to keep offspring long enough to know how they will develop and who to keep for the breeding program. They must be weaned and separated earlier than other breeds because they often overgroom each other's mane or chew it off completely. But for those who are willing to stick it out for the long haul, I think you will be rewarded.
The history and origin of the Lionheads is a topic of much conversation and I will include a number of links for you to explore at your leisure. They originated from a cross of a miniature Swiss Fox http://www.thebrc.org/swiss.htm (where Jersey Woolies found their start) http://www.bauernverband.ch/de/vielfalt_landwirtschaft/tiere_pflanzen/kaninchen/rassen/klein/schweizer_fuchs.htm and a Belgian Dwarf. I have also heard that the Petite Britannia was bred into the lines as well which provides the upright stance. Some of the photos I have seen certainly show the Petite Britania look while others appear to look more like English Angoras. So lots of work will be required to develop a true standard look to the breed.
There are several certificate holders and the Standard may vary slightly.
Currently the tortoise color is the only color to pass presentation.
Click here to visit the North American Lionhead Rabbit Club
Click here to visit British Lionhead Rabbit Site.
Click here to learn some general information about the Lionheads
History of the Lionhead by Bob Whitman
Arden Wetzel is the First Certificate Holder
Arden Wetzel (Mem. NALRC)
P.O. Box 264
Stewart, MN 55385
(320) 562-2470
awwetzelo2@aol.com
Gail Gibbons is the Second Certificate Holder
Gail Gibbons 20023 E. Bethel Blvd. Cedar, MN 55011 gibbons@black-hole.com
Bob Whitman - Third Certificate Holder:
Bob Whitman
2355 Rusk St.
Beaumont, TX 77702
(409) 835-0644
bob@rarebitsandpieces.com
MEET
OUR HERD (or should I say Pride?)
Well, not the entire herd but you get the idea.
More photos and details to follow soon.
This is 3B's Pride. Junior Himilayan doe f1 Hybrid to Netherland Dwarf. She now holds 7 Best of Breed wins in Exhibition.
Purebred Single Mane junior buck Alkinar's
Mortar - Best Opposite of Group Jersey Wooley Nationals
Snow Fortune's CCS Purebred
Single mane junior buck. Best Opposite of Breed Jersey Wooley Nationals
DJ's Susie - Double mane purebred. Has held her mane as senior. Now available for
sale. Proven good Mom.
Sable
Chinchilla Single mane f1 hybrid. "Cute Cat"
Super(
double dominant) mane (MM) senior doe Snow Fortune's Daisy - Still fully wooled over one
year of age. Now availabel for sale. Proven good Mom.
Hybrid f1 junior
Doe 3B's Brick Best of Breed Santa Rosa Exhibition 
Sable Hybrid f1
junior doe Snow Fortune's I Do
Tort
hybrid 3b's "Dandelion" - Cimmaron line
Sable hybrid double
mane 3B's Tiernon
Sable hybrid single
mane 3B's So Sable
Sable Chin doe 3B's Everyone's Favorite"
Black senior doe
hybrid - Alkinar's Design - has lovely mane as senior
Tort otter purebred
single mane doe - Snow Fortune's Desert Sun
Tort purebred single mane buck - Snow Fortune's Kir
Black single mane
purebred buck 3B's Sonic
Black single mane purebred
buck - DJ's Dixon
Frosty hybrid single
mane doe - Alkinar's Pretender -
Pretender's not much to look at but look what she produces!
Snow Fortune's Leo - Orange
single mane hybrid
3B's Firelight -
Orange single mane hybrid with poor mane that produces wonderful maned kits.
Snow Fortune's Noma - tort
purebred single mane. Never had much of a mane but throws lovely manes.