Rabbit breed Flanders or, as it is also called, Belgian Giant, is one of the most valuable breeds. All because of the special thick and warm coat and really very significant weight for such a beast. The Flandre rabbit with a large elongated body is bred very quickly and is the most common breed in the world, which adds one more plus to these large and awkward pets.
Rabbit breed Flanders
The Flanders were brought out in Belgium, from where the name came from. In Russia, Belgian pets are becoming more popular every day. An interesting story is their appearance. According to the most famous version to date, the breed of farm rabbits Flanders appeared as a result of crossing Patagonian and Flagship individuals.
Advantages and disadvantages
Flandre rabbits do not require special care, which once again attracts the attention of rabbit breeders. The Giant has pros and cons regarding its maintenance and breeding. If you follow a series of simple measures for the care and breeding of the breed, individuals will always be active and healthy, and also, if desired, will bring good profits.
Let's start with the positive points in breeding these pets:
- The Belgian Flandre is considered an undemanding pet, and it does not need much time both in terms of care and in the selection of food. The content of such pussies at home is not very different from the content of primitive breeds.
- Flandre rabbits are resistant to different types of climate.
- Flanders still rabbits quite quickly develop and gain weight.
- This breed has very rich offspring: up to 15 cubs at a time. And at the same time, cubs rarely die at an early age, but, on the contrary, quickly gain strength. Breeding Flandre rabbits is a profitable investment.
- Rabbits Flanders have a kind and balanced character. At home, they can be kept as decorative animals.
The Flanders did not do without flaws. Firstly, for many, the immense appetite of these cute pets seems to be a minus, because they eat almost every minute, and you have to pay for it. Secondly, many farmers are embarrassed that not all grown Flanders fit the standard criteria, as a result they cannot be sold. The last negative quality of the Giant is the low cost of its wool.
Despite the disadvantages, the advantages outweigh, so this type of business is popular and profitable.
Description
Many years have passed since the appearance of this breed and the beginning of its breeding, so it is not surprising that in each country there are own Flanders. In Germany it is the German Baran, in France - the French Baran. Of course, they all differ in appearance, but still there are basic similarities.
The first thing that distinguishes any Flanders is an impressive weight and an elongated torso with well-developed muscles. Such proportions are breed French and German sheep.
The male Flandrov looks very massive, some farmers say that he is too big. Naturally, such an animal has large strong paws and claws on them. His head is also quite large, wide cheeks give the muzzle a special roundness.
The second feature of animals is wool, it is on its sale that farmers earn money.
The color of the giant rabbit is diverse, you can meet a red, and gray, and even a bluish pet. Rabbits of the breed Farmer Flanders are also sand and black. Nature has not deprived the number of shades of the fur coat of this animal.
Some consider this breed unattractive because of its physical data, but it is the coat and a variety of colors that save the situation.
Character
If you take into account the feedback of the owners of this breed, all rabbits of the breed Farmer Flandr are especially good-natured and non-conflict, which makes them almost ideal pets. They do not arrange fights among themselves and do not show aggression to strangers even during the period of carrying the young rabbit. This is the reason why they are often bought not only for breeding, but also as a friend for children. These pets attract adults with a good character and high intelligence.
Okril in the eared occurs naturally, females tolerate succession easily. When cubs were fledged, females do not abandon. Farm Flandre rabbits are characterized by a well-developed maternal instinct. All this makes the Flanders welcome pets at home.
Acquisition
The question of buying this breed can arise in any person who is just planning to breed these giants. The answer is unequivocal: to acquire a good and productive individual, you need to contact farmers who have been doing this for a long time and, if necessary, are able to provide assistance in choosing.
Before purchasing a pet, you need to study the description of rabbits of the Flanders breed. You can go to the forum and chat with the owners of this variety in order to have a complete picture of the breed. When buying, it is advisable to pay special attention to the appearance of the Flandre Belgian rabbits, so that you do not regret it again.
It is better to give preference to a more adult individual, because it shows that it meets all the criteria of the breed or not. If you want to buy a little rabbit, you need to pay attention to its weight: it should already be about 2 kg.
You should not be afraid to ask questions during the purchase. It is important to find out at what age the mother of a particular rabbit gave birth, because this criterion is very important, since a rabbit at the age of 2 or 3 years old carries the best and healthy offspring. It is also advisable to clarify what the baby was fed: mother’s breast milk is the best food for children, helping them develop well in the future.
Many people buy pets from their hands on various Internet portals. However, it is safest to buy pets from breeders, since the risk of running into scammers in this case is significantly reduced.
How much rabbits cost, so that there is white, blue or chinchilla coat color, you need to find out from the breeders. The price may vary depending on the region and the level of the nursery.
Before buying, you need to see what characteristic this animal has, how many kilograms it weighs, and how it feels at home. When buying, you need to pay attention to the ear, eyes and overall body complexion. Everything should be proportionate.
Rabbit Quality Criteria
These are the criteria that must be considered when buying, if you plan to breed eared. Selected rabbits must bring high-quality offspring, and for this they must be ideal representatives of their species.
It’s easy to breed Flander rabbits. An ideal representative of its kind will be a rabbit already 8 months old, weighing at least 6 kg. His long ears should stick over his head, their size is somewhere 23 cm.
The Belgian Giant should have a long body (from 65 to 73 cm), while his chest should be about 40 cm wide, and his round head should have sufficiently noticeable cheeks.
The coat should be perfectly uniform and uniform without any blemishes or shades. Rabbit fur should be 3.5 cm long.
To check the qualities of the pet, you can take a centimeter and measure the indicators. If the selected rabbit does not meet at least one, and even more so - to several criteria, it is not worth buying, because such a giant rabbit will not pay for itself. If someone likes voluminous and eared rabbits, you can also consider the French Baran rabbit breed.
Care
The animals must be constantly looked after, despite their impressive size and pickiness to weather conditions. Rabbits of this breed can live in the open air, however, do not follow simple hygiene standards, the rabbit is able to die or become ill.
Cell sizes
Depending on the size of the animal, there is a special table that indicates what dimensions the cage should have, where the pets are kept, so that they are comfortable. In cages smaller than necessary, animals cannot be raised. For such a large animal, a large cage will be required. The recommended cell sizes for keeping one Flanders rabbit are 110 × 70 × 50 cm, and for keeping rabbits with offspring - 170 × 110 × 50 cm. The bottom of the cage should be made of solid wood.
The pet's cage needs to be cleaned at least once a week, and do not forget about the feeders, which should be cleaned every day. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the water in the drinkers is fresh. Rabbits of this breed are not recommended for severe overheating and drafts. To maintain the health of the pet, regular consultation with the veterinarian and timely delivery of all necessary vaccinations is necessary.
Animal nutrition
Rabbits of this breed are unpretentious in food, but for rapid growth and weight gain it is necessary to adhere to a special diet.
Feeding giant rabbits has a number of features: Flanders eat twice a day and preferably at the same time, the water in the drinkers should be at room temperature and drinking, all food should be given clean, you need to add hay after dinner.
The nursing female is given boiled or fresh vegetables, hay, wheat, oats, corn seeds. Prohibited foods include potato tops, poisonous herbs, and frozen foods. Flanders are capable of poisoning with these products.
Breeding
Rabbits of the Flanders breed are undemanding, their breeding differs little from the rules for keeping the same Butterflies or Caspian eared ones. Rabbits can mate year-round and breed almost constantly. The only recommendation is not to happen to the Giants in the autumn period, as the pussies shed at this time and pregnancy can harm an already weakened rabbit's body.
Giant rabbits, as well as representatives of other breeds, are ready to mate after a week in the summer and nine days in the winter. It lasts 5 days.
Pregnancy lasts an average of 1 month. A female of a giant breed gives birth at a time to 15 ears. The size of the cage for the female with rabbits must be respected, otherwise the animals will be crowded. In the first month, the Flanders male weighs up to 700 g, and in 8 months - up to 7 kg. If the offspring is intended for slaughter, rabbits should be removed from the mother at the age of 1.5 months, and if for breeding, then at 2 months.
Flanders in the apartment
Rabbits of this breed are often kept in the apartment, because the pet is friendly and calm, easily gets along with other animals. It does not need to be walked, and a cat tray can be used as a toilet. There is no wool from it.
You should not start a giant rabbit if there are small children in the family, as the rabbit can accidentally injure or bite a child.
Summarizing
Breeding Belgian Giants Flanders is a profitable business, the main thing is to first learn all about rabbits of the Flanders breed.
If you keep Flanders in a heated room, offspring can be obtained all year round. Giant rabbit female gives a good offspring. The benefit is obvious when you consider that the cost of an ordinary eared one is on average 300 rubles, and a giant rabbit costs 1000 rubles.
Also make real money by selling skins and meat.
