| Size: | Giant |
| Weight: | Up to 16 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 5–8 years |
| Body Type: | Semi-arch |
| Temperament: | Gentle, docile, passive |
| Best Suited For: | Indoor/outdoor life, families with older children, first-time rabbit owners |
| Similar Breeds: | Flemish Giant, American Chinchilla, Standard Chinchilla, Checkered Giant |
Giant Chinchillas are the largest of three breeds in the family of Chinchillas recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association. The American breeders who created the Giant Chinchilla thought that bigger was better, but we’ll let you be the judge of that.
With their dense, uniquely colored coats and calm, almost dopey demeanors, the Giant Chinchilla has gained popularity as a house pet since its introduction to America in the early 1900s. In this article, we’ll discuss their history and origins and provide helpful tips on care and feeding.
History and Origin of the Giant Chinchilla Rabbit Breed
Shortly after the original Chinchilla rabbit was developed in France in the early 1900s, breeder Edward Stahl of Kansas City, Missouri, imported a pair. Starting as early as 1919, he set out to make this curious new breed into something even bigger and better.
In just two years, Stahl had produced his first great success. By crossing a Chinchilla with white Flemish Giants, white New Zealands, and an American Blue, he produced what he considered a flawless example of his new breed.
Then called the American Giant Chinchilla, his “Million Dollar Princess” rabbit took the 1922 Kansas City Rabbit Show by storm. With an almost-perfect combination of qualities for a desirable fur and meat rabbit, the Giant Chinchilla quickly spread across the nation.
While World War II dampened the enthusiasm for rabbit breeding as a hobby or business venture, Giant Chinchillas managed to survive as a breed thanks to the efforts of dedicated enthusiasts.
General Description
The first thing you’ll notice about a Giant Chinchilla may be their distinct fur color. Resembling the smaller animal that is their namesake, the Chin family all have a complex coat composed of bands of blue, gray, silver, black, and tan.
Of course, it would be hard to miss the sheer size of the Giant Chinchilla. Their robust, semi-arched bodies can tip the scale at nearly 16 pounds, making them another heavyweight in the domestic rabbit world.
Nutrition and Health
Because of their large size, Giant Chinchillas are more prone to health problems if not given a proper diet and exercise. Therefore, it’s crucial to supply them with large quantities of filtered water and timothy hay—you’d be surprised by how much they can eat and drink! Supplement this with daily servings of dark, leafy greens and nutrient-dense rabbit kibble to round out their vitamin and mineral intake.
The enclosure size is especially important for giant rabbit breeds; they should easily be able to stand up to their full height, stretch, and move around comfortably. For this reason, Giant Chinchillas do especially well when allowed to exercise indoors and outdoors.
Daily exercise is essential to their health; be sure to encourage them to take a walk around the house once per day!
Grooming
The thick, luxurious coats of all the Chinchilla breeds need more care and attention than most rabbits, but none more so than the Giant Chin. With an especially large area of fur to groom, they’re prone to digestive problems if they have to groom themselves too often; expect to brush them twice a week for most of the year, and three times or more per week during their shedding season in the spring.
Temperament
Giant Chinchillas are some of the most mild-mannered rabbits that you can keep as pets. Their relaxed demeanors can even border on laziness, so be sure to give them plenty of toys to play with! They thrive in households with plentiful stimulation, though it’s generally advisable not to mix them with small children; both stand a chance of hurting the other entirely by accident.
Conclusion
As an American adaptation of a classic French breed, the Giant Chinchilla may have originally been intended for meat and fur. However, they now have a reputation as an excellent house pet and constant (if docile) companion.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about this gentle giant of the rabbit world!
Interested in learning about more rabbit breeds? Check out:
Featured Image: Wikipedia
