Here are some answers to Frequently Asked Questions. This information is what
we have learned in our years of taking care of rabbits and in no way substitutes
for professional veterinary care.
1. What is the life expectancy of the Flemish Giant?
2. At what age can a baby rabbit go to its new home?
3. What do you feed a rabbit? How much do they eat?
4. What is the recommended cage size for a Flemish Giant?
5. Is there any special care required for a Flemish Giant?
6. Can a rabbit be litter trained?
7. How big do the Flemish Giant rabbits get?
8. Will rabbits get along with other animals?
9. Temperature
10. Origin of the Flemish Giant
11. Flemish Giant Varieties (7 recognized colors of Flemish Giant rabbits)
12. List of needs for your new bunny:
1. What is the life expectancy of the Flemish Giant?
A Flemish Giant's average life span is 5-7 years.
2. At what age can a baby rabbit go to its new home?
A baby bunny can safely leave it's mom at 6 weeks of age.
3. What do you feed a rabbit? How much do they eat?
Rabbit pellets w/out any added treats and unlimited grass hay is
the best diet for a rabbit. We feed adult rabbits a 16% protein pellet and
timothy hay. Does with litters and growing bunnies get an 18% pellet and alfalfa
hay. A full grown Flemish Giant will eat about 1 ounce of pellets per pound of
body weight. This of course varies depending on activity level and the amount of
hay they eat.
Purina
Advanced Nutrition Professional Formula (18%) until 6 months old and nursing
does.
Purina
Advanced Nutrition Show Formula (16%) 6 months and older.
To find a Purina Dealer in your area click
here and enter your zip code into the dealer finder!
Download
the product sheet here.
4. What is the recommended cage size for a Flemish Giant?
Minimum recommended cage size for a Flemish Giant is 3' x 2'. Bigger is
better.
5. Is there any special care required for a Flemish Giant?
Flemish Giants need to have a solid floor for their large feet to
prevent sore hocks. It is also important to keep their nails trimmed since
long nails change the weight distribution on the foot and contribute to sore
hocks.
They are also very susceptible to ear mites and fur mites. Fur mites look
like dandruff and scratches on the back of the neck behind the ears. Use
Ivermectin Paste 1.87% - found at horse supply stores. Give the rabbit (4 months
and older) 1/2 of a green pea size drop orally and repeat in 12 days. Ear mites
look like a scabby/crusty build-up in the ear(s). Use a 0.15%
pyrethrin ear drop (found at Petco, Petsmart, etc..) works well to kill the
mites. Make sure the drop says that it's okay for cats (if not rabbits). Drops
that are only for dogs are too strong for rabbits. Repeat the treatment in 12
days to kill the eggs and remove the entire life-cycle.
If your rabbit is a yard rabbit - it's also possible for him/her to have
fleas. The cat monthly flea control, Advantage for cats, has been found to be
safe for rabbits. Please consult with your veterinarian before administering to
your rabbit. Other brands like Frontline etc. will KILL your rabbit.
6. Can a rabbit be litter trained?
Yes, it's actually quite easy to litter train a rabbit. The ARBA
puts out a pamphlet explaining how - www.arba.net.
7. How big do the Flemish Giant rabbits get?
Average size doe is 18 pounds, average size buck is 16 pounds.
Recently, there was a photo going around (probably still is) of a very large
rabbit in Germany. Although this rabbit is big, the photo was taken with a
forced perspective to make it appear even bigger. Here is some more info on that
large rabbit - http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/giantrabbit.asp
8. Will rabbits get along with other animals?
With few exceptions, rabbits do not get along w/other rabbits. Two
intact males will often fight to the death. Fixing them will help but we don't ever
recommend getting two of the same sex to live together. The best pairing we've
found is a fixed buck and a doe. Flemish Giants get along VERY well with cats,
dogs etc... You just have to be sure that your dog doesn't want to eat the
rabbit!
9. Temperature.
Flemish Giants cannot handle heat. Once the temperature hits 85 degrees you need
to be very concerned for the safely of your rabbit. We have swamp coolers in our
rabbitry that keep the temperature at a comfortable level. On extremely hot
days, we also give each rabbit a frozen 2-liter bottle to lay against. If the
temperature is too hot or humid for the swamp coolers to keep the area
sufficiently cool, we then bring the rabbits into the air conditioned house in
carriers.
Cold weather is fine for Flemish Giants. Ever see a bunny in the snow? Of
course! If the rabbit it young or the temperature change is sudden, we suggest
stuffing their cage w/hay so they can stay warmer and get away from any drafts.
Another idea would be to purchase a thick plastic storage container with a lid.
Cut a hole in the side (sand down any rough edges) and stuff w/hay so the bunny
can go inside and stay warm.
10. Origin
The short answer is Flanders.
Here are a couple of articles that explain their history:
http://www.nffgrb.com/Articles/Article-AncientOrigins.html
http://www.nffgrb.com/Articles/Article-OriginsOfFlemishGiant.html
11. Varieties - http://www.nffgrb.com/Varieties.html
12. List of needs for your new bunny:
Hutch or Dog Crate as a home base
Pellets
Hay
32 ounce water bottle (wide-mouth is easiest to fill)
Heavy crock for pellets
Wood (untreated pine is good) for resting board.
Rubbermaid container for litter box - I use the big low under bed type.
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