Lionhead Mane

The most important feature of a Lionhead rabbit. I sorts them out from any other breed. Manes come in all different fashions and not one is like the other. Here are the diffferent typesyou can have:

Single Mane

Single Manes (Mm) often loose their manes as an adult, but not always. Most breeders have stopped working on them because of their instability. A single mane can have no maned, single mane, and double maned babies. It didn't make much sence and seemed better to work with double mane rabbits. Now you will not be able to tell the difference between a single mane and a no mane at birth. About 5 weeks along though you single manes will blood while the no manes will stay the same. They are born with fur evenly growing all over the body. A no maned rabbit is NOT considered a Lionhead no matter how many generations is behind it.

Double Mane

Double manes are born with bald flanks and necks. They will look quite odd to most babies of other species. This is where their mane will grow in later on. Seeing them at this age is really the only way to tell them apart from a single mane. Now double manes are considered MM. They often keep better manes than their single cousins. Doubles also seem to carry more flank wool and keep it wich is undersirable. This is why you may see many single manes beat out a double as juniors on the show table. A double mane bred to a double mane will never produce a single or no mane. I personally prefer to work with this type. It seems to be the most consistent in my Opinion.

"Super Mane/Teddy Bear"

This is basically a double mane with an overactive gene. Most rabbits shed out eventually. (At least on the back anyway). These are the ones who often keep a full mane into adulthood. But they do take more time to see how they will turn out. Lionheads are not a breed for a tight space. Many juniors will have to be waited on to fully shed what they are going to shed.