My Angora love affair

Willowcot Stud is the Angora stud of Yvonne Hobbs- Fothergill.

My love of Angora rabbits began when I became my grandmother’s apprentice at the age of two. She kept quite a large zoo in her spacious garden comprising birds, fish, reptiles, primates and mammals of all kinds, but the Angora rabbit were the ones that really captivated me. Due to the South African climate she kept them in very large wire cages on the north facing back verandah of her house. I was the only one of her eight grandchildren who was permitted to touch them.

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Cost of buying an angora

Cost of an exhibition angora rabbit

A good English angora rabbit should cost around £30 – £60 if it is for exhibition, however some breeders charge as much as £100. It is up to you if you are prepared to pay this much, but if it is your first rabbit you should think twice about it. If you are looking for an exhibition english angora rabbit also check the breed standards to make sure the rabbit you are looking to buy conforms to the breed standard to be able to show it.

Cost of an angora rabbit for wool or as a pet

Angora rabbits which are only suitable for their wool (i.e.spinning) should cost anything from £15 – £20. Like every breed of animal, not every baby in a litter is going to reach exhibition standard and meet the breed standard but will have excellent coats for spinners.

The importance of nail cutting

Domestic rabbits need their nails clipping regularly. The rabbit is held firmly in the lap and the paw stretched gently out. The nails are clipped one by one. It is important to clip only the clear area at the end of the nail. Clipping the pink area of the nail nearest the foot would be painful for the rabbit, and would cause bleeding. In white rabbits it is easier to identify the correct area for clipping, but in coloured rabbits it can be harder. If in doubt, get an experienced rabbit keeper to show you or ask your vet for help. Some find it easier to clip the nails with the rabbit laid on its back in the lap.

Simon Whincup

Simon Whincup judging at the London Show 2017

Profile of NAC member Simon Whincup

I started in rabbits in 1992 with my first breeds being dwarf and cashmere lops. I carried on to have numerous successes with these breeds. I was lucky enough to have mentors like Bill Webb, Jean Thompson, Maureen and Walter Faint and Jane Bramley. I have also been influenced in the fur and rex fancy by Meg Brown, Judy Le Marchant, Ken and Viv Watts, which in turn has given me a passion for the rare variety section.

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Bourne Stud Angoras

Bourne Stud is the angora stud name for Sally Mays angora’s. Here is a brief profile of how Sally got started as a breeder of Angora rabbits.

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Club Year Book

When you become a member of the National Angora Club (NAC) you will receive the bi-annual  year book. This will contain a range of useful information on keeping angoras, shows for the coming year, details of show winners and contact details for breeders and other NAC members.

Dennis Sutton tribute

Dennis Sutton

1st February 1935 – 28th October 2016

Dennis began his working life as a rural studies teacher and sports coach. He was a Duke of Edinburgh Award assessor, running courses at local youth clubs, and was Chairman of the Yorkshire Schools Athletic Association. He started two rugby clubs at both his schools which are still very successfully in existence today, both now have there own club houses which Dennis was invited to open.

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English Angora rabbit colours

Today the English Angora rabbit is a medium-sized rabbit with an average weight of 6-8 lbs. It is not generally realised that Angora rabbits can be other than white (albino).   In fact there are 15 recognised colours in the club breed standard, though some of the colours are now rare.

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Bigwigs Angora

Luxury Angora yarn, spun from a blend of Bigwigs finest Angora rabbit fibre and a range of supersoft wools

Here at Bigwigs Angora in the Yorkshire Dales, I keep the Continental type Angora (with French and German breeding) and harvest the fibre by hand clipping with scissors every 16 -18 weeks.  Living on a farm, I am fortunate to have an agricultural building especially for the rabbits with runs designed by myself and built by my husband.

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