Jacques (FA) & Genevieve (EA)
ABOUT ANGORA RABBITS
Types of Angora Rabbits: English, French, German, Satin, Giant. They each have their own special requirements (grooming, harvesting, spinning. Here is a bit about each.
English – They are 4-8 lbs in size and produce 4-6oz of fiber a year. The English Angora has wool on its face, ears, and feet. They can be plucked or shorn. EA wool matts and felts easily. Their fiber has a lovely crimp that helps give it loft and a bit of memory. *They require a substantial commitment of time and attention to care for their coat.
French – They weigh 7-10 lbs and produce 4-8oz of fiber per year. The French Angora have a "clean" face, feet and butt area. Plucking their fiber is preferred, but they can be shorn. Their wool is a little more substantial than that of the English. It is easier to spin, is the slowest to felt (or matt), and has a lovely halo.
*The FAs are ideal for new angora owners due to the abundant wool and minimal grooming requirements.
German – Range from 9-12 lbs and produce 10-16oz of fiber every 90 days! They produce the most fiber per bunny. They do not blow their coat, so they must be shorn. If you don't mind handling big bunnies and want lots of fiber, Germans might be for you. Their fiber is dense, lustrous and has a beautiful crimp.
Satin – They weigh 7-10 lbs and produce the least amount of fiber of any of the angora breeds, but their fiber is among the finest there is. Their fiber is soft, light weight and has a gorgeous sheen. They have a tendency to matt easily. *They require attentive grooming.
Giant – Range in weight 9-10lbs and produce 1-2 lbs of wool per year. They have a dense coat that must be shorn.
Types of Angora Rabbits: English, French, German, Satin, Giant. They each have their own special requirements (grooming, harvesting, spinning. Here is a bit about each.
English – They are 4-8 lbs in size and produce 4-6oz of fiber a year. The English Angora has wool on its face, ears, and feet. They can be plucked or shorn. EA wool matts and felts easily. Their fiber has a lovely crimp that helps give it loft and a bit of memory. *They require a substantial commitment of time and attention to care for their coat.
French – They weigh 7-10 lbs and produce 4-8oz of fiber per year. The French Angora have a "clean" face, feet and butt area. Plucking their fiber is preferred, but they can be shorn. Their wool is a little more substantial than that of the English. It is easier to spin, is the slowest to felt (or matt), and has a lovely halo.
*The FAs are ideal for new angora owners due to the abundant wool and minimal grooming requirements.
German – Range from 9-12 lbs and produce 10-16oz of fiber every 90 days! They produce the most fiber per bunny. They do not blow their coat, so they must be shorn. If you don't mind handling big bunnies and want lots of fiber, Germans might be for you. Their fiber is dense, lustrous and has a beautiful crimp.
Satin – They weigh 7-10 lbs and produce the least amount of fiber of any of the angora breeds, but their fiber is among the finest there is. Their fiber is soft, light weight and has a gorgeous sheen. They have a tendency to matt easily. *They require attentive grooming.
Giant – Range in weight 9-10lbs and produce 1-2 lbs of wool per year. They have a dense coat that must be shorn.
Grooming and Harvesting Fiber: Plucking method. Click on a photo to read caption or watch a video here.
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Fiber Prep & Spinning:
Washing the fibers before spinning is not recommended. The fibers are free of VM and debris when harvested. Washing can cause clumping that is hard to manage. Carding or combing...I have read that you can do either. I prefer to lightly card my fibers and spin, carding either with hand carders or blending on my drum carder. One of my very favorite blends is Pygora/Angora. Spinning angora is not difficult. It does take a little practice as it is not like wool. Angora can be spun on a light weight drop spindle or any wheel. It is not necessarily the tool that determines a well spun yarn, but the spinning methods you employ. Spin with enough twist and ply to help lock the fibers in place. Finishing or "Fulling" your yarn is one of the most important parts of creating angora yarn and the halo that it is best known for. Watch how to Full here. Just for fun. Here is a link to a video of a woman spinning wool right from her angora. |
Comparing the FA (left) & EA(right) halo.
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General Care,
Feeding & Housing: Along with proper grooming and wool harvesting there are a few things I will mention briefly about an angora's care. There are many sites and books designated to general rabbit care. Here is a book that I picked up recently and recommend, Rabbits: Small-Scale Rabbit Keeping, by Chris McLaughlin.
Cold & Heat: Keeping your angora out of the extreme elements is important to keeping a healthy rabbit. When they are in full coat, they don't seem to mind the cold. I worry more about the heat. In the heat of the summer, it is important to keep the rabbit cool. Frozen plastic bottles of water are appreciated by a hot bunny. They will enjoy chilling next to it on a hot day. Having a fan on for the rabbit is also a good idea, as well as plenty of fresh clean water. Part of a frozen banana is a wonderful treat on a hot summer day.
Diet: Along with fresh water, a good diet consists of plenty of grass hay (we feed brome), pellets, and banana. I purchase quality rabbit pellets at the feed store and add in BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) and Oats. I give 1/3 of a banana, peel and all, once a month to my rabbits to help digestion and to help prevent wool block. When available, papaya tablets can also be given. In the growing season, I have carrot tops, parsley, turnip greens, and a few other rabbit delicacies growing in the garden for them. Here is a great list of rabbit safe plants.
Nails: Yes, they need trimmed, too. You should check their nails, as they do grow out and need trimmed. You don't want the rabbit's nails to grow so long that they break easily.
Cold & Heat: Keeping your angora out of the extreme elements is important to keeping a healthy rabbit. When they are in full coat, they don't seem to mind the cold. I worry more about the heat. In the heat of the summer, it is important to keep the rabbit cool. Frozen plastic bottles of water are appreciated by a hot bunny. They will enjoy chilling next to it on a hot day. Having a fan on for the rabbit is also a good idea, as well as plenty of fresh clean water. Part of a frozen banana is a wonderful treat on a hot summer day.
Diet: Along with fresh water, a good diet consists of plenty of grass hay (we feed brome), pellets, and banana. I purchase quality rabbit pellets at the feed store and add in BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) and Oats. I give 1/3 of a banana, peel and all, once a month to my rabbits to help digestion and to help prevent wool block. When available, papaya tablets can also be given. In the growing season, I have carrot tops, parsley, turnip greens, and a few other rabbit delicacies growing in the garden for them. Here is a great list of rabbit safe plants.
Nails: Yes, they need trimmed, too. You should check their nails, as they do grow out and need trimmed. You don't want the rabbit's nails to grow so long that they break easily.
Equipment,
Hutches & Supplies: www.bassequipment.com
Books & Resources:* The Nervous New Owner’s Guide to Angora Rabbits, by Suzie Sugrue
Rabbits: Small-Scale Rabbit Keeping, by Chris McLaughlin
The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook, by Deborah Robson & Carol Ekarius.
Books & Resources:* The Nervous New Owner’s Guide to Angora Rabbits, by Suzie Sugrue
Rabbits: Small-Scale Rabbit Keeping, by Chris McLaughlin
The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook, by Deborah Robson & Carol Ekarius.
Photos courtesy of Tammi Wirsig (Genevieve & Jacques and FA & EA halo comparison).
