From the tiny Netherland Dwarf to the massive Flemish Giant, there is a wide variety of rabbit breeds out there. Some are better suited for indoor living, while others are more comfortable outdoors.
If you are thinking about adding a rabbit to your family, it is important to do your research and find the breed that is right for you.
In this blog post, we will take a look at 6 of the largest rabbit breeds in the world
A giant rabbit can weigh over 12 pounds, which is quite a bit larger than the average domestic rabbit which weighs around five to six pounds and is much bigger than small rabbit breeds such as the Netherland Dwarf which only weighs around two pounds.
Some of the largest rabbit breeds are also some of the oldest breeds. The Flemish Giant, for example, has been around since the 16th century.
List of Large Rabbit Breeds
Here are eight of the largest rabbit breeds in the world:
Checkered Giant
The Checkered Giant rabbit is a large breed of rabbit that is said to have originated in France. Weighing over 11 lbs, it takes a certain type of bunny owner to handle one of these rabbits. You’ll need to make sure you have the space and the food for this furry creature, as well as lots of energy as they are an active bun!
That being said, they can make a wonderful family pet in homes with those who understand their needs.
They have no maximum weight, but a minimum weight of 11 lbs for senior bucks and 12 lbs for senior does.
This breed has a slender yet muscular build and their body is hare-like and long while also being arched. Their legs are long and powerful and they have a wide head with upright, broad ears.
The Checkered Giant rabbit is one of the few breeds recognized by ARBA as having distinctive markings. The only color that the ARBA accepts is white with either blue or black markings.
The blue or black markings include rings around the eyes, colored ears, cheek flashes and a butterfly shaped marking on the nose, as well as a dorsal stripe that runs down the spine from ears to tail.
The Checkered Giant rabbit has an average life expectancy of between 5 and 8 years, although they can live as long as 10 years.
Flemish Giant
The Flemish Giant rabbit is one of the largest and oldest recognized breeds of rabbit. While these rabbits can look daunting when compared to a smaller rabbit such as the Mini Lop rabbit, they are actually a very docile breed and can make great pets to those who have the space to own one. They are also calm and will be happy relaxing around your home.
The origin of the Flemish Giant rabbit can be difficult to pinpoint. Some believed that the Flemish Giant rabbit originated from Patagonia. However, it is now thought that these big rabbits originated from Flanders in the 16th century.
The Flemish Giant rabbit is a large breed that is very unique! These rabbits are normally born in kit sizes of between six to ten, although some Giants have been known to have litters as large as fifteen to nineteen kits!
A Flemish Giant will usually cost between $20 to $50. However, a breeding-quality Flemish Giant can cost up to $50 to $100 and a show-quality Flemish can cost between $75 and $300!
It is no secret that these rabbits are large. These rabbits can reach up to 30 inches long and normally weigh between 15 and 22 lbs on average. Their breed standard states they do not actually have a maximum weight. The heaviest recorded weight of a Flemish Giant Rabbit is 50 pounds!
Flemish Giants are a relatively healthy breed of rabbit with a long life expectancy. With regular veterinary visits, they can live for between eight and ten years.
Giant Angora
The Giant Angora rabbit is a breed of Angora rabbit, that, like all Angora breeds, is known for it’s fur. This is a very large breed — weighing up to 10 lbs — yet they make excellent pets for those who know how to look after rabbits and have the time for grooming! Also excelling a show rabbit, the Giant Angora gets on very well with children and has a calm and gentle temperament.
The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) recognizes four different breeds of Angora rabbit: French, English, Satin, and Giant. The Satin Angora has finer and softer hair than the other breeds and the Giant Angora is the biggest of the breeds.
The Angora rabbit originates from Ankara, Turkey (previously known as Angora) and is one of the oldest type of woolly rabbits. When these rabbits first came to the United States, at first there was just one type of Angora rabbit, known as the “Angora Wooler”.
A Giant Angora rabbit can set you back anywhere between $50 and $250, if not more! Because of their show-quality and their wool that can be sheared and then sold on, they are one of the more expensive breeds.
The Giant Angora rabbit is the largest of all the Angora breeds. These rabbits usually weigh over 9 lbs.
They have a commercial body type with a large oval head that is broad on the forehead and slightly narrower at the muzzle. They have forehead tufts and cheek furnishings and their ears are long and stand upright.
English Lop
The English Lop Rabbit is an adorable, large-sized rabbit breed with huge floppy ears from England, United Kingdom. It has long ears, with rounded tips, that hang down the side of its head and are so long that they can touch the ground; making the English lop ears the longest ears of any breed of rabbit.
An English Lop’s body is long and slender and it has a big head with lovely wide-set eyes that glisten in the light. It was originally bred as a fancy breed of domestic rabbit; ideal for rabbit shows and exhibitions with its beautiful short coat with soft flyback fur (pelt), large and long ears, and a long mandolin shaped body.
The English Lop breed has large litters with up to 12 bunnies. By the time they are 4 months of age their long floppy ears are fully grown.
- Weight: 9-12lb (4-5.4kg) for Male 10-15lb (4.5-6.8kg) for Female
- Life expectancy: 5-7 years
- Coat color: solid or broken pattern in Black, Orange Fawn, Agouti, Opal, Chinchilla, Red-eyed-White, Blue, Blank Tort, White, Sooty Fawn
- Coat type: A short coat, that’s soft and silky to touch with flyback fur
French Lop
The French Lop is the only lop-eared bunny in the “giant” size category, and, weighing around 11 lbs, they can be large. But don’t let their size put you off — they’re a friendly and cuddly rabbit with lots of love to give!
Thanks to their docile and laid-back nature, the French Lop makes a great family pet for all. Their size means they aren’t always advised for first-time rabbit owners because they have slightly higher needs than a small bunny.
The French Lop rabbit often resembles a larger Mini Lop rabbit. These bunnies are not as popular as some other breeds and are not as widely bred, purely because of the space and amount of food that they require. That being said, they can make an excellent pet for those who understand their needs.
This large rabbit is often mistaken for the Flemish Giant rabbit because of their size. These rabbits are usually born in litter sizes of between 6 and 7 kits, but it can be as high as 12 kits!
The French Lop normally weighs between 10 and 15 lbs!
These large bunnies have a commercial body type and short, straight front legs and hind legs that run parallel to the body. They have a thick body and a large head with a wide forehead and chubby cheeks. Their lop ears usually hang between 5 and 8 inches long down below the jaw.
New Zealand Rabbit
The New Zealand rabbit is a large, often white, breed of rabbit that is primarily used for it’s meat.
However, like the Californian, this rabbit is now gaining popularity as a show-rabbit and as a companion pet. Known all over the world, these bunnies are gentle and friendly, making an excellent family pet. They don’t have very high care needs either, so are great for first-time owners.
Despite their name, the New Zealand actually originated from America. Although their origins are often disputed amongst rabbit enthusiasts, this breed was first recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) in 1916.
These rabbits usually weigh between 10 to 12 lbs for a doe, and 9 to 11 lbs for a buck. They are a relatively large breed!
The New Zealand has a commercial body type which is well-rounded and muscular. They are well-filled, because they were originally bred for meat. Their head is round and their ears thick and stand upright on top of their head.
There are 5 colors recognized by the ARBA. These are white, red, black, blue and broken. Broken is any color mixed with white. Each coat color represents a separate variety of the breed.
The New Zealand has an average life expectancy of between 5 and 8 years, although this can be longer if they are cared for properly.
How Big Should My Cage Be For Large Rabbits?
The rule with rabbits is: the bigger the better! If you have the space for a big hutch then your rabbit will always appreciate the extra room to roam and exercise. No one wants to be stuck in a cramped space!
If you do not have a lot of space, then the cage should be at least 4 times the size of the rabbit. A guide is 24″ by 36″ for smaller rabbits (less than 8 lbs) or 30″ by 36″ for larger rabbits. Hutches with multiple stories are also popular as they give your bun more space.