Our rabbits are German Rottweiler rabbits (from the same town as the dog), originally from the Pyrenees mountains. They were domesticated and bred as a hybrid over 200 years ago by the Germans.
They have a life expectancy of approximately 7-8 years.
A fertile doe will produce approximately 3-4 litters in her lifetime, with an average of 6 kittens in each litter. The gestation period is 1 month, the kittens will be weaned at 1 month old, and shorn for the first time at 3 months old.
The fibre from the first shearing is too fine to be used for spinning, so it is kept to line the nest of a doe due to kit, and changed daily for babies.
The does only come into heat once they have been shorn, and there is only a 48 hour window in which to breed.
Does are shorn every 3 months and bucks every 2 months. The bucks fibre is not kept due to their strong scent. Each shearing will produce approximately 200 - 300 grams of fibre.
Angora is a hollow fibre which traps air making it 8 times warmer than wool and has no oil in it.
Our rabbits are housed in sheds, and fed on oat/barley pellets, and lucerne chaff. |
