Scientific Facts
| Common Name: | British Giant Rabbit |
| Life Span: | 4 to 6 years |
| Size: | Large |
| Country of Origin: | United Kingdom |
Physical Description
As to how its name implies, British Giant Rabbits are giant breeds that can even flourish as much as 15 pounds. These creatures exhibit a compelling, huge body that smooth across the back yet exhibit broad hindquarters as well as an expanded front. They have a broad and round face. Their ears are huge and erect. They have full cheeks. These rabbits have fur that is average in length, mushy, and dense.
The British Giant Rabbits were bred to flaunt an assortment of shades, and those involve opal, steel grey, black, blue, white, and sable.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of British Giant Rabbits is around 4 to 6 years.
Eating Habits
British Giant Rabbits are great eaters. They even eat more compared to the smaller versions of rabbits. They need superior quality pellets to achieve a nutritive diet. The pellet should have at least 16 percent of protein. They also require a lot of hay. You will be amazed by how these creatures quickly finish their foods.
Sleeping Habits
British Giant Rabbits are crepuscular. This indicates that they are most dynamic during dusk and dawn. These creatures are normally awake when dawn and remain active until around the middle morning. They utilize this time to eat, play, forage, and groom themselves. Around the middle to late morning, you will observe these rabbits go to their den and settle down. There at times that they might come up to feed on hay or use the litter tray but are often seen to sleep for many hours.
Development and Reproduction
British Giant Rabbits become sexually mature once they reach 4 months. They breed at 6 to 9 months. The release of eggs, which is initiated by the female rabbits, is prompted by sexual intercourse. Pregnancies among the female British Giant Rabbits will normally take around 31 days.
The kits are delivered naked. They are also deaf and blind. The female rabbits have nipples of around 8 to 10, and a lot of them deliver 12 or more babies.
How to Breed
Determining the Sexes
Sexing the British Giant Rabbits is not difficult to do. You can commonly do well in figuring out a doe from a buck, at least at the age of 3 weeks. An adult buck can be determined easily. Their body and the head are commonly stockier compared to the doe. The adult does are commonly bigger than the bucks. The testicles of the bucks can be discerned during a hot day. To produce sperm, the testicles should be kept at a particular temperature.
Rabbits can also be sexed by getting into a closer range. Press down the vent, which is seen in front of the anus. Both the doe and buck will develop a protruding area. The doe rabbit will exhibit a central line or slit running up and down. On the other hand, the buck shall exhibit a round white tube without any central line.
Courtship and Mating
The male and female British Giant Rabbits can become mature sexually at the age of 4 months. The moment the rabbit reaches the age of 3 months, it should be placed in different cages or place the females together with the females and the males together with the males. If fighting develops, then they should be isolated.
Eggs and Incubation
The gestation period ranges from 28 to 31 days. On average, these creatures deliver their babies at 30 to 32 days. British Giant Rabbits can produce big litters, normally between 5 and 12 in a litter. As the doe prepares for its delivery, the nesting box should be occupied with hay. After the delivery, remove the hay and change it with another one.
Common Health Problems
British Giant Rabbits are known to be generally strong. Nevertheless, knowing the size of this breed, back problems, and sore feet, along with other health issues, may come up. These creatures are also inclined to being obese. Overweight British Giant Rabbits shall have difficulty nurturing and grooming themselves. They may become susceptible to flystrike. Rabbits that are conceded on becoming dirty or those that cannot groom themselves may draw the attention of the flies, which shall lay eggs in the soiled portions. The maggots that hatch may lead to wounds in the skin of the rabbit, which can be very painful and can be infected. Except if you confident about yourself and know that you can still manage your pet under this condition, flystrike will normally require the intervention of a veterinarian. If you do not want to reach this level, you must make sure your rabbit keeps the fitting weight throughout its life.
Another problem that may also occur among British Giant Rabbits is dental problems because their teeth continuously grow and may quickly overgrow. If the teeth are not given proper care, the rabbit may form enamel spurs or overgrown molars, both of which shall make eating hard and can develop suffering to the cheeks and tongue, which as reiterated, can get infected easily.
Preventing Illnesses
The ultimate approach to prevent illnesses in your British Giant Rabbit is to provide your pet with the best diet that will assist your pet in wearing down their teeth. Helpful foods are hays and fibrous and green vegetables, which require relatively little gnawing.
Behavior
British Giant Rabbits shall make excellent pets to the family because they are known to be laid-back, gentle, and submissive. They are also litter-educable; hence, be observant of where your rabbit likes to proceed to the bathroom and place a tray in that section so that it will grasp the method of using it. Instead of using a clay litter, it is recommended that you use a wood-pellet based litter.
These creatures are expected to develop a great bond with kids and other pets in the house, including the cats and dogs, particularly when exposed in an early period. These rabbits are not too energetic, and they love loitering and sitting back. However, it is important that you still provide your rabbit some time for bonding and playtime. If regularly managed and from an early period, these creatures will normally grow friendly and shall completely cuddling with you. They prosper under the interaction and fondness f human. Therefore, owners should devote some time to their rabbits.
Habitat
Enclosure
Knowing that British Giant Rabbits are huge, owners should realize that they have to secure their pet’s huge enclosures with sufficient space that will let them play and exercise comfortably. Get a hutch that is suitable for the size of the body of the rabbit. If you decide to house your British Giant Rabbit outdoors, see to it that your pet is safely placed distant from the wind and full sun. Make sure that the outdoor hutch is equipped well and should be both waterproof and weatherproof. See to it that your rabbit will have a convenient place where it can delve into and sunbathe.
Nevertheless, these creatures are great for indoors because they are calm, friendly, and good-natured. However, these pets would like to gnaw on kinds of stuff such as your home furnishings and shoes; thus, it is also important that you rabbit-proof your home should you decide to put it indoor. Also, you have to supervise your pet each time you allow it to go out from its cage. Further, secure your indoor British Giant Rabbit with a quiet and secure place where it gets rest without being disrupted. You may choose to use a dog crate equipped with a plastic bottom.
Toys
Give your British Giant Rabbit an assortment of toys to keep it occupied. This will also help your pet achieve mental stimulation, which is an essential part of its health. British Giant Rabbits would be grateful to a selection of toys. Rattan and wooden gnaws are always acknowledged, as is any kind of stuff that creates a noise like wooden rattles and toss toys with bells.
Diet
A healthy and balanced diet is very important to secure the health of the British Giant Rabbits. Their diet should be composed of hay that is at least of their body size; sufficient fresh greens served two times a day and a tablespoon of rabbit nuggets.
How to Care for British Giant Rabbit
Being such a huge rabbit, the British Giant Rabbit requires a shelter that provides ample space. The pet will reside in a hutch thoroughly happy; however, the hutch has to be in a suitable dimension. A devoted shed can be promising. Owners of British Giant Rabbits should regularly groom their pets to maintain the condition of their fur and also to inhibit them from matting.
You should also know that these creatures have an indisputable yearning to bite, which can stretch to shoes, skirting boards, toys, and anything else that you do not like to be bitten. A specific favorite happens to be cables; hence, it would be smart that you keep all important kinds of stuff away from your pet. If you are decided to keep your rabbit indoors, you must secure your pet an area that is safe and suitable for it – an enclosure or a quiet room where it can get enough rest without being disturbed.
Where to Get a Pet British Giant Rabbit
Invest some time looking for a credible and skilled British Giant Rabbit breeder. A typical method of doing this is to search online for credible breeders. Once you checked on one, contact them and ask the necessary questions.
When you are finally scheduled to get your pet from a breeder, do not hesitate to do the basic tests and do not hesitate to ask questions to determine the lineage before settling the payment for the British Giant Rabbit. What is so challenging in finding the best seller for your pet is determining the most credible one. Many would go online selling these wonderful pets; however, not all of them can produce good quality rabbits.
FAQs
Is the British Giant Rabbit completely safe for my kids?
Even though British Giant Rabbits are said to be great pet choice for the families with kids, adults in the house must still educate their kids about the proper handling of the rabbit. They should be informed that British Giant Rabbits have to be safely and gently handled. It is also important that you remind your kids to behave whenever near to the rabbit so that it will not be stressed or frightened.
How frequent should I conduct the basic health check on my British Giant Rabbit?
A basic health check must be performed every day. The feeding period would be an ideal time to do this. You should examine your pet for any physical changes. You may also observe the pet if there are any changes in its behavior. Notice the actions of your rabbit and see if there is any unusual conduct done. By regularly doing the basic check, there is a big chance that you will quickly discern illness should your pet be affected by one.
Do British Giant Rabbits require shots?
No. Unlike your cats and dogs, British Giant Rabbits require no yearly shots or vaccines. They just need proper care, along with a healthy diet to be far from illnesses.
How should I keep my British Giant Rabbit cool?
See to it that your pet is away from the sun. You may also consider putting ice cubes in their water bowl, so the water is inviting, and your pet may also lie against the cool bowl. It can also help to cool your rabbit if you do mist in its ears. These creatures disperse heat through the ears.
Is there an immediate treatment should my British Giant Rabbit experience heat stroke?
Do not drench your pet in cold water. Doing this will only make your pet be in shock. By using cold water, dampen its body and the ears. And most importantly, bring your pet to a veterinarian the soonest time possible. Never waste time.
