German Giant Rabbit: Everything You Need To Know About The Breed

The German Giant rabbit breed is not too common among purebred pets, as the rabbits grow very large and are therefore hardly suitable for keeping indoors.
However, they are very popular with breeders and anyone who can provide outdoor housing.
Why this is so, you will learn here.

Profile

• Size: about 72 centimeters in body length
• Weight: seven to twelve kilograms
• Color: yellow, gray, black
• Age: about seven to 15 years
• Character: calm, friendly, balanced and affectionate
• Husbandry: keeping in a group
• Characteristics: largest rabbit in the world

The character of a German Giant

Representatives of the breed are considered calm, friendly and gentle giants. They quickly become tame, show little aggression towards conspecifics and can even learn tricks.
German Giants are ideal beginner pets due to their friendly nature and are best suited for children, as long as they are helped to care for them. They are cuddly and affectionate.

If you want to and can spend a lot of time with your rabbits, this breed can therefore be a good choice.

However, you should not underestimate the space requirements.

German giants need at least three square meters per animal to be able to move properly.

This applies to the cage or stable alone.

An additional run must also be provided. Because, so that the rabbits can run and play daily, they need a larger floor space. Otherwise, there is a risk of obesity, underdeveloped or atrophied muscles, and associated diseases.
In addition, the German giants must be kept in groups.

There should be at least three animals. Because they are affectionate, friendly and social, they need conspecifics.
Even a daily and intensive contact with a rabbit of this breed can not replace the necessary contact with other animals.

So you should get representatives of this breed only if you can offer them at least nine square meters of space for a hutch or an enclosure.

More space would be better.
Also, make sure they get daily exercise to keep them trained and fit.

German Giants are clearly too large for standard cages or stalls. You must be prepared to either build a rabbit home yourself or have one made. This is more expensive than buying a simple cage for a dwarf rabbit.

If you choose to keep them outside all the time, the hutch will also need to be properly insulated.

The life expectancy of a German Giant

A healthy German Giant can reach an age of seven to 15 years.

Therefore, you should be aware of the long responsibility from the beginning. Because a statement is often difficult with the large animals, whereas a dwarf rabbit is easier to place.

Unfortunately, the animals do not fit into a small apartment without a balcony and without a garden, even if they have many advantages in terms of character.

This is how you should care for German Giants

In the care of the coat of the German Giant is not found any special features. Make sure that no knots or impurities form. Brush the animals regularly and check the genital and anal area.

In addition, you should also check the gentle, large rabbits daily for injuries or pathological changes.
This can be wonderfully combined with petting and grooming the animals, because if they are well bonded to you, they will not only put up with it, but enjoy it.

The color strokes of the German Giant
The most common color in German Giants is gray.

This is a mottled gray that resembles the wild color. The roots of the coat hairs are lighter than the tips.

Black is less common but still much more common than yellow.

The color “yellow” is a reddish light brown, more reminiscent of orange. Again, the roots and undercoat are lighter, creating an interesting color effect.

What do German Giants eat?

The diet of German Giants is no different from that of other rabbits. However, you must keep in mind that due to their size and weight, they require significantly more food.

Hay and green fodder must be constantly available.

In order to have enough green food available, you should either have a garden or at least a balcony. This is because it is not possible to obtain greens from a safe environment in nature all the time.

Vegetable greens are also suitable to a small extent, but grass, herbaceous plants and herbs are the better choice. In addition, you can offer leafy branches. Good sources are fruit trees, willow and hazelnut.

These are the peculiarities of the largest rabbit in the world.
The German Giant is not only big and has a cozy character.

When keeping it, you must also pay attention to some peculiarities.

Lifting and carrying:
Due to the long back of the animals measuring up to one meter and their high weight of up to twelve kilograms, you must be very careful and stable when lifting and carrying the rabbits.

Support the buttocks with one hand and the chest with the other. In this way, the back will be spared. Never let a child lift the animals.

For one thing, doing so can injure the child, and for another, the rabbit can suffer distortions or even fractures if it falls.
Motivation:
Due to their cozy and quiet nature, German Giants are often comparatively sedate. Extensive playing and running does not occur as much with them as with smaller breeds.

Therefore, you should make sure that they have to work for their food. Intelligence toys, hidden treats and enticing them with small but special snacks are ideal.

Exercise:
By keeping them busy as mentioned earlier, rabbits will move more and also stay mentally alert, fit and happy for longer.

In addition, you can try rabbit hops, teach tricks, or even take your German Giant for a walk on a leash.

A large run with a variety of options should be available daily. This will give them exercise even when you don’t have time to actively engage with them.

Examinations:
Check your rabbits daily from nose to flower.
Especially because German Giants are generally rather calm, apathy and gentle postures are often not noticed so quickly.

This makes it all the more important to palpate them frequently to detect pain sensitivity, gassing or injuries. This is also noticeable when cuddling and petting.

German giants are also “late bloomers”, which come comparatively late into puberty and thus become sexually mature.
Nevertheless, you should consider early neutering. This is because some individuals can reproduce early and thus produce unwanted offspring.

This can cause aggression even in otherwise peaceful animals, which is hormonal and can lead to serious injuries.

By neutering you can prevent these and also prevent several diseases in your rabbits.

Where should you buy German Giants?
Ideal are breeders or animal shelters.

Here you can find the rabbits of the comparatively rare breed in all possible age groups and, among other things, already get an assessment of the individual character.

However, you will not find the animals in a pet store.

Frequently asked questions

When is a German Giant fully grown?

The German Giant is already fully grown with about four months.
Young animals are usually still a little slimmer and narrower in build. With time they become more muscular and broader.

Make sure that they are not overweight and that they have enough opportunities to move. Only then can you offer the large rabbits a healthy and long life.

How much space do German Giants need?

For the accommodation you should plan at least three square meters per animal. More is better in any case. In addition, you must have a larger area for the free run and be able to secure it.

How much does a German Giant cost?

Young animals cost about 100 dollars.

For rabbits on exhibit, the price may be somewhat higher. In addition to the initial cost, there is of course the care, vaccination and other treatments by a veterinarian, as well as food, equipment and hutch.

Can German Giants rabbits also be kept in the apartment?

Yes, that is certainly possible.

However, you must then reserve an appropriate space for them and secure it.

It is favorable to fence off a room or a part of it. This gives the rabbits sufficient freedom of movement.