They are one of the most friendly and calm bunny breeds.
There is absolutely no doubt about it; Flemish Giant rabbits are big [1]. If any pet lives up to its name, this is one of them.
They were first known to have roamed the landscapes of Flanders, Belgium, sometime in the 16th century, making them one of the oldest rabbits in existence.
Flemish Giants are gentle giants. They are one of the most friendly and calm bunny breeds.
They are powerful creatures that need a lot of space. They are also among the sweetest breeds of rabbits you will ever meet. Read on to learn more about it.
Also Read: Netherland Dwarf Bunny Care
Table of Contents
Flemish Giant Color & Looks
While it is pretty standard that all Flemish Giants are over thirteen pounds, there is no maximum weight.
Thirteen pounds does not sound like a lot but, when you get up close to one, especially laying on the floor beside one, you get to know how big they are.
Flemish Giants have a long, lean, and powerful body.
They are a semi-arch variety, so the arch in their back starts at the base of their shoulders and curves up and over before coming back down to their tail.
Their heads are in proportion to their bodies, and the eyes too. The ears are thick and large and stick straight up with great power. It is like having a medium-sized dog in your home.
Being so big means that they have a lot of furs.
The fur is thick and glossy and not too dense. The fur will roll back and lay flat if you pet a Flemish Giant.
There are seven recognized colors of a Flemish Giant: black, blue, fawn, light gray, sandy, steel-gray, and white.
You will recognize it does over bucks by the dewlap, a fold of skin under the neck, which gives them a cute double-chin look.
Take a look at this video for additional information.
How Do I Care for a Flemish Giant?
Flemish Giants are more of an investment than smaller bunnies.
They can cost twice as much each year and require more time and attention.
Some of the cost will be from having to buy a larger cage and have a larger area for them to run around in.
Standard rabbit cages will not have enough room for a Flemish Giant, and people often opt for cages usually used for larger animals.
The bunny should be able to stand up without its ears being cramped by the top of the cage. It should be able to stretch out fully too.
One thing which is often overlooked is the door. If your bunny cannot get out to run around, then what use is the cage?
Grooming them once a week will usually suffice, and you can up this to twice a week when they are molting.
It would help if you handled your rabbit from time to time, which is made more difficult by the size of this breed.
They are giant rabbits, so they need a lot of support if you pick them up.
You should also watch out for their powerful kick, but they will not usually kick if you pick them up properly.
Support their upper body with one arm and wrap your other arm around the lower half, supporting their back legs.
Hold the rabbit [2] gently to your chest and do not apply too much pressure on them.
You can use a soft voice to calm them, but if they seem stressed or start to panic, then gently lower them to the ground.
Flemish Giants have short fur, so they do not require as much grooming as other rabbit breeds. Grooming them once a week will usually suffice, and you can up this to twice a week when they are molting.
If your rabbit gets enough exercise, then its nails will naturally wear down, but you should still check them weekly and give them a trim if needed.
Watch this video to see how fast these rabbits grow!
@beardsbunnies How quickly Flemish giants grow. #flemishgiant #bunny #rabbitbreeding #cutestbunnies #rabbitry #TheChallengeAllStars
♬ original sound – beardsbountifulbunnies
READ MORE: Things You Should Know About American Fuzzy Lop Rabbits
How Active Are Flemish Giants?
Flemish Giants are not necessarily the most active rabbis globally, but they do need a lot of space.
Even if your bunny is going to go for a short walk, the amount of space needed is greater than that of a smaller and more active bunny.
Before investing in this bunny breed, we recommend that you ensure you have enough space for the bunny to exercise in.
This could be by purchasing a large pen that can attach to the cage, having a run outdoors, or letting your Flemish Giant space run around in your home.
Many owners dedicate an entire room to their Flemish Giants.
This is a great idea, though.
As long as you have space set out anywhere, your rabbit will be fine.
If you do have a place outside for your bunny, then make sure that you are out there with them at all times in case a predator attacks them.
They may be big and fight, but some animals see them as a very large meal.
READ MORE: Do Lionhead Rabbits Like to be Held?
What Should I Feed My Flemish Giant?
Flemish Giants eat roughly the same diet as other breeds of rabbit, though a lot more, due to their size.
This is also where some of your higher yearly costs will come from.
Flemish Giants need a diet composed mainly of hay, water, and pellets.
This breed of rabbit does not generally overeat, so you can add as many pellets to their food dish as you want as long as you are monitoring their eating habits.
If you want to ration the pellets, it is recommended to feed them 1/4 cup of pellets for every 5 pounds of rabbit.
You can feed your bunny unlimited timothy hay and fresh water. For fruit and veggies, fruits can be used sparingly and as treats.
You can feed your rabbit [3] 2-4 cups of fresh veggies for every 5 pounds of rabbit weight.
Healthcare for a Flemish Giant
Despite their size, Flemish giants are relatively easy to care for. Flemish Giants can suffer from ear and fur mites as with other species.
When grooming your bunny, look for any mites in their fur.
If you notice that your bunny is scratching a lot at one ear, or both ears, then it may be because of ear mites, and you should take them to a vet to have them checked over.
Flemish Giants can suffer from weight problems if they eat too much
Due to the large weight of the rabbit and subsequent pressure on their feet, they can get sore hocks.
For this reason, we do not recommend using a wire-bottomed cage for your Flemish Giant, and no matter what kind of cage you use, you should still pad the bottom of it to protect your feet.
Flemish Giants can suffer from weight problems if they overeat (which they usually don’t), which is something to monitor.
The more time you spend with your rabbit, the better you will get to know them and their health problems. Schedule regular checkups with your vet, and your bunny will be fine.
Also Read: The Facts About French Lop Rabbits
Flemish Giants As Pets
Due to their friendly, calm, and sweet nature, they are great around both adults and kids and may even out-size your younger children.
When you have your children around, one thing to think about is their ability to pick up the rabbit.
Flemish Giants love to be petted and sit there while your child does that, but picking them up is different.
If your child is small, they may not be able to pick up the bunny, which could result in the bunny becoming frustrated.
Kicks from Flemish Giants can be powerful, though they will not injure you; a kick might be sore for a small child.
The main thing which Flemish Giants want and need is time. They are bigger pets, so they need to be taken care of more.
It takes more time to feed them, more time to clean out their cages and pens, and more time socializing with them.
Flemish Giants love to be petted and will sit there while your child does that but picking them up is a different matter.
When they are roaming around free in their pen or a part of your home, you should be there with them.
They are friendly and social creatures, so spending a lot of time with them will help you bond with them and make it easier to pick them up as they become more used to you.
They are large and docile animals, which makes them perfect pets. If you have the room for this giant bunny, then you and everyone else around you are going to love it.
What do you love most about Flemish giant rabbits? Please share with us below!
Resources
- 1. Five Giant Bunny Rabbits [Internet]. www.petmd.com. [cited 2022 Feb 5]. Available from: https://www.petmd.com/rabbit/pet_lover/evr_rb_giant_rabbits
- 2. Bradford A. Rabbits: Habits, Diet & Other Facts [Internet]. Live Science. Live Science; 2017. Available from: https://www.livescience.com/28162-rabbits.html
- 3. Welfare of rabbits: the need for a suitable diet | nidirect [Internet]. www.nidirect.gov.uk. 2015. Available from: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/welfare-rabbits-need-suitable-diet
Barry Stingmore is a British content writer living in Fuerteventura, Spain. An animal lover at heart, he shares his home with a dog and four rescue cats and has a passion for writing about animals big and small.
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