Flemish Giant
The gentle giant of the rabbit world, with roots in Flanders and no upper weight limit.
Origin
The Flemish Giant takes its name from Flanders, in present-day Belgium, where large rabbits were bred for meat and fur for a very long time; some accounts trace it back as far as the 16th century. Its earliest ancestry is uncertain, and the national breed club notes that opinions differ. Old accounts link it to a big, rangy rabbit once called the Patagonian. The earliest generally accepted record dates to around 1860, when English travelers described the impressive size of rabbits raised in Flanders. Breeding stock soon followed to England, where breeders improved the breed’s color and type. Flemish Giants reached the United States in the late 1800s, and their popularity here took off after about 1910.
Typical Adult Size
One of the largest rabbit breeds. The ARBA standard has no maximum weight. It sets minimums instead: 13 pounds for senior bucks and 14 pounds for senior does (about 5.9 and 6.4 kg). Many adults weigh considerably more, and some exceed 20 pounds.
Coat Type
Dense, glossy fur of normal length that rolls back slowly into place when stroked from tail to head.
Colors
ARBA recognizes seven varieties: black, blue, fawn, light gray, sandy, steel gray and white. The national breed federation stresses that only these seven are recognized for showing.
Temperament
Famous for a calm, docile nature that has earned it the nickname "Gentle Giant". Many are relaxed and tolerant with people, but their size and strength call for confident, careful handling and full support whenever they are lifted.
Grooming and Care
Grooming is modest: a weekly brush, with more during molts. Space is the real commitment. A Flemish Giant needs a very large enclosure, room to stretch out and stand fully upright, and plenty of daily exercise. Soft, solid flooring helps protect its heavy feet, and its appetite for hay and fresh greens is in proportion to its size.
Distinctive Features
Sheer size, combined with a long, powerful body carried well off the ground, a broad head and long, sturdy upright ears.
What Makes It Notable
Few rabbits are as versatile. ARBA describes the Flemish Giant as a "universal rabbit", kept as a pet and for show, breeding, meat and fur, and notes that it was brought to America in the 1890s to help increase the size of meat rabbits.