Giant rabbit breeds compared: Flemish, Continental, French Lop and more

What are the giant rabbit breeds?

The Rabbit Welfare Association describes giants as breeds that generally weigh over 5 kg (11 lb), with adults from 5 to 10 kg (11 to 22 lb) or more, larger than many dogs. It names the French Lop, New Zealand White, Continental Giant, Flemish Giant, Belgian Hare and English Lop. PDSA adds the British Giant, and US breed clubs recognise the Checkered Giant, Giant Chinchilla and Giant Angora.

Giant is about frame, not fat. The Rabbit Welfare Association is clear that a giant rabbit is a different thing from an overweight one. Our main guide to rabbit breeds covers the small and medium breeds too.

Giant rabbit breeds compared

Weights are adult figures from the source named in each row. "No maximum" means the breed standard sets a minimum only, so individual rabbits can be much heavier.

Sources do not agree on lifespan. The Rabbit Welfare Association says giants typically live 4 to 6 years, shorter than smaller rabbits, while PDSA gives 5 to 8 years for Flemish and British Giants. We would plan for the shorter figure and be glad of the longer one. The Giant Angora is not a true giant by the Rabbit Welfare Association's 5 kg line, but its name and its no-maximum standard put it in most giant lists.

Belgian giant, German giant, giant lop: the names people confuse

Many giant names in adverts are not breed names at all. The American Rabbit Breeders Association list of 53 recognised breeds has no Belgian Giant, German Giant, Continental Giant, British Giant, English Giant, Dutch Giant, American Giant or Giant Lop. Here is what people usually mean.

The German giant and giant lop rows are our reading of how the names are used, since neither name appears on the British Rabbit Council or ARBA breed lists we checked. If an advert uses one of them, ask the seller which recognised breed the parents are and how much they weigh. Our page on lop-eared rabbit breeds sorts out the lops.

Giant rabbit hutches and housing: what a giant needs

A giant needs far more room than a standard hutch can give. The Rabbit Welfare Association says pet shop hutches are rarely, if ever, big enough for two giants, or for a giant living with a smaller rabbit. Giants can stretch past 1.2 m (4 ft), and the minimum space is room for at least three hops in a row in any direction, which can mean about 3.7 m (12 ft).

It suggests three setups: a large shed with a run attached, an aviary with indoor and outdoor parts, or a house rabbit setup. Expect to spend upwards of £300 on suitable housing, by its figure. A giant also needs daily exercise in a secure garden with no escape routes and no poisonous plants.

• A shed, aviary or rabbit-proofed room, not a hutch
• Room for three hops in a row in every direction
• Head height for a rabbit standing tall, which can be over 1.2 m (4 ft)
• Thick, soft bedding over the whole sleeping area
• Doorways and tunnels wide enough for a giant to pass without squeezing
• Low shelves to hop onto, rather than tall ramps
• A litter tray big enough for a rabbit over 1 m (3 ft) long

Our guides to rabbit sheds and indoor rabbit cages and pens show how to build either setup, and our rabbit cage size guide has the minimums for smaller breeds.

Flooring and feet

Sore hocks (pododermatitis) are common in giants, because so much weight presses on the back of the feet. The Rabbit Welfare Association advises thick, soft bedding and a check of the hocks and feet every day, since early treatment matters. Indoors, cover slippery floors with rugs, vet bed or non-slip mats so a heavy rabbit does not splay or slide.

Lifting and handling a giant rabbit

Handle a giant only when you need to: health checks, cleaning a dirty back end or clipping claws. The Rabbit Welfare Association says to sit on the ground when you handle one and to support the spine at all times, because wrong handling can cause fatal spine or back leg fractures, as well as scratches and kicks. PDSA says Flemish Giants, British Giants and French Lops do not enjoy being picked up and that their backs can break if they are dropped.

1. Get down to their level. Kneel or sit on the floor before you touch them, so a fall is only a few centimetres.
2. Support both ends. One hand under the chest, the other under the back end and back legs, with the spine held level.
3. Keep them close. Hold the rabbit against your body so the legs cannot kick out and twist the back.
4. Use a carrier, not your arms, to move them. Lift the carrier, not the rabbit, for vet trips, and choose one with a solid floor that a giant can turn around in.

Our guide on how to tame and handle a rabbit covers building trust so handling is calmer.

How much does a giant rabbit eat?

More hay, more greens and, by weight, a small amount of pellets. The Rabbit Welfare Association says an adult giant needs unlimited hay, a large mound of fresh greens daily and only just over 15 g of pellets per kg of body weight a day. For a 7 kg (15 lb) rabbit, that is just over 105 g (3.7 oz) a day. PDSA's British Giant page gives one tablespoon of nuggets, twice a day for rabbits over 3.5 kg (7.7 lb), plus at least their own body size in hay.

The two figures differ, so weigh your rabbit, start from the Rabbit Welfare Association figure because it is written for giants, and ask your vet to check body condition at each visit. Young giants grow fast and need extra, ideally from extruded nuggets so they cannot pick out the tasty bits. Do not add vitamin or mineral supplements unless a vet prescribes them. Our rabbit diet guide has the full daily menu.

Giant rabbit health and vet costs

Giants share the health risks of all rabbits, plus a few of their own. PDSA's lifetime cost estimate for a single Flemish Giant is £5,800 to £9,000, and it says a pair roughly doubles that. The Rabbit Welfare Association lists these giant-specific problems:

• Arthritis and spondylosis. Common with age. Watch for slowing down, shuffling on the back legs and urine or droppings stuck to the fur. Medication can often help, so see a vet early.
• Flystrike. Does with a large dewlap can struggle to clean their back end. Keep giants slim, check the back end at least twice a day in warm weather, and ask your vet about fly prevention.
• Heart problems. Cardiomyopathy is more common in large and giant breeds and can cause sudden death. Caught early, vets can sometimes manage it with medication.
• Sore hocks. Covered above: soft floors and daily checks.

PDSA adds dental disease, linked to diet, and vaccination against myxomatosis and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease for all its giant breed profiles. A giant needs a bigger carrier and a vet used to handling large rabbits, so find one before you need it: our page on finding a vet for small pets explains how. For the rest of daily care, see our complete rabbit care guide.