Owning a giant rabbit? What's it like?

Question

I am really curious... I've heard giant rabbits (german giant, checked giant, etc. ) can be house trained. What has to be done to do this? Do rabbits require a lot of work, or heavy vet bills? Do they need to get shots or anything like that? To tell you the truth I know absolutely nothing about rabbits, and I am very interested and learning about them from anyone who is familiar with giant rabbits. I don't like the little ones as much, I'm more interested in the large breed. So anything and everything you can tell me from their diet to housing to training,etc. will be perfect. Thanks a lot.

Answer 1

I've raised Checkered Giants for a number of years. They actually can last a pretty long time. I've seen one last to at least 14 years old before. The disposition of the rabbit depends partly on the breed and partly on the rabbit itself. Checkered Giants are a running breed and are very active. They are also a very beautiful breed to watch. Some of them can get week in the hips when they can get older, but normally those are the ones that are very tall in the back legs. I've only had about 1-2 rabbits out of several hundred get weak in the hips. I would normally recommend getting a buck over a doe. Bucks are normally more friendly. My Checkered Giant bucks were like big puppy dogs, especially as they got old. They'd stick their heads out of the cage doors just so you could pet them. The only problem with the bucks is that when the get out and get running and then get excited they can fling urine about 3-4 feet or so. Does don't do that. Does can be very friendly too, just make sure you pick out a friendly one and it should stay friendly. Some of the Checkered Giant does I had were friendly like big puppy dogs and a few others were mean as rattle snakes. I think you'd like Checkered Giants more than some of the other big breeds because they are a lot more active than a lot of the other large breeds. Flemish Giants probably would also be another good breed. They are fairly friendly but not as active as Checkered Giants. And yes, they can be house trained. The ARBA (http://www.arba.net) has a flyer they put out on how to house train rabbits. Your larger breed if they are kept in a cage while you are away from the house will need a cage with a solid floor and not a wire floor. Otherwise their feet will get sore.

As far as feeding, stick to just the rabbit pellets and water. Feed them just what they'll eat in 24 hours. Rabbits don't need shots like dogs or cats and they rarely need to go to the vet. If they do, normally their treatment don't run nearly as high as for cats or dogs. Sometimes though it can be hard to find a rabbit savvy vet. Don't feed your rabbit grass, vegetables, or fruit. That can make it fat and give it diahrrea. A half slice of bread a day won't hurt though and they love to eat it.

Answer 2

Checkered Giant Rabbit

Answer 3

I own continental giants. My rabbits have the finished run of the backyard while i'm at living house throughout the time of the day. they're housed in a 6x4 shed. No hutch. The shed has a mesh window which would be coated interior the iciness and an inner mesh door, so while climate is undesirable or i'm not at living house the air is circulated and that they could see out. It additionally has a ramp/platform and fan for the summer season. Giants at the instant are not very solid living house rabbits as they get fur everywhere as they moult heavily, they want grooming on a daily basis. in addition they mess alot extra which could stink your place out.My giants are allowed to wander out and in the patio doorways nevertheless. They get 10 hours workout an afternoon, working loose interior the backyard and have been knowledgeable to return to mattress while meals is being given. Rabbits could be laid low with fumes from cooking and gas cookers incredibly shortening their lifespan. All my rabbits have had an extremely solid lifespan, lving out doorways. those that lived indoors weren't so fortunate and died at a youthful age. on the different hand giants are sociable rabbits and the greenbacks are laid back as quickly as neutered. Neutering is significant to end aggression and maximum cancers, and abling a bond between 2 rabbits without combating. The Flemish widely used as pronounced does not stay very long as a results of its length. It became not initially bred for pets, yet for meat so life expectancy became not a controversy then. so a techniques as predators are worried, they are going to frighten off cats and defend themselves besides the undeniable fact that it does not mean that they gained't get harm interior the technique. additionally that is not merely cats you ought to difficulty approximately, foxes want to seek rabbits and could bounce a 6ft fence to get to them.Your rabbit won't stand of project against a fox. Rabbits should not be left unattended, so in case you circulate out, placed the rabbit to mattress.

Answer 4

Well, they don't really need a lot of vet attention just maybe shots if they are kept outside but not really if kept inside. You would use stuff for fleas and ticks the same as dogs just not he same kind. I have squirrels and a ferret and unless they are outside or come in contact with other outside animals then they don't need rabies or much vet stuff. They do carry other diseases that dogs and cats may not and I would talk to your vet to see what those are and how to avoid contracting them if they are something that you should worry about. A lot of animal diseases are not something humans can get but some are. Whatever the case a vet will be able to tell you and you can get stuff to prevent diseases. I do know that they do tend to be stinky. Not them personally but their poop. You have to constantly clean them if they are inside or outside. inside more b/c it'll be an enclosed area. A lot of them you can feed veggies but there are rabbit foods that you can get at the store. Some have sweet tooths but more like lettuces and carrot sweets. Good Luck.

Answer 5

well I have heard of some cases of the larger running breeds (like checkered giant) getting hip problems, they don't live as long as a slightly smaller breed and they tend to be lazier. they needs shots when they are sick but not like booster shots like dogs or cats. For more info about house training go to the ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association) website, i believe they have a page on it. I personally don't know much about like the really big breeds but I raise Rex which feel like velvet and can get to be about 10 pounds (I even have a doe that weighs 13 pounds). they live longer than like a Flemish Giant and are WAY more fun to pet.

You can look up breeders in your area on the rex club website (I would just google ARBA and go from there), or you can ask a local 4-Her, like myself.

Answer 6

i own a california, its big and very loveable. it is house trained and goes outside through doggie doors. even though it can grow to be very heavy, they are all so cute! i love big rabbits too. the bigger they are the more to love!

Answer 7

It depends