Raising Angora Bunnies

Angora rabbits are usually raised for two purposes: as a pet or as a source of Angora wool. Angora rabbits, which can be English, French, satin, German or giant, naturally shed their fur several times per year and provide a source of wool that can be spun into sweaters and other garments. Angora rabbits, for the most part, are a low-maintenance pet that can be kept in a roomy cage for its entire life, which is generally from about five to seven years. Proper feeding and grooming are the keys to raising healthy Angora rabbits.

  1. Rabbit Cage

    • Cages for your Angora rabbits, whether indoors or outside, should allow them to have plenty of room to move around. Outdoor cages should be placed well above the ground without easy access by predators, such as dogs or, if you live on the outskirts of town, wolves, foxes or coyotes. A typical wire cage for a rabbit (preferably with a removable plywood floor or plastic drop pan placed underneath the wire bottom) should be about 3 feet wide and deep and about 18 inches high. If you are planning to have two rabbits (generally not recommended unless litter-mates) in the cage, allow an additional foot of width and depth for the cage. Clean the cage at least every other day, more so if the cage is indoors due to the smell.

    Food and Water

    • Angora rabbits eat mostly protein pellets and hay. The pellets are important to help the rabbit's coat stay healthy. Between three-quarters and 1 cup of rabbit pellet feed is sufficient enough for your Angora rabbit. To promote evacuation and prevent wool block (which can occur from ingesting their own fur), add a small amount of hay or alfalfa to their diet. For treats, an old standby is carrots. Angora rabbits also will eat fresh apples and bananas, corn and many dried fruits. Don't give them too much as they can develop diarrhea if they stray too far from the pellet/hay diet intake. Fresh water should be provided in a bowl daily or in a bottle which should be change twice per week.. Add a small amount of vitamins, such as papaya tablets, to the water

    Grooming Hints

    • Use a wire slicker brush, which is designed to remove clumps or mats in fur, on your Angora rabbits coat once or twice per week. A detangling comb can come in handy as well. Brushing will reduce the chance of the rabbit developing wool block and will make the fur much healthier when it comes time to harvest. You can also use a pet blower, which can be used to fluff your rabbit's fur and remove any excess dander.

    Fur Harvesting

    • An Angora rabbit will first shed its fur between 6 months and 1 year of age. From then on, it will shed three to four times per year, usually around the change of the seasons. It will become apparent that the rabbit is shedding when you pull large clumps of fur from the rabbit when brushing. The rabbit should be trimmed using electric pet grooming clippers with the blade set to the highest setting. The fur will grow back quickly. You can also hand pull the fur from the rabbit, but this process is time consuming and can lead to an unevenness to the Angora rabbit's coat.

    Health Concerns

    • Angora rabbits are generally very healthy and don't have many health concerns. Outdoor rabbits are susceptible to pests, such as fleas and ticks, which can be dealt with in the same manner as you would with any house pet. Other common ailments that rabbits have include mange, respiratory issues and eye problems, Have your rabbits examined by a veterinarian at least once per year. Keep any sick rabbits isolated from your healthy rabbits top prevent the spread of any disease.