Around the Urban Homestead
I had a surprise chore this weekend, because I saw the trailing rope of hair on the German Angora that signaled she was ready to be shorn. There was a lot of research I needed to do before I was ready to get started on harvesting my rabbits, but they set the time table here not me. So once again I am learning something new by fumbling my way though it.
So my goal for today was just getting hair off the bunny without her clawing me to death. I succeeded there at least. I got the hang of handling her and rolling her on her side to keep her calm. Putting my hands on her ears to stop her when she got impatient with me. Holding the hair down and sliding my scissors under small rows to cut close. I think by the end I was doing all right. I’m sure the fiber isn’t perfect, but since one of my next projects will be to learn to spin I now have a bag to practice with.
I knew from the breeder that I’d need to cover her to keep her warm. Luckily this old sweater arm was just the right size. I’ve left the fur on around her bottom and shoulders since she lives in an unheated sunroom and it’s snowing out. I’ll just trim around her bottom so gross things don’t get caught down there. I like how it leaves her looking like a slinky dog.
First of all, that bunny is so darn cute and even cuter with the sweater. I’m sure it will get easier for you to shear her, as time goes on. I can’t wait to see what you will be doing with the hair. It looks so soft.
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Omigosh, that is hilarious looking.
I’m very interested in learning to spin myself – someday we plan on goats and might add a pretty furred goat to the herd if i can figure out how to make it profitable. never thought of a rabbit!
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So, I just found your site, and I absolutely cannot handle how adorable your angora rabbit is! Is the upkeep very difficult with them? I have a tiny Pomeranian/chihuahua mix dog who weighs seven pounds, and as rabbits weigh around the same amount, I was thinking of getting an angora rabbit as a buddy for him (and as a compost augmenter/dare-to-dream yarn producer…or rather, the poop would be the compost, not the rabbit…well, you probably understand). I’ll have to look around your site for more posts on the bunny, but if you wouldn’t mind letting me know, would you say they require more or less upkeep than a long-haired dog?
Thanks,
Heather
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viggie Reply:
March 1st, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Well, I’m glad I have my bunnies. But they are expensive to buy and more work than any other critter I’ve had. They aren’t small like your average pet rabbit. They are stocky creatures under all the fur so imposing to my cats. The fur makes them easily twice as big looking, and they are close to 2 feet long.
They are fed rabbit feed from Farm & Fleet twice a day and watered. They need their cages cleaned every other day or so. Mine are in an outdoor room, so in winter it’s all frozen and smell free and I let it go a bit longer. They should be given hay (they like timothy best). I’ve heard everything from weekly to daily. I do weekly, and bi-weekly when they are near shearing and shedding more. They are a messy with their hay so it ends up scattered on the floor. They should be brushed at least once a week. Shearing is every 3-4 months and is a bit of an ordeal since it’s done with little craft scissors and bunnies need to be rolled around and turned upside down in the process.
I know people who let their rabbits roam free, but they were never able to litter train them and it was a pretty gross situation. They also gnawed incessantly on floor boards and furniture legs. Mine stay in their hutches and come out for regular romps around the room for an hour or so at a time. I plan to build them a chicken tractor so they can bounce around outside when the snow is off the ground. But angoras fur is soooo warm they can’t handle summer heat.
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Oh! So wonderful ….What a cutie! I’m sure she’ll stay nice and cosy in her little sweater sleeve
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