The Flemish Giant is also called the " king of rabbit " because of their large size , length of service , and personality . These jumbo coney can reach an immense size very quickly . Flemish Giants can weigh as much as 4 pounds or more by 7 or 8 weeks of age . A Flemish hare is a fresh , lovable companion who can be kept inside and blends well into family life .
Flemish Giant Characteristics
Flemish Giantrabbitshave a distinctive look , and it ’s not just their size that progress to them stand out among other bunny .
Physical Description of a Flemish Giant Bunny
According to theAmerican Rabbit Breeders Association ( ARBA ) , there is no maximum weight for a Flemish Giant . The strain is a semi - arch variety of coney , which means that the archway in the animal ’s back starts at the base of the shoulders and curve up and over toward the tail . Other strain standard let in :
Giant Flemish Rabbit Colors
The ARBA recognizesseven colorsin the Flemish Giant . Each colour has some specifications that judges can look for when evaluating the animal :
Size of Flemish Bunnies
If you want agiant bunny , Flemish rabbits are a great selection . Flemish bunnies are big rabbit . Most fully grown Flemish rabbit weigh around 14 pounds , but there are record of rabbits weigh as much as 21 pound . Does may librate just a bit more than bucks . Does also have a dewlap , which is a fold of pelt under their mentum that give them a double - Kuki-Chin appearance .
Flemish Giant Temperament and Personality
The Flemish Giant is generally a teachable strain , and these elephantine favorite cony make ripe companions and loving crime syndicate pet . When preserve indoors , they will hop around the house and sit down on their owner ' lick . They can even be trained touse a bedding material boxwood . However , these rabbit can grow nervous if address forcibly and can inflict serious scratches and bite if they palpate the need to struggle . Always supervise children when handling or toy with rabbits .
The Correct Way to Hold a Flemish Giant
These are big rabbits , so theyneed a lot of supportif you ’re start to nibble them up .
If they seem nervous at all , assure them in a soft , calm voice . If this does n’t serve them settle in your arms , gently lower them to the ground or into the pen and exhaust them .
Flemish Giant Care and Grooming Needs
Flemish Giants have short fur . They need only small-scale hebdomadal training to keep the coat in secure shape , so purpose to sweep once a calendar week with a deceiver brush . However , if the rabbit is molt , brush them twice a hebdomad .
Your rabbit will throw away its coat double a year in the spring and again in the fall . The precise time of shedding will change from animal to animal . You should also crop the tips of their nails occasionally unless the rabbit gets enough use to wear them down naturally .
Feeding a Flemish Giant Rabbit
Like most rabbit , Flemish Giantsneed a dietcomposed of large quantities of hay , water , and a smaller portion of rabbit pellets . They should also invite fresh vegetables daily and fruit once or twice a week .
Some Flemish Giant breeders recommendfree - feedingpellets as they are unbelievable to binge . However , others recommend complimentary - feeding until they are 1 - year - old , then giving1/8 to 1/4 cupful of pelletsfor every five pounds of weight . Offer vegetables at a charge per unit of two to four cups for every five pound of free weight day by day , and fruit only in lilliputian amounts once or twice a week .
Flemish Giant Rabbit Lifespan and Health Concerns
In general , the Flemish Giant is a healthy breed . They live around 5 to 8 years , but these rabbits can live into their teens with proper care .
Common Health Conditions
According toThe University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources , larger rabbit are prone to sore hock due to their gargantuan size of it and weight . Sore hock , also known asulcerative pododermatitis , is a condition triggered by stand up on wire floors or in insanitary conditions . It is plebeian in breed like the Flemish Giant .
Watch Your Fleming Giant’s Weight
You ’ll also want to be conservative about run your rabbit too many treats to avoid wellness issuing that can crop up if they become overweight .
Know Your Pet
The best style to keep your coney healthy is to know your deary well enough to recognize when they are n’t feeling their honest . Early discourse can make a difference in convalescence . Take upkeep of your Flemish Giant , and they will be an excellent and loving fellow traveler for many years .
Special Considerations for Flemish Giant Rabbits
While Flemish can endure cool temperatures , they do n’t tolerate temperature over 90 academic degree Fahrenheit very well . If they arekept in a coop , theyneed more roomthan a smaller strain because of their monolithic size . Even thedoor of the cagemay need to be larger . They also lean to exhaust more than humble breeds .
Breed Origin of Flemish Giants
While no one is 100 pct certain of the origin of this breed , some experts suspect they are descend from breeds grow for pelt and meat like Patagonian and Stone rabbits . Others say they descended from the Argentine Patagonian rabbits .
However , Bob Whitman , writer ofDomestic Rabbits and Their Histories : stock of the World , surmise in his book that the Argentine Patagonian rabbit is actually a gnawer , so transverse - breeding would be impossible . His theory is that the breed did descend from strain from the old Flemish part , like the Stone and Patagonian of that area .
Flemish Rabbits Come to America from Belgium and England
The strain come from England and Belgium in the nineties to America . It was n’t until the early 1900s that citizenry set forth show up the breed at stock display . In November 1915 , theNational Federation of Flemish Giant Rabbit Breeders ( NFFGRB)was mold . When the beginning of ARBA was formed in 1924 , NFFGRB became a part of that affiliation . In 1929 , the guild created breed standards . Today , the NFFGRB continues to work toward improving and further the strain .
Breeding Flemish Giants
Does of this breed mature between 8 and 12 months one-time , or when they reach approximately 14 Ezra Loomis Pound ; this is the perfect time for them to have their first bedding material . After a doe turns a year old , her pelvic castanets begin to fuse . This makes it more difficult for her to deliver her kits , and a hard delivery can mean death for her and her unborn kits .
Gestation Period for Flemish Giant Rabbits
The average duration of pregnancy is31 days , and most litter average five to a twelve kits , but some litter are slightly larger . highly large litters ordinarily entail that some kits wo n’t receive as much Milk River as the others . Kits that pass behind in their growth before they are wean typically never grow to their full potential .
How Much Does a Giant Flemish Cost?
You canexpect to spendbetween $ 20 to $ 50 for a Flemish Giant , although show - timber rabbits can lay out from $ 75 to $ 300 or more . The Flemish Giant website for breeders and owner provides ahelpful chartfor square up the toll of owning a Flemish Giant , include housing , accessories , and food for thought . On the humiliated end , you’re able to expect to spend $ 665 per year deal for a single Flemish Giant rabbit as a favourite and around $ 2,700 for a show - quality bunny .
Decide If a Flemish Is the Right Rabbit for You
If you decide that a Flemish Giant might be a ripe ducky for you , the next step is to make appointments to visit a few breeders and get to lie with some of these rabbits in someone . Although each stock has certain characteristics , each hare within that breed is still an person with its own personality oddity . Take your time before you commit to bringing one of these rabbits home to make certain the two of you will be compatible throughout the years to total .
