Maple Goes Home

We found someone who was interested in buying a French angora rabbit for her daughter's birthday.  After several emails back and forth to arrange a time, we settled on Friday afternoon. 

She came by, and we already had Maple out in the living room running around.  My mom printed up an information sheet. We talked about grooming and combs to use.  We talked about transitioning feed and the kind of hay to buy and where to get it.  I showed how to trim nails.  And we talked about 4-H, and that the meetings are only once a month, ten times a year.  I am hoping her daughter will come.  People will see that it really isn't difficult to care for French angoras.  It will also be nice to have more French angora rabbits at the shows.  We talked about the shows and how we learn something new every time. 

Then we showed her some of our kits.  She wished she'd brought her daughter to see and learn.  Today we got an email from her.  Her daughter is so excited to have Maple.  If they send us a picture we will put it up here for you to see. 

Maple in his new home

I know Maple will be so happy in his new home. He will get lots and lots of love. 

Plucking Day

We try to delay plucking time until after big shows, because wool counts for 55% of a rabbit’s score in judging.  But when new wool is coming in, it is time to start plucking, or it will be soon.  If rabbits aren’t regularly plucked and groomed, they can get wool block.

Plucking is pulling out the rabbits’ loose wool.  It doesn’t hurt them.  However, make sure not to over pluck.  It is possible to make them bald (we did that with Ninja).  We do it outside when it is not windy, because Dad and my brothers complain about wool on their clothes if we do it inside.

Maple and Stanley got plucked yesterday.  They are a little over 4.5 months old right now—the average age of the first plucking.  Maple yielded .6 ounces of wool and he probably still needs to be plucked a little more.

Stanley, before plucking

Maple, before plucking

Maple, after plucking

A New Blower

We decided to get a blower because we found out that it made the rabbits fluffier so that they do better at shows.  It makes them fluffier because the blower will only blow out little mats and tangles.  The comb will pull out wool that doesn’t need to come out yet.  

My mom didn’t think a blower would make much difference.  But at the Stockton show we watched Julie use it on her rabbits. We were surprised to see the tangles and mats blow steadily out.  

We didn’t get the same blower that the adult angora breeders use.  What they use is larger and more expensive.  We also decided it was a little quieter than what we got.  We got the Quick Draw Portable Pet Dryer by Metro Air Force pictured below.

Metro Air Force Quick Draw Portable Pet Dryer

Maple and Stanley did not like the blower.  It was hard to keep them from jumping around.  Maple was a little scared and cuddled up to me.  My mom suggested that she would use the blower and I would keep the rabbits calm.  Normally, rabbits are used to the blower so it only takes a few minutes for one person to do it.  

Maple, before being blown

We are going to see if our rabbits do better at the Gridley show next week since we now have a blower to use on them.

Maple, after being blown

Weighing Rabbits

We weigh all of our rabbits because it is part of a health check and to keep good records.  A weight loss would suggest they either need more feed or they are sick.  Weight gain is good, but we don’t want them to gain too much.  We monitor them to make sure they meet minimum weights for their class.  If rabbits weigh too much or too little, the judge can disqualify them.  We saw that happen at the West Coast Classic in May. 

Maple at his weekly weighing

We weigh our rabbits every Wednesday.  We stop weighing pregnant does one week before they are due to kindle.  We weigh rabbit kits every day after they’re a week old.  We carefully carry our rabbits over to the scale.  Our scale is accurate to tenths of ounces.  This is an important advantage.  Something that many people don’t realize is that in the rabbit world when weight is recorded, the number after the pound number indicates the number of ounces, not the fraction of a pound.  For example, 9. 5. 5 is read nine pounds, five and one-half ounces, not nine pounds, eight and one-half ounces.  

We always on a solid surface like a table or hard floor, not on carpet or cages or the results may not be accurate.  I learned this by experience.  We all learn from our mistakes.  We record each rabbit’s weight each week so that we can compare their progress. 

Outdoor Play Time

By Lydia

Even if you do have a big cage for your rabbit, it is always nice to let them out to run around.  The rabbits always have a lot of fun with play time.  Every day we need to get our rabbits out so that they can get exercise and so you can enjoy them.   Something that we like doing, either while we are doing our schoolwork, or while my mom is spinning, we get a bunny out to run around.  Rabbits need play time.  If you don’t get them out enough, they will be difficult to handle.  If you try to get them out every day or several times a week, you rabbit will be very good about handling.  When your rabbit is running around, it may stop, grunt a little, and like Ninja, it may like digging at things.  Naturally, you do not let them do this right before a show. 

We usually set up a fenced area or baby gates to keep them away from places we don’t want them to go and to keep them safe.   We have to watch carefully to make sure the cat doesn’t attack them.  He has never attacked our rabbits, but he has killed jackrabbits and cottontails around our property.  Our very large black lab mix never bothers them.  Before the sprinklers come on, or after the grass has dried, we let them run around on the grass and eat it.  We don’t put any fertilizers or other chemicals on our grass.  We don’t put them on wet grass, because they could catch pneumonia.  And even if they don’t get sick, their wool will get badly matted.  If they can’t be on the grass because it is wet or sunny, we put them on our covered deck.  That way they can still run around.  

 

Maple getting his morning exercise

Angora rabbits have a lot of limitations when it comes to the sun.  They cannot be placed in warm sun.  They already have a very heavy coat on.  Ruby-eyed whites should not ever be in the sun—it can damage their eyes.  Also, self-blacks should never be in the sun, but for a totally different reason.  If self-blacks are exposed to too much sun, their wool will turn a rusty color, and they will be disqualified for show. 

Bunnies for Sale

Maple

 "Maple" and "Stanley"

Maple and Stanley are now three months old with good conformation .  They are both chocolate steel and their wool is finely crimped, with good density and good texture.  They have been handled since birth and would make mighty fine show rabbits.  Both have been vaccinated against Pasteurella (snuffles).

Stanley

The differences between them?  Maple weighs 4 lbs 10 oz, and Stanley is one pound more at 5 lbs 10 oz.

They are $70 each, with a $20 discount for 4-H.