French Lop Lifespan: How many years do you have with a gentle giant

French Lops are a popular breed of domestic rabbits known for their distinctive boldface, large body size, drooping ears, and gentle disposition. 

The French Lops make great pet rabbits but so many first-time rabbit owners or french lop owners are disappointed to learn that their life expectancy is a bit shorter than those of smaller rabbits. 

A large breed of rabbit is just like the large dog breeds they tend to live less time than smaller dog breeds. 

Average French Lop Lifespan

On average, French Lops have a life expectancy of 5-7 years.

Understanding the lifespan of French Lops is important for potential owners because it allows you to make informed decisions about the commitment and care required for these rabbits. 

If the shorter life span isn’t for you then I would recommend looking into the smaller lop breeds that tend to live a bit longer.

Factors that can influence the lifespan of French Lops

Common health issues for French Lop rabbits include heart issues, their lare size giving them mobility issues, obesity, and gastrointestinal issues.

The specific diet for French Lops should be 16-18% protein and 22% fiber. <- FIBER DOES NOT MEAN HAY. The best thing to feed your french lop is 1-1.5 cups of commercial rabbit pellets a day.

I do not feed my rabbits hay and I have never lost a rabbit to bloat. They have an extremely sensitive digestive tract and hay can attract moisture very easily which will mold without you realizing it.  — Read more about why here. 

My Rabbitry Must Haves

Fresh vegetables and fruits have very little nutritional value when it comes to protein. Which is KEY for your French Lop’s long life. Think of them as filler. If your rabbit fills up on those first they don’t have as much room for their pellets. If any rabbit breed doesn’t get the protein they need they will lose muscle mass. 

While it can be tempting to keep them really slender they are a meat rabbit breed and keeping them supper slender is also harmful. The average french lop weighs about 13 pounds in the US. While they can be bigger because there is no maximum weight according to the breed standard anything bigger than 18 pounds should be carefully looked over to make sure they are not overweight.

These gentle giants should be kept on a consistent diet and be CARFULY WATCHED when they are in your home.

The number one reason people come back to me because of the loss of their indoor rabbits is the rabbit ended up getting a small sliver of something like wood or fabric that was barely noticed and it killed them. This is another reason why I am not a fan of having your rabbit loos in your home. It can lead to their untimely death.

• They also should have a well-ventilated housing with plenty of room to move around and exercise.
• I never let my rabbits run around on the ground outside. There are too many wild rabbits and other animals that carry diseases that could affect your rabbit very quickly. 

Genetics Influence Longevity

Genetics play a significant role in determining a rabbit’s lifespan. Different breeds of rabbits have varying lifespans due to their genetic makeup.

Breeding French Lops should only be done with healthy, mature rabbits to ensure the longevity of the offspring.

While most of the time raising rabbits is one big guessing game if you as a rabbit breeder notice certain lines are not living as long or are having health issues show you should cull that rabbit from the herd. 

Don’t let this stress you out and cause you to not get one of these amazing giant breeds. The care of rabbits is not as complicated as the internet would have you believe.

Give them lots of fresh water and just the amount of rabbit feed they will clean up in 24hrs and you will be all set.