Angora Thread

[CYGChickies]

They shed a lot and I'm convinced you could just brush until they go bald! We took Victoria and Sebastian (Frenchies) to the groomer today for a treat and they brushed them all out, got all the blown hair and undercoat and even used a pet hair vac on Victoria and they were putting out hair like spores all the way home haha.

Don't ever get an Angora if you're not willing to be covered in rabbit hair any time you pick them up. French Angoras are hefty and shed. We personally have longhaired cats so we're used to heavy shedding--and hair is a lot better than chicken poop which I'm all too used to getting on me! I think the way Angora hair is made actually helps a bit to keep them cool. New Zealands are short haired but have such dense thick fur that they overheat VERY easily while Angora fur isnt nearly as dense. Shade and breeze are important in summer; shelter from rain and wind is the big deal in winter. I'm getting power run to the barn and plan to run a shop fan through the barn "breezeway" on really hot afternoons, or just point it out to pull hot air away. The frozen water bottles really do good for us though I swear by those. Even our turkeys got a frozen 2-liter when they were in the raised juvenile hutch.

Anyway, it takes a while to get an ounce of wool from Frenchies but it's easier if you have all white rabbits maybe? Because you can mix wools? We have two different patterns in our French Angoras--tort and broken black--but they're gorgeous! The tort dos has beautiful tan and blue wool while the buck's is silver and white. Just bred them today and can't wait to see what we get in the babies.

CYG

I WISH I had an Angora Buck. I would get rid of all my NZ and replace them! My Rabbitry is new and my start up costs were higher than I expected so I'm not spending any more money for a while especially to replace my perfectly fine NZ Buck.

Too bad you aren't near Southeast Missouri because I'd be happy to trade you Frenchy kits for your NZ does. I love my meaties lol. My NZ have AWESOME personalities, like puppies!

CYG

 

[nerissad]

They shed a lot and I'm convinced you could just brush until they go bald! We took Victoria and Sebastian (Frenchies) to the groomer today for a treat and they brushed them all out, got all the blown hair and undercoat and even used a pet hair vac on Victoria and they were putting out hair like spores all the way home haha.

Don't ever get an Angora if you're not willing to be covered in rabbit hair any time you pick them up. French Angoras are hefty and shed. We personally have longhaired cats so we're used to heavy shedding--and hair is a lot better than chicken poop which I'm all too used to getting on me! I think the way Angora hair is made actually helps a bit to keep them cool. New Zealands are short haired but have such dense thick fur that they overheat VERY easily while Angora fur isnt nearly as dense. Shade and breeze are important in summer; shelter from rain and wind is the big deal in winter. I'm getting power run to the barn and plan to run a shop fan through the barn "breezeway" on really hot afternoons, or just point it out to pull hot air away. The frozen water bottles really do good for us though I swear by those. Even our turkeys got a frozen 2-liter when they were in the raised juvenile hutch.

Anyway, it takes a while to get an ounce of wool from Frenchies but it's easier if you have all white rabbits maybe? Because you can mix wools? We have two different patterns in our French Angoras--tort and broken black--but they're gorgeous! The tort dos has beautiful tan and blue wool while the buck's is silver and white. Just bred them today and can't wait to see what we get in the babies.

CYG

I WISH I had an Angora Buck. I would get rid of all my NZ and replace them! My Rabbitry is new and my start up costs were higher than I expected so I'm not spending any more money for a while especially to replace my perfectly fine NZ Buck.

Too bad you aren't near Southeast Missouri because I'd be happy to trade you Frenchy kits for your NZ does. I love my velvety leagues lol. My NZ have AWESOME personalities, like puppies!

CYG

About the NZ personality, I can confirm it! My NZ buck is the best. I almost wish he were a pet. I'm sure within a week he would be lounging around with my dog all day. So curious and mellow but then silly hyper at times. Not a once have I startled him with my newbie mistakes and even though the previous owners of my NZs were fairly neglectful they have warmed up to daily petting's quicker than the lionheads I was gifted who were previously someone 'pets'. Very interesting. Both my female NZ and a little more easily startled or irritated but still very welcoming to pets, hair ruffling and getting their cages futzed with. My angora female is shy, or maybe she hasn't settled into her home fully yet. She has only been here a month but I'm planning on breeding her for the first time next week. She is very calm about being picked up and groomed but its clear she doesn't like it. I'm trying to pick her up more than is necessary so that she will relax a little more.

 

[CYGChickies]

Keep at her she'll warm up eventually. We had a Dwarf Hotot who hated petting and it took us four months but he doesn't try to crawl inside himself anymore when we're giving him attention necessary maintenance. My NZ came from big farms so I don't believe they got attention so it must be genetics. Our NZW doe Strawberry knows her name and if she's outside she'll come when called to. I never expected a rabbit like that! The buck is a big red NZ and loves affection and attention which he gets a lot of being such a gorgeous representation of his breed--in his and our opinions anyway!

CYG

 

[SarahMelisse]

I agree... I have a 7 month old doe who is just now coming around. Last month she would jump to the back corner of the cage to avoid being pet. But after a month and a half of talking to her, feeding her, and persistence, she is finally running to the door when she hears me come in the shed. Now she will sit at her door and let me pet her for a few minutes before looking for her food. Just don't give up.

 

[craftymama86]

This it the buck we're getting today. Poor baby needs some TLC. Anyways, what color is he considered to be? Isn't he beautiful??? Hehe, He'll be even more beautiful after he's had a good grooming.

 

[CYGChickies]

It appears to be some form or black, judging from the main color. It has feathered ears right? So it has some English in it, but the face seems clean like a French. I guess we'll know better when he's all prettied up! But as far as I can tell he's black.

CYG

 

[nerissad]

It appears to be some form or black, judging from the main color. It has feathered ears right? So it has some English in it, but the face seems clean like a French. I guess we'll know better when he's all prettied up! But as far as I can tell he's black.

CYG

Depending in his weight he could be a German Angora, I believe they can sometimes have ear tufts.

 

[craftymama86]

Here he is after his grooming session for today! He's SO sweet, he didn't move while grooming and was really cooperative.

You can't really tell in the pics but he has a blue tint to him, even the dark areas.

Hehehehe.

 

[SarahMelisse]

Wow he is pretty! What a difference a good grooming can do.

 

[craftymama86]

Here's a question.... Can someone tell how old he is by looking at his... equipment?