Satin angora rabbits?

[wiseleyd]

 I don’t know if I have mentioned it, but I am a handspinner. I just got my latest issue of Spinoff and it had a page featuring satin angora fiber. I googled satin angora rabbits and oh my they are adorable!!! Now, I want one! TALK ME DOWN Binkybunny readers, talk me down! 

[Deleted User]

I can’t talk you out of it as I think they are gorgeous. They are sometimes on Petfinder, too, as people get them initially for looks but aren’t prepared for the work involved in caring for their fiber.

[Karla]

They are so beautiful! If you get one, you better post a million pictures or I will be very upset.

I think it would be so great to have one of those rabbits and then actually use their fur. You should get one – like right now

[lwayne]

They just require lots of work: like grooming at minimum once a day, probably 3x+ a day if you want fiber to stay nice.

[Elrohwen]

I think that would be so cool! I would absolutely get one if you’re going to use the wool. You’ll get a nice bunny plus wool for projects. I think it would be great. Sorry I’m enabling 😛

[Deleted User]

What equipment do you use, how much did it cost? I saw a spinning wheel at a wool exposition but it was $500.

[Monkeybun]

A friend of mine does alot of spinning, gonna get the wool from all the RA angoras for her that is never used

[wiseleyd]

I have a hundred million spindles and a Majacraft Rose wheel. Wheels are really expensive, but spindles are not and a are a lot of fun to use. I spin a lot!

Ummm, talking me down???? I understand the grooming requirements, I would have to groom the bunny to get the desired fiber!

It is really hard to find the fiber AND the bunnies!! I already checked on petfinder.

[angelicvampyre]

Commerically to get the fiber/wool off the bunny they do kill the animal I guess if it is you bunny you could shave it like a sheep however

[lwayne]

I’m sure you can get plenty with just grooming (heck I feel like I have enough to spin with a rex!).. although you might need to get two bunnies or so so you have enough to spin… (sorry for the enabling).

[Deleted User]

They do not kill wool rabbits for the fiber. Only for pelts they have to die. It makes no sense to kill a wooly rabbit because they keep producing fiber well into old age. Angora fiber is harvested off the rabbits by brushing as well as shearing.

[jerseygirl]

Agreed ^. I understood that they are shorn to get the wool. Also that this is a good thing for the rabbits also, as the coat can get very warm and matted etc if left.

Mellowzmum, fat chance us talking you down! lol. Heck, well probably even help you find one. If you can afford another bun and the time for the upkeep, say go for it. I think it’d be neat to source the wool from your own rabbits. Least you know wool is coming from ones that are well cared for.

[angelicvampyre]

Really? Oh i will have to tell some people that. A friend got me some rabbit fur gloves which where really nice but my veggie and vegan friends said that there is no rabbit that they sear the fur from but all rabbits are killed so I got my friend to return the gloves which is sad cause they where orange and everything!

[wiseleyd]

Angelica, I have bad news about the gloves… I think they use pelts to line them. Angora rabbits produce a fluffy, super soft, warm wool that is best brushed or “plucked” off during molting. No harm to the rabbit!! They need it or their fur becomes matted and painful. Angora fur is used in combination with sheeps wool, (again, just shorn), to make sweaters, socks, gloves… If your friends gloves were knitted, they were ok, if they were leather and lined, not ok. When I first learned to spin, there was a lady at the class with her house rabbit on her lap plucking fur and spinning at the same time!!! I was quite impressed. Satin angora is really shiny and beautiful.

I am really hesitating about getting any other rabbit because Mellow’s nose is runny again. He is on a combo of two antibiotics that he despises. Until this clears u for quite awhile, I am going to have to purchase my fiber. I can just see myself now getting my bunny and fiber fixes simultaneously… I can afford another rabbit, but Mellow has to get better!

[Lintini]

Lol @ “you may need 2 bunnies to get enough wool”

Make it 5!!!

[angelicvampyre]

There where knitted ones so I think they would have been safe but I had no clue that you could pluck/shear a rabbit. Learn something new everyday.

[wiseleyd]

 OMG 5!! That is so funny. The bunnies produce really small amounts of fiber, although it seems like a lot when it is floating all over the housse!

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