Do not buy a very young rabbit.

Baby rabbits are adorable, but the British Rabbit Council rules are that young rabbits should not be rehomed until at least 10 weeks of age. This reduces the risk of stress and serious digestive disorders.

Be cautious

Start small! Buy one rabbit and learn how to manage its coat. If you would like two rabbits, get your first rabbit vaccinated and neutered. Then choose a rabbit of the opposite sex, get the rabbit vaccinated and neutered and introduce slowly and carefully. Remember, if one Angora’s coat is enough for you to manage, your Angora can be bonded with a short haired rabbit of similar size. These two sisters are not bonded. They are not neutered, and will start fighting at 3-5 months old if they are not separated. Two littermates bought together at 10 weeks old are not a bonded pair!

Resist temptation

Don’t take on too many rabbits when you first start out. Angoras take time to look after and groom, and it is sad to see so many offered for rehoming when they are 1-2 years old. Be prepared to wait for the right rabbit and the right breeder. Good breeders do not have rabbits stacked up on shelves ready for next day purchase!

Choosing a breeder

This is as important as choosing a rabbit! The National Angora Club can advise on reputable breeders. Ideally the breeder should be within an easy distance, so you can pick up your rabbit, and will offer a clipping and grooming lesson when you do so. Good breeders offer after sales support. Whether you want an exhibition Angora, a pet or a spinning rabbit, you need a rabbit bred for a good quality coat that does not mat excessively. For welfare reasons the Club recommend the traditional Angora, with no long wool around the eyes. The rabbits above all have clear faces allowing them to see, and reducing the risk of eye irritation.

Do you wish to exhibit?

Buy a British Rabbit Council ringed rabbit from a National Angora Club member. The rabbit should be of a recognised standard colour, with no Vienna markings, and have no long wool around the eyes. “Full face” Angoras from imported lines have a disadvantage on the show bench. Their long wool around the eyes is a fault for welfare reasons. Rabbits cannot be ringed after purchase. A ring needs to be slipped on to a back leg when the rabbit is between 6-8 weeks old. The breeder will give you a ring transfer form. You can then register the ring under your own name after joining the British Rabbit Council.

Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate!

So many times we hear of the sudden deaths of unvaccinated baby rabbits and their owners’ heartbreak. Whether your rabbits are indoor or outdoor, they are at risk of rabbit haemorrhagic disease, variants 2 and 1, (RHDV2 & 1) and the older virus, myxomatosis. Do not delay vaccinating your rabbits. Many breeders will arrange vaccination for you, so that your youngsters are safe. Vaccines are expensive and the breeder will add this to the cost of the rabbit. Babies can be vaccinated from the age of 5 weeks with the triple vaccine. This takes 3 weeks to give immunity. Do not wait until after neutering. Vaccinate first!

Thanks for the picture Dee Millen. With Edwin, who won, Best Fancy at the Sussex Coast Show and second to Best Fancy Fun Show and Medway Towns Show. Thanks to Orrey Pike who bred him. My buck is his Grandad.

Our stock show this year for the National Angora Club was on the 12th of May and it was held at Wootten Bassett Hall Swindon. We had 7 exhibits in all. Not a huge level of entries but they were all of excellent quality. Our Stock show was Judge Mrs Pauline Griffiths and our main show judge was Derek Medlock. A big thank you to all who entered as well as all of those involved in the show.

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Summer is here and the National Angora Club are attending three craft festivals, along with our Angora rabbits. Do come and see us to talk about the rabbits, and see what can be made from Angora fleece. All our wool is from our English Angora rabbits, cared for in Britain. We obtain the wool ethically by shearing. We give spindle spinning lessons on the stand, with no booking, fee or purchase needed. For those that don’t spin, we have Angora and wool blended yarn for sale.

The Cumbrian Wool Gathering, at the edge of the Lake District, is the first of our Craft Festivals. This is held at J36 Rural Auction Centre, Milnthorpe, Cumbria LA7 7FP. Tickets are sold IN ADVANCE, although if not sold out on line may be available on the door from midday.

There will be Angora fleece for spinning and felting, Angora/wool blended yarns and books about rabbits for sale, along with our drop spindles. You can see two Angora rabbits in travel hutches and attend informal spinning, carding and combing demonstrations. Just ask!

One week later we will be at Wool@J13 near Stafford, a smaller and particularly friendly craft festival. Here exhibitors get spoilt, being looked after by a dedicated team of volunteers! A lovely green site for street food, relaxation and (hopefully) sun, with marquees and gazebos full of all sorts of fibrey good things. For more information visit their website https://wool-j13.uk

The Summer Wool Festival in Bedford is our last Craft festival. More details will follow!

We hope to see you at one or more events. Don’t forget to come up and say hello, even if we look busy. We love talking about rabbits, whatever the breed!

For more information visit their website: https://wonderwoolwales.co.uk/

Dates: 27th and 28th of April 2024 at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells LD2 3SY

Times: Saturday 10am – 5:30pm, Sunday 10am – 4:30pm

Photos from the weekend

Meet Coco, a Chocolate Angora Rabbit who is around 12 weeks old and the daughter of Jirachiri and Lin Chung who was reared by a Dwarf lop.

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