Rabbit Flandr is a representative of an ancient breed. The animal is large, highly fertile. The size of the Belgian giant (the second name of the rabbit) is compared with a medium-sized dog. Flanders are bred for fur and dietary meat.
History of breed origin
The historical homeland of the Flanders rabbit is Belgium. Hence the name - Belgian giant. To be more precise, rabbit breeding was carried out in the Flanders region, from where the new breed was transported to the North American continent. Opinions about the origin of pets were divided. Officially there are 3 versions:
- Rabbit Flanders is the result of breeding Argentinean, Patagonian and Flemish breeds.
- The Belgian giant is a descendant of the Patagonian rabbits (the indigenous inhabitants of Patagonia), which were imported from Argentina for mass breeding in the 16-17th century.
- The animal appeared as a result of crossing large Argentine and Flemish rabbits, which today are extinct species.
Belgian rabbits are very popular in the USA. On the territory of modern Russia are not particularly common. It is known that they were brought to the USSR in large quantities, after which they took part in the selection of domestic breeds - the Soviet chinchilla, gray giant.
Features and specifications
Flandre rabbits have an elongated body, a proportional head with wide cheeks, long erect ears and powerful paws, which are actively used for protection. The muzzle is dark, the eyes are shiny, brown. The skin of a rabbit is short but dense, lighter on the abdomen than on the sides and back.
On average, an adult animal weighs up to 12 kg, but larger individuals (males) are also found - up to 25 kg. The length of the body varies from 67 to 80 cm, the circumference of the chest - 35-38 cm. The average weight of a monthly rabbit is 700-1000 g, but by 8 months it increases to 7-8 kg.
Rabbits Flandre live up to 5 years. Subject to the rules of care and maintenance, life expectancy increases. These pets become loyal friends of a person, can live with him in the same territory.
Temperament
Rabbits Flandr have intelligence, react to their nickname. In appearance they are kind and harmless, in character - playful, open, do not conflict with other inhabitants of the farmyard.
Belgian giants often become full-fledged members of the family, find contact with small children, not aggressive towards adults.
By the nature of the rabbits, Flanders can be compared with dogs, they are also smart and loyal. Representatives of this breed have already become favorites for rabbit breeders.
Signs of breed quality
The body of Flanders is longer than that of the other breeds; it is not for nothing that rabbits are called Belgian giants. In addition to large sizes, there are other distinctive features of these pets:
- Most individuals have a straight back, and some have a slightly concave back.
- The color is diverse, includes all the traditional colors of rabbits.
- Ears are dense, stand upright, reach a length of 25 cm.
- The animals are short-haired, the length of the coat is 4 cm.
- The front and hind limbs are proportional to the body.
- The color of the claws corresponds to the shade of the coat.
- A distinctive feature of the Flanders rabbits is the chin fold.
Productivity indicators
Females become sexually mature by 8 months, in a litter they bring 6-8 goals. Milk rabbits are high, so they are able to feed up to 12 cubs. Rabbits are growing rapidly, by the second month of life weigh 1.6-2 kg.
The meat yield against the background of other breeds is insignificant - 55%. When slaughtering a rabbit weighing 5.5 kg, 3 kg of diet rabbit is obtained. From the perspective of the enterprise, it is unprofitable. The skin of an animal is also not much appreciated.
We suggest you watch a video with a description of the breed of Flandre rabbits:
Advantages and disadvantages of the Belgian giant
Rabbits Flandr - a favorite breed of breeders for high milk production and high fecundity (8-15 rabbits). Other benefits of pets:
- unpretentiousness in food;
- strong offspring;
- rapid growth and weight gain;
- resistance to temperature extremes;
- flexible character;
- stable immunity.
Belgian rabbits have their drawbacks, which is important to consider when choosing the optimal breed for growing and breeding:
- low meat yield - 55%;
- late puberty - by 8 months;
- bent paws from birth;
- gluttony
- poor heat transfer;
- low quality skins;
- bloating;
- predisposition to diseases of the joints, limbs.
Maintenance and care
Flandre rabbits are resistant to infections. To ensure that the animal does not hurt, keep the cells clean. When choosing a breed, remember that it is difficult for rabbits to adapt to the weather conditions in Russia. In winter, they freeze, in summer they die from extreme heat.
The rest of the Flanders are unpretentious in food and care. If you create favorable climatic conditions and provide a balanced diet rich in vitamins and valuable trace elements, rabbits have velvety skin, healthy offspring, and long life.
Cell selection
Flandre rabbits live in cages. More space is needed so that they not only stay in the same position, but move actively. Males and females should live separately, otherwise unplanned offspring are expected.
For a female with rabbits, the size of the cage is 170x110x50 cm. The parameters of a single dwelling are 110x70x50 cm. Install the cages in a dry and warm place, take into account the importance of the room, natural light and protection against ultraviolet radiation.
Each cage should have a heavy bottom feeder and drinker. Cover the animal litter, which is periodically cleaned and replaced. Clean the cage when an unpleasant odor appears, otherwise microbes that are dangerous to Flanders health multiply.
In addition to cages, equip an aviary where animals eat and frolic. Use only natural materials as flooring. Make sure that sunlight and drafts do not penetrate the enclosure. If desired, make portable cells yourself.
Care Rules
Daily clean portable cages of food debris and excrement, walk the rabbits in the aviary. In summer, graze animals on flowering lawns, the main thing is to exclude direct sunlight. Otherwise, rabbits can experience heat stroke and die. If animals live in a confined space, ventilate it regularly.
Disease resistance
In the fresh air, the rabbit feels comfortable. The immune system protects against respiratory and viral diseases. To prevent a number of diseases, prophylactic vaccination will not be out of place.
Vaccinations against pasteurelliosis, myxomatosis, and viral hemorrhagic disease are mandatory. The first vaccine is given in 1.5 months to a rabbit (spring) from myxomatosis. After 2 weeks, a preventive vaccination against viral hemorrhagic disease is performed.
For routine vaccinations, visit your veterinarian. Before vaccination, a specialist examines animals, eliminates the first symptoms of respiratory diseases. For sick rabbits, vaccination is tolerated until complete recovery.
Nutrition
Flanders are omnivorous, unpretentious in food and very gluttonous. Subject to the rules of nutrition, they quickly gain weight, grow.
Valuable recommendations from experienced rabbit breeders:
- Follow the diet, feed the rabbits at the same time.
- Do not give fresh grass, first let it dry for 1-3 days.
- Do not feed animals frozen, spoiled food, otherwise digestive problems can not be avoided.
- Wash fresh root vegetables, chop, do not introduce whole roots into the daily diet.
- Introduce new feed gradually - at least 5 days, do not overload digestion.
- Do not give Flanders whole barley, chop it in any way possible.
- Soak legumes before feeding, and mix shredded cabbage leaves with a small amount of dry hay.
- Be sure to include twigs, straw, and other roughage in the daily ration for grinding the incisors.
- Make sure that the Flanders menu contains vitamins to maintain the health of the skin, claws, and teeth.
- Add 1-2 g of bone meal or chopped chalk to the food or drink.
- Give the rabbit compound feed with vitamins and minerals. The finished product contains corn, wheat grains, sunflower meal.
In addition to a balanced diet, maintain the water regime of the animal. There should always be clean water; change and top up daily. Firmly fasten the drinker so that the rabbit does not remain without liquid. The optimal volume of water for the Flanders breed is 1.5-2 liters per day.
To prevent digestive disorders, add biomycin to the liquid. Dosage is individually negotiated with the veterinarian.
Feeding rules
The quality of the skin and the health of individuals depends on compliance with the rules for feeding rabbits. Flanders need three meals a day.
So that food is better absorbed and does not cause digestive problems, observe this diet:
- breakfast: half a daily portion of concentrated feed;
- lunch: fresh grass (in summer), dry hay (in winter);
- dinner: silage, the rest of the concentrated feed, calculated on the day.
Prohibited Products
The Flanders have sensitive digestion. With improper nutrition, animals suffer from bloating, colic. There are a number of food ingredients that are prohibited in the daily diet. It:
- broom;
- potato tops;
- poisonous herbs (belladonna, St. John's wort, nightshade, lily of the valley, celandine, aronik, cornflower);
- branches of stone fruit trees.
Breeding
Female rabbits later reach puberty - by 8 months. In males, this period begins much earlier - by 4 months. The female comes to the hunt 1 time in 5-15 days. Pregnancy lasts 28-30 days. In the litter - 6-8 rabbits, but there are cases of birth of 10-12 individuals weighing 80-100 g.
With good nutrition and favorable conditions, rabbits quickly gain weight. At 2 months they weigh up to 2 kg, at 3 - up to 3.5 kg. According to veterinarians, the average monthly gain is 1-1.5 kg.
The first month of life, the caring mother takes care of the offspring, feeds it with milk, and cleans it. There are cases when a rabbit ate its offspring. The reason for this is the lack of water. Therefore, the task of the breeder is to renew the drinker 3 times a day.
At the age of 21 days, the rabbits independently get out of the cage, try adult food. Since the immunity of the offspring is not fully formed, disinfect the room before walking. Control the water regime of the rabbits.
Perhaps our article will be useful to you: "Departure of rabbits from a rabbit: terms and rules."
Maintenance in the apartment
Flanders live quietly in apartments and private houses, become full members of the family. Animals are kind and peaceful, do not bite, get along well with children.
At home, the rabbit must live in a cage with a drinking bowl and a feeder. Use pressed wood pellets as a filler. Install housing in a warm place with no drafts and the sun does not fall on the cage. From heat stroke, Flanders may die.
Wash the cell daily, otherwise a specific smell emanates from it, which only intensifies over time. Pressed granules hold him back, but temporarily. Aviary, if available, clean once a week.
In the house where the Flandre rabbit lives, cover the floors with a carpet of natural material. From a laminate, linoleum, a plastic coating in an animal, subdermatitis can aggravate. For symptoms of illness, contact your veterinarian immediately.
The diet of the pet should be dry hay, green grass, specialized feed. From the table, give the rabbit peeled and chopped carrots, cabbage, beets. Animals love parsley, green salad, other greens.
Rabbit Flandre Reviews
Margo, 42 years old, agriculture, Krasnodar. I have been breeding Flandres for several years now - I am satisfied. I have more than 30 goals, and no problems. Animals are clean, omnivorous, hardy and positive. There are no problems with nutrition: in summer it is green grass, in winter - dry hay. It is imperative that clean water be in the drinkers. Rabbits are active, like to frolic in the aviary, breed well.
Victor, 57 years old, agronomist, Anapa. I’ve been breeding Flandrov for several years. Their meat is delicious, dietary. My biggest rabbit weighs almost 18 kg, and this is not the limit. Animals breed quickly, in the litter there are up to 10 rabbits. They are unpretentious in food, but they grow very quickly. Already at 7 months weigh up to 7 kg. I didn’t notice any flaws. Care, like the rest of the animals in the stable.
Maxim, 45 years old, farmer, Old Crimea. I have not grown together with this breed of rabbits. Either digestive problems, then in one winter the whole litter froze. Although I live in Crimea, I believe that the Flanders are unsuitable for agriculture. I constantly had to treat rabbits, although half the meat output. Yes, tasty, but other breeds are no worse.
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Flandre rabbits are not whimsical in the care and nutrition. With the right approach, they can become a good source of income, but for this you will need to equip the farm. Representatives of this breed are peaceful and calm, play with children with pleasure, and therefore often become pets.