Hobbies And Interests
Giant Rabbits
The German giant is not a recognized breed. The term is used to describe some large rabbits that have been bred from Flemish giants. They are also often called German grey rabbits. British giants, however, are a recognized breed and as such should not weight less than 216 ounces. British giants were also bred from Flemish giants, back in the 1940s. The idea was to introduce more colors to the Flemish giant breed, which at that time was only recognized in Britain in steel grey. British giants are smaller than Flemish giants but they have similar characteristics. Both German giants and British giants are bred from Flemish giants, but there are several differences between the two breeds.
Size and Body Type
The class of giant rabbits in general starts with rabbits weighing over 105 ounces. German giants are among the largest rabbits in the world while most British giants are on the smaller side (for giants). Also British giants should have broad front and hind quarters and the body should be as flat as possible, while German giants have a rounder body.
Color
Most German giants are steel grey in color, although there are occasionally individuals in black and blue. British giants, however, come in a range of colors. There are intense breeding programs in place that are trying to breed German giants in a range of colors as well.
Life-Span
Larger rabbit species generally have shorter lifespans than dwarf or other smaller species. British giant rabbits survive for 5-6 years on average. The average life span for a German giant is 12 years.