Has anyone here kept them. I'm sure they make great pets, but do you really get any fiber off of these little bunnies?
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Missouri
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Re: angora rabbits
Thu, June 15, 2006 - 9:25 PMYes you do get fiber, it can be up to 3 ounces, but caring for the animals and shearing or worse yet combing and plucking them is very time consuming. If you are trying to do it for profit, I don't recommend it. But if you are doing it for your own joy and project just be sure you can commit the time to them. They need to be fed in the morning and evening, and they need to come out to play at least once a day for at least half an hour. That means you are at their side watching them to make sure no big bad animal is going to do them any harm. I don't mean to sound negative about them. I loved my bunnies, and would have kept them if I did not develop a back problem. To no fault of them. But it is really really important to realize just how much time and attention they need. They are much more high maitenance than a dog or a cat. Let us know if you decide to get them. I have pictures of my bunnies in my album if you want to see them. Let me know if you have more questions. -
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Re: angora rabbits
Thu, June 15, 2006 - 9:26 PMOh and if you are shearing them, you have to shear them every three months so you can get about 12 ounces of fiber a year. -
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Re: angora rabbits
Fri, June 16, 2006 - 8:58 AMMy daughter wants a rabbit. I say we already have too many cats (too bad you can't shear cats). Aside from the work, I'm afraid the cats will traumatize the poor little thing.
Maybe I can talk her into a goat? -
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Re: angora rabbits
Fri, June 16, 2006 - 10:41 AMActually I have known people will long haired and angora cats that have sheared them and spun the fiber. Of couse it won't matter if you have short haired cats and either way I don't think the cat would like it much. If you are interested in larger animals you could also look into a sheep, alpaca, llama, yak. You would also have to look into the amount of space they need, and if they would be ok w/o a pack. I have a friend that has angora goats and she shears them twice a year and just has to make sure they can't get to any plants she wants to stay alive.
I took my dog over there once, and he decided the goats needed to be herded. Most of them were ok with the idea, but this once that was still pretty young did not like the idea at all and was going to herd my dog. It was the funniest thing I ever saw. -
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Re: angora rabbits
Fri, June 16, 2006 - 12:22 PMI've kept milk goats in the past and found them to be good natured and relatively easy to care for.
But I've never sheared one.
Perhaps I should stick to dyeing.
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Re: angora rabbits
Mon, May 21, 2007 - 7:09 PMSure you can shear cats. I have a friend who grooms, and I've spun some beautiful yarn from cats. Of course, you can't spin fiber from regular domestic shorthair cats. But some long haired breeds make beautiful yarn.
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Re: angora rabbits
Sat, May 19, 2007 - 8:50 AMi am about to make this addition into our clan as well...One thing i have been told to do also... is to make sure they are not out on grass or that they are not exposed to burrs and grasses underneath their hutches.Veranda bunnies purrhaps.this is because it just becomes a complete mess if you want to use their fiber.And it will make the hair useless.This freaked me at first cause i am sure they would love to roam free on the odd occasion..Also have been told not to mix them as they not like other bunnies.I am not sure about any of this advice as i am on the same venture as you but thought i would share this anyway!My friend actually plucks out the hair like a molting dog sheds so do angora bunnies!!! I cant STAND the way we sheer animals so i had to get round that one!!! I would never tie a bunny up by its paws like a stretched torture.People say they just act dead and go into a kind of shock/hypno thing n it doesnt bother them but i question humans ignorance always....Well...i probably would go into shock too i reckon.Cant struggle against humanity now can we! Its an issue with me...as i AM a felt artist and love wool.But i also love nature and respect all life!I can send you a you tube link if you like- re angora bunnies being sheered like this but i found it quite intense...each to their own hey...
PS....There IS no other fibre quite like bunny angora.Its so soft you cant even feel it sometimes.I loooove it...try wandering round Animal Shows.Thats how i met Angora bunny show fanatics...lol....
cheers -
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Re: angora rabbits
Tue, May 22, 2007 - 9:53 AMSome angoras can be plucked and others can not. Their hair will just keep growing and start matting. I don't know about these videos you saw, but that is not the way I was taught to shear bunnies. We set them on our laps, shear their tops and sides, then turn them on their backs and shear their bellies. They are quite docile animals and don't seem freaked out as long as you are sure about what you are doing and do it quickly. -
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Re: angora rabbits
Tue, May 22, 2007 - 11:04 PMthats so nice to hear...that youtube vid was horrid!!! -
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Re: angora rabbits
Sat, May 26, 2007 - 8:37 PMhow ironic to see this post today! i'm still covered in angora from shearing my two gals today... on my lap. no tying them down., it was tough though, their skin is sooooo stretchy and thin. i did a shitty job. the wool can't be spun, too irregular in legnth. it was my first time, and i couldn't delay cuz it's getting so warm. electric shaver couldn't penetrate the wool. i'd love pointers... oh, and has anyone felted angora? -
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Re: angora rabbits
Sat, May 26, 2007 - 10:05 PMYes, angora felts quite easily and quickly.
Possible shearing tips:
I used regular hair cutting scissors.
I would part the hair along the spine, then part a parallel section that is about a centimeter, and cut the hair about a half centimeter from the skin.
I would work along one side of the body, the the other,
I found that it was best to shear in 30 minute intervals. After 30 minutes the bunnies started getting ansy and it became harder to shear.
I hope that helps and can give more tips if you are interested.
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