Content
- Origin of the Giant Rabbit of Flanders
- Characteristics of the Giant Flanders Rabbit
- Flanders Giant Rabbit Personality
- Care of the Giant Flanders Rabbit
- Flanders Giant Rabbit Health
If you like rabbits and want to learn more about them, read this fact sheet about Flanders giant rabbit, because you will surely love your story. These rabbits are very special and differ a lot from other breeds. In addition to their exceptional size, as they are one of the biggest breeds of rabbits, not to mention the biggest, they have many other quirks and, no doubt, many qualities. Did you know that some of these rabbits can be bigger than mid-breed dogs? Discover everything at PeritoAnimal.
Source- Europe
- Belgium
Origin of the Giant Rabbit of Flanders
The first specimen of a giant Flanders rabbit probably dates from the century XVI, already appearing in documents since that time. Therefore, this is considered one of the older current breeds of rabbits. However, the first official standard was not established until the 19th century, more specifically, in 1890. Despite its long history, this breed did not expand and became popular outside Belgium, where it originated, until 1980, arriving first in England and then to the rest of the world in a very short time. Currently, this breed's fan club is getting bigger and bigger, as its large size has certainly not gone unnoticed.
Characteristics of the Giant Flanders Rabbit
According to the pattern, a giant rabbit from Flanders weighs between 6 and 10 kg on average, however, there have been cases of rabbits weighing up to 18 kg, with the size similar to that of a poodle, for example. Rabbits of this breed have a square body with an arched back, muscular and powerful limbs, and a round tail. Its head is large and broad, with a notorious and thick jowl. Its ears are long and big and its eyes are dark.
The fur of these rabbits is dense and short; it recoils if brushed in the opposite direction. The colors are very varied, and a total of 10 are accepted, among which the following stand out as the most frequent: black, beige, blue, steel gray, white gray and brown.
Flanders Giant Rabbit Personality
Are calm rabbits, which many define as calm or lazy, as they like to spend their days lying down and enjoying the calm. That's why they are not suitable for very busy and noisy homes. Are very sociable, getting along very well with other rabbits, as well as with other pets, if they are used to living together. However, they are introverted by nature, which makes it necessary a great effort to carry out a early socialization successful.
Care of the Giant Flanders Rabbit
In addition to the basic care of any rabbit, you should pay special attention to food that supplies your giant Flanders rabbit. That's because it's easy to make the mistake of thinking that, because of its size, it needs to be given large amounts of food. And although they consume larger amounts of food daily than the smaller breeds, you shouldn't overdo it, or they can gain a lot of weight in a very short amount of time, which causes health problems associated with overweight and obesity.
Another of the factors that most differ in terms of their care compared to other breeds is the space that their cage or accommodation must have. This space must be large, allowing them to move freely. It's something you should consider before adopting one of these rabbits, because if you live in a small apartment, lack of space can be a problem.
Flanders Giant Rabbit Health
One of the main health problems these big rabbits face is obesity, since it is normal to make the mistake of providing them with excess food due to their large size. However, you should keep in mind that they are very sedentary rabbits, so they don't need to take a disproportionate intake. This obesity is dangerous because it results in a greater likelihood of fractures, due to the extra weight your fragile bones have to bear, in addition to joint and cardiovascular problems.
Also, it is important visit the veterinarian regularly to stay informed about your friend's general health, performing important tests and analysis for this. You can take advantage of these visits to perform specific care, such as trimming your nails, as trimming a rabbit's nails at home can be a little tricky.
It is also recommended to keep your rabbit vaccinated and dewormed both internally and externally, as this will prevent a large number of diseases such as myxomatosis and viral hemorrhagic fever, both of which are fatal in most cases.