The Giant Flower Rabbit is originally from Belgium. They have a very large body size, with ears measuring at least 146 cm and a body length of at least 50 cm. The heaviest recorded Giant Flower Rabbit weighs 127 kg. They are muscular throughout their body and have thick, glossy fur.
Origin: Belgium
English Name: Flemish Giant
Varieties: The Giant Flower Rabbit is recognized by ARBA in 7 different colors, with the most common being sandy yellow.
Certification Association: American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA)
The Giant Flower Rabbit is originally from Belgium and was later developed through breeding in the United States. They belong to the largest family of pet rabbits and have a long history. It is generally believed that this breed was discovered by scholars as early as 1860. Its scientific name is Flemish Giant, which shows how huge the size of the Giant Flower Rabbit is. According to statistics, the standard weight of a Giant Flower Rabbit is at least 13 pounds, and its symmetrical fur color is one of the reasons why it is loved by everyone. There are 7 colors of fur that are recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA). However, the most common color for the Giant Flower Rabbit is still the earliest appearance of the tan color. Although there is a trend toward smaller-sized rabbits due to genetic modification, such as dwarf rabbits and mini rabbits, don't think that giant rabbits will fade into history. Rabbit enthusiasts who prefer large rabbits not only actively cultivate this breed but also use their large size as their characteristic foundation, constantly developing and promoting it, transforming large rabbit breeds into giant rabbit breeds, and stabilizing their genes. In some areas, the custom of using the Giant Flower Rabbit as a lucky charm or a money-bringing cat is still prevalent. Keeping them in stores always attracts people's attention. It is said that they are like treasures that bring unexpected luck to the stores.
It is recommended to keep Giant Flower Rabbits for those who love small pets. They need to eat a large amount of grass, drink water, and a small amount of rabbit food every day, and their eating speed is astonishing. Therefore, keeping a Giant Flower Rabbit can be costly. After each meal, they will take a long nap, which may be the secret to their rapid growth into giant rabbits.
1. Light Body Odor
Keeping rabbits is similar to keeping cats or dogs. If regular cleaning and care are not done, they can produce some unpleasant odors. Therefore, the smell of the Giant Flower Rabbit depends largely on the conditions of its upbringing. As long as you timely remove the rabbit's excrement and clean their living area during feeding, there should not be a strong smell.
2. Long Lifespan
The Giant Flower Rabbit has a relatively long lifespan, averaging 7-12 years. However, its lifespan can be influenced by the methods of care and other factors. Besides common diseases such as coccidiosis and colibacillosis, improper feeding methods and poor living environments can also cause premature death of the Giant Flower Rabbit.
3. Large Appetite
Due to their large size, the Giant Flower Rabbit naturally has a larger appetite than ordinary rabbits. Carrots and carrot leaves are their favorite foods. They eat less during the day and usually rest with their eyes closed. However, they become active at night and have a larger appetite, accounting for more than 70% of their daily food intake. Therefore, it is necessary to provide sufficient forage and drinking water at night during feeding.
4. Difficult to Care For
The Giant Flower Rabbit is difficult to care for due to its large size and long fur. It can weigh over 45 kilograms and has thick, long fur that can grow up to 5-10 centimeters. Except for a small portion of its face, its entire body is covered with dense, long fur that does not shed. Therefore, it requires frequent trimming and grooming, which is quite time-consuming and laborious.
5. Timid
Timidity is a natural trait of rabbits, and the Giant Flower Rabbit is no exception. Sudden noises, strangers, or unfamiliar animals like cats or dogs can make them frightened and uneasy. Therefore, when raising Giant Flower Rabbits, it is important to approach them gently and prevent strangers or other animals from getting too close to them.
The diet of Giant Flower Rabbit is huge, and they keep eating after adulthood. At this time, the choice of food and feeding method is very important, because it is related to the health of Giant Flower Rabbit.
1. Inject rabbit hemorrhagic disease vaccine into newborn rabbits aged 30 to 45 days, 1 ml per rabbit. Feed milk to newborn rabbits once a day. When the sun comes out, the mother rabbit has the most milk. With the rise of the sun, the mother rabbit's milk production decreases, so it is necessary to feed the milk to the newborn rabbits before sunrise.
2. Stick to feed the pellet feed to young rabbits four times a day (6:00 in the morning, 11:00 in the morning, 4:00 in the afternoon, and before going to bed at night), feed less with more additions, and never fill the feeding box with one feeding.
3. Newborn rabbits before 2 jin should not be fed less green feed, and they should not eat green feed with adult rabbits before weaning.
4. Mother rabbits with newborn rabbits, and male rabbits for mating, insist on feeding peanuts twice a day (5 grains in the morning and 5 grains in the evening).
5. Feeding Giant Flower Rabbit cannot only feed grass without pellet feed. The grass powder in the pellet feed should account for 35% to 50%, preferably alfalfa grass powder, followed by peanut sprouts, bean pods, sweet potato sprouts, wild grass, bean stalks, corn stalks. Peanut shell powder is the worst. It is best to remove the root of peanut sprouts, otherwise the Giant Flower Rabbit will have diarrhea after eating the remaining soil on the root.
Rabbits molt once every three months, and there is also slight hair loss during the rest of the time, but it is not very obvious. Therefore, special attention needs to be paid when feeding Giant Flower Rabbits because rabbits are extremely clean animals and always want to be in a clean and tidy state, so they will constantly lick their bodies to ensure the cleanliness and tidiness of their fur. Therefore, they will ingest a large amount of undigested hairballs while licking their bodies, and unlike cats, rabbits do not vomit up hairballs. Once hairballs form, they will grow larger and mix with new hair, food, etc., thereby blocking the exit of the stomach, leading to starvation and abnormal bloating of the stomach.
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