A Quiet Little Woman

Angora Rabbits, Part II

I forgot to mention one very important thing about angoras!  Someone asked how you get the wool off... (whoops! sorry about that!)  There are 2 ways, you can either pluck or shear them.

1) Plucking... don't panic, this doesn't hurt!  They naturally start shedding/molting every 3-5 months, and when there is wool on the floor of the cages, it's time to pluck!  I'm not sure that I'm up to this method yet... but plucked wool actually sells for more money. 

2) Shearing... I found a great movie that shows how this is done, I think that I'll start with this method!  You don't even have to strap them down, they will just sit on your lap... sometimes they can be a little fidgety, but I've read that they are usually really good!  Here is the link for the shearing MOVIE that I found, this is actually part of a series that details making a baby hat, beginning with shearing the rabbit, to raw angora wool, spinning, knitting, and then giving it away! 

Angoras are actually quite inexpensive to keep!  I bought a 50 lb bag of Mana-Pro rabbit feed for $18 and it will last my 3 rabbits a little more than a month!  The only other thing that you have to buy for them is papaya tablets, it keeps them from getting wool block (where their intestines get full of wool that they've eaten, and their digestion stops working).  I think I paid $7 for a 500 count bottle.  

Hope you all don't get bored of hearing about angoras!  I probably be posting a lot more in the future as I start shearing, spinning and breeding!  Farm living is a lot of work, but also a lot of fun!! 

Have a great rest of this beautiful spring day! Alex ;)

so cute!

12:05, Friday, April 4, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

I love the bunny!

I really would love to get one, but I gotta convince the hubby.

:)

Cute

12:24, Friday, April 4, 2008 .. Posted by smmagers

What a cute bunny! We just have rex/muts. God Bless. mj

Untitled Comment

09:59, Friday, April 4, 2008 .. Posted by morningsunshine

he doesn't even look like a real bunny - just a stuffed animal! I am going to have to bring my kids over - they would love to see the bunnies.

Untitled Comment

11:06, Friday, April 4, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

How cute. We watched the movie & that is really cool. How much does the fur sell for?
countryangels.blogspot.com

Untitled Comment

03:48, Friday, April 4, 2008 .. Posted by haflinger

Hi Alex I used to pluck mine.. And your right they don't even know that you are doing it..They sit on your lap.. What kind of wheel do you have? I spin off and on.. I'm so busy making aprons I would like to do more..
Blessings Sister Brenda

Hellow!

09:08, Friday, April 4, 2008 .. Posted by Liliemarie

HI!!
I have some rabbits that are part angora!
I have never tried to spin the wool someday I would like to try it.

I agree with you totaly rabbits are not very cheep to feed.

At our farm store the mana pro rabbit food is 14 to 15 dollars!

I buy the cheeper stuff it is 12 dollars.I go through a bag a week for about 20 rabbits.

I cant wait to hear more about your rabbits.And spinning the wool.

Love your sister through Christ


Liliemarie

So cute!

11:08, Monday, April 7, 2008 .. Posted by littlewoman

I am happy you came back to blogging. I hope you will check out my site sometime. The rabbits are adorable.
Little Woman

countryangels.blogspot.com

12:26, Wednesday, April 9, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

I heard the fur is itchy when you make it into clothing?.