The Giant Angora Rabbit is a great choice if you have been longing to add a giant rabbit to your home. This breed descends from the Angora, one the oldest rabbit breeds in existence. The Giant Angora Rabbit was created by crossing German Angoras and Flemish Giants with French Lops. The breed was accepted by the American Rabbit Breeders Association in 1988.
Giant Angora rabbits require a large enclosure, as well as plenty of time outside to explore the surroundings. You can keep them as house rabbits. Let’s learn everything we can about these fluffy, giant rabbits.
Here are some quick facts about the Giant Angora Rabbit
| Species Name: | Oryctolagus cuniculus |
| Family: | Leporids |
| Care Level | Medium |
| Temperament: | Gentlemen and women who are shy |
| Color Form: | Red eyes and white fur |
| Lifespan: | 7-11 years |
| Size: | 9.5-12 pounds |
| Diet: | Hay, rabbit pellets, and vegetables |
| Compatibility: | Can be kept together with similar rabbits |
Giant Angora Rabbit Overview
The Giant Angora Rabbit descends from the smaller Angora Rabbit. It is one of the oldest rabbit breeds in the world. Angora Rabbits are a Turkish breed that originated in Ankara, Turkey. The breed was introduced to France in 1723. Their wool can be used for commercial purposes, and they gained popularity internationally.
Louise Walsh from Taunton, Massachusetts developed them. Her goal was to create a bigger Angora that was commercially viable and easy to keep and feed.
Giant Angoras have dense hair with tufts of tresses on their cheeks and foreheads. There are three textures to their coat:
- This should be the predominant hair texture. It is medium-fine in size and soft. It should have a subtly shiny texture.
- Fluff. This guard hair has a stronger feel and distinct wave. It can be found between the awn and underwool hairs.
- Awn hair. This hair is straight and strong, and it protrudes clearly from the underwool or awn hair.
Giant Angora Rabbits are most often kept as a fiber animals. Their owners keep them primarily for their wool harvest. Giant Angora Rabbits can be kept as pets by many families, due to their gentle and docile nature.
Even if you aren’t planning to use the wool for commercial purposes, it is important that the wool be harvested regularly. Hand shearing or plucking their hair is possible every 3-4 months. It can become matted and uncomfortable if it is left longer. Even if the wool is not needed, someone may be willing to give it to you. Giant Angora Rabbits can produce as much as 2 pounds of wool each year.
What is the Average Cost of Giant Angora Rabbits?
Giant Angora Rabbits should be available for sale starting at $100. You can expect to pay more if you are looking for a rabbit that has a pedigree.
This breed is best kept as a pet. Look for breeders that breed rabbits for domestic use and commercial production. Ask to meet the mother rabbit and her children if you are able. Babies who are cared for regularly from birth will adapt better to being family pets.
The Typical Behavior and Temperament
Giant Angora Rabbits can be gentle and kind, but they require a confident handler. They are able to adapt well to being a family pet, and they love spending time as a house bunny.
They require more freedom and space than smaller breeds. Therefore, it is important to allow them to roam around a securely fenced yard regularly. This will ensure that they are happy and healthy. To be calm and comfortable around people, these rabbits require regular handling.
Spend some time training your rabbit to be groomed while they are still young. Regular maintenance is necessary to remove hair from their coats, so it’s worth getting your Giant Angora Rabbit used to this routine as soon as you can.
Appearance and Varieties
Giant Angora Rabbits are oval-shaped with a broad forehead and narrow muzzle. Their ears should have a light fringe and tassels at the tips. Their foreheads will be covered with fur, as well as their cheeks. Head trimmings for bucks will be less frequent than those for does.
ARBA has only accepted white Giant Angora Rabbits with ruby-colored eyes. ARBA has yet to accept a black Giant Angora Rabbit from some breeders.
Giant Angora Rabbits may be advertised in a variety of colors including grey or broken colors. However, ARBA does not accept these colors. White fur with ruby eyes and a show rabbit are the best options.
The:
- English Angora
- French Angora
- German Angora
How to Care for a Giant Angora Rabbit
Habitat, Closure Conditions & Setup
You must ensure that your Giant Angora Rabbit is happy and healthy. Here are our recommendations.
Attachment
Giant Angora Rabbits require a larger enclosure due to their size. Giant Angora Rabbits were originally bred to live in wire cages of standard size. However, if they are being kept as pets, a larger enclosure is necessary to ensure their happiness and health.
To keep your rabbit safe from predators, choose the largest hutch you can afford. A large wire enclosure is also necessary for them to spend time outdoors. Giant Angora Rabbits are loved by many families.
You should ensure your rabbit has safe places to hide.
Giant Angora rabbits love to run and jump when they feel secure in their environment. They will enjoy exploring and having fun with chew toys, cardboard boxes with holes made out of them, and slow feeders.
Bedding
You should provide enough bedding for your rabbit to dig into. For litter-trained rabbits, you can use a straw, hardwood shavings, straw, or fleece. Your bunnies love to make a den with their bedding so be sure to clean it at least twice per week.
Cedar and pine shavings and pellets are not recommended as they can cause liver or respiratory problems. Although wood shavings and pellets made from hardwood species such as cedar, maple, or oak are generally fine, we recommend consulting your veterinarian first.
You can train your rabbit to use a litterbox. The litter box should be cleaned with soapy water at least once per week and replaced as needed.
Grooming
Giant Angora rabbits require regular grooming because of their long, dense hair. It can grow as much as 1.2 inches per month. Brushing your rabbit daily or every other day is necessary. This prevents matting from becoming painful.
Your Giant Angora Rabbit’s fur must be harvested every 3-4 months even if it is not being used. After six months, Angora Rabbit fur begins to get matted and eventually dies.
Either hand-pluck your rabbit’s fur or use small scissors or clippers to shear it. This can be done by a professional groomer.
Are Giant Angora Rabbits compatible with other pets?
Giant Angora Rabbits are most happy when they live in a same-sex pair. This allows them to have companionship. It is possible to keep male-female pairs but you must have them spayed or neutered so that they don’t become an accidental litter of baby rabbits.
Giant Angora rabbits can be housed with cats and dogs. However, it is best to keep an eye on their interactions and not leave them alone. Some rabbits might be afraid to live with other pets as they are considered predators.
Giant Angora Rabbits can be quite large but are docile, shy, and docile. They can be kept with smaller rabbits from a different breed. Before you can decide if it’s possible to keep them in your home, you’ll need to assess their personalities.
Introduce new rabbits slowly to each other and let them live in separate hutches or enclosures at first. This will allow them to get to know each other and not have to share their space. Then you can integrate them into one enclosure. However, ensure that each rabbit has its own shelter and food to avoid competition for resources.
How to feed your giant Angora Rabbit
Giant Angora Rabbits were bred to survive on a diet of rabbit pellets containing 16-18% protein. There are many things you can do to supplement their diet if they’re kept as pets. We recommend:
- Grass Hay fed at 70% of the overall diet
- High-quality rabbit pellets with a protein content of 16-18%
- Vegetables and fruits that are safe for rabbits
How to Keep Your Giant Angora Rabbit Well
Giant Angora Rabbits may be susceptible to a number of health conditions, including:
- Wool block. Giant Angora Rabbits can ingest a lot of wool because of their thick and dense coat. Rabbits spend a lot of time grooming themselves. If they don’t get rid of their shedding hair regularly, the wool block can occur. This is when their digestive system becomes clogged with wool. If left untreated, this can cause death. Regular grooming is important. Your rabbit should be shorn at least once every three to four months.
- Wool mites. This parasite is called Cheyletiella parasitovorax. Infestation can lead to fur loss and flaky skin. These mites can reduce the wool’s yield and quality. These mites can be treated using carbaryl powder and ivermectin.
Book an appointment with your vet when you receive your rabbit. Your rabbit should be vaccinated against rabbit hemorrhagic illness. Ask your vet about any outbreaks in your region, which could mean that your rabbit needs to be kept inside or modified.
Talk to your vet if you notice a change in your rabbit’s behavior.
Breeding
It is recommended that you leave the breeding Giant Angora Rabbits to professionals. Many breeders recommend that your rabbit be spayed or neutered when it is the right age.
This makes them less difficult to manage and less aggressive and lowers the chance of developing certain types of cancer.
Are Giant Angora Rabbits Suitable For You?
Giant Angora Rabbits originated as a commercial breed. They were bred for their large size, high wool production, and large size. Many families love them as gentle and affectionate pets.
Giant Angora Rabbits require more space than the average rabbit. They can reach 12 pounds in weight and need extra space. Regular grooming can be time-consuming and they need to be kept clean. If they are not taken care of, however, their thick coats can become matted and cause discomfort as well as skin infections.
Giant Angora rabbits can live indoors for at least part of the year, but they need to be outside often to exercise their legs. They love to play with toys and will be happy to interact with children and adults once they are used.
We’d love to hear from you if you own a Giant Angora Rabbit. We would love to hear from you!
How large can enormous angora rabbits grow?
The Giant Angora rabbit is the most massive of the Angora breeds. These rabbits often weigh 9.5 to 10 pounds. They have a commercial body type with a huge oval head that is wide on top and thinner at the muzzle.
Are Angora rabbits are slaughtered for their fur?
Angora rabbits, which have extraordinarily soft, thick coats, are not slaughtered for their fur; instead, the animals’ hair is shaved or plucked and spun into a particularly plush yarn fiber.
What makes Angora so cruel?
Angora rabbits are purposefully bred to create fluffy wool, which endangers their welfare and health. Due to fur intake, it can cause impaired vision and eye illnesses, as well as stomach difficulties. They clean their fur excessively and consume enormous amounts of it to diminish their own thick underwool.
Are Angora rabbits mistreated?
Angora rabbits are shorn or plucked for the first time when they are only 8 weeks old, and they are exposed to the same horrible agony every few months after that. Rabbits that have survived this recurrent maltreatment are hanged upside down, their throats are sliced, and their remains are sold for meat after two to five years.
Are Angora rabbits aggressive?
An English Angora Rabbit in a way too tiny cage. Even though rabbits are gregarious animals, they should not be housed together. Bucks will battle for supremacy, kicking and biting each other. Kicks with sharp nails can rip the skin of the other rabbit.
Do Angora rabbits stink?
Every day, rabbits spend a significant amount of time cleaning themselves. Rabbits, as a result, have no significant body odor and should never be washed. A rabbit will generally only smell if their cage is not cleaned on a regular basis or if the rabbit is suffering from health issues.
What issues do Angora rabbits face?
Angora rabbits are unable to fully groom themselves, and their coats are prone to becoming matted, which can lead to skin problems. They are especially vulnerable to fly strikes because their fur is frequently matted and dirty. They are also prone to stomach and intestinal stasis as a result of excessive fur consumption.
What cannot Angora rabbits consume?
Adult rabbits should avoid (or consume it sparingly) alfalfa hay since it contains too much calcium for them. Many commercial pellets contain alfalfa, which is OK; you simply don’t want to add to the problem by also giving Alfalfa hay.
How old are enormous angora rabbits?
5-8 years Life expectancy is 5-8 years. Temperament: Angora rabbits are bright, friendly bunnies who like playing, particularly with cat toys.