Rabbit flandre: breed description and characteristics, home care

Flandra rabbits are the oldest breed of mammals, the order of lagomorphs, distinguished by their solid size and high fertility. The people call these eared giants, giant rabbits. But rabbit breeders appreciate them not only for their great weight - the unpretentiousness and physical endurance of rabbits make them the favorites of farmers. However, intense heat and severe frosts are detrimental to these animals.

History of the breed

For the first time, the world heard about the Flanders rabbit breed in 1860, when the first individuals appeared in the Belgian province of Flanders. There is no exact information about the date of creation of the breed. Versions of the origin of the genus Flanders:

1. Rabbits are the descendants of the Patagonian relatives brought from Argentina in the 16th-17th centuries.
2. Belgian giants are descendants of Flemish rabbits. This species stopped breeding and eventually disappeared completely.
3. Flanders are the result of crossing rabbits from Patagonia, Argentina, Flemish.

Belgian Flemish breeds have been created all over the world. They have slight differences from tribal relatives, as they are adapted to their regions. So the German, Spanish, English subspecies appeared, and the gray and white giants have been allowed for breeding in the Russian Federation since 1993.

Description and characteristics of purebred flanders

Rabbits of the Flandres breed nature endowed with a long body, a dark muzzle with brown eyes, plump cheeks and erect ears. The giants have massive paws, they beat the opponent with them, they defend themselves. The coat is short (3.5-4 cm), thick, darker on the flanks and back than on the belly.The color of the body varies from almost black to sandy brown and gray, and the color of the claws is identical to the color of the coat.

The mass of adult Flanders rabbits is about 11-12 kg, sometimes it reaches 25 kg. The length of the body is about 80 cm, the chest in girth is 36-38 cm. The weight of a rabbit at 2 months is about 2 kg, but already an 8-month-old baby weighs 7-8 kg. The average life expectancy of Flanders rabbits is 5 years, but with proper care it increases. Rabbits quickly get used to a person and are able to live in the same territory with him.

Temperament

Flandre rabbits have excellent intelligence, quickly get used to their nicknames. The character is peaceful, playful. They like to communicate with children, are not aggressive towards adults.

If we compare giants with other pets, they are similar in temperament to dogs: loyal, quick-witted.

Breed qualities

The difference between the Belgian giant rabbits and relatives is not only a muscular body. They are distinguished by other features:

• long erect ears (23-25cm);
• short coat;
• flat and only sometimes slightly concave back;
• a wide range of colors found in different types of rabbits;
• colour of claws identical to coat color;
• four legs proportional to the body.

But the main difference between the representatives of the breed is a kind of fold on the chin.

Productivity

By the age of 8 months, the female giant rabbit is recognized as sexually mature. In one litter, it gives birth to 6-8 babies, a large individual - up to 15 cubs. Eared milk production is high, mothers feed numerous offspring.Rabbits are rapidly gaining weight, monthly babies weigh about 1 kg. The volume of meat in rabbits of the Flanders breed is low - about 55%. From one Belgian rabbit weighing 5.5 kg, you can take about 3 kg of meat.

Pros and cons

The Belgian giant rabbit breed has its pros and cons. Pros:

• high fecundity, milkiness of rabbits;
• resistance to diseases and temperature extremes;
• unpretentiousness in feeding;
• physical endurance of rabbits;
• raising in the house as a pet;
• friendly, playful temperament;
• growing for skins, meat.

Cons of Flandre rabbits:

1. Gluttony. Rabbits are constantly eating, so they require a lot of food. That is why the flandres grow quickly and gain mass.
2. Poor quality pelts. Despite the high density of wool, fluff, which is valued much higher, is almost absent. Moreover, the hair grows unevenly, its length is different throughout the body.
3. Congenital anomalies. Often, giants have deformation and underdevelopment of the limbs.
4. Bloating. Young rabbits are prone to digestive disorders, the salvation is the addition of medicines to food.
5. Long adaptation. When Flanders rabbits move from one region to another, they often catch a cold. In particular, this applies to the transportation of animals from Europe or warm regions of Russia to cold regions.
6. Long ripening. Rabbits of meat breeds mature 2 times faster than flanders and become suitable for slaughter for meat.

Scientists-breeders are constantly working to improve the qualities of this breed, and the work gradually pleases with a positive result.

Recommendations for maintenance and care

Rabbit breeders with experience claim that it is difficult to properly care for Belgian giants. Animals are demanding in terms of warmth, the constant availability of food and the size of the cages. Especially large living space is necessary for females with rabbits. Despite resistance to respiratory diseases, it is important to keep rabbits in cages that are constantly disinfected. The cabins are regularly cleaned and aired, and the bowls are filled with fresh water.

It is desirable to build cells from natural materials. The walls are built from boards, a sheet of plywood, and the frame and supporting elements are made from a wooden beam. The flooring is made of slats or mesh, the roof is also covered with plywood or boards. When building cages, the size of animals, the number of individuals in one living space and their weight are taken into account. For a female with rabbits, a cage with dimensions of 170x110x50 cm is suitable, for a single rabbit - 110x70x50 cm.

It is recommended to place the cages at least 1 m above the ground, otherwise the flandres will suffer from rats or ferrets. In addition, cleaning such a house is more convenient. With the onset of spring, before the disease-carrying mosquitoes appeared, giant rabbits are vaccinated against myxomatosis, hemorrhagic viral fever and pasteurellosis. The first vaccination is given at 1.5 months. Upon reaching 8 months, the rabbits are suitable for breeding. Flanders can be raised at home - they are good-natured to children and adults.

What to feed

Biomycin is added to the food of giant rabbits. He saves the Flanders, especially at a young age, from bloating and death. The food of eared pets consists of dry hay, which they are given daily. Also, animals are not averse to tasting wet mixtures, grain food. The diet should contain compound feed and finely chopped vegetables:

• carrot;
• boiled potatoes;
• fodder beets;
• white cabbage;
• pumpkin.

Food is sometimes slightly s alted, diluted with meat and bone meal, if necessary, supplied with medicines. A prerequisite is the presence of fresh, clean water in a bowl. Rabbits are fed at the same time. Freshly cut grass is first dried and only then offered to the rabbit. Not included in meals:

• potato tops;
• brands of broom, elderberry;
• hellebore;
• lilies of the valley;
• St. John's wort;
• cornflowers;
• poisonous celandine;
• henbane;
• nightshade.

These plants are detrimental to Flanders.

Breeding rules

Breeding Belgian Flanders giants does not cause problems for breeders: rabbits mate willingly, females give birth to rabbits without much difficulty. This happens when the rabbits are 8, and the males are 4 months old. The female comes into hunting once within 5-15 days. Her pregnancy lasts 28-30 days, 6-8 (sometimes up to 15) cubs are born in one litter.

Rabbits grow fast with good care. Every month, each baby gains about 1-1.5 kg of weight. In the first couple of months, the rabbits feed on their mother's milk, she cleans and warms them. Having reached the age of 21 days, the offspring tries "adult" food.

As soon as the young Flanders completely switch to it, biomycin is added to their diet, they monitor the presence of water in the bowls.

Cages are placed away from drafts and direct sun as Belgian rabbits die of heatstroke. Pressed granules are poured into the houses as a filler, which is changed daily.When keeping a giant in an apartment, the floors are covered with carpet, as laminate, linoleum and parquet cause pododermatitis in rabbits.

Possible diseases

Without vaccination, rabbits of the Flandre breed pick up hemorrhagic viral fever, pasteurellosis, myxomatosis from mosquitoes. Also, when moving from a warm region to a cold one, giants can catch a cold. For rabbits, heat and strong drafts are detrimental, they are susceptible to tick attacks.

Tips for choosing a rabbit of this breed when buying

It is recommended to buy Belgian Flemish rabbits in farmsteads, where experienced rabbit breeders are engaged in breeding breeds. It is desirable that the baby rabbit was born from a 2-3 year old female rabbit and fed on her milk for at least 2 months.

When choosing Flanders rabbits, pay attention to:

• purity of fur, grooming;
• presence of a large number of cubs in the litter;
• rabbit age;
• no darkening and sticking on the paws.

Purebred Flanders rabbits stand out:

• body length (about 90cm);
• chubby cheeks;
• with erect ears 18-25 cm long and black border on the top edge;
• wide chested with a big hollow;
• weight (at the age of 8 months body weight 6-8 kg);
• chin crease.

The coat color of purebred Flemish rabbits is varied, so this aspect is not taken into account.

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