Flemish Giant Questions

[luvabunny]

Saw Flemish at convention and really liked them. Found a light grey buck the owner claims is 6-8 months old. Possibly out of a NZW doe. He couldn't remember whether this particular rabbit was full or half Flemish.

I'm terrible with weights, but the rabbit is approx the size of my 6 month old Elop bunnies, but not the size of my 8 month old buck.

I read they are slow growers and bucks may not reach mature weight for 1.5 years. I'm just concerned the rabbit won't be as big as I want. I want a BIG rabbit. This was obviously a buck, but I didn't see his testicles yet, so I'm thinking he may not be as old as I was told.

What do you guys who have raised Flemish think about his size? I'm looking for a pet, noy show quality, but if I'm going to have one, I want it BIG.

 

[ZRabbits]

I'm not good a weights or ages, but my 5 month old Purebred Flemish boy, Fawkes has tripled in size in 3.5 months. The maturity at 1.5 years has to do with breeding and mental maturity. Size, if you want a BIG bunny, go for FULL Flemish. My Flemish/NZ mix, Rubeus was not as big as Fawkes was at the age we had to bring him back to the breeder due to a genetic jaw issue.

And if you are looking for a Pet, you will NOT be disappointed. Theses Flemishes are an amazing, sweet breed, who loves the touch of humans. They live for it. My Fawkes is such a pleasure to have around the house. And funny, he gives us such belly laughs all the time. And is very smart. He now comes on command. And knows the word "No". When you tell him "No", he stops what he's doing, looks at you and then gives a big Flemish binky away from what you don't want him to touch. It's like he's saying, "Nah, wasn't going to do that.". lol He's such a piece of work. Truly a welcomed member to our tribe.

If you want big, Go Purebred. The mixes are good, but you won't get the FULL, TRUE, Flemish.

Karen

 

[luvabunny]

That's exactly what I was thinking too. Had the guy been able to tell me he was full Flemish, I probably would have taken him. Or had he been able to tell me he was only 4 months old, I probably would have taken him too.

But since he couldn't remember if he was crossed, or how old, and just said he was breeding age when he obviously wasn't, I think I'm going to pass.

Thinking back, I saw lots of jrs and intermediates at the convention. This bunny was no where near as big as any of them. Like I said, he was not even an equivalent weight or size to my breeding age english lop buck.

Yup, I'm gonna wait. Got the last show of the year coming up Thanksgiving weekend. Maybe I'll find something there.
Thanks for your help.

 

[phillinley]

If you want big, go to an all Flemish show. I was getting disappointed with the growth on the Flemish we had. Going to an all Flemish show yesterday and seeing about 200 Flemish lined up with plenty for sale, it's like a going to a car lot to purchase just the right vehicle. My Blues were giving me trouble with size, but I hope that will change now that I have a 6 month old buck who's already 12 pounds who's parents are 18 and 18.5.

You can find out where the all flemish shows are at the club site:
http://www.nffgrb.net/

You have an all Flemish show in Ft Worth next weekend.
http://www.nffgrb.net/Sikes%20Shoot%20Out.htm
If you couldn't pick out your perfect Giant there I'm sure you can get the contacts you need to find it.

 

[luvabunny]

Thanks, I had found the site, but not investigated enough to realize there was a show next weekend.
With the personalities the elops have, I really don't know why I want a Flemish, except for just the size. I don't think I've ever seen such big rabbits in person.

 

[phillinley]

If you like the lops, go for a French Lop. They are also pretty ginormous. Not as big as Flemish, but not much else is. We saw a nice big French Lop win either best 6 class or best opposite 6 class at the show we were at today. I raised French Lops when I was a kid and had one as a house rabbit for 10 years as an adult. They can be very docile too as long as you pick them up from an owner you can trust has handled them a lot growing up. Again this is another good reason to shop at a show. You can not only have a conversation with someone at the show to buy from, you can see how they handle their own show rabbits and how those rabbits behave. Plus you can ask other breeders as a third party if your seller is trustworthy, has clean stock, and whether your bunny would be suffering from problems you might not see.

Another thing about the Flemmies. If you're looking for big, then if that rabbit is 6-8 months he needs to be 12 pounds or more at that stage or he's not going to grow into the 17, 18, on up pounder you are looking for. Blues and Blacks are not known for their huge size within the variety (and sadly that's what my kids picked), while Fawns, Sandy's and Light Grey's are more likely to fill out more.

No worries about wanting Flemmies for their size, that's why I always wanted them, and the same with French Lops when I was younger.

 

[3mina]

Just based on size, I'd love to see if I could get on or two pair of those German Giants that are all over YouTube but I'm pretty sure those are not anywhere on this continent.

 

[phillinley]

If you mean continental giants, yes they are available. But not cheap. One guy I've seen online from Connecticut who has them and will ship them to you even by plane:
http://www.rayrabbit.com/our-farm

 

[3mina]

I would expect to pay through the nose for those guys, which is why I don't have any. Yet.

 

[phillinley]

I would expect to pay through the nose for those guys, which is why I don't have any. Yet.

Once we have a year or two of getting our entire rabbitry in order and working well, I'll be driving out to Connecticut to pick up one of those buns in person. As it is I've spent too much this year starting up the rabbitry for the kids to get involved in any other projects.

 

[Barton's Big Bunnies]

luvabunny, I have a pair of pedigree sandy flemish giants. If you are still interested in a flemish giant, I should have some babies around Easter time. My buck is 13 lbs & my doe is 14.5 lbs at 8mos.

 

[joyjensen33]

We are getting a flemish giant for house rabbit for our two boys before Xmas. I know they are great with kids from research, but our oldest son has muscular dystrophy. Has anyone ever heard of them kicking a child over? Or my other concern is River's hands shake. We have one dutch, two lionheads but those will not sit andlet him cuddle. (Sorry about mis type, something to do with tablet) So smaller bunnies get love from adults. Any suggestions? We had to put all dogs, two labs, outside cause they would get excited and knock him over. River is an animal lover like his momma. Being able to pet and cuddle an animal helps him more than anything on his bad days.

 

[Dood]

I have American chinchills, not as big as a Flemish but a startled 12 pound rabbit could easily knock a kid over and launch themselves out of a child's arms.

Rabbits in general don't like to be carried but you can train them to be more tollerant by not putting them down when they kick out but hold them longer. Many rabbits will start kicking once they get close to the floor so lift them back up if they get ancy.

Rabbits have individual personalities and ask the breeder for one with more of a mello temperament who will enjoy just sitting next to your child.

I find my mini lop house bunnies very laid back but we specifically selected their parents for calm temperaments, they have been handled by me since birth and exposed to all sorts of strange sights and sounds. My one doe will rip around the house with the others for about 20 minutes then hop up on the couch to snuggle and will happily stay there the whole night

 

[bobqdevon]

Rabbits have individual personalities and ask the breeder for one with more of a mello temperament who will enjoy just sitting next to your child.

I could not agree more. I have a buck who absolutely loves to be held now. I've worked with him for months, and he will sit in your arms and nuzzle into you and just loves it.

I'm working to get all my rabbits like this.

 

[joyjensen33]

Thank you. Breeder we are getting him from knows why we are getting him. She has young boys as well, so they are handling the one we are getting. I have a huge indoor dog crate I am personalizing for the baby with urine guards etc. My husband and I were planning on handling the newbie mostly. Only have the kids around with supervision at first. After we get all exposed wires in pvc, and get him crate (litter box trained), he will have the run of house while we are home. If we leave for awhile he will be crated. Anything else we need to do? The whole family has a huge case of rabitosis? (Not sure on spelling.) Hershey, the dutch, has chosen me, is this common? The lionhead girls will stay for petting for a bit but then they are off exploring. They are more comfortable in cages but we get them out for daily exercise. Thanks so much for all help.