Angora

[chandasue]

I'm sorry, I know this is an old post. But I'm contemplating getting an angora or two in the future for wool. How long does it take to get enough wool to work with from one adult? Again, I apologize. I don't know correct terminology at this point, just something I'm tossing around in my head as a smaller alternative to alpaca. LOL

Edit: Disregard my question. I found it on the other thread.

 

[Ninny]

I know this is a fiber thread but sonce its about these bunnys...

How well would the french be at dual purpose meat & fiber?

 

[tortoise]

@ Ninny - I have French Angoras for dual purpose. The meat is great, the wool weights are lower than the other angora breeds, BUT you can improve upon it. My parent generation had wool weight of 1.75 ounce per 3 months. I just did the first real shear on the second generation - 4.25 ounce. And keeping the big meat body too.

I'm very happy with them. I select for a good guard hair coat for low maintenance, wool density, hardiness for hot/cold temperatues, large meaty body, and good temperament. I don't need to comb them out even once a week. I get the wool in good condition and leave it be. Clip or pluck it out every 3 months and that's it. Plucking will keep the guard hair coat intact leaving you with a softer fiber and an easier-to-maintain rabbit. I have had higher maintenance rabbits that I culled out. I don't think it's a good dual purpose, livestock rabbit if I have to mess around with grooming them all constantly.

 

[Tracey]

I've finally spun my first angora wool! Yippee!! I've had French angoras for about a year now , been tucking away the wool waiting till I get my wheel. Well, started with a babes fiber starter wheel, a few lessons on merino and alpaca, and I thought I would give the angora a try. I LOVE it!!! It is so incredibly soft to spin - now for some kool-aid dying fun

 

[Hens and Roos]

Even though this thread is a couple years old.... we have 2 French Angora rabbits- my DS(8) wanted a rabbit for 4-H as his sister has Cali rabbits for 4-H and he thought he should have his own. Now my DD(13) had been wanting Angora rabbits for awhile as she wants to use their fiber for spinning- which we are learning right along with taking care of the Angora rabbits! Given that we only have so much room, I figured that if DS(8) liked the Angora then we were golden...lol. Showed him a picture of a white angora and yep that's what he wanted- luck was with us and we found him a 3 month old buck- now 8 months old- which he named "Jack Frost". Of course my DD thought she needed her own....so she ended up with a fawn colored girl-now 6 months old-named Cashew.

We have been using the fiber we comb off to practice spinning with on a spindle at this point. Both rabbits are pretty good about being combed up and both are very sweet! We have been reading several different books on how to spin.

 

[Mary ann`s Rabbitry]

I spin my angora ... I make scarfs ect out of it.