Thinking in terms of wool-producing animals for spinning, weaving, and knitting, we first considered sheep. But they sounded like a lot more work and potential problems than we wanted right now. Then we got the idea of Angora rabbits. Gary Lee has had rabbits before, so we aren't totally in the dark on their needs. A trip to southern Indiana to visit some helpful breeders (links at the bottom of this page) got us these four new pets.
The rabbits are English Angoras, the smallest of the recognized Angora wool producing breeds. (Two other "wooly" rabbit breeds, the Jersey Wooly and the Fuzzy Lop, can be smaller but their coat is not as long and dense as the Angora breeds.) They are gentle and friendly, and usually enjoy being handled and combed (an essential activity.) All have pedigrees just like purebred dogs or cats, but these four have various minor disqualifications from being shown. For example, Bigwig has a white spot on his nose that isn't allowed in the show standard. These "faults" do not keep them from being very good pets and producing fine wool, of course.
Pearl is the oldest of the four at three and a half. She's a bit of a grump, and didn't want to have her photo taken. But she does tolerate combing and handling well and has beautiful mature wool. We have already accumulated a bag full for our first spinning experiments. Pearl: Born 5 Jan 1995, sire Mugsy, dam Flower.
Kerrigan is just a year old. She has successfully raised one litter of nine bunnies, so if we decide to breed she will probably be our first "Mom" rabbit. She was sheared just before we picked her up, and that is why her coat looks a bit odd with only two weeks' growth. Kerrigan is fawn colored, with white underneath and around the eyes. Rust Kerrigan: Born 5 Oct 1997, sire Dickie Gene (reg # A220T), dam Wabbit Spice (reg # A602W).
Mr. Blue is about three months old. He looks a bit damp here because it was a hot day and Gary put plastic bottles full of ice into the hutches to help the bunnies cool off. Blue was lying on top of his and is wet from the condensation. Mr. Blue: Born 25 Jun 1998, sire Anfernee (reg # Z418R), dam Steward's Black Diamond.
Bigwig (named for the topknot that nearly hides his eyes here) is chestnut colored and the youngest of the four at just over two months. He was still lonely for his mom and brother at first (they were sharing a cage before we picked him up last month) but seems to be warming to his new home and friends now. Bigwig: Born 26 Jul 1998, sire Clyde, dam Angel (reg # A620W).
For more information about English Angora rabbits:
Bigwig's breeder,
Candy Haenszel, has a nice
web site.
You can also e-mail Pearl's and Mr. Blue's breeder,
Phyllis Musgrave, or
Kerrigan's breeder, Cheryl Ann Rust,
who raises French and Satin Angora rabbits as well.
Other Web Pages of Interest
Angora Rabbit
Technical Manual, from Quarter Bushel Bunnies.
The House Rabbit Society Web Site.
The ShowBunny Web Site.
National Angora Rabbit Breeders Club.
American
Rabbit Breeders Association.
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