If you like rabbits and want to know more about them, read this listing about the giant rabbit of Flanders, because you will surely love its history. These rabbits are very special and differ greatly from other breeds. In addition to their exceptional size, being among the breeds of larger rabbits, not to mention the larger ones, they have many other peculiarities and, without a doubt, many qualities. Did you know that some of these rabbits may be larger than medium dogs? Find out everything in Animal Expert.
The first specimen of a giant rabbit from Flanders probably dates back to the 16th century and has appeared in the documents ever since. Therefore, this is considered one of the oldest rabbit breeds today. However, the first official standard was not established until the 19th century, specifically in 1890. Despite its long history, this breed did not develop and became popular outside Belgium, where it was born, until 1980, arriving for the first time in England. and then to the rest of the world in no time. Currently, the fan club of this breed is increasing, because its large size has certainly not gone unnoticed.
- According to the norm.
- 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 arched back.
- Muscular and powerful limbs and a round tail.
- Its head is wide and wide.
- With a notorious and thick jowl.
- His ears are long and large and his eyes are dark.
The fur of these rabbits is dense and short; rewinds if you brush in the opposite direction. The colors are very varied, and a total of 10 are accepted, among which stand out as the most frequent: black, beige, blue, steel grey, white and brown gray.
They are quiet rabbits, which many define as quiet or lazy, because they like to spend their days lying down and enjoy the calm. That’s why they’re not suitable for noisy and busy homes. They are very sociable and get along very well with other rabbits, as well as with other animals, if they are used to living together. However, they are introverted by nature, which requires a lot of effort to succeed in early socialization.
In addition to the basic care of any rabbit, you should pay special attention to the food you provide to your giant Flanders rabbit. Indeed, it is easy to make the mistake of thinking that because of its size it should receive large amounts of food. And although they consume more amounts of food a day than smaller breeds, they should not be overweight, otherwise they can gain too much weight in too little time, resulting in health problems associated with overweight and obesity.
Another factor that differs the most in terms of care compared to other breeds is the space your cage or housing should have. This space should be spacious, allowing them to move freely. This is something to keep in mind before adopting one of these rabbits, because if you live in a small floor, lack of space can be a problem.
One of the main health problems faced by these large rabbits is obesity, as it is normal to fall into 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 you don’t need to make a disproportionate contribution. This obesity is dangerous because it leads to a higher likelihood of fractures, due to the extra weight your fragile bones have to bear, as well as joint and cardiovascular problems.
In addition, it is important to visit the veterinarian periodically to keep you informed of your friend’s overall health status, performing important tests and tests for this purpose. You can take advantage of these visits for specific care, such as cutting your nails, because cutting 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 fatal in most cases.