BREEDING ANGORAS
Breeding Angoras - Its not all fluffy bunnies !
Angoras do not breed like ordinary rabbits .. in fact you wil be lucky if you can get them to breed, so its wonderful to have babies.. of course there are all the pitfalls to try to avoid (if you are an exhibitor you will understand!) from mum eating them from being disturbed or stressed .. then surviving bloat .. then the coats not being good enough quality or matt easily so not showable.. moulting trails and wool in washing lines, talc in smoke alarms and fur lined cobwebs that look like something out of a horror movie !
Wrong colour toenails.. and then a chewed coat .. then daily grooming and hours and hours of finger work and blowing just for maintenance... then pooped bums or wet coats just when they looked perfect the day before.. fur mites appearing and hay seeds taking hours to pick out.. lol.. and if you get all through that, then the show angora is only on the table for a few months and then the coat is clipped off, they go into the breeding pen and fingers crossed you have another one already bred and coming through the ranks... and going thru the same dilemmas...
Of course choosing the right doe and buck is important too .. making sure the colours carried are suitable, checking the pedigree is available to work out this, making sure no surprise colours are going to pop out, not breeding from uncompatable lines, comparing coat texture, length, density, quality of fibre, broadness of head, length of ears, amount of furnishings, percentage of import lines (not too much if used as will be too harsh a coat.. as silky texture is sought amongst the easy care coat we all desire.) .The shape of the round backed snowball not a sit up and beg look, or a table hugging chin. Then the size and weight needs to be of the desired standard.. to name but a few . Oh yes its not a matter of putting one angora to another. Angoras are specialist rabbits bred for their fibre and type, no one will want to buy one that is not of the right quality - pedigree - and colour, or heaven forbid carrying a wet eye, parasites or bad teeth. So do your research, buy from reputable and honest breeders and get that pedigree, to prove its not a cast off pet that's been bred from!
So.. what age to breed angoras ? In my experience the decision is usually down to the rabbits - In normal rabbits small ones are usually bred 6-7 months whilst larger ones 8 - 12 months. In the case of angoras it really is a matter of getting something when you can ...as the older the get the more likely you never will have anything. I now tend to mate at 6 months so first litters are at 7 months to get the maiden practice litter out of the way then if not successful in rearing I mate straight up again for the ideal age of 8 months .. I've been lucky with some early births and have had rabbits never give me anything, or one litter then cross their legs for the rest of their life.. or drop dead before you have a chance to breed them!
Angoras really are a force unto themselves. It used to be a miracle to get any angora kits with problems with fertility.. now you either get a baby boom or nothing when you want it. Its a personal choice at end of day, some will lecture on ages and whether they are ready or not .. but in the wild the rabbits don't have diaries they tell the buck to sod off or move in .. on that note if a doe welcomes a buck make the most of it, you cant force the issue and some wont mate with the ones you choose for them either!
Listen to the rabbit .. they know best and will guide you well. I usually show mine to 5-6 months then they have a few weeks rest or go straight into the breeding programme. - Being an exhibitor I always have to have kits coming along for the next show.. so its fingers crossed and hope they provide - as once shown sometimes they will not breed either after the stress .. so its a matter of treating each one as an individual and praying for some little fluffs, keep back and breed or show whilst you are waiting - but also accept that they may never supply on demand! Its all in the hands of the fluffs !
To be a responsible breeder you need to acknowledge and recognise that there are not many people who have the time and dedication to care for your surplus, so you must be prepared to deal with any excess .. whether that be put in the pot for rabbit stew, given to the local gamekeeper or donated to the local fibre farm. They are not suitable to go into pet shows or sold as pets without giving the demonstrations on how to care for, clip and groom one.. anyone who sells an angora without doing this is putting that rabbits life at risk !
Its an unspoken fact that show litters are even reduced down at birth so that an excess supply is not bred .. if you cannot cater to this, or deal with this, then angora breeding is not for you. It should be left to those who are prepared to ensure they are 'farmed' and controlled correctly. If you do not have space to keep each rabbit you have bred, or cannot dispose of it humanely or care for it, then don't even contemplate breeding ... as it should be done for your own needs - ie fibre or exhibition ..not for financial gain.
The market is flooded with angoras from irresponsible breeders. I have even seen angoras being cross bred with lionheads and even continental giants, being sold by ignorant people who do not realise not only are they jeopardising the future of the show angora... as they are taking custom away from exhibitors (who have to breed and have quality rabbits needing homes, which will be destroyed if pet ones are bred.) Not only this, but they are putting the other breed of rabbit at risk.. as the angoras wool will grow amongst the fur causing difficulties to groom and overheating.
Its taken years of hard work to get the angora breed to the quality it is - I aim to educate on this site to help raise awareness of the pros and cons of owning an angora.. its not easy !! So being a newcomer myself and having made many mistakes along the way, which I intend to share so they are not repeated .. I also hope to give advice how to care for those which may be suffering, .. in a way that is easy to understand .. and to give some time for the owners to seek advice and support from persons way more experienced than myself. What I write is my opinion but written from experience and facts .. If you have done your research then you will not be shocked by anything written here.. . all the facts are out there .. and as a responsible breeder I'm doing my part in ensuring that the knowledge is shared so the perfect angora can thrive.. in its full glory.
It is a horrid thing to read that angoras are culled where necessary - but better the rabbit is controlled, than be sent out into the public domain to be stressed and suffer from lack of correct care, stifled from being over heated, matted from lack of clipping and restricted movement from the coat webbing its legs together.. they are not just fluffy pretty things - it is a responsibility to own and care for one and is not a child's pet ! Its an even greater responsibility to breed and ensure that all the hard work from years gone by to breed the correct type is maintained. I have spent a lot of time trying to find the right lines to breed my colours true.. it was hard work as many had not bred true to true colours and this is why colours have become more uncommon and of a lesser quality. I intended to bring those colours back and document how I did it by ensuring every rabbit I bred had its pedigree filled in to the best of my research and knowledge. I just hope that new owners seek out the best angora possible.. I made mine readily available for the public to own and learn about.. as I rather mine were purchased, than the crossbreds and cast offs increasing in numbers and the true angora getting lost in amongst the masses of uncontrolled fluff !
On a positive note .. a well cared for, well bred, exhibition and fibre angora is one of the most beautiful rabbits you could care to own .. the temperament is excellent .. personality will make you smile. Being an all round rabbit, as well as suitable to use its fibre for clothes and crafts makes it a sought after rabbit for those interested in self sufficiency and home crafting. They may be the most difficult rabbit to care for .. but they give back so much and once you have the angora bug - one is never enough - they are addictive!
If you are going to breed .. be prepared for the pros and cons.. knowledge is the key !
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING RARE / UNSTANDARDISED BRED ANGORAS
These lines must be contained and all breeding recorded and documented .. not be bred with other colours or lines by inexperienced persons, due to the damage that can be done. Patterned angoras are exhibition quality pure bred English Angoras but unstandardised along with steel, himi and vienna marked. Please note patterned angoras are a by product of blue eyed white gene breeding. Standardised colours bred from these colours can be shown. Exhibition rabbits have carried these genes for many years, due to the use of imported stock being used. I have traced, isolated and documented, to offer pedigrees with a reference back to lines that carry vienna. It is imperative you ask for / supply a five generation pedigree when buying / selling angoras in the UK.. and continue to pass these details on, to help protect others lines and colours.
Angoras do not breed like ordinary rabbits .. in fact you wil be lucky if you can get them to breed, so its wonderful to have babies.. of course there are all the pitfalls to try to avoid (if you are an exhibitor you will understand!) from mum eating them from being disturbed or stressed .. then surviving bloat .. then the coats not being good enough quality or matt easily so not showable.. moulting trails and wool in washing lines, talc in smoke alarms and fur lined cobwebs that look like something out of a horror movie !
Wrong colour toenails.. and then a chewed coat .. then daily grooming and hours and hours of finger work and blowing just for maintenance... then pooped bums or wet coats just when they looked perfect the day before.. fur mites appearing and hay seeds taking hours to pick out.. lol.. and if you get all through that, then the show angora is only on the table for a few months and then the coat is clipped off, they go into the breeding pen and fingers crossed you have another one already bred and coming through the ranks... and going thru the same dilemmas...
Of course choosing the right doe and buck is important too .. making sure the colours carried are suitable, checking the pedigree is available to work out this, making sure no surprise colours are going to pop out, not breeding from uncompatable lines, comparing coat texture, length, density, quality of fibre, broadness of head, length of ears, amount of furnishings, percentage of import lines (not too much if used as will be too harsh a coat.. as silky texture is sought amongst the easy care coat we all desire.) .The shape of the round backed snowball not a sit up and beg look, or a table hugging chin. Then the size and weight needs to be of the desired standard.. to name but a few . Oh yes its not a matter of putting one angora to another. Angoras are specialist rabbits bred for their fibre and type, no one will want to buy one that is not of the right quality - pedigree - and colour, or heaven forbid carrying a wet eye, parasites or bad teeth. So do your research, buy from reputable and honest breeders and get that pedigree, to prove its not a cast off pet that's been bred from!
So.. what age to breed angoras ? In my experience the decision is usually down to the rabbits - In normal rabbits small ones are usually bred 6-7 months whilst larger ones 8 - 12 months. In the case of angoras it really is a matter of getting something when you can ...as the older the get the more likely you never will have anything. I now tend to mate at 6 months so first litters are at 7 months to get the maiden practice litter out of the way then if not successful in rearing I mate straight up again for the ideal age of 8 months .. I've been lucky with some early births and have had rabbits never give me anything, or one litter then cross their legs for the rest of their life.. or drop dead before you have a chance to breed them!
Angoras really are a force unto themselves. It used to be a miracle to get any angora kits with problems with fertility.. now you either get a baby boom or nothing when you want it. Its a personal choice at end of day, some will lecture on ages and whether they are ready or not .. but in the wild the rabbits don't have diaries they tell the buck to sod off or move in .. on that note if a doe welcomes a buck make the most of it, you cant force the issue and some wont mate with the ones you choose for them either!
Listen to the rabbit .. they know best and will guide you well. I usually show mine to 5-6 months then they have a few weeks rest or go straight into the breeding programme. - Being an exhibitor I always have to have kits coming along for the next show.. so its fingers crossed and hope they provide - as once shown sometimes they will not breed either after the stress .. so its a matter of treating each one as an individual and praying for some little fluffs, keep back and breed or show whilst you are waiting - but also accept that they may never supply on demand! Its all in the hands of the fluffs !
To be a responsible breeder you need to acknowledge and recognise that there are not many people who have the time and dedication to care for your surplus, so you must be prepared to deal with any excess .. whether that be put in the pot for rabbit stew, given to the local gamekeeper or donated to the local fibre farm. They are not suitable to go into pet shows or sold as pets without giving the demonstrations on how to care for, clip and groom one.. anyone who sells an angora without doing this is putting that rabbits life at risk !
Its an unspoken fact that show litters are even reduced down at birth so that an excess supply is not bred .. if you cannot cater to this, or deal with this, then angora breeding is not for you. It should be left to those who are prepared to ensure they are 'farmed' and controlled correctly. If you do not have space to keep each rabbit you have bred, or cannot dispose of it humanely or care for it, then don't even contemplate breeding ... as it should be done for your own needs - ie fibre or exhibition ..not for financial gain.
The market is flooded with angoras from irresponsible breeders. I have even seen angoras being cross bred with lionheads and even continental giants, being sold by ignorant people who do not realise not only are they jeopardising the future of the show angora... as they are taking custom away from exhibitors (who have to breed and have quality rabbits needing homes, which will be destroyed if pet ones are bred.) Not only this, but they are putting the other breed of rabbit at risk.. as the angoras wool will grow amongst the fur causing difficulties to groom and overheating.
Its taken years of hard work to get the angora breed to the quality it is - I aim to educate on this site to help raise awareness of the pros and cons of owning an angora.. its not easy !! So being a newcomer myself and having made many mistakes along the way, which I intend to share so they are not repeated .. I also hope to give advice how to care for those which may be suffering, .. in a way that is easy to understand .. and to give some time for the owners to seek advice and support from persons way more experienced than myself. What I write is my opinion but written from experience and facts .. If you have done your research then you will not be shocked by anything written here.. . all the facts are out there .. and as a responsible breeder I'm doing my part in ensuring that the knowledge is shared so the perfect angora can thrive.. in its full glory.
It is a horrid thing to read that angoras are culled where necessary - but better the rabbit is controlled, than be sent out into the public domain to be stressed and suffer from lack of correct care, stifled from being over heated, matted from lack of clipping and restricted movement from the coat webbing its legs together.. they are not just fluffy pretty things - it is a responsibility to own and care for one and is not a child's pet ! Its an even greater responsibility to breed and ensure that all the hard work from years gone by to breed the correct type is maintained. I have spent a lot of time trying to find the right lines to breed my colours true.. it was hard work as many had not bred true to true colours and this is why colours have become more uncommon and of a lesser quality. I intended to bring those colours back and document how I did it by ensuring every rabbit I bred had its pedigree filled in to the best of my research and knowledge. I just hope that new owners seek out the best angora possible.. I made mine readily available for the public to own and learn about.. as I rather mine were purchased, than the crossbreds and cast offs increasing in numbers and the true angora getting lost in amongst the masses of uncontrolled fluff !
On a positive note .. a well cared for, well bred, exhibition and fibre angora is one of the most beautiful rabbits you could care to own .. the temperament is excellent .. personality will make you smile. Being an all round rabbit, as well as suitable to use its fibre for clothes and crafts makes it a sought after rabbit for those interested in self sufficiency and home crafting. They may be the most difficult rabbit to care for .. but they give back so much and once you have the angora bug - one is never enough - they are addictive!
If you are going to breed .. be prepared for the pros and cons.. knowledge is the key !
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING RARE / UNSTANDARDISED BRED ANGORAS
These lines must be contained and all breeding recorded and documented .. not be bred with other colours or lines by inexperienced persons, due to the damage that can be done. Patterned angoras are exhibition quality pure bred English Angoras but unstandardised along with steel, himi and vienna marked. Please note patterned angoras are a by product of blue eyed white gene breeding. Standardised colours bred from these colours can be shown. Exhibition rabbits have carried these genes for many years, due to the use of imported stock being used. I have traced, isolated and documented, to offer pedigrees with a reference back to lines that carry vienna. It is imperative you ask for / supply a five generation pedigree when buying / selling angoras in the UK.. and continue to pass these details on, to help protect others lines and colours.