Flanders rabbits are one of the oldest European breeds that have successfully taken root both in America and in Russia. It is believed that they were bred four centuries ago in the Flanders region, from which the animals got their name. Purebred animals are rare today, as the line has undergone some changes in order to improve the performance of rabbits.
Flanders rabbits are large in size, have a body up to sixty centimeters, a strong skeleton, powerful legs, a rounded back and erect ears with a length of more than twelve centimeters. By their type, they belong to the meat version of the breeders, grow up to 6-7 kilograms and gain weight very quickly. Cases were recorded when the crawl reached a mass of ten or more kilograms. Original specimens have hare color: ferruginous gray, dark gray or black. And in derived breeds there are white, blue, squirrel and brown colors of a fur coat. The fur of the animal is dense, glossy, often short, which allows you to successfully create simulations for beaver, cat and even kangaroo.
Flanders rabbits, breeding of which is not as popular as other breeds of these animals, have a number of features. Firstly, this is a late reproductive opportunity in females. Rabbits of the flanders breed can bear offspring only in the eighth or ninth month of life, which is two times later than in other lines. The number of rabbits in the litter is normal for this breed - from 3-4 to 12 specimens.
Flandre rabbits are quite whimsical animals. Due to their large size, they need large cages (1.8 x 1.1 x 0.6 meters for a female with rabbits) and a larger amount of food. They have specific diseases of the respiratory system and require specific care for a sufficiently large skin.
In the United States, flanders are common as domestic animals along with dwarf breeds. Thanks to their developed intellect, calm character and peaceful disposition, they found many admirers among the inhabitants of this country. Breeders believe that at home, the animal by habits is more like a dog than an eared rodent.
In addition, at home rabbits do not require special care for a fur coat, they often learn to "go to the tray." The only restriction for the establishment of an animal in the apartment is the presence of very young children and the small size of the living space itself - the breed is large and requires a certain place.
Rabbits of the flanders breed , the photo of which is presented above, may have as the ancestors of the giant rabbits that once lived on the territory of Patagonia. It is believed that from there, during the colonization of Argentina, Dutch sailors in the 16th century could bring them and cross with local animal species. On the basis of the breed, many branches have been created that are more adapted to the peculiarities of survival in a particular region. In particular, it should be noted the line of giant rabbits, including: German, gray, white, Spanish and English.