The Checkered Giant rabbit is a breed originally from France, towards the end of the 19th century. One of its distant relatives is the Giant of Flanders. In 1904, a german man rabbits breeder crossed the breeds Reinish Checker with a Giant Flanders. From this line comes the now-called Checkered Giant rabbit. The first ones arrived in the United States in 1910.
In the United Kingdom, there is a version of this breed, although it has some physical differences. Among them the size of the body, and the spots, in addition, that in this zone it receives the name of Giant Papilion.
Characteristics of Checkered Giant Rabbit
The Checkered Giant rabbit is a beautiful and large rabbit with unique markings, this breed as its name indicates it falls within the large breeds. This breed is special because of its unique personality and temperament. In general, females are better pets because it does not have the typical territorial behavior of males. Although of course there are exceptions.
The Checkered Giant is not a good rabbit for commercial use, although it is large, its skin is very heavy and its bones are not small, aspects that do not make it good meat or skin rabbit. The average life of a Checkered Giant is 8 years with appropriate care. The Checkered Giant standard suggests an ideal weight of 5 kg for males and 5.5 kg for females.
But many Checkered Giant are significantly larger, weighing about 7 kgs. The Checkered Giants of the United States are somewhat different from the Europeans. The Americans have raised the Checkered Giant to be more slender, like the Belgian hare, while the Europeans have raised it to be big and heavy.
Almost the back should be arched, the ears long and should appreciate the distinctive marks of the breed. Must possess a butterfly-shaped spot on the nose and have circled around the eyes. It also has spots on the cheeks, dark ears and marks along the back and sides. You may also like to read Belgian Hare Rabbit
This one is white, with some markings on the ears, around the eyes, cheeks. And on the nose, this breed must have a butterfly-shaped spot. Another colored strip runs all the way back along with several spots on the hips. The marks can be blue or black, which are the only two varieties for the Checkered Giant. The marks must be clear and easy to see, which implies a short coat. Has the rest of the body can only be white. Checkered Giants have short hair and are easy to care for. Combing with a brush is fine unless then it does not require it.
Usage
Checkered Giant rabbit is a rabbit that is used mainly to show on the show. And it is not well valued as human consumption, it is also one of the few races that have such a marked pattern. In addition, many people decide to have this pet and this is because this breed has a peaceful nature. Another characteristic for which people raise her as a pet is because they are quite playful. Males are those that tend to have aggressive behavior, however, there are few cases that have been presented.
Food
Since the Checkered giant rabbit is a breed that is used mainly as an exhibition breed, its feeding must be based on pellets. Similarly, it is recommended that the diet be accompanied by hay, as this will work as a dietary supplement. You may also like to read Silver Fox Rabbit
Special Feature
Checkered Giant Rabbit has temperamental and easily assimilated. Although usually large breeds are kept doing nothing and become obese. In contrast, the Checkered giant rabbit is a highly active species, which needs space to run. This breed is often easily confusing with the English Spot breed since both breeds have spots around the body.
What the difference is that the Checkered Giant rabbit has spots on the sides of the hindquarters. While the English spot rabbit has spots from the cheeks to the hips. And the main characteristic that the differences that the checkered giant has a butterfly-shaped spot on the nose.
Any stain that presents this race at the height of the shoulders is considered a disqualification in the exhibition contests. The people who breed this breed by exhibition have to keep in mind that not all breeds will be born with the distinctive marks of the breed.
Usually, half of the litter will be born unicolor. And rabbits that are born with denote marks have the nickname Charlie. Since the butterfly-shaped birthmark of the nose resembles Charlie Chaplin’s mustache. You may also like to read English Spot Rabbit
FAQ
How big do Checkered Giant rabbits get?
The Checkered Giant rabbit is one of the largest breeds of domesticated rabbits, and is known for its large size and striking coloration. On average, adult males reach weights between 10-15 pounds (4-7 kilograms), while females typically weigh 8-12 pounds (3.6-5.4 kilograms).
Are Checkered Giant rabbits good pets?
Absolutely! Checkered Giant rabbits make great pets, and they are becoming increasingly popular as house companions. These large-sized animals can reach up to 17 pounds and have a uniquely appealing appearance due to the black-and-white checkered fur. They’re also considered one of the most docile breeds of rabbit out there, meaning they rarely bite or scratch like some other types may do.
What is the Checkered Giant rabbit used for?
The Checkered Giant breed of rabbit is a large breed that is known for its impressive size and striking checkered markings. These rabbits tend to weigh between 11 and 16 pounds, making them the largest domestic breed of rabbit currently recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA).
Conclusion
The Checkered Giant is one of the minorities of rabbit breeds with specific coat markings. They are recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association and have a unique appearance that separates them from other rabbits. This guide has helped you determine if this breed would be suitable for your needs, as well as some tips on caring for these giant bunnies! Whether you’re looking to buy or adopt a new pet, we hope this information was helpful in guiding you towards making an informed decision about whether or not this breed will suit your home environment. Good luck!
As a reference: Wikipedia
