Monday

My New Angora Bunny

Everyone....meet Sherman.
 
      Never in a million years did I ever think I would own a registered rabbit.  He is my Mother's Day present. (Him and his cage) A bit early yes, but the kids had to get him while they could find him.  It seems there are not very many Angora rabbits for sale in Wisconsin!

     What a tame bunny he is.  Perfect for the grandkids to love on.  But, that's not his main job.  His main job is to produce Angora wool.  Then I would like to learn how to spin yarn.  He will have a wife in just a little bit (she was born on Easter) and we hope to have more Angoras to help produce the wool faster.


I can't describe to you how soft he is.
Sherman before,





....and Sherman after being sheared.
      Don't laugh at my shearing job.  It was done with a scissors which is how I was told to do it.  He will be sheared 3 or 4 times in the year.  He is 40 % German Angora.  Evidently the German Angoras do not shed, so they cannot be plucked and must be sheared.  I'm sure I will get better at it when I'm not so afraid of cutting his skin.  As it was, I almost cut off his tail!!!  A sharp cry from my daughter "that's his tail!" was the only thing that stopped me.

     My daughter and I have already been to the yarn shop and signed up for a spinning class.  We also want to learn how to needle felt as we were told this first shearing of the bunny (Sherman is only 4 months old) is very fine fiber -- harder to spin but perfect for felting.  We have lots to learn yet, but the girls are anxious to knit things from angora -- or at least blends of it. I love my Mother's Day gift!

.....dr momi

Linked To: Homestead Barn Hop #58
Linked To: Sustainable Ways #23

   

24 comments:

Mama Pea said...

I think Sherman is very handsome. Even after shearing. ;o}

TexWisGirl said...

he is a cutie! yikes on the tail!

Anonymous said...

ohhhh! He's adorable! LOVE the name too :)

Indio said...

Rabbits can be so much fun. We got a rescued angora rabbit a few weeks ago so we don't know precisely which breed he is. It seems angora's are too high maintenance so a lot of them get abandoned, if they don't die of wool block first. Ours was neutered by the shelter and is the most adorable bunny. He is almost like a dog because he carries items around with him. When he wants to be brushed he brings the brush over to me. One of our cats is thoroughly thrilled at having another pet that can run as fast she does. While our older cat, can't be bothered. Between the fiber, manure and antics I'm wondering why we waited so long to get a bunny.

dr momi said...

Mama Pa....he is the cutest bunny ever. His color is called "blue". I already told the girls no one is dying this fur...too pretty.

Tex....yikes to almost cutting his tail off is right! That would have been horrible!

Alli....Logan loves him. He was outside playing, when I came out, he had the whole side of the rabbit's pen filled in with dead grass for him to eat :-)

Indio....That's what I forgot in my post...we also want him for the manure!! I understand that rabbit manure does not have to cure. Our big garden needs that extra boost. Rabbits sure do have personalities. Yours sounds like a keeper :-) Thanks for commenting!

odiie said...

We have Angoras also and they are scarce in Minnesota as well. We are currently looking for a doe. We have a German buck and he is the cutest thing. You're right, they don't shed and need to be brushed regularly. We also have French angoras which do shed, so we have only had to shear them once when they got matted. The fiber is wonderful to spin as it doesn't get the debris that mohair and wool collect. It doesn't even have to be carded. I love it. I mix it in with our mohair at times, makes a very soft yarn.
Have fun-if you get some little ones maybe we can get a doe from you? :)

Rae said...

What a cutie! Like a little grey lion!

Jill said...

He is just beautiful! I hope to see more of him.

Chatty Crone said...

Oh my goodness we live in such different worlds - I love mine and I love yours too. A new angora rabbit - spinning - wife - babies - can I say you are amazing? sandie

Susie - Walking Butterfly said...

wow, you are amazing and it looks like you will have a lovely time with such gorgeous mohair!

dr momi said...

Odiie....I might have to pick your brain about the rabbits every little bit :-) Between my daughter and I, we will probably only be keeping about six bunnies,
so-o-o-o, I am sure we could figure out getting you a doe. :-) I'll have t try mixing the mohair with the angora...I bet it is soft!

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

I would love to have a bunny, but our cat has enough problems with the dogs, and I can't put a sweet little rabbit through what she's been through! :-)

I'll also be anxious to see how your hives do--I think it's going to be a 'honey' of a year!! :-)

Sharon said...

Lucky, lucky, lucky! I'm dying to get an angora rabbit. Our neighbor has one that gave birth, but only a few survived. I'm crossing my fingers that they'll let me get one of them. Please keep us updated on how the spinning, felting, shearing, and everything else goes!

Leigh said...

He's lovely! I love angora bunnies (used to have 4). And I don't think your shearing job is bad at all. Looks just like the ones I used to do. :)

Gorges Smythe said...

I'd love to get three sheep for the same purpose, but my wife would never stand for it! ;-)

judy said...

oh,I was so sure I left a comment so I keep coming back to see if it was posted ,maybe it was one of those day where I make a comment get interrupted or another different day when I don't like what I wrote so I DIDN'T PUBLISH IT,NOT TO SELF-" SELF,DON'T EVER LEAVE WITHOUT KNOWING WHY" NOW IN MY WORLD ,YOU WONDER WHERE THE WONDER WENT. MY FIRST COMMENT ,I REMEMBER WAS THAT MY DAUGHTER AND I FOUND THE CUTEST NEEDLE FELT PURSE AT A GARAGE SALE,AND OF COARSE WE BOUGHT IT?

Clint Baker said...

Well hello Sherman! My daughter is wanting a rabbit, among other animals, lol!

dr momi said...

Rae....just like a grey lion! :-) when I first saw him I thought he was HUGE. 3 inches of fluffy fur on him is deceiving :-)

Jill....oh I'll be posting all my fun and mistakes with him/yarn :-)

Chatty Crone....maybe we live in two different paradigms, but all part of the same Body right?? :-)

Recovering Church Lady....it's going to be interesting learning a new skill! I just learned this myself so I must share....mohair is from the Angora goat, chashmere is from the Cashmere goat, and angora is from the Angora rabbit. Who knew??? :-) (no goats in my future - can't handle that winter watering anymore)

dr momi said...

Kim....my husband would be glad to know that I don't think I could handle the bunny in the house :-) And our hunting dog Billy would not "get along" at all :-) ....I have to check the bees today to make sure my queens have been released. #isurehopeso

Sharon....oh I hope you get the bunny! You can bet I'll be posting more on the felting/yarn/more bunnies for sure :-)

Leigh....You are part of my fiber spinning inspiration! Your yarns are so gorgeous. Thanks for the shearing job kudos :-)

Gorges Smythe....think how much easier the bunnies would be to keep! :-)

judy....I never saw your first comment so I bet you didn't publish it! Been there done that myself :-) I'm really kinda getting excited about the needle felting...a whole new craft for me to explore. I bet the purse was cute!

Clint....I never would have thought that a bunny could be so loving. He cuddles up into your neck and just loves being petted. He didn't even mind getting sheared! ....I say get her a bunny :-)

Candy C. said...

How sweet Sherman is! I can't wait to follow along with your spinning and felting adventures, not to mention rabbit raising! :)

Unknown said...

Pretty boy, even after the haircut! What a great gift! I love how you're always learning something new! So many different adventures for you!

Patty said...

Sherman is absolutely wonderful! I'm sure his new do will look better in a week, just like people. :)

Urban Abode said...

You did a fine job on your first bunny shearing! So happy to see Sherman is doing well in his new home:)

dr momi said...

Candy C. ....there's lots of posts coming up :-)

Ronda....lol...some people (i.e. my husband) would say I'm doing too many things. There's just so much to learn! :-)

Patty....you are right, after only a week you can barely tell. He's all smooth again :-)

Urban Abode....Hello! Yes, Sherman is doing great! What a great bunny. He's so tame. The grandkids just love him....and us adults are so anxious to start spinning :-)