Wonderful video and thanks. French Angoras seem to be a trifecta of harvests. Yarn then eventually pelt and meat. I wouldn't be able to eat them, I think I'd get to attached. They'd probably end up as someone's per before I'd harvest them for meat and pelt though. The Rex on the other hand, all in on the meat and pelt. I heard one farmer say it perfectly in regards to his pigs. Give them great food in a solo pasture and plenty of water and exercise for the growing season and they only have one bad day. Very ethical meat farming. All the pigs had names and were petted and loved on. The last month of their life they were fed treats twice a day in the loading truck. When the time came for the meat harvest they went to the truck very docile. No screaming, electric prods or stress like on big hog farms. Americans are so removed from our meat sources. It's no wonder abuse and poison is rampant in those poor animals. Good on you for your meat rabbits and don't let anyone tell you different.
P.S. I've never plucked a rabbit but I've enjoyed plucking plenty of cast and dogs. They love it too so why should a rabbit be any different? Because their skin is thin? Ridiculous, they feel the discomfort of a shedding more than a cat or dog because of heat intolerance.
I understand that ur using them for their fur but there water they all need bowls with lots of water and lots lots of hay you need to clean there cage every day or they will stink there cages are small they do not belong in cages or hutches only if the hutches are really big but I love the way u treat them when u pluck em u go gentle and the fur is ready just there living habitat is not the best any way I hope you change there habitat for them to be happier and healthier
I love the plucking breeds. My first I needed to sheer but my second is a breed I can pluck. He gets in such a bad mood when he starts shedding but gets really happy after I pluck him. Gotta love all these haters who want to tell you how to take care of your own rabbits. As if they know what's best for these animals they've never taken care of.
Enjoyed the video. Please don't let the haters stop you, you're doing fine. I have had angoras for about 20 years and had up to 24 rabbits at one time. Its a lot of work, but the bunnies are absolutely wonderful to have. I spin, knit and weave the yarn and its in high demand. Some people have rabbits strictly for pets and keep them indoors, that's their thing, and others have them for other uses and that's their thing. Yours seem happy and healthy and that's what counts. I have only 2 at this time bc I moved to a more humid and hotter climate where its more of a challenge. Keeping frozen water bottles and fans on them really help. They're in a carport where they get some sunshine and fresh air, but out of the harsher elements. My friend who was a "fanatic" about hers had a bunny shed with air conditioning and a radio playing. She won blue ribbons everywhere she took them. That's when I got hooked. Good luck!
Found your video because the research about the meat rabbits was kinda disturbing my teen... and, you have meat rabbits too! Seriously, I'm considering keeping meat rabbits and angora rabbits so I can make fabulous yarn. Thanks for the video.
I just got my first french angora a week ago. He's a Black Vienna similar in color to your Miles. His mother literally cleaned one ear off when he was a little kit. I aptly named him Vinny van Gogh. And we survived our first grooming/nail trim session.
hey Lauren. I loved the video. I'm about to get 2 angora baby bunnies to pet. I'll be coming back to see more about angora rabits here so that I can raise the babies well. ❤️❤️❤️
Fascinating! I once tried my hand at spinning sheep's wool; there was an interactive demo at my state fair. This angora fluff looks a lot softer though.
Thank you for the video. When you say once a season do you mean the 4 seasons or do rabbits have different seasons? Winter, summer or like every 6weeks?
Does the fur need to be literally plucked or can it be removed by brushing? ETA: Just saw someone else already asked the same question and you answered! Such interesting and beautiful bunnies!
Nobody worries about sheep wool getting matted, but it gets carded/brushed, and the fuzz gets turned into felt. So could you brush out or card the matted fur before or after removing it? Could you felt it, and would there be a use for that felt?
For everyone in the comments, just fyi: the minimum ethical standard for rabbit enclosures it 2 ft x 4 ft, and they should be able to stand in the cage. Others say thats the absolute bare minimum, and that the *real* minimum should be 4ft x 4ft. We can all have our own opinions, I believe shes trying her best and doing right by her rabbits- and I cant accurately see the size of her cages- so i don’t think i can, nor anyone else who isn’t trained, judge and etc. As long as they get time out of the cage in a clean area, im sure they are perfectly fine. So lets all just look at the pretty bunnies!
I keep French Angoras for spinning, too! My girl Lily is a blue like your dude, and my male Hefty is a REW. Your set-up is perfect, and all your methods are 100% above board ethical. Don't let keyboard "know-it-all" haters (ahem, know-nothings) get to you in any way. Can I ask why there is a low demand for Angora wool on Etsy? Do spinners not care to shop online? Does the general public prefer ready made items over raw fiber? I've been considering expanding my angoras to breed, show at competitions and sell their wool on Etsy, but now I'm not so sure it would be worth the money to invest into it. - Adam's wife
Hi there! I really appreciate you defending me -- it made my night last night! I've been trying to ignore the nasty comments, since all of my rabbitry decisions come from lots of research and talking to renowned breeders. Perhaps saying that there's a low demand for wool is a little too simplistic -- etsy is a black hole. You have to market heavily through Instagram and Facebook to get business, and I just don't have the time for that (I work full time as a Behavior Analyst, fiber arts is a hobby.) It's also expensive compared to buying wool, and definitely a specialty item. So there's a market, i just haven't taken the time or effort to tap into it :) I tend to have more luck selling spun yarn than raw fiber, but I tend to just use my own fiber for my own purposes. I'm in the "all of my friends are having babies" stage of life, so I always have something cute and small to knit!
I read a book on rabbitry from the 70’s and it mentions spun yarn being really the only way to make Angora wool production profitable. The book focused more on small scale home production, with one person working four rabbits as a side gig. For larger herds it did suggest employing child labor as a solution; either your own or perhaps a neighbor’s children, at a rate of $0.25 an hour (dunno what that converts to with inflation).
Can they be kept indoors? How cold is too cold to be kept outdoors? Im thinking of buying just one French or English angora and live in Northern Illinois- it gets bitterly cold in winter.
I'm not sure what the exact temperature threshold is, but angoras LOVE the cold! It's the heat that can kill them. I keep mine outside year round (with weather shelter) and the only thing to worry about is babies.
What my mom did for our rabbits was using their empty feed bags and lined the cage sides that is open and would get hit with wind and worked pretty well. I also live in North Carolina. You can keep rabbits in the house, but you'll have to watch for poop because they go A LOT!
Only concern is the husbandry; is there a reason for this breed to be kept in small enclosures w/out a water bottle more space to move and hay to eat 24/7? I only ask since my friend has 3 and I’ve been informed hutches and cages are way too small to keep them since they need room to move binky and all that rabbit stuff. If it’s due to the fur would it work to make a rabbit room laid with towels/ blankets or tile you just vaccum or sweep the poop out that they don’t need to re-ingest. A gross fact I was also informed of 🥲 I could have lived without that one. Just curious in the husbandry aspect. The plucking for sure if was an issue then boxing, nipping or god forbid screams would have occurred. I love to pluck my friends rabbits as their fur is SO soft a bit allergic to the floof though
Angoras have wool fur everywhere, including all of the joints, thighs, and bellies. The more they move around, the more they rub the fur together, and it felts. I had two French angora does given to me, and they were matted messes. It took me weeks to get them comfortable with me (one was super aggressive due to fear). After I was able to handle them without being attacked, I started combing them a little bit at a time. They learned real quick that they got treats (sunflower seeds) when they were returned to their cage. As to putting cloth or towels down on a floor for them, that's a quick way to a horrible bunny death. They can choke on the fiber that they chewed or have it block their intestines. The only thing worse is to give them treats that include dried corn, which many stores sell.
Are u serious??? Did u see how small the cages were? Mesh cages are a major issue causing cuts and infections. Rabbits need space not small cages with other rabbits. Do u think the rabbits are happy in a small cage?
*You're rabbits are so adorable* BUT one problem those cages & hutches those are way too small for them, I suggest giving them a space, checkout *Lennon the bunny* house make over
My dog get crated fast when he makes a sound I don't wanna. Hear lol. He goes happily and likes crate time but generally when I say hush thata it unless they really wanna go lay down n b locked up till the next walk that day lol
I have 2 English angora ... the male I can pluck but not the female.. I have to cut it off. Still a beautiful wool.. The breeder told me that it was normal for some to not shed regularly.. What do you think about this? Love your video by the way.
Hiya! I'm guessing that deep in that rabbit's pedigree there is some rabbit that isn't an English Angora. For example, German's don't molt at all, and you have to shear them. So if there's a chance that your bun is 1% German, that gene could be manifesting. But again, totally a guess!
The rabbit is adorable! But do you plan to keep Nora in the cage because it's not good for them! A cage or a hutch is not good. Make sure not to give them too many pellets because they should just only be eating hay and the kitchen scraps you mentioned! The rabbits would live best roaming free
@@lauren3266 I agree, but most of the time it's a good choice. Unless a rabbit may have special needs and always needs to be watched yeah or some other reason. Other than that, if the owner rabbit-proofs their house, it shouldn't be a problem
@@beyancaguilme9247 chicken, these are not pet rabbits! Why in the world would she keep her livestock free roaming in her house? Why in the world you recommend it? Go away!
Those PETA vids are the worst. They basically stage rabbit torturing vids to get more donations. I fucking hate that organization; wish they were universally banned. I wish my english was as well-behaved as yours, what a sweet boy.
Seriously get the rabbits bigger enclosures. You could cut out the sides of one cage and join it to another and that would give them more space. They deserve it.
YOU, on the other hand, SHOULD look for those UA-cam vids that show Angoras being plucked in SE Asia. Yes, chicken, ethical your ass. You either simply have no idea what you’re talking about, and are clueless that you are clueless, or you just like harassing nice people who are taking the time to make decent instructional videos.
All rabbits are cute but did I hear you say "these rabbits are meat" You must be living in the dark ages... no need to even go down this road. Leave the poor animals alone and no need for pathetic names to make you feel better for the disgusting business you run All comments to this will go right in my spam.
It's extreamly environmental friendly and sustainable to have a clothing from this.. you have beautiful pets and you have clothes as well..
Thank you for educating us! I had been told any plucking at all was inhumane but now I see it can be done better than how some people do it. Thanks!
Wonderful video and thanks. French Angoras seem to be a trifecta of harvests. Yarn then eventually pelt and meat. I wouldn't be able to eat them, I think I'd get to attached. They'd probably end up as someone's per before I'd harvest them for meat and pelt though. The Rex on the other hand, all in on the meat and pelt. I heard one farmer say it perfectly in regards to his pigs. Give them great food in a solo pasture and plenty of water and exercise for the growing season and they only have one bad day. Very ethical meat farming. All the pigs had names and were petted and loved on. The last month of their life they were fed treats twice a day in the loading truck. When the time came for the meat harvest they went to the truck very docile. No screaming, electric prods or stress like on big hog farms. Americans are so removed from our meat sources. It's no wonder abuse and poison is rampant in those poor animals. Good on you for your meat rabbits and don't let anyone tell you different.
P.S. I've never plucked a rabbit but I've enjoyed plucking plenty of cast and dogs. They love it too so why should a rabbit be any different? Because their skin is thin? Ridiculous, they feel the discomfort of a shedding more than a cat or dog because of heat intolerance.
Rabbit poop is also an amazing fertilizer and a flourishing garden can bring you way more sustenance than eating a rabbit.
I’m high af right now and when you turned the wool into yarn, it blew my damn mind
I understand that ur using them for their fur but there water they all need bowls with lots of water and lots lots of hay you need to clean there cage every day or they will stink there cages are small they do not belong in cages or hutches only if the hutches are really big but I love the way u treat them when u pluck em u go gentle and the fur is ready just there living habitat is not the best any way I hope you change there habitat for them to be happier and healthier
*their
Angoras can’t have water bowls or bedding like hay in their enclosures. It mats their fur
Maybe do a little research before you advise other people on their business?
@@allenbuddy3101 Water bottles can be used instead. There is no excuse for keeping a bun without constant access to clean water.
@@charlenesessionskandl5401 maybe help advise them on why they are wrong instead of this weird statement you made?
I'm getting two fixed males soon I'm so excited. Just to start off. Thank you so much for this video
I love the plucking breeds. My first I needed to sheer but my second is a breed I can pluck. He gets in such a bad mood when he starts shedding but gets really happy after I pluck him. Gotta love all these haters who want to tell you how to take care of your own rabbits. As if they know what's best for these animals they've never taken care of.
Enjoyed the video. Please don't let the haters stop you, you're doing fine. I have had angoras for about 20 years and had up to 24 rabbits at one time. Its a lot of work, but the bunnies are absolutely wonderful to have. I spin, knit and weave the yarn and its in high demand. Some people have rabbits strictly for pets and keep them indoors, that's their thing, and others have them for other uses and that's their thing. Yours seem happy and healthy and that's what counts. I have only 2 at this time bc I moved to a more humid and hotter climate where its more of a challenge. Keeping frozen water bottles and fans on them really help. They're in a carport where they get some sunshine and fresh air, but out of the harsher elements. My friend who was a "fanatic" about hers had a bunny shed with air conditioning and a radio playing. She won blue ribbons everywhere she took them. That's when I got hooked. Good luck!
Found your video because the research about the meat rabbits was kinda disturbing my teen... and, you have meat rabbits too! Seriously, I'm considering keeping meat rabbits and angora rabbits so I can make fabulous yarn. Thanks for the video.
I just got my first french angora a week ago. He's a Black Vienna similar in color to your Miles. His mother literally cleaned one ear off when he was a little kit. I aptly named him Vinny van Gogh. And we survived our first grooming/nail trim session.
hey Lauren. I loved the video. I'm about to get 2 angora baby bunnies to pet. I'll be coming back to see more about angora rabits here so that I can raise the babies well. ❤️❤️❤️
So cute!!
Nice to meet you Lauren. Sounds like a big family.
I'm getting so many asmr tinges from this video. And I never knew that this was done with angora rabbits
Very good video! Thank you! Definitely like the plucking vs shearing
Sooo beautiful!
I got same(French Angora male named him SPADE) he's a big fella always roams freely in our house
With dogs
He's extremely friendly ,calm and
Gentle
It's refreshing to see you handle your bunny so gently. You can tell he was totally okay with you taking his wool!
Great video! Your set up is nice. Would you make a second video showing what using the yarn in a knitting or crochet project looks like?
Thank you! You bet -- I'm not sure when I'll get to it, but I'll keep it on my radar!
I love your bunnies
Thank you for an amazing video
Fascinating! I once tried my hand at spinning sheep's wool; there was an interactive demo at my state fair. This angora fluff looks a lot softer though.
Margot Rosendorn it is much softer! It's also trickier to spin because of that!
So cute☺️
Can you brush instead of plucking?
You sure can! It just takes a lot longer.
nice video, thanks. I would "pluck" my great pyrenees dog, wish I would have kept it now. the fiber looks the same to me
oceanluv88 people do that all the time! They call it “chiengora” (it sounds fancier than “old dog hair.)
How much yarn would you say you get from one rabbit (per yardage), and how often do you harvest?
Thank you for the video. When you say once a season do you mean the 4 seasons or do rabbits have different seasons? Winter, summer or like every 6weeks?
The 4 seasons :)
I dont need a whole lot of wool, just an easy type so: french, satin or german?
wonderful!!
Man I thought I was alone in taking my hobbies too far
Does the fur need to be literally plucked or can it be removed by brushing?
ETA: Just saw someone else already asked the same question and you answered! Such interesting and beautiful bunnies!
looks like my little black boy, Elodin!
Nobody worries about sheep wool getting matted, but it gets carded/brushed, and the fuzz gets turned into felt. So could you brush out or card the matted fur before or after removing it? Could you felt it, and would there be a use for that felt?
For everyone in the comments, just fyi: the minimum ethical standard for rabbit enclosures it 2 ft x 4 ft, and they should be able to stand in the cage. Others say thats the absolute bare minimum, and that the *real* minimum should be 4ft x 4ft.
We can all have our own opinions, I believe shes trying her best and doing right by her rabbits- and I cant accurately see the size of her cages- so i don’t think i can, nor anyone else who isn’t trained, judge and etc. As long as they get time out of the cage in a clean area, im sure they are perfectly fine. So lets all just look at the pretty bunnies!
I loved this video! Seeing you pluck the fiber and immediately spin is was fascinating. I look forward to more videos in the future.
Have you tried a brush that you can specifically brush them with to remove fur? I think that’s a thing
Hi I love from Orem utah!!!!
I keep French Angoras for spinning, too! My girl Lily is a blue like your dude, and my male Hefty is a REW.
Your set-up is perfect, and all your methods are 100% above board ethical. Don't let keyboard "know-it-all" haters (ahem, know-nothings) get to you in any way.
Can I ask why there is a low demand for Angora wool on Etsy? Do spinners not care to shop online? Does the general public prefer ready made items over raw fiber?
I've been considering expanding my angoras to breed, show at competitions and sell their wool on Etsy, but now I'm not so sure it would be worth the money to invest into it.
- Adam's wife
Hi there! I really appreciate you defending me -- it made my night last night! I've been trying to ignore the nasty comments, since all of my rabbitry decisions come from lots of research and talking to renowned breeders. Perhaps saying that there's a low demand for wool is a little too simplistic -- etsy is a black hole. You have to market heavily through Instagram and Facebook to get business, and I just don't have the time for that (I work full time as a Behavior Analyst, fiber arts is a hobby.) It's also expensive compared to buying wool, and definitely a specialty item. So there's a market, i just haven't taken the time or effort to tap into it :) I tend to have more luck selling spun yarn than raw fiber, but I tend to just use my own fiber for my own purposes. I'm in the "all of my friends are having babies" stage of life, so I always have something cute and small to knit!
I read a book on rabbitry from the 70’s and it mentions spun yarn being really the only way to make Angora wool production profitable. The book focused more on small scale home production, with one person working four rabbits as a side gig. For larger herds it did suggest employing child labor as a solution; either your own or perhaps a neighbor’s children, at a rate of $0.25 an hour (dunno what that converts to with inflation).
Where this city?
Can they be kept indoors? How cold is too cold to be kept outdoors? Im thinking of buying just one French or English angora and live in Northern Illinois- it gets bitterly cold in winter.
I'm not sure what the exact temperature threshold is, but angoras LOVE the cold! It's the heat that can kill them. I keep mine outside year round (with weather shelter) and the only thing to worry about is babies.
where in NORTHERN Illinois do you live because I'm also from that area!
What my mom did for our rabbits was using their empty feed bags and lined the cage sides that is open and would get hit with wind and worked pretty well. I also live in North Carolina. You can keep rabbits in the house, but you'll have to watch for poop because they go A LOT!
My friend kept hers outdoors in a hutch in Minnesota and they all died in the winter.
@@ReticulatingSplines_ dang. I'm sorry.... And yeah, I'd bring them in.
What about pelts?
Would you get the same results if you used a brush on him?
Yes, more or less, just slower. I will brush squeamish rabbits that don't like the plucking.
Heartbreaking
But I saw a video and it hurt the rabbit ?
I'm in Provo
Can you felt this ??
Only concern is the husbandry; is there a reason for this breed to be kept in small enclosures w/out a water bottle more space to move and hay to eat 24/7? I only ask since my friend has 3 and I’ve been informed hutches and cages are way too small to keep them since they need room to move binky and all that rabbit stuff. If it’s due to the fur would it work to make a rabbit room laid with towels/ blankets or tile you just vaccum or sweep the poop out that they don’t need to re-ingest. A gross fact I was also informed of 🥲 I could have lived without that one. Just curious in the husbandry aspect.
The plucking for sure if was an issue then boxing, nipping or god forbid screams would have occurred. I love to pluck my friends rabbits as their fur is SO soft a bit allergic to the floof though
Angoras have wool fur everywhere, including all of the joints, thighs, and bellies. The more they move around, the more they rub the fur together, and it felts.
I had two French angora does given to me, and they were matted messes. It took me weeks to get them comfortable with me (one was super aggressive due to fear). After I was able to handle them without being attacked, I started combing them a little bit at a time. They learned real quick that they got treats (sunflower seeds) when they were returned to their cage.
As to putting cloth or towels down on a floor for them, that's a quick way to a horrible bunny death. They can choke on the fiber that they chewed or have it block their intestines. The only thing worse is to give them treats that include dried corn, which many stores sell.
Do you sell it or it’s just for personal use?
Hi! I do sell some, but not very much. I use an etsy shop but the demand is pretty low.
Seeing how well you treat these little guys, I’d be more than happy to buy from your Etsy shop 🙂
Are u serious??? Did u see how small the cages were? Mesh cages are a major issue causing cuts and infections. Rabbits need space not small cages with other rabbits. Do u think the rabbits are happy in a small cage?
*You're rabbits are so adorable* BUT one problem those cages & hutches those are way too small for them, I suggest giving them a space, checkout *Lennon the bunny* house make over
My dog get crated fast when he makes a sound I don't wanna. Hear lol. He goes happily and likes crate time but generally when I say hush thata it unless they really wanna go lay down n b locked up till the next walk that day lol
Why don't you need to card first?
You can if you prefer, but it's very easy to spin without carding it, so why bother! When I blend the angora with other fibers, I often do card.
I have 2 English angora ... the male I can pluck but not the female.. I have to cut it off. Still a beautiful wool.. The breeder told me that it was normal for some to not shed regularly.. What do you think about this? Love your video by the way.
Hiya! I'm guessing that deep in that rabbit's pedigree there is some rabbit that isn't an English Angora. For example, German's don't molt at all, and you have to shear them. So if there's a chance that your bun is 1% German, that gene could be manifesting. But again, totally a guess!
Hi, this is informative vedio I'm interested for angora for wool and need some guidance by you please
Plucking doesn't hurt them? I'm thinking of my hair getting pulled.
From a dog owner perspective: not really. It's like when dog sheds in summertime
A
You had me till you said meat rabbit 😢🐇🐇
Always nice to meet a complete vegetarian. When did you stop eating meat?
The rabbit is adorable! But do you plan to keep Nora in the cage because it's not good for them! A cage or a hutch is not good. Make sure not to give them too many pellets because they should just only be eating hay and the kitchen scraps you mentioned! The rabbits would live best roaming free
Free roam most definitely isn’t the best choice for all rabbits.
@@lauren3266 I agree, but most of the time it's a good choice. Unless a rabbit may have special needs and always needs to be watched yeah or some other reason. Other than that, if the owner rabbit-proofs their house, it shouldn't be a problem
Go away! Don’t mind other people’s business!
@@beyancaguilme9247 chicken, these are not pet rabbits! Why in the world would she keep her livestock free roaming in her house? Why in the world you recommend it? Go away!
Those PETA vids are the worst. They basically stage rabbit torturing vids to get more donations. I fucking hate that organization; wish they were universally banned.
I wish my english was as well-behaved as yours, what a sweet boy.
Seriously get the rabbits bigger enclosures. You could cut out the sides of one cage and join it to another and that would give them more space. They deserve it.
Go away. Please.
Get them bigger cages, please. Like nowwwww. Ethical my ass.
Go away! Don’t mind other people’s business!
YOU, on the other hand, SHOULD look for those UA-cam vids that show Angoras being plucked in SE Asia. Yes, chicken, ethical your ass. You either simply have no idea what you’re talking about, and are clueless that you are clueless, or you just like harassing nice people who are taking the time to make decent instructional videos.
@@charlenesessionskandl5401 It's not ethical to have bunnies that size in cages. Would you like to be caged like that!?
All rabbits are cute but did I hear you say "these rabbits are meat" You must be living in the dark ages... no need to even go down this road. Leave the poor animals alone and no need for pathetic names to make you feel better for the disgusting business you run All comments to this will go right in my spam.