Flemish Giant rabbit

A Flemish Giant

The Flemish Giant originated in Flanders. It was bred as early as the 16th century near the city of Ghent, Belgium. It is believed to have descended from a number of meat and fur breeds, possibly including the Steenkonijn (Stone Rabbit—referring to the old Belgian weight size of one stone or about 3.8 kilograms (8.4 lb)) and the European "Patagonian" breed (now extinct).[1] This "Patagonian" rabbit, a large breed that was once bred in Belgium and France, was not the same as the Patagonian rabbit of Argentina (Sylvilagus brasiliensis), a wild species of a different genus weighing less than 0.9 kilograms (2.0 lb),[2] nor the Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum), sometimes called the Patagonian hare, a species in the cavy family of rodents that cannot interbreed with rabbits.[3] Thomas Coatoam, in his Origins of the Flemish Giants, tells us, "The earliest authentic record of the Flemish Giant Rabbit occurred about the year 1860."[4]

A sandy Flemish male napping next to a sable and white sheltie

The first standards for the breed were written in 1893. The Flemish Giant is an ancestor of many rabbit breeds all over the world, one of which is the Belgian Hare,[1] imported into England in the mid 19th century. The Flemish Giant was exported from England and Belgium to America in the early 1890s to help improve the size of meat rabbits during the great "rabbit boom".[5]

It received little attention until about 1910 where it started appearing at small livestock shows throughout the country. Today, it is one of the more popular breeds at rabbit shows because of its unusually large size and its varying colors. It is promoted by the National Federation of Flemish Giant Rabbit Breeders, which was formed in 1915. The Flemish Giant has many nicknames, first and foremost the "Gentle Giant" for its uniquely docile personality and also the "universal rabbit" for its varied purposes as pet, show, breeding, meat and fur animal.[6]

A sandy doe with a boy

As one of the largest breeds of domestic rabbit, the Flemish Giant is a semi-arch type rabbit with its back arch starting behind the shoulders and carrying through to the base of the tail giving a "mandolin" shape. The body of a Flemish Giant Rabbit is long and powerful, with relatively broad hindquarters. The fur of the Flemish Giant is known to be glossy and dense. When stroked from the hindquarters to the head, the fur will roll back to its original position.

Bucks have a broad, massive head in comparison to does, and can take 1.5 years to reach full maturity. Does may have a large, full, evenly carried dewlap (the fold of skin under their chins), and can take 1 year to reach their full maturity.

Flemish Giant Rabbits weigh 6.8 kilograms (15 lb) on average, though the biggest ones can weigh up to 10 kilograms (22 lb), and the longest one on record (in fact, holding the record for the longest rabbit in the world of any kind), measured about 1.3 metres (4 ft 3 in) long.[7]

The American Rabbit Breed Association (ARBA) standard recognized seven different colors for this breed: black, blue, fawn, sandy, light gray, steel gray, and white.[8] The show standard minimum weight for a senior doe is 6.4 kilograms (14 lb), and the show standard minimum weight of a Senior buck is 5.9 kilograms (13 lb).

Flemish Giant rabbit in captivity

Flemish Giants can be docile and tolerant of handling; frequent interaction with humans is a requirement for this to occur. Flemish Giants, like all rabbits, can become fearful, and sometimes aggressive, if handled incorrectly or irresponsibly. Their larger frame requires special attention paid to the spine alignment when handling a Flemish Giant. Consequently, potential owners should consider these factors in addition to their size, level of food consumption, and substantial waste production before buying.

Due to its large size, the Flemish Giant needs substantial living quarters that provide ample opportunity for physical movement. The House Rabbit Society recommends keeping rabbits inside the home in a very large pen or room(s) in the home. Larger dog crates are often more appropriate than traditional rabbit and small-pet cages, which tend to be smaller and shorter. In the United States Department of Agriculture's standards for animal housing, rabbits over 5.4 kilograms (12 lb) must have at least 0.46 square metres (5.0 sq ft) of floor space.[9] The size of appropriate living quarters increases with size of the rabbit.

Cages with incorrectly sized wire gauge bottoms (as opposed to small gauge wire or solid bottoms) can harm the feet of a Flemish Giant more so than smaller house rabbits due to their increased weight. A resting board may be required to prevent sore hocks for a larger breed rabbit.[6] The Flemish Giant will require larger quantities of food compared to smaller breeds of domestic rabbits. Like some other short hair breeds of rabbits, the Flemish Giant will usually require mild attention to grooming due to its shorter hair. Shedding during the spring and fall transition periods tend to be the most dramatic, with smaller sheds often occurring in between.

Flemish Giants are sensitive to heat, and prefer temperate climates.

A Flemish Giant in a pen next to chickens

Flemish Giants can be fed like other rabbits, with the amount of food increased to match their larger size.[10] ARBA recommendations include hay and occasional treats.

A high protein diet of 16% enables the rabbit to gain bone mass while it is growing, and later in gaining muscle mass. Small amounts of apples, cabbage, or broccoli given as treats and slowly increased do not harm the health of the rabbit; for instance, a rabbit consuming a quarter of an apple every other day can safely be fed half an apple with the same frequency after three weeks. (However, feeding the apple core or seeds to the rabbit may be harmful.) Flemish Giants do not reach full size until they are 1.5 years old, and consume a large amount of food during this time. After females deliver kits, and during winter for all Flemish Giants, the rabbits must be fed as much as they can eat, and given plenty of water.

Obesity due to overfeeding is a major health concern for both commercial and pet rabbits. Excess protein, calories, and minerals such as salt and calcium, often provided when the rabbit-owner is supplementing a commercial diet, can also cause kidney stones. [11]

The House Rabbit Society recommends two cups of chopped leafy vegetables per 2.7 kilograms (6.0 lb) of body weight and no more than two tablespoons of fruit or carrots per 2.7 kilograms (6.0 lb) of body weight daily.[12]

The American Rabbit Breeders' Association (ARBA) recommends delaying breeding of female rabbits until they reach the senior weight range. For Flemish Giants, this is 6.4 kilograms (14 lb), and a typical rabbit will reach this weight when they are about 9 months to one year.[11] A Flemish Giant can take up to 1.5 years to reach their maximum weight and a breeder should wait until the rabbit is slightly over a year old before breeding. Females and males can become sexually mature at 4 months and 8 days. Once the rabbits are 3 months old they should be kept in separate cages or put females with females and males with males. If fighting occurs then they must be separated. The breeding lifespan of a rabbit is variable. Some breeders prefer not to have any more litters after the age of three years [13] while others continue to produce quality litters for five to eight years. The gestation period is between 28–31 days. On average they give birth at 30–32 days. The Flemish Giant rabbit can produce large litters, usually between 5 and 12 in a litter.

A nesting box filled with hay is given to the female as she prepares for birth. After birth, clean out the hay, replace with some new hay, and check to see if babies are all alive. Check box every day in case babies die and take them out.

Apart from being kept as a pet, the Flemish Giant is for meat, fur, show, and used for pet assisted therapy, and education.

• French Lop
• British Giant rabbit
• Angora rabbit
• Domestic rabbit
• List of rabbit breeds

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