Help! I need to decide which Angora Bunny to bring home this week!

[animalpro24]

Can you take all three!? Hahaha! Maybe two? I like the first one but my favorite is the second.

 

[chicken farmer 1997]

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3X

 

[Glenmar]

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Honestly, for wool spinners, people who buy wool and on the show table, the rabbits with white in their coat win more often and bring more money in. REW and brokens have much more dense coats than other angora colors.

Good to know. I showed Holland Lops MANY years ago. I don't remember much. I did have some nice Hollonds though.

 

[debilorrah]

These look too young to me to be able to judge wool density.

 

[m.kitchengirl]

Thanks for all the input folks!

This decision is SO tough. They are all very sweet. The chestnut is the friendliest. But, I know white is easier to dye, and they really are all very personable. I really love something about the coat of the third one. I think it is the light color over top of the blueish (?) color. But, the white one with the eye rings is just adorable. That is the one my sons want me to pick but I don't let them decide these things. I don't get pets for my kids, I get them for me and then we enjoy them as a family after I establish ground rules. Kids just THINK they want a pet, when it is time to start slinging poop and lugging water, they aren't so keen.

The breeder wants me to pick, but maybe if I narrow it down to the 1st and 3rd bunny she'll let me pick when I get there.

I wish I could take them all. I probably will get another down the road, but I like to add VERY VERY slowly so I know that I am giving the best care to every living thing on my property.

The broken blue for sure!!! What angora breed is that?

They are English Angora, who I love for their funny ears when they get older, and they are a nice size when fully grown without being GIGANTIC. I also like the halo the English fiber has compared with the French or German. I have purchased yarn from many local Angora breeders who raise all kinds, and my favorite to work with (usually without me knowing until after I worked something in it) has been the English. But, that is just me, and I am new to spinning, so I am sure I have a ton to learn.

I had a lop bunny as a younger adult and she was great with me but wary of others and somewhat moody... to put it mildly. I have read the males have more even temperaments.

Thanks again for the input, and any other advice you all have is welcome. I have a few days before I have to decide, so I am open to hearing more opinions. The folks here at home only sort of care which way I go...

 

[debilorrah]

I haven't been around english kits before so I was unsure. I knew they weren't french or giants. Google Betty Chu Angoras and you will learn a wealth of information about the breed, caring for it, identifying color, etc. She is THE guru of english angoras.

Be aware that while they are the smallest angora, they require the most grooming. You will need a slicker brush, and wide tooth/fine tooth comb and a tiny fine tooth comb for the ear and facial hair. English do not have to be sheared either. All you have to do is wait for the hair to pull out easily and they are ready for harvest with a base coat of about an inch already there underneath.

Check out my frenches: www.northernwindsranch.com I am always pushing people there because I think my rabbits are gorgeous

I have a pic of our broken blue there, so you can see what yours would end up looking like with some growth on the coat. "Blue" is really just a gun metal gray.

Here is our broken blue from birth to 9 weeks.

http://northernwindsfarm.com/nwr1.html#nineweeks

 

[m.kitchengirl]

Thanks for the link debi! Your bunnies are SO beautiful. I had read about the combs and extra care with English. Maybe I am a glutton for punishment, but it is one of the things that attracted me to them.

I will be pouring over that website like an obsessed lunatic starting...

 

[debilorrah]

m.kitchengirl :

Thanks for the link debi! Your bunnies are SO beautiful. I had read about the combs and extra care with English. Maybe I am a glutton for punishment, but it is one of the things that attracted me to them.

I will be pouring over that website like an obsessed lunatic starting...

I hope you don't mind me asking, but what are they charging for the rabbit? Does it have a pedigree?

You are not a glutton for punishment, though I may be. We current have 8. 3 are for sale, but we have EIGHT!​

 

[m.kitchengirl]

She is asking $65 for them, which seems to be about the going rate around here. She says she can "get" their pedigree.
I am not sure what that means. I have never really researched showing animals. Is there any other reason to get pedigree?

 

[debilorrah]

m.kitchengirl :

She is asking $65 for them, which seems to be about the going rate around here. She says she can "get" their pedigree.
I am not sure what that means. I have never really researched showing animals. Is there any other reason to get pedigree?

Not for your purposes, however if he has a good pedigree, you may be contacted in the future for stud. I have been. But I am keeping my line pure. My own feelings about the pics you posted is that the broken blue has the best stance and it appears the best density. A fluffier coat does not mean good density. Density is hair growth per square inch over the entire body, evenness of coat. That broken blue will give you nice firm wool that will take colors extremely well.

Have you read up on dying wool? It's a process, but so cool to learn and I love flinging the yarn around!!!!