Flemish Giant Rabbit Lifespan: Discover the Life Expectancy and Factors Influencing the Longevity of This Gentle Giant Breed
The Flemish Giant rabbit is a “giant” in the family of rabbits. This breed of rabbits is a giant not only in size but in lifespan and personality as well. Flemish Giant rabbits are an excellent choice for pets. Don’t let their size fool you! They are large but gentle, lovable, cute, and cuddly creatures. Flemish Giant rabbits are great with kids and a wonderful addition to any family looking for a pet rabbit.
Are you interested in raising Flemish Giant rabbits? If you are, you are probably wondering about their lifespan. Once you start taking care of these giant bunnies it is good to know how long you can rely on their companionship. The average lifespan of the Flemish Giant rabbit is between 8 and 10 years. You have to take good care of these gentle giants if you want them to have a long and happy life. To do that, you should know the Flemish Giant rabbit characteristics like origin, temperament, weight, color, and more.
We have done extensive research to inform you about this rabbit breed’s features and lifespan. Also, we have created a list of tips and tricks to help you extend the Flemish Giant rabbit’s lifespan. Read on and give these friendly, sweet rabbits the love and attention they deserve!
Flemish Giant Rabbit Features
- Country of origin: Belgium
- Temperament: Calm and docile
- Weight: Between 15 and 22 pounds (the heaviest recorded Flemish giant rabbit weighed 50 pounds)
- Length: Between 2.5 and 4 feet
- Color: Light gray, steel gray, white, fawn, sandy, black, and blue
The Flemish Giant rabbit comes from Belgium as a descendant of meat and fur rabbit breeds like the Stone and the Patagonian giant rabbit, which is now extinct. The Flemish Giant rabbits belong to an old rabbit breed that has been around since the 16th century. They were brought to the United States in the early 1890s and later on, recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association.
The Flemish Giant rabbits are also known as gentle giants due to their docile personalities and are used as pets, as show animals, for their meat and fur. They are popular pets in many houses, and adults and kids love having them around. If you like a soft, warm, cute-looking pet that enjoys cuddling, then this rabbit breed could be the one you are looking for! The Flemish Giant rabbits have soft, glossy, and thick fur. No wonder they have been bred for fur purposes as well. These giant rabbits have some fur issues, like not handling hot weather well, and being prone to fur and ear mites. Besides their great personality, cuddly nature, and dense fur, they have the looks and are used for exhibition shows. They are quite a sight with their long, V-shaped ears, arch-shaped bodies, round tails, and warm eyes. There is an apparent difference between the male and female Flemish Giant rabbits, so you will have no problem telling them apart. Males have broader heads and are bigger than females. To keep their baby bunnies warm, female Flemish Giant rabbits have extra fur-coated skin. Their size makes them ideal for meat production. That was their initial purpose, to improve the size of meat rabbits, during the 1900s “rabbit boom”.
As you can see Flemish Giant rabbits have unique features and universal use. They enjoy a peaceful life and frequent napping. The Flemish Giant rabbit breed loves attention! Treat them with love and be gentle if you want them to be around you for as long as possible.
Average Lifespan of a Flemish Giant Rabbit
Flemish Giant Rabbits are a strong, resilient, and healthy breed with a lifespan from 8 to 10 years. Even so, if you want them to live up to this age or longer you have to take extra care of them. You should know that their lifespan depends on many factors like proper care, protection, a healthy diet, safe housing, and more. If you decide to raise these gentle, puppy-dog rabbits make sure you are ready for the commitment. We are not talking about a year or two, but about 8 to 10 years or more if you are devoted and you want to increase the Flemish Giant rabbit’s lifespan. Here’s a list of tips and tricks that will help you do just that!
5 Tips on How to Extend Flemish Giant Rabbit’s Lifespan
Flemish Giant Rabbits are larger than life, so make the most of your time with them and be prepared to provide them protection and care at all times. Do your best to look after them with the love and care they deserve and ensure they have happy, long-lasting lives. But, where to start? You must have enough information at hand before you decide to welcome Flemish Giant rabbits into your home and family. To have the know-how check out our list of 5 tips on how to extend Flemish Giant Rabbits’ lifespan and enjoy their company for as long as you can.
1. Proper and Safe Housing
The first tip crucial for the Flemish Giant rabbit lifespan is proper and safe housing. Because the Flemish Giant rabbit is way larger than the other rabbit breeds it needs a large cage. According to the rabbit cage guide larger rabbit breeds like the Flemish Giant rabbit needs an enclosure at least 3 feet high, and 3 feet wide. When it comes to cage size, the bigger the better is the Flemish Giant rabbit’s moto. Besides their size which occupies a lot of space they can jump up to 3 feet high, so you will need a cage roof as well. Also, they get anxious in small cages, so make sure your enclosure is the right size. Once you are secure that the Flemish rabbit has suitable space and enough room to jump around, cover the following requirements:
- If you make an indoor pet enclosure, choose proper flooring to prevent sore hocks and proper footing so your Flemish Giant rabbits won’t slip and hurt themselves;
- Clean their cage regularly, replace their bedding if they are damp, and teach them to use the litterbox;
- Place the rabbit cage under a shade to help the Flemish Giant endure the summer heat;
- Create extra-large run for exercise space (ex.: you can fence off a large portion of your garden for overseen giant-sized fun!);
- Rabbit-proofthe area of your rabbit’s movement if its play area is inside (ex.: use a metal gate to label your Flemish Giant Rabbit room, cover or take off all cords and cables, protect furniture legs and baseboards, and remove any poisonous houseplants).
Every requirement aims to secure a proper and safe environment to ensure your Flemish Giant rabbit has a long and happy life away from external threats.
2. Well-balanced Nutrition
The second tip also helps in extending the Flemish Giant rabbit’s lifespan. Again their size is crucial in determining the frequency and amount of food portions. Because of their size, they need way more food than average rabbits. Don’t forget, the amount of food matters, but a well-balanced diet matters even more. Here is what is necessary for proper Flemish Giant rabbit nutrition:
- 80% hay (timothy, meadow, orchard, and oat hey), 10% veggies for additional minerals and vitamins (75% leafy greens, 25% vegetables), 5-7% pellets, and 2-3% treats;
- For every 6.6 pounds (3 kg) of the rabbit’s body weight, you can give your gentle giant two cups of chopped vegetables like spinach, bell peppers, carrot tops, bok choy, lettuce fennel leaves;
- Make sure you provide the necessary feed ration to your Flemish Giant rabbit to make it nutritional;
- Clean and disinfect the rabbit’s feeding materials to avoid infections;
- Clean their feeding materials and disinfect them against infection;
- Flemish Giant rabbits have delicate digestive systems and are predisposed to digestive problems, so introduce new foods slowly, and with caution;
- Give them small portions of different foods, rather than a large amount of the same type of food;
- Too much sugar is bad for your Flemish Giant rabbits, so treat fruit like dessert;
- Keep them hydrated with a big water bottleand make sure they have access to fresh, clean water at all times.
Without good feed, Flemish Giant rabbits become stressed and can’t manage day-to-day activities. Therefore, to extend the lifespan of Flemish Giant rabbits, proper nutrition is a MUST!
3. Regular Grooming
Flemish Giant rabbits have plush, dense fur with excellent quality. That kind of rabbit fur needs brush grooming at least once a week. If you don’t provide regular grooming Flemish Giant rabbits will start grooming themselves and be in danger of getting intestinal “fur” blockage. Therefore, if you want to keep your Flemish Giant rabbit safe from harm and away from ear mites, you have to apply tip number three, regular grooming.
Besides their thick fur, Flemish Giant rabbits also have big nails that need random clipping, at least once a month with a special nail clipper for pets. While you do that make sure to protect yourself and try to wrap your rabbit in a towel to avoid injuries because they hate nail clipping. For an even safer and quicker procedure, you can ask a family member or a friend to help you out. But if you can’t get any help you can try the easiest and safest way and take your Flemish Giant rabbit to the vet for a regular clipping. To get things done and help your rabbit in its grooming routine you will need a good-quality grooming kit. Brush your Flemish Giant rabbit, if necessary use pet-safe wipes for thorough gentle cleanup, but never bathe it.
4. Veterinary Checkups
The fourth tip on our list on how to extend the Flemish Giant rabbit lifespan is veterinary checkups. Make sure to keep a close eye on your rabbit and react swiftly to any slight unusual behavior. If you want your Flemish Giant rabbit to be happy and healthy take the time for regular checkups and report any discrepancies to your Veterinary Doctor. You have to take your Flemish giant to the clinic if you notice that:
- There is a change in the rabbit’s poop (shape and color) and urination;
- The rabbit isolates itself (any type of isolation is a sign of illness);
- The Flemish giant rabbit is drooling;
- The rabbit’s ears are too hot or cold, and there is a situation of abnormal ear scratching;
- The Flemish Giant rabbit has discharging nose and breads through its mouth.
To take your Flemish giant rabbit to the vet on time it is crucial to register any unusual changes. Once you notice those changes report them to the vet and if necessary take your rabbit to the clinic. That way your rabbit pet will surely have a healthy and long life.
5. Regular Exercise
As a large rabbit breed, the Flemish Giant needs a large living and exercise area. This means that you have to provide enough space for both enclosure and regular exercise. Enable your Flemish Giant rabbit to play, stretch, jump, and research in a safe and rabbit-proof area. If not, you will have a chunky Flemish Giant rabbit prone to obesity. Hence the importance of tip number five.
Keep your Flemish Giant rabbit in good shape and health by arranging a safe exercise area. Let your rabbit
roam and hop around your backyard for a long and stress-free life.
Conclusion
Now you know the Flemish Giant rabbits’ lifespan and the necessary information to take good care of them. Take the time to learn as much as you can about these lovely, friendly, gentle giants with a universal purpose.
The Flemish Giant rabbits need special care and enough space to feel comfortable and secure. Before you take them into your home and make them a part of your family consider all factors and decide whether you are a good match. If you are, use our tips and tricks to extend the Flemish Giant rabbit lifespan and make the most of your time with your pet friend by your side.
