Rabbit Breeding

An Introduction to the Largest Rabbits on Earth

No rabbit breed is more awe inspiring than the Flemish Giant. These rabbits have been known to grow larger than a dog. The average Flemish Giant weighs a fantastic fifteen pounds.
Flemish Giants became well loved at the turn of the last century, when European exhibitors brought them to America to show them at county fairs around the nation. They have always been highly prized for their luxurious, soft fur, but their friendly, docile temperament makes them a well loved choice of pet too.

Handle with Care

Just as with any rabbit, if you choose a Flemish Giant as a pet it will take him a small time to get used to being handled. Because they are so large their bites and scratches can be far worse than those inflicted by a smaller rabbit. They do not make excellent pets for small children for this reason. But if treated with care by older children and adults they do fine in a domestic setting.

A Flemish Giant can also be a excellent match for those looking for a cooler rabbit, one who is not dashing around all the time. Giants are usually quite pleased to spend most of their time eating and lazing around. Of course, as they are so very huge by nature they will consume far more food than the average rabbit breed.

If you do influence to get a Flemish Giant you will need to ensure that you buy a cage or enclosure huge enough to meet his needs adequately. Even if they are not fantastic runners, the Giant does need a decent amount of space to go around in. A rabbit hutch that is 30 by 48 inches is usually painstaking the smallest cage that they can be housed in.

What to Look for When Choosing a Flemish Giant

Flemish Giants come in a wide diversity of insignia, grays both light and dark, fawn or sandy tones, black, blue and white are the most commonly seen.

As previously mentioned the average Flemish Giant generally weighs around 14 – 15.5 pounds. A few other things to look for, especially if you intend to breed or show your rabbit include:

Head: Look for a well shaped, large head. The ears should be erect, not floppy and the eyes should be bright and clear.

Body: The body should be long and powerful looking, but not stout. Healthful back will be thick and well muscled. The fur, even as honestly small, should be shiny and thick.

Faults: Stout is painstaking a fault in show rabbits in this breed. Even if they are usually a huge animal they should be well proportioned. For a show rabbit a patchy painted coat is undesirable, and floppy ears are a certain no-no.