The name of the white giant rabbit breed speaks for itself: the fur of these animals is painted in a snow-white shade. In addition, rabbits of this species have rather large dimensions: both in size and in weight. The breed has its own characteristics, animals need to be kept and fed according to the rules.
History of origin
Rabbits of the white giant breed are atypical natural inhabitants. Animals were bred thanks to the efforts of zoologists and breeders. The merit of obtaining an unusual breed belongs to Germany. The white giant breed appeared on the basis of Belgian rabbits. The fact is that the original animals did not have the best characteristics: a high mortality rate, low fertility. In order to improve these indicators, subsequent selection took place.
Belgian giants crossed with gray giants, as well as with chinchillas. Among the offspring, only the most viable individuals with the best characteristics were distinguished, and then the procedure was repeated. In addition, special attention was paid to the nutrition of animals and the conditions of their maintenance. And so the white giant breed was born, which we know today.
Such rabbits were brought to our country in the 1920s. However, their life in Russia turned out to be quite difficult. The fact is that animals are difficult and long adapted to climatic conditions. That is why domestic scientists had to carry out additional work to increase the survival rate of rabbits in the harsh conditions of Russia.
Thanks to such a large-scale work, white giant rabbits are among the most popular today. They are preferred by most breeders. In addition, these rabbits became the basis for breeding new and more advanced breeds.
Description
First of all, you need to get acquainted with the general characteristics of these animals. The body of such rabbits is quite strong and long, and the croup has a rounded shape. Particular attention should be paid to the structure of the chest: this part of the white giant’s body is large. There is also a small dewlap. The structure of the animal’s head differs depending on the sex: in males, the head is more rounded, and in females, it is more elongated.
The back of the rabbits is straight and does not have outstanding dimensions. But the paws are very long and rather widely spaced. The distinguishing features of a rabbit include its ears. Their size is considered large and reaches a length of 16 cm. The ears are erect in shape, but their tips are rounded. White giants can weigh in different ways. The weight range varies from 4 to 6 kg.
The color obviously deserves special attention. Its snow-whiteness is due to the absence of melatonin (coloring pigment) in the rabbit’s body, so there are no impurities and inclusions of other shades in the fur. Soft wool is very thick and dense.
It is worth bearing in mind that white giants are albinos by nature. That is why their eyes are red: all the blood vessels inside them are visible.
As for the character and behavior, the animals are considered very calm and docile. They can stay in one position for a long time, which is considered a feature of the breed. Rabbits do not show aggression and are friendly towards their owners. However, remember that if you start showing aggression towards the animal, for example, grabbing them sharply and firmly (which is typical for children), then the rabbits can bite or scratch the offender.
All these distinctive features of the breed must be taken into account if you plan to have such animals in your household. Since white giant rabbits for the most part have only positive features, the breed is very popular and loved by many professional and novice breeders.
Conditions for keeping
At home, rabbits should be kept in a separate cage. It should be quite spacious so that the animals can move freely, as well as carry out all the necessary processes associated with their life. Accordingly, the more animals you plan to keep in one cage, the larger its size should be. If possible, choose cells that have a solid floor. If such a design cannot be found, then some kind of coating (for example, a piece of plywood or slats) must be laid on the bottom of an ordinary cage. Only in this case, the living of rabbits will be comfortable, and rats will not get to them.
And also you need to properly equip the cage door. If possible, it should be made from a metal mesh (if it is not present in the cage initially). The door should be of impressive size so that even the largest individuals can easily pass through it.
It is better to calculate the size of the door with a margin for a future increase in the size and weight of animals.
There must be feeders and drinkers in the cage. If you keep a pregnant rabbit, then in the cage where she lives, you need to install a mother liquor, which is equipped with a heating function, and it must be placed on the side of the cage. Only in this case, the birth will take place in the normal mode.
Thanks to the work of breeders, rabbits of the white giant breed can withstand fairly low temperatures: up to -20 ° C. In such weather, they can even be let out for a walk on the street. However, at lower temperatures, the cage with animals should be brought into a warmer room. In addition, it is important to protect the cells from strong winds and drafts.
On the other hand, in the warm season (especially in areas where summer is accompanied by heat and aridity), direct exposure to bright sunlight on the cage should be avoided: this can lead to overheating of animals or heat stroke. Remember to also regularly clean the cage of dirt, feces and food debris. If you ignore this rule, then harmful bacteria and microorganisms can appear and multiply in the cell, which can lead to diseases or even death of animals.
And also remember that at the first sign of illness, the animal should be shown to the veterinarian. Avoid self-medication, because it can lead to even more negative consequences.
What to feed?
Nutrition is an important element of overall rabbit care. The general health of the animals depends on it, and your profit will depend on it in the future. After all, the better you feed the animals, the more actively and intensively they grow and develop. Therefore, pay special attention to this part of maintenance and care.
After you have bought a cage and equipped it, you need to take care of the organization of the feeder. So, it should be installed in such a way that even the smallest rabbits can reach it. However, it is important not to place it on the floor, otherwise the animals may use it as a bed. Therefore, it is very important to strike a balance in this matter.
The diet can be composed in several ways, guided by various principles. For simplicity, you can use ready-made dry rabbit food, which can be purchased at almost any zoological store. Such compositions usually contain not only the main food, but are also filled with all the necessary nutrients and trace elements that are required for the normal functioning of the animal’s body. On the other hand, you can give preference to more natural natural food. In this case, you will have to cook your own food. Animal diets should include foods such as:
- grass;
- top;
- vegetables;
- roots;
- salads;
- corn;
- corn;
- hay.
In the warm season (summer, spring and early autumn), if possible, animals should be let out for walks. To do this, you should choose areas where fresh green grass grows, but any poisonous plants are completely absent. Rabbits can be allowed to graze and eat natural food in the form of pasture.
To keep animals healthy, they should also be given a variety of healthy foods. For example, in early spring (when the cold is over and the weather is getting warmer), vitamin and mineral supplements should be included in the diet to avoid beriberi.
If you want to improve the functioning of the digestive system and intestines of animals, then you can feed them with branches or crackers (however, this should not be done constantly, but periodically).
Breeding
Breeding white giant rabbits is a common activity that can be very profitable. The thing is that rabbits have good quality meat, which is valued for its tenderness and pleasant taste, but at the same time it is dietary and does not harm the figure. Animal skins are no less valuable. They are quite large. Comfortable and white. A large number of various products are sewn from fur, which, if desired, can be easily dyed in any other shade.
The process of mating animals is quick and simple. Inbreeding should not be allowed. For one round, you can get up to 10 young individuals. The birth process usually goes without any complications. Mortality rates of offspring are very low: only 1% die. The rabbits are kept near their mother for about 2 months. Rabbits feed their cubs with their own milk, usually enough for all the babies.
Newborns have a rather large appetite, their body weight is growing rapidly, so when they reach the age of 1 year, they can weigh more than 5 kg.
It is important to know that if the rabbit becomes pregnant, then the cage should be specially equipped so that it is suitable for future babies to live in. First of all, the cage must be large in size, and it is also necessary to follow all the rules for maintenance. If you strictly adhere to the instructions and do not deviate from the recommendations and advice of veterinarians, zoologists and experienced breeders, then your animals will be healthy and active.
About the characteristics of the white giant king breed, see the video.
