The largest rabbit breeds in the world are certainly giants compared to the little fluffy bunnies we mostly know. 

However, these large bunnies didn't just happen naturally. Many of them originated in different parts of the world and we're made through selective breeding. 

Today, there are lots of giant breeds. And as a bunny lover, you might want to learn more about these giants. Hence, this article provides an overview of the largest rabbit breeds in the world right now. 

Keep reading below!

The Largest Rabbit Breeds in the World

English Lop

English lop

By Brent Moore

The English Lop rabbit breed is one of the largest rabbit breeds worldwide. It’s a domestic rabbit breed and was created through selective breeding back in the 19th century in England.

In addition, the English Lops is known to be the first lop rabbit breed that humans developed. And this has probably made it one of the oldest domestic breeds. The most striking feature of this rabbit is its unique long floppy ears. 

These ears drop down at an incredible length. It also weighs about 11 pounds. They’re friendly, smart, and love company, which makes them good pet rabbits, even for kids.

RECOMMENDED READING: A GUIDE TO LOPPED-EARED RABBIT BREEDS

French Lop Rabbit

lop eared

This is another large rabbit breed, which originates from France. The French Lop came about through cross-breeding the English Lop and Butterfly rabbit in the 1800s. 

In addition, this breed weighs about 10-15 pounds. As Lop bunnies, they equally have long floppy ears. However, their aren't as long as those of the English Lop rabbits. 

Furthermore, this large breed of rabbit has a relaxed temperament and gets along easily with other pets and even kids. However, if you’re new to owning bunnies, it’s not advisable to get a French lop. These giant bunnies will be hard for you to manage as a first-timer.

Continental Giants

german giant

Otherwise known as the German Giants, Continental Giants are also large breeds of rabbits which originated in Germany. The main purpose of breeding these giants was for their meat. And this is so much expected from a rabbit that weighs from 16 to 20 pounds. 

The continental giants are descendants of the well-known Flemish Giant rabbit. They’re equally on the list of the oldest breeds of rabbits. These large bunnies also have long straight ears and not floppy ears like lopped-eared rabbits. 

Interestingly, this giant bunny is also very friendly and sociable. Over the years, they’ve been popular as pets in homes, bonding well with people, especially kids. 

Giant Chinchilla Rabbit

Giant Chinchilla Rabbit

By Øyvind Holmstad - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

Giant chinchillas are one of America’s largest rabbit breeds. Their origin dates back to 1921 in the United States when Edward H. Stahl thought of producing a unique breed of chinchilla rabbit. 

The Giant Chinchilla rabbit breed resulted from the cross breed between Flemish giant rabbits and chinchilla rabbits. These giants weigh anywhere between 12-16 pounds. Moreover, they have a lifespan of 5-8 years.

When it comes to their physical appearance, their bodies are semi-arched and they have large erect ears. They make great pets for families although they were initially for meat. 

These huge bunnies are also good options for first-time rabbit owners. They might be big but they are pretty gentle and obedient.

Giant Angora Rabbit

Giant angora rabbit

By Joey_Giant_Angora_Buck.jpg: Oldhausderivative work: Devvyn (talk) - Joey_Giant_Angora_Buck.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0,

This is the largest of the angora rabbit breeds that are recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA). It’s the large wool-bearing rabbit in the world and one of the most expensive breeds. This rabbit can live 7-12 years.

This giant breed has its origin in the United States. An American breeder, Louise Walsh, created the Giant Angora by cross-breeding the German Angora breed with the popular Flemish giant rabbit and some other breeds. These giant bunnies weigh up to 12 pounds on average. 

You’ll also know them by their beautiful woolly coat and they also have long erect ears. Above all, Giant Angoras are the friendly and bonding kind of rabbits. So if you get one of these as a pet, be ready to socialize with them. They love it!

Flemish Giant Rabbit

Flemish Giant Rabbit

By Stamatisclan - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,

Flemish Giants are the largest breeds of rabbits in the world when it comes to domestic rabbits breeds. Their origin dates back to the 16th century in Flanders, the Flemish region of Belgium.  Moreover, they are traditionally for meat and fur purposes. 

However, they are now widely used as pets and for shows. This makes them a universal kind of rabbit breed. It’s amazing how many giant rabbits have come from these rabbits. And this makes them popular rabbit ancestors. 

The Flemish Giant rabbit has a semi-arched body and weighs up to 15 pounds on average. However, they can be heavier than this. Additionally, these giant bunnies are obedient and easy-going, which makes them good pet rabbits.

Blanc de Bouscat

Blanc de Bouscat

ByThomon - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

Another rabbit breed on our list is the Blanc de Bouscat. The British Rabbit Council, but not the ARBA recognizes this rabbit breed. This large bunny’s origin is in France and as far back as 1906. 

At that time, a couple, Mr Dulon and his wife decided to make this massive white-coated rabbit. The Flemish giants, Argente Champagne, and French Angora breeds all have a part in the development of the Blanc de Bouscat breed.

It weighs about 13 pounds minimum and could be way heavier than this. Additionally, it’s one of the longest-living giant rabbit breeds as it lives up to 10 years. Their body shape is also semi-arched and their ears are long, thick, and straight. This giant bunny also has a ruby eye making them the albino kind of bunnies

The Blanc de Bouscat was originally for meat and fur, but they are now well-known pet rabbits, especially in France. Even first-time rabbit owners can handle them. They have a sociable nature and are full of fun!

Silver Fox

Silver Fox

By Kwinterperez - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

This is another huge rabbit breed but a rare one. The Silver Fox has its origin in the United States. In addition, a breeder from North Canton (Ohio), Walter B. Garland, made this giant breed. 

The main purpose for breeding the Silver Fox rabbit was for their meat, fur, and shows. Furthermore, the American Rabbit Breeders Association recognizes this breed. It also has another name - the American Heavyweight Silver. 

Silver Fox rabbits are large and weigh about 9-12 pounds. The idea behind their naming comes from the thick fur, which is a look-alike of the silver fox’s fur. They are also friendly rabbits and enjoy handling very much.

Checkered Giant Rabbit

Checkered Giant Rabbit

By DestinationFearFan - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

This is one of the largest rabbits with a striking appearance. This Checkered Giant rabbit has its beginning in France. This breed is one of the few breeds of rabbits with a special coat pattern. This is what makes this breed stand out. 

This large rabbit breed weighs over 12 pounds. Additionally, they have a lifespan of 5-8 years. The main purpose for breeding it is for shows, which is obvious from their looks. However, they still serve as meat too. 

In addition, these giant bunnies make great pets too. They love to roam around and love being outside. They might be giants but have lean semi-arched bodies. They just look like hares. 

However, They equally have semi-arched bodies and are quite muscular. Erect ears that are thick and long. Furthermore, the ARBA recognizes two varieties of this breed only. They are either “white with black patterns” or “white with blue patterns”. 

Spanish Giant

Spanish giant is another massive rare rabbit breed in the world. Their origin dates back to the early 1900s in Spain. At that time, some Spanish breeders developed these giants by crossbreeding large Spanish rabbit breeds with the well-known Flemish Giant rabbit. 

They were originally bred for meat and this almost drove them to extinction. However, with human efforts, they escaped extinction as their numbers came back on track. Moreover, they have an average weight of about 15 pounds and a lifespan of 4-6 years. 

Spanish rabbits have straight long ears. Interestingly, they have great personalities great – calm and friendly. This makes them great pets for families.

British Giant

British Giant Rabbit

By Margaret Clough, CC BY-SA 2.0,

This large bunny has its origin in Belgium back in 1940. Moreover, this breed is a descendant of the Flemish Giants. In addition, these rabbits are mainly known in the UK and more popular in Belgium. 

The British Giant resulted from crossbreeding the Flemish Giant standard of different colors. The goal was to create a large rabbit breed with more color variety than the Flemish Giants but still maintain similar features. 

However, it’s smaller than the Flemish Giant. British giants have an average weight of 12 pounds and can grow up to 15 pounds. They also live about 4-6 years. Furthermore, they are calm, loving, and even good for families with small children.

Altex

Altex rabbit

By Tjflex2

The Altex is another giant rabbit breed with an average weight of 10 to 20 pounds. The combination of two US states, Alabama and Texas, brought about the name of this breed, “Altex”. 

Interestingly, the Altex breed also originates from these two states. This large rabbit breed came about in 1994 through cross-breeding Flemish giants, Argente Champagne, and Californian rabbits. 

In subsequent years, the New Zealand rabbit breed became part of these breeds that forms the Altex rabbit. they’re normally white. Neither the ARBA nor the BRC (British Rabbit Council) recognizes the Altex rabbit breed.

Though this breed is mainly reared for its meat, it also makes good pet rabbits for families even if you are new to owning bunnies. You can recognize this breed by its white fur. In addition, matured ones will have grey marks around their large erect ears, noses, ears, feet, and tails.

Giant Papillon

Giant Papillon

By Jamain - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,

Giant Papillon also called Giant French Butterfly is another giant-sized rabbit, which weighs over 10 pounds. They have full arched bodies with large straight ears – ones that point out pretty well. 

Has a lifespan of 4-7 years. However, all that’s left of this rabbit is its history and the many breeds of rabbits that were produced out of it through cross-breeding. That’s right, the Giant Papillon went into extinction. 

In addition, one of the largest breeds in the world today, the Checkered Giant, is a close relative of the giant Papillon. 

Hungarian Giant

Hungarian rabbit

By Zweer de Bruin

Another upright-eared rabbit that makes it to our list of the largest rabbits is the Hungarian rabbit. These large bunnies are heavy as 11 to 15 pounds. About 200 years back, this large rabbit breed came about.

The Hungarian Giant is a result of the international breeding of different continental rabbit breeds with wild breeds. At first, they were made for their meat, but their great personalities have made them great pets ad show animals.

FAQs:

What is the Largest Breed of Rabbits? 

The Flemish Giant! This is the largest rabbit breed in the world. These bunnies can be as big as 20 pounds in weight. 

Amazingly, the rabbit holding the record for the largest rabbit in the world falls under this breed. 

What Type of Giant Rabbits are There?

Giant rabbits come in different breeds. Here's a list of the large bunny breeds in the world today.

  • Flemish Giant
  • Giant Angora rabbit
  • Checkered Giant
  • Continental Giant 
  • English Lop
  • French Lop
  • Giant Chinchilla rabbit
  • Beveren rabbit
  • Blanc de Bouscat
  • New Zealand rabbit 
  • Silver fox
  • Altex
  • British Giant
  • Spanish giant
  • Hungarian giant 

What’s a Huge Bunny Called?

A huge bunny is basically called a giant rabbit. This is the name given to them to differentiate them from smaller rabbits.

And for a bunny to be a giant, they must weigh about 10 pounds or more. In addition, the huge bunny breeds we have today are all domesticated rabbits. 

How Large is the Biggest Rabbit?

Darius, the biggest rabbit in the world currently, has a massive size compared to any other rabbit even its breed. He weighs about 49 pounds. His body length measures about 4ft 3 in (1.3 m). 

This massive size is incomparable to any other large rabbit in the world. He is also a Flemish Giant breed, which is known to be the largest breed. Interestingly, Darius still weighs twice as much as the average weight of typical Flemish Giant breeds.

Final Thoughts

That’s our list of the largest rabbit breeds in the world. Not only are they big but also they have large personalities. These large breeds can be a bundle of joy to families. 

When you plan to get one, make sure you get them from reputable breeders. Breeders who can tell you the age, health status, and other important details you need to know about them. 

Owing to their large sizes, they have some special needs. Ensure you can meet these needs before deciding on bringing one of these giants into your home. 

Nevertheless, they are still bunnies just huge ones. Hence, you and still follow some basic rabbit needs which you'll find in our full rabbit guide. Click Here! 

Have you ever seen a lop-eared bunny? There's no way you can walk past such a ball of cuteness without stopping for a few pets. The ears of lop-eared rabbits are their main attraction, but don't count out their personalities just yet!

There are many types of lop-eared rabbits. ARBA recognizes 5 of them, but you can say there are 14 or more droopy-eared breeds in total. They can be distinguished from one another by looking at ear size and shape.

Let's take a look at the different lop-eared breeds and how to care for them.

Floppy ear bunny

Brief Overview Of Lop-Eared Bunny breeds

Breed names: Holland Lop, French Lop, English Lop, American Fuzzy Lop, Lop-eared Lionhead, German Lop, Cashmere lop eared rabbit, Plush Lop, Velveteen Lop, Miniature Cashmere Lop, Meisner Lop, Dwarf Lop, Mini Lop, Minature lop-eared rabbits

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What Are Lop-Eared Rabbits?

Lop-eared rabbits are rabbit breeds that have ears that droop down rather than sit up straight. This feature makes them very popular among rabbit owners because they appear to be cuter than other rabbits.

This is why most people looking for pet bunnies pick these cute critters. Unfortunately, not many people realize how much work lop-eared rabbits are until it's too late. They require special attention especially if you have a breed with very long ear tips.

Long ear tips will usually get soaked in water when they drink. Dry them on cold night! Wet ear tips on cold nights can cause infections of the ear canal and other health issues.

You will also need to consider your rabbit's environmental needs. Rabbits with long ears may need a smooth, soft floor to jump on and lots of space to move around.

Pet rabbit

Are Lop-Eared Bunnies Good Pets?

The lop rabbit is not only cute because it has characteristic lopped ear tips, but it also has personality to spare. These rabbits make excellent pets and are extremely sweet. Its friendly and loving nature adds to its appeal.

Do Lop-Eared Rabbits Get Big?

Depending on the breed, lop-eared rabbits can get quite big. The largest of the lop bunnies are the French lop-eared rabbits. These beauties can get up to 5.9kg (13Ib). You also get very small lop-eared hoppers. These usually only weigh around 0.9-1.8kg (2-4Ib).

How Long Do Floppy-Eared Bunnies Live?

These beautiful rabbits have a lifespan of around 5-14 years. This can differ between breeds. The size of the breed plays a huge role.

Floppy ear rabbit

Why Choose A Lop-Eared Bunny?

Lop-eared rabbit breeds are especially famous due to their looks. People love their long, hanging ears and cute button noses. If you like being very involved with your pets, then this bunny is perfect for you.

They need a lot of attention and care. Their somewhat quiet, yet friendly temperaments make them popular house bunnies. They are costly, however, due to their numerous health concerns mostly caused by their adorable floppy ears.

If you like grooming and checking your pet for issues regularly, then you'll adore a lop rabbit.

Problems With Lop-Eared Bunny Breeds

Lop-eared rabbits are often plagued by ear infections and dental issues. The fact that the ear tips on these bunnies hang down, creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

The hanging ear shells restrict airflow in the ear channels. In breeds with very long ears, you'll find that they get very dirty from dragging on the ground. Lop bunny breeds are also very susceptible to ear mites.

It's best to check daily and take your rabbit to the vet immediately if you notice any problems.

Droopy ear rabbits

What Can I Feed My Floppy-Eared Rabbit?

The best diet for a lop rabbit includes around 80% grass hay, fresh vegetables, leafy greens, a small amount of fruits, and healthy rabbit pellets without any grains, corn, and colorful pieces.

In my experience, I've found that feeding unlimited grass hay is best. They can't eat too much dried grass. Limit the veggies and leafy greens to two to three kinds per day and feed fruits only once or twice a week. For the pellets, it's best to follow the instructions on the packet.

The diet of lops is very similar to other bunny breeds. If you want to know more about how to feed your rabbit a healthy diet, go to our article on rabbit feed.

What Breeds Of Rabbit Have Floppy Ears?

Are you wondering which bunnies are classified as lop-eared rabbit breeds? You'll be surprised at how many there are. Let's take a closer look.

1. American Fuzzy Lop Eared Rabbits

The American fuzzy lop-eared rabbit breed is very similar in appearance to the Holland lop. The main difference between these breeds is the coat. American fuzzy lops have wool similar to their Angora cousins while the Holland lop has a thick fur coat.

If you want to show your American fuzzy lop-eared rabbit, you need to make sure it weighs at least 1.8 kilograms (4Ib).

American fuzzy

2. Miniature Lop VS Mini Lop-Eared Rabbit

A miniature lop-eared rabbit is one of those breeds that are easily confused with others, especially Mini lops. The Miniature lop and Mini lop aren't the same breeds even though they look very similar.

The Miniature lop, accepted by the BRC is often called a Mini lop for short. It is, however, very different from the Mini lops accepted by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA). In fact, the Miniature lop is most similar to the ARBA accepted Holland lop.

The Miniature lop-eared rabbit has a very small head. This can affect jaw alignment and cause malocclusion (misaligned teeth). Bunnies that suffer from misaligned teeth often have overgrown teeth that need to be tended to by a vet on a regular basis.

3. French Lop-Eared Bunny

The French lop-eared rabbit is an amazingly large rabbit breed that has been created by breeding both English lop-eared and Flemish Giant breeds together.

This French lop bunny became famous in Britain in the 1960s, and in the United States in the 1970s. French lops typically weigh between 4.5 to 6.8 kilos(10-15Ib).

They are well known for their friendly personalities and love of affection. This makes the French lop the perfect pet. Due to their size, however, French Lops need lots of room to just be bunnies.

4. English Lop Rabbits

English lops were the first lop-eared rabbits ever bred by humans and are believed to be one of the oldest rabbit breeds in existence. These stunning lop bunnies are known for their distinctively long lop ears.

English lop ear rabbits have ear shells up to 33 cm (13 inches) long. Weighing between 4-6.8 kilos(9-15Ib), English lop-eared rabbits are one of the larger lop breeds available. Make sure you have a large hutch for the English lop breed so it doesn't stand on its ear tips.

English lops

By Bassetluv at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

5. Holland Lop Rabbits

Holland lops are a very popular breed of rabbit. This lop-eared rabbit breed has a tiny body similar to Netherland dwarfs but with hanging ear tips and deep shoulders. They are extremely cute and very friendly which makes them wonderful pets.

Holland lops can be expected to have a maximum weight of 1.8kg (4Ib). The Holland lop-eared rabbit was created by breeding Netherland dwarfs to French lops. For Holland lops, their earlobes are their most distinctive feature.

6. Miniature Cashmere And Cashmere Lop

The tiny breed of Cashmere lop is very similar to the standard Cashmere rabbit breed. The only real difference between these breeds of lop-eared rabbits is their sizes.

The Cashmere lop is a popular breed, especially as a house pet. They have beautiful, thick coats with long silky soft fur.

7. Dwarf Lops

The Dwarf Lop is a lop-eared rabbit that can weigh up to 2.5kg (5.5 Ib) and is commonly known as the Mini Lop even though it's a completely different lop rabbit according to the BRC. The main difference between Mini lops and Dwarf lops is their size. Mini lops have a maximum weight of around 1.6kg (3.5Ib).

Although not as small as others of the lop-eared family, Dwarf lops are much smaller than most other lop breeds. This lop-eared rabbit breed is known for being exceptionally playful with a very docile nature. For this reason, they are excellent house pets.

8. Miniature Lionhead Lops

This stunning bunny looks a bit different from other rabbit breeds. Its loped earlobes along with its lion-like main make this lop-eared breed truly unique.

Along with its striking look, it's also a very small breed weighing only 1.6 kilograms (3.5Ib) when fully grown. You'll also be awed by this breed's incredibly soft fur.

Lionhead rabbit

By Clemens Vasters

9. Meisner Lops

The Meisner lops aren't as well known as other rabbit breeds. This bunny is very similar to the French lops but has a more slender build.

Due to being a fairly new breed, it's currently quite rare. For this reason, the BRC added the Meismer as a member of its "Rare Varieties Club"

10. German Loped Ear Bunny

The German lopped ear is a chunky rabbit with a very muscular frame. Oar lop ears (ear shells hang to the side over the shoulders) and horn lop ears (the ear shells hang forward over the eyes) are not accepted in this breed.

You can expect to see this bunny with short to medium-length fur in a variety of colors and patterns.

Other Breeds Of Lop-Eared Bunnies

Other lop-eared rabbit breeds that are not yet accepted by the BRC or ARBA include the Velveteen lops and Plush lops.

Tell Me The Cost Involved?

How much you'll initially pay for your bunny will depend on if you adopt, buy from a pet store, or a breeder. For adoption, you can expect to pay anything between 5-20 dollars for a rabbit.

It's best to avoid a pet shop completely. These rabbits are usually sickly and come from backyard breeders that don't care for their pets.

The best chance for a healthy bunny, however, is to buy from a reputable breeder. They take their rabbit's health seriously and always try to improve the breed.

The price of your new bunny will also differ depending on the breed you choose. Rare lop-eared rabbit breeds can cost as much as $1000 or more! Any bunnies with champion bloodlines will also be a lot more expensive than those rated as pet quality, just like in purebred dogs.

Droopy ear bunny

How Many Babies Do Lop-Eared Rabbits Have?

Bunnies are known to produce anything between 1 and 18 kits per litter. The average, however, is about 6 per litter. The size of your lops will also play a role in litter size. A dwarf rabbit, for instance, will have a smaller litter than a giant rabbit.

How Old Do Lop Rabbits Have To Be To Breed?

Yet again size will play a role in breeding age. Dwarf breeds like the Holland lops need to be around 4 months old to breed for the first time. Giant breeds like the English lops on the other hand need to be 6 months or older before they are bred.

Are Lop Ears Dominant Or Recessive?

At this stage, it is unknown if lop ears are a dominant or recessive trait. This trait was created by selective breeding and not by natural selection, however.

Dwarf floppy ear bunny

Frequently Asked Questions

How big do giant lop rabbits get?

Giant lops can weigh up to 6.8 kg (15 Ib). The largest of the lops is the French lop.

How big does a dwarf lop-eared bunny get?

Dwarf lops are small bunnies that weigh up to 2.5kg (5.5Ib). They are much larger than Holland lops and other miniature breeds.

Do lop rabbits like to be held?

The docile nature of most of these bunnies makes them excellent pets. If handled correctly, they won't mind being helped from time to time. Some might even seek out the contact.

Why are my bunny's ears floppy?

The floppy nature of a rabbit's ears is caused by genetics. Rabbit ears are held up by three sets of cartilage that lock together. In a bunny with ears that flop, there is a gap between two of these cartilage sets which causes a weak spot and thus drooping ears.

Are lop rabbits cuddly?

Mini Lops love snuggling and are very affectionate. For this reason, they are great pets for those who want a cuddly bunny.

Are lop-eared rabbits healthy?

Droopy ear bunnies are more susceptible to health problems such as ear infections and dental issues. A lot of them have small heads. This causes the rabbit's nose to be short which increases the chances of detail issues.

How long do giant lop rabbits live?

5-8 years. Just like dogs, large rabbit breeds have a shorter lifespan than miniature breeds.

Are giant French Lop rabbits good pets?

French lops make excellent pets. They are calm, affectionate, and large enough to not be threatened by the household cat.

Are dwarf lop rabbits friendly?

Dwarf breeds are usually more active than their giant counterparts. Despite their need to run and jump, they are very affectionate and love to cuddle.

How long do lop-eared dwarf rabbits live?

8-14 years. Dwarfs generally live longer than giant rabbit breeds.

The Chinchilla Giganta rabbit is part of a group of bunny breeds that are classified as giants. If you’re thinking of adding one of these beauties to your family, you’ll need to make sure you’re prepared. 

In this complete guide, I’ll show you how to care for your bunny, what they eat, how to set up a rabbit safe enclosure and tell you a bit about breeding (and how to avoid it).

Read on to learn more about the breed called Chinchilla Giganta.  

Chinchilla Giganta

Brief Overview Of The Chinchilla Giganta Rabbit

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Chinchilla Giganta History And Origins 

Somewhere in the 1800s in France, a kit with a silver coat was born to agouti (Sandy) coloured rabbit parents. This kit looked exactly like its littermates with black-tipped fur, but instead of the rusty red or tan band underneath the dark tips, this baby had a band of pearly white. Some call it silver agouti since it’s basically the wild fur pattern of agouti with the rusty brown colour replaced by pearly white.  

The French farmer, in whose hutch this baby appeared, was quite fascinated and decided to try and breed more of them. Parisians found these rabbits, with a very similar coat to the South American Chinchilla rabbit, very fascinating creating a rimple of interest.  

Officially, Monsieur Dybowski, a French engineer and rabbit breeder, is listed as the creator of the French Chinchilla rabbit, but this fur colour predates him without a doubt. Monsieur Dybowski worked hard to improve this early chinchilla. Eventually, he got to show them for the first time in 1913. In 1914 he improved so much that his chins took top honours at the national rabbit show. 

From here the ‘Chinchilla rabbit’ craze spread to the UK in 1917 and to the USA in 1919. From there, they were officially recognized as ‘Chinchilla Rabbit’ in the USA in 1924. Later it became known as the Standard Chinchilla Rabbit when the Giant Chinchilla and Chinchilla Giganta breeds appeared individually during World War 1. 

The Chinchilla Giganta was developed during WW1. The development of this breed started in England and continued in Germany. Chris Wren wanted to produce a giant variety of the Standard Chinchilla that can be used for meat in addition to its fur. 

To produce this breed, they crossed the Standard Chinchilla rabbit with Flemish Giants and a few other rabbit breeds. As a result, a larger chinchilla coloured rabbit was born. The Chinchilla Giganta became very popular very quickly and is now known as one of the best fur and meat rabbits available today. 

Agouti rabbit

What does the Chinchilla Giganta Rabbit Look Like?

This rabbit has dense, but silky resilient fur that's about 3.18cm (1¼ inches) long. The undercoat is a deep blue slate that stretches about half the length of the fur. 

From there you will find a pearly white band and after that, you’ll find black guard hairs and the ends will be tipped with alternating black and white tips that give the rabbit its grey colouration. The belly should be pure white.  

The body is semi arched, long, graceful and finely boned. The ears, head and limbs should be in proportion with the body. You’ll find black lacing all around the ears. 

Overall, the Chinchilla Giganta will appear to have the grey coat of a chinchilla rodent, hence the name. 

Chinchilla Giganta fur

How Big Are Chinchilla Giganta Rabbits?

Chinchilla Giganta size differ between adult bucks and does. The does must weigh a minimum of 4.07kg (9Ib) and the bucks 3.86kg (8½Ib) when fully grown. The Chinchilla Giganta, no matter sex, aren’t allowed to weigh more than 5.44kg (12Ib) per breed standards. 

How Long Do Chinchilla Giganta Rabbits Live?

These stunning giants can live for around 7 to 10 years. A lot will depend on how you care for your bunny, however, so make sure you do the research before getting one. 

Chinchilla Giganta Temperament And Activity Level

The Chinchilla Giganta is very friendly with a docile nature. Depending on personality and sex, you’ll find them to be very cuddly and will even seek you out for some head scratches. Aggression is rare in this breed, but it does occur occasionally. 

Most of the time you can expect your bunny to be very lively and curious. They love to explore and will rarely sit still during their crepuscular time (dawn and dusk). Later you might find them sleeping under the couch or table until the fridge is opened…

Chinchilla Giganta rabbits are escape artists. They jump quite high and are excellent diggers. Keeping them confined is a challenge. 

Rabbit friends

Do Chinchilla Giganta Rabbits Make Good Pets?

Chinchilla Giganta bunnies make excellent pets. They are, however, extremely undervalued as pets due to a lack of knowledge about them. Their size makes them suitable for households with small children and other pets such as cats and dogs. 

They are very friendly, cuddly and soft with a lively nature. This means you’ll never be bored with all their antics. 

What Are Good Friends for Chinchilla Giganta Rabbits?

Being gentle giants, Chinchilla Giganta rabbits easily get along with other rabbits as well as other pets. It’s best, however, to keep them with others of similar size to avoid any accidents. 

If you’ll be keeping your rabbit with an animal of another species, you’ll need to make sure they are compatible. Bunnies can get along with predatory pets, but extra supervision will be required. 

It’s recommended to keep Chinchilla Giganta bunnies in groups of at least two. They are very social and need companionship to be happy rabbits. Here’s a quick list of some possible friends for your bunny. 

Best Friends For Chinchilla Gigantas

  • Flemish Giants
  • Continental Giants
  • Other Chinchilla Giganta Rabbits
  • Any giant or medium-sized rabbit breed
  • Dogs without a prey drive
  • Guinea pigs 
  • Cats

Chinchilla Giganta friends

Least Compatible Mates For Chinchilla Gigantas

  • Dogs with a strong prey drive
  • Dwarf rabbits
  • Big snakes
  • Ferrets
  • Any animal with a high prey drive 

Chinchilla giganta and dog

What Do Chinchilla Gigantas Eat?

These stunning rabbits are herbivores. Their main diet should consist of lots of grass hay, rabbit pellets, fresh veggies and a few pieces of fresh fruits once in a while. It’s very important to feed your giant bunny a balanced, yet varied diet for optimal health. 

The Chinchilla Giganta is quite large which means it also needs to eat a lot. A rabbit also has a very sensitive digestive system so you can’t make any quick changes in diet. Another thing, rabbits eat constantly. They have to since they can’t ruminate like other herbivores. 

How Much And How Often To Feed Your Chinchilla Giganta Rabbit

It’s best to supply your Chinchilla Giganta bunny with an unlimited supply of fresh, good quality grass hay. These include timothy hay, oat hay, barley hay, teff hay, meadow hay and orchard grass hay. You can create a mix of several kinds of hay to make it more interesting for your bunnies.

Legumes like Alfalfa and Lucerne can be given in small amounts. One handful per day is usually enough for adult rabbits. This type of hay is very high in protein which is great for growing babies, but very bad for the adults that don’t need as much protein. 

Too much legume hay can cause kidney problems in your adult rabbits. Youngsters under 6 months can eat as much of it as they like though. 

Your bunnies should also be supplied with a good quality rabbit pellet. This means commercial rabbit food without any coloured bits in it. The pellets are only there to help wear down the teeth and supply your Chinchilla Giganta with vital vitamins and minerals. 

Depending on your brand (it's best to read what the package says) you can feed your youngsters unlimited pellets until one year old. After that, you can bring it down and feed your adults between 100-120g (3.5-7.1 Oz) of pellets per day. 

It’s best not to feed youngsters under 3 months any veggies, greens or fruits. At this stage, they have very sensitive digestive systems. Adults on the other hand can get one tablespoon of fruit three times a week. 

They can also get one cup made up of a mix of three kinds of greens and veggies every day in addition to their normal food. Make sure to switch up the greens and veggies every day for a varied diet. 

Rabbit toys

How Often Does a Chinchilla Giganta Rabbit Need To Be Groomed?

Chinchilla Giganta rabbits are fairly low maintenance pets. They need to be brushed once a week to remove any loose hair in their coats when they aren’t moulting. During the moulting season (spring and autumn) you will need to increase your brushing to twice a week. 

They also need their nails clipped at least once a month to stop them from becoming too long. If you feel brave enough, you can check your rabbit's teeth during this time as well, if not, ask a rabbit savvy vet to do it. 

If you live anywhere that is not South Africa, you also need to get your bunnies vaccinated once a year. South Africa is free from all major rabbit diseases and thus doesn’t require any vaccinations. There is a vaccine against snuffles available for South African rabbits, however. 

Curious bunny

Setting Up Your Chinchilla Giganta Enclosure

Chinchilla Giganta rabbits are very easy to care for, but they do require quite a lot of space. Fortunately, these bunnies can adapt to both indoor and outdoor lifestyles. 

They will thrive in any environment that has been made rabbit safe, has enough space to run and jump and has lots of places to sleep the day away. In this section, you can learn how to set up the perfect Chinchilla Giganta enclosure. 

Cage Size

Many rabbit owners like to keep their bunnies cage-free, but this isn’t an option for everyone. If you have a free-roaming bun, you will know how difficult it can be to keep them and your furniture safe. 

A good option is to close off one room to turn it into a bunny room. Alternatively, you can set up a nice pen for your rabbit, or build a large outdoor hutch. Keep in mind that the minimum cage size requirement is 90cm (35.5 inches) high by 90cm wide by 90cm long. If your cage is this small, however, you will need to make time to let your bunny out to stretch its legs. 

It’s best to have an enclosure that is a minimum of 1.2 m (47 inches) wide by 1.8 m (71 inches) long by 90cm high in my opinion. This allows them to run, jump and play to their heart's content. 

What Goes On The Floor?

If your enclosure is outside, you will want to place wire on the ground. The reason for this is that rabbits are excellent diggers. If you turn your back for 30 minutes, you might come back to an empty play area. 

For an outdoor area meant as an exercise or play area only, you can place 50x100mm wire mesh on the ground. This means the wire mesh has blocks that are 50mm wide and 100mm long. These blocks allow your bunny to graze without being able to escape the enclosure. 

Move the pen whenever the grass gets too short or if the area gets yucky with poop. 

If you have a permanent outdoor play area, you can bury the wire. This allows the bunnies to dig and graze without being able to dig too deeply and escape. 

If you have an indoor enclosure, you want to put something absorbent and nonslip at the bottom of the pen/cage. These bunnies can be potty trained, but it might take a while so you want to protect your floors. Something like washable puppy pads or waterproof sheets work well.

Some people also put linoleum flooring on the bottom of the cage to protect existing carpet or wooden floors.  

Safe Toys

Toys are always a good idea when it comes to Chinchilla Giganta rabbits. These bunnies get bored easily so giving them something to do prevents a whole lot of destruction.

The toys don’t need to be all fancy and expensive, they’ll probably chew them up pretty quickly. The best is to make your own by giving them branches from fruit trees, toilet paper rolls stuffed with hay or vegetables, tunnels made from cardboard boxes and platforms to jump on. 

You can also buy hay balls and all kinds of fancy rabbit toys, but do make sure they are actually safe. Not all toys in pet stores are safe for chewing critters. If possible, avoid anything made from plastic. Stick to pet safe wood, grass and carton boxes that are safe for chewing on.  

Litterbox training rabbit

Litterbox

If your bunnies live indoors, you can litter train them to make cleaning easier. For that, you need a large litterbox, bunny safe cat litter (those made from wood or recycled paper are great).  

Place it in the corner your rabbit chose to potty in. If you can, place some hay in there or hang a hay feeder from the wall above the litterbox. You’ll notice bunnies eat and poop at the same time.. This will ensure the litter box gets used. 

Feeding Area

For the feeding area you need bowls and something to put water in. You might also want a hay feeder to minimize the mess. 

Hang the hay feeder over the litterbox to encourage pottying in the right place. The bowl will be for the pelleted food and another for veggies. Make sure these are heavy enough so your bunny can’t pick them up. The same goes for the water bowl. If you like, use a bottle instead that’s attached to the pen or cage. 

Enclosure Maintenance

If left unattended, your rabbit will start to smell pretty quickly. It’s best to clean the litterbox every two days. If it smells sooner than that, you will want to change to a different cat litter or make it deeper. Just make sure not to use any clumping litter or those made of crystals. 

For the rest of the cage, you can do spot cleaning whenever you notice an accident. Clean out the whole setup once a week to remove stray poos, hair, dust and hay laying around. You can also use this time to sanitize everything. 

Don’t use any harsh chemicals. White vinegar mixed with water is perfect for the job. 

Breeding Chinchilla Giganta Rabbits

Unless you’re a registered breeder or planning on becoming one, breeding your bunnies definitely isn’t a wise thing to do. There are so many homeless rabbits due to people breeding these wonderful creatures and then abandoning them when they can’t sell or care for them anymore. The best way to avoid breeding is to get your bunnies sterilized. 

Sexing your Chinchilla Giganta

Sexing rabbits isn’t the easiest thing to do, especially when they are young. It’s generally easy to tell male and female from each other when the rabbits are fully grown. 

Females, called does, have a dewlap which is a flap of skin under the chin. They are also finer with a smaller head. Generally, you’ll find that they are larger than the males overall. 

If you apply light pressure just in front of the genitals you’ll see the vulva protruding. You can tell it's a female if you can see a slit on an oval-shaped protrusion. 

Male bunnies, called bucks, have a very large head with no dewlap. They are stockier than the females and usually a bit smaller. When checking the genitals you might see a testical or two, but they aren’t always visible so don’t rely on it. 

Same as with the females you can apply light pressure just in front of the genital area. This will cause the penis to protrude. If you can see a round head with only a small opening, it’s a male. 

The only way to sex babies and youngsters is by looking at the genitals.

Getting Chinchilla Giganta Bunnies Ready To Breed

If you want to breed, you don’t need to do anything special. Just make sure your female is a decent weight. Underweight females might not make it if they have a very large litter. 

You also need to make sure your chinchilla Giganta females are at least 6 months old (8 months is better). The males can breed from as young as 5 months old.

Breeding Process

The breeding process itself is very straightforward. Just remember to always put the female in the male’s cage, never the other way around. Does can be extremely territorial and might hurt the buck if he enters their territory. 

During breeding the male and female will chase each other around and grunt. The male will nip the female and attempt to mount her until she submits. The breeding itself will take a few seconds. 

You know the job is done when the male falls off the female and appears stunned for a minute or two. This is normal. Allow them to breed three or four times during one session. It should take around 30 minutes. 

Caring For Kits

Around 28 to 36 days after mating you can expect babies. Make sure the doe has a box to nest in from day 26 of pregnancy. Once the kits are born check that they are clean, alive and have round bellies. This means they are well cared for. Allow the doe to do the rest. 

Once kits reach around 2-3 weeks old you can start giving them pellets and grass to nibble on. Also, make sure there’s a water bottle for them to experiment with. Large bunnies like Chinchilla Giganta tend to drink from their moms until they are 6 weeks old. For this reason, never separate the kits from thier mom before 8 weeks old. 

Getting Your Chinchilla Giganta Rabbits Sterilized

If you’d rather avoid having kits around, get your rabbits sterilized at a rabbit savvy vet. When a buck gets sterilized it’s called neutering. When a doe gets sterilized it's called spaying. Neutering is generally a smaller operation and is much cheaper and less risky to do. 

Sterilizing will prevent your bunny from being overly aggressive, destructive and hormonal, but this isn't always the case. All bunnies are different. It will definitely prevent problems like reproductive tract cancer, however. 

Health And Diseases

Chinchilla Giganta rabbits are very healthy and don’t have any major hereditary problems. There are a few general things you need to pay attention to, however. 

Evaluate Your Chinchilla Giganta Rabbit’s Health

To evaluate the health of your bunny, take note of everyday behaviour. If you notice any sudden changes like laying down more frequently, it’s worth checking out. 

Do an overall health check at least once a week. This means picking up your bunny, looking into the ears, checking the eyes for mucus or tear stains and checking the nose for the same. Also, check the front paws for any dried mucus. 

Next check the genital area and tail. If there's any dried poop on the tail, your bunny might have/had diarrhoea. 

Healthy bunnies have clear eyes, clean ears, dry noses, clean genital areas and clean front paws. They also act lively, jump and run around, especially during dawn and dusk.  

Chinchilla giganta bunny

Common Chinchilla Giganta Rabbit Health Issues

Some issues you need to look out for are:

  • Gastrointestinal stasis

Sudden lack of appetite followed by lack of poop or very small poop pellets.

  • Snuffles

Upper respiratory infection that causes difficulty breathing.

  • Head tilt

Bacterial infection of the ears that affect coordination and balance.

  • Myxomatosis

The virus is spread by insect bites. Can be prevented with a vaccine. 

  • Rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease

A virus that causes internal bleeding. Can be prevented with vaccines. 

  • Paralysis

Loss of movement of one or more limbs. Usually caused by a physical injury. 

  • Heat stress

Rabbits can’t pant or sweat to cool down. In extreme conditions, they may need some help. 

  • Respiratory infections 

If you see any mucous around the eyes, nose and paws with attempts to mouth breathe your rabbit might have a respiratory infection. 

  • Flystrike

Flystrike is caused by a botfly that lays its eggs on damp fur during warm weather conditions. 

  • Ear mites

Small critters that cause dandruff-like skin flaking in the ears. These can turn to crusty, bleeding lesions if left untreated. 

  • Abscesses 

Swelling caused by fluid under the skin. 

  • Coccidiosis

A common disease among livestock. Characterised by sudden weight loss, depression, bloody diarrhoea and loss of appetite. 

When To See A Vet

See a vet as soon as you notice something amiss with your rabbit. Being prey animals, they are excellent at hiding illness until it's almost too late to help them. The sooner you get treatment, the better chance of survival and recovery for your bunny. 

Make sure you see a rabbit savvy vet. 

Where To Buy Chinchilla Giganta Rabbits For Sale

The best place to buy these critters is directly from a registered breeder with a good reputation. This way you know you’re getting the best, healthiest bunny possible. Never support petshops!

If you live in America, you might have some problems finding a Chinchilla Giganta rabbit. They mostly only have Giant Chinchillas which is a very similar breed. You can try contacting the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) for possible breeders. If you’re in Europe, you can contact the British Rabbit Council (BRC)

If you’re in any other country, it’s best to contact the rabbit club or association in your area. 

If you’re in South Africa, the best places to try are the Gauteng rabbit breeders association (GRBA) in Gauteng, Judy Stuart from the Natal rabbit club in KwaZulu-Natal and Mighty Paws Rabbitry (Owner Rita Wagener) from the Cape Rabbit Club in the Western Cape. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Chinchilla giganta pet

Can rabbits breed with chinchillas?

No, despite the name, chinchilla rabbits can’t breed with the rodent called a chinchilla. They are completely different species. The chinchilla rabbit got its name due to the similarity of its coat to the coat of the rodent called a chinchilla. 

How big do Chinchilla Giganta rabbits get?

The maximum Chinchilla Giganta size, no matter sex, is a max weight of 5.44kg (12Ib) per breed standards. The minimum weight for bucks is 3.86kg (8½Ib) when fully grown and for does it is 4.07kg (9Ib).

What does a Chinchilla rabbit cost?

Chinchilla rabbits cost around $40 per rabbit. In South Africa, the cost varies from R300-R950 per rabbit depending on quality. 

Are Chinchilla Giganta Rabbits rare?

Yes, they are a very underappreciated breed. They are most well known as commercial rabbits but aren’t that well known in the pet trade. As a result, they are now on the livestock endangered list. 

Closing Thoughts

The Chinchilla Giganta is a very easy to keep, lovable breed. You won’t be disappointed in this bunny if you’re looking for a new family member to love. Do you have your enclosure set up ready? If so, you’re ready to adopt your new family member!

Tell me in the comments below what you think of this wonderful breed.

Happy hopping!

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