Chinchilla Giganta
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Also called Chinchilla Gigantea, Giant Chinchilla (UK)
From United Kingdom (bred by Chris Wren of Hampton Wick around the First World War, introduced in the early 1920s) from French Chinchillas crossed with Flemish Giants; German breeders developed a similar large Chinchilla in parallel. The Wikipedia breed list gives France, the home of its Chinchilla ancestors.123
At a glance the quick version
Breed standard as quoted by Nikki White: minimum adult buck 3.855 kg, doe 4.07 kg, maximum 5.44 kg for either sex (BRC maximum 5.44 kg per Fur & Feather); Wikipedia list 8.5-12 lb (3.9-5.4 kg).
Coat and looks how to spot one
dense, silky short fur on a large, graceful body
A big, elegant rabbit with a thick, silky coat at least about 3 cm long, where density counts for more than length. The Chinchilla colouring is darker than in the standard breed: a slate-blue base for half the hair, a narrow pearl band, then darker ticked tips mixed with guard hairs.21
Personality what they are like
A friendly rabbit with a lively streak, often described as soft and cuddly despite its size, and considered a good pet as well as a show and utility breed.2
The story where it all began
Around the time of the First World War, British breeder Chris Wren crossed French Chinchillas with Flemish Giants to produce a large, graceful rabbit with good meat and a fine pelt, and he introduced it in the UK in the early 1920s. German breeders independently produced a heavy Chinchilla of their own around the same period.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It was bred to be roughly double the weight of the original Chinchilla rabbit.2
- 2
Many authorities once regarded it as the ideal meat-and-fur rabbit and one of the most valuable normal-furred breeds commercially.2
- 3
Its top colour is noticeably darker than that of the standard Chinchilla, which helps judges tell the two apart.1
Recognised by the official bits
- British Rabbit Council
- Recognised; Chinchilla pattern with a noticeably darker top colour than the standard Chinchilla; maximum adult weight 5.44 kg. Breed club: National Chinchilla Giganta Rabbit Club.1
- British Rabbit Council
- Listed as BRC-only (not ARBA), 8.5-12 lb.3
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Chinchilla Giganta. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- BrushingDaily while moultingevery week
- Nail trimevery 6 weeks
- Teeth checkTeeth never stop growingevery week
- Fresh hayUnlimited hay every dayevery day
- Spot cleanevery day
- Full cleanevery week
- Bottom checkCheck the fur around the tail stays clean, especially in summerevery day
- Free roamAt least 4 hours of running space a dayevery day
- VaccinationsSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upevery year
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Standard Chinchilla Rabbit
American Chinchilla
Flemish GiantLike what we are building? Buy us a coffee.
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- Chinchilla Giganta - Fur & Feather (BRC magazine) furandfeather.co.ukused for origin, breeder, BRC standard, max weight, club
- Chinchilla Giganta Rabbit - Nikki White breed page home.netspeed.com.auused for history, weight standard, coat, temperament, fun facts
- List of rabbit breeds - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for BRC recognition, weight, origin
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.