Flemish Giant Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus flemish_giant

Description: Flemish Giants are long, large rabbits with upright ears. The most common fur color is grey, but other colors can include black, blue, light brown, sand, and white.

Size: The Flemish Giant is one of the largest domesticated rabbits. It can weigh anywhere from 14 to 22 pounds, with some individuals weighing as much as 28 pounds.

Adaptations:
As prey animals, rabbits have many adaptations that help them to survive.

• Their large ears swivel in all directions to pick up any sound.

• Rabbits' strong back legs give them the speed necessary to flee from predators.

• Their feet contain long claws for traction and have fur on the bottom for warmth.

• Rabbits' eyes are positioned on the sides of their heads so they can see danger approaching from any direction.

Diet: Alvin receives rabbit pellets and timothy hay as a staple diet, and fruit, vegetables, and yogurt drops as occasional treats.

Reproduction: When a rabbit is pregnant it is said to be “in kindle.” The gestation period lasts 31 days. The female (doe) gives birth to a litter of baby rabbits (kits or kittens), which are totally blind and hairless until they are 10 days of age. The typical litter size is 6 or 7 but can be as high as 12 kits. The young rabbits are weaned at 4 weeks of age. A doe can have as many as 5 litters per year.

Shelter and space needs: In the winter, Alvin is kept in a stall inside the barn with another rabbit. In the warmer months, he spends his days in a grassy yard, coming indoors at night or in bad weather. Alvin is provided with plenty of chewing material to help wear down his fast-growing teeth.

Life expectancy: Domestic rabbits live between 5 and 15 years, with an average life expectancy of 8 years.

Importance to man: The Flemish Giant is known as the “gentle giant” because of its calm and laidback personality. They make very good pets, however their size makes them vulnerable to back injuries due to improper handling. Besides being a pet, the Flemish Giant can be used as a show animal, and for fur and meat.

Fun Facts:
• Rabbits have two rows of upper incisors (the large teeth in the front of the mouth). The teeth in the second row are called the peg teeth. These teeth are slightly smaller than the front incisors and lie directly behind them.

• The teeth of a rabbit keep growing for its entire life! Because of this, rabbits need to be given constant access to chewing material to keep their teeth worn down.

• Rabbits can be trained to use a litter box.

• The tail of a rabbit has a special name. It's called a scut. (sounds like “scoot”.)