Depending on the outcome that you are looking to achieve there are many factors to consider.
If you are looking to raise rabbits for showing, breeding, meat, or as a pet you will want to
choose the breed and circumstances that are right for you. In this section we will be mainly
focused on rabbits as pets, or companions. Please see the information on this site, and many
others regarding the differnces in breeds, and purposes.

Dwarf breed: These rabbits are generally less than 3lbs when fully grown. They are the type of
rabbit that is most available in pet stores as they require the least amount of space, and food to
thrive. Some issues that you may find with dwarf breeds are that the litter sizes are much smaller
than that of some of the larger breeds, and health issues are more common. The “dwarf” gene in
about 25% of cases can be leathel to developing kits and are responsible for many deaths in young rabbits, and they generally do not live fast about 4 days. They are also more susceptible to coccidiosis, an intestinal parasite that many times proves lethal to the young rabbits between three and ten weeks of age. We have also found that with the small frail conditions of a smaller
rabbit they are more easily injured. This can create fear in the rabbit and they will have more of
a tennancy to bite, scratch, and hide. All of this is not done out of viciousness, but the desire to
protect themselves. Dwarf breeds include:
• Britannia Petite (White, black, black otter, or chestnut agouti) 1-1/2 - 2-1/2 lbs
• Dwarf Hotot (White with black around its eyes) 2 - 3 lbs
• Jersey Wooley (Many colors - Angora wool) 2 - 3-1/2 lbs
• Netherland Dwarf (Many colors) 1-3/4 - 2-1/2 lbs
• Polish (Black, blue, chocolate, blue eyed white, ruby eyed white, and broken) 2 - 3-1/2 lbs

Small breed: These rabbits range from about 2 1/2 lbs to 5 lbs. They generally have one to
two more babies in each litter than a dwarf breed, and are not saceptable to the dwarf gene isses that we have in the dwarf breeds. They are still however more saceptable to coccidiosis than the larger breeds. They are still however more fragil than larger breeds, and so care is needed to ensure that they are not injured. Small breeds include:
• American Fuzzy Lop (Many colors - Angora fur - Lop Ears) 3 - 4 lbs
• Dutch (The feet, front half of torso and face are white, the other parts can be black, blue, chocolate, tortoise, steel, or brown-gray) 3-1/2 - 5-1/2 lbs
• Himalayan (White with colored ears, nose, feet, and tail of black, blue, lilac, or chocolate) 2-1/2 - 4-1/2 lbs
• Holland Lop (Lop ears - Many colors) 2-1/2 - 4 lbs
• Mini Rex (Rex coat - Many colors) 3 - 4-1/2 lbs

Medium breed: The rabbits classified as medium breed average between 4 1/2 to 7lbs fully mature. This size rabbit is generally not found in pet store except for possibly around Easter time. They are sometimes used by the meat industry, however they generally utilize larger rabbits. Medium breeds include:
• American Sable (Also good for meat) 7-10 lbs
• English Angora (Many colors) 5 - 7-1/2 lbs
• French Angora (Many colors - good also for meat) 7-1/2 - 10-1/2 lbs
• Satin Angora (Many colors) 6-1/2 - 9 lbs
• Belgian Hare (Not seen much - different body style) 6 - 9-1/2 lbs
• Standard Chinchilla 5 - 7-1/2 lbs
• English Spot (White with spots of black, blue, chocolate, gold, gray, lilac, or tortoise) 5 - 8 lbs
• Florida White 4 - 6 lbs
• Harlequin (Has alternate bands of color) 6-1/2 - 9-1/2 lbs
• Havana (Black, blue, or chocolate) 4-1/2 - 6-1/2 lbs
• Lilac 5-1/2 - 8 lbs
• Mini Lop (Lop ears - Many colors) 4-1/2 - 6-1/2 lbs
• Rhinelander (White with spots of black and orange) 6-1/2 - 10 lbs
• Silver (Black, brown, or fawn with white ticking) 4 - 7 lbs
• Silver Marten (Black, blue, chocolate, or sable with white on belly, flanks, jaw lines, and eye circles) 6 - 9-1/2 lbs
• Tan (Black, blue, chocolate, or lilac with tan on belly, flanks, jaw lines, and eye circles) 4 - 6 lbs

Large breed: These rabbits are generally used by the mead industry, and are generally between 8 and 12lbs. They are also used for their fur. Some are also called “fancy” rabbits because of unique fur patterns, or ear size. They are also very often used for show. These large breeds include:
• American (Blue or White) 9 - 12 lbs
• Beveren (Black, Blue, or White) 8 - 12 lbs
• Californian (White with black ears, nose, feet, and tail) 8 - 10-1/2 lbs
• Champagne D’Argent (Starts as black, mature is silver) 9 - 12 lbs
• American Chinchilla 9 - 12 lbs
• Cinnamon 8-1/2 - 11 lbs
• Creme D’Argent 8 - 11 lbs
• Hotot (White with black around its eyes) 8 - 11 lbs
• English Lop (Many colors - giant lop ears) 9 - 14 lbs
• French Lop (Many colors - regular lop ears) 10 - 15 lbs
• New Zealand (Black, Red, or White) The standard meat rabbit 9 - 12 lbs
• Palomino 8 - 11 lbs
• Satin (Shiny coat - many colors) 8-1/2 - 11 lbs
• Silver Fox (fur resembles fox) 9 - 12 lbs
Giant Rabbits: These rabbits can be up to 25 lbs, and are generally raised just because breeder like giant rabbits. They require a stronger, larger cage than all other breeds, and it takes a strong person to lift and handle these rabbits. Not many of these are bred, and so they are the most rare, but the demand is not great, and they can be difficult to sell. They are used to show, as they are generally appreciated in a rabbit show, but are mainly used for meat and fur. Giant breeds include:
• Checkered Giant (White with spots of black or blue) weight over 11 lbs
• Giant Chinchilla 12 - 16 lbs
• Flemish Giant (Black, blue, fawn, light gray, sandy, steel gray, or white) weight over 13 lbs