Angora Rabbits

The Angora rabbit breed originated in Turkey and is bred for its silky warm fiber. There are five types of Angoras: English, French, Satin, Giant and German. The smallest is the English and averages five pounds. The Giants can grow to the size of a small dog, about nine pounds. Angoras are well behaved and very docile, making them wonderful pets. They are known as “urban sheep” because many people raise them in big cities in homes. Angora fiber is one of the softest and warmest in the world! It is seven times warmer than wool and is used to make winter clothes like socks, hats and mittens.

A common fallacy is that the Angora must be killed to harvest the fiber. Obtaining the fur is as easy as plucking or combing the bunny. Shearing is another accepted method. The rabbits require grooming on a regular basis to keep them from getting “wool block.” This is caused from an accumulation of fur in their stomachs and can be deadly to the rabbit. With good care and grooming these rabbits usually live on average from 5 to 7 years.