There are five Angora rabbit breeds recognized by the ARBA, four of them recognized by the ARBA. The French Angora rabbit is the most closely related to the “original” Angora, which was brought to France by sailors from Ankara (Angora) in Turkey in 1723.
If you’ve considered getting this breed, you need to know how to care for a french Angora rabbit.
This article contains valuable information on their dietary and housing requirements. We also talk about how to groom a French Angora rabbit. We also answer your questions about the French Angora rabbit.
Overall Description
Size: Large
Weight: 7.5-10.5 pounds
Lifespan: 7-12 years
The body of the French Angora Rabbit is commercial-style, with a robust and sturdy frame. French Angoras, unlike their English counterparts, do not have facial fur. They may have tufting on their back legs, with coarse guard hair and crimped underwool covering the rest of their bodies.
Coat and Colors
While the French Angora rabbit is low maintenance, the coat requires the most attention. The coat of the French Angora is known as wool because it can be spun into clothing. You must clean and care for their coat to have clean, mat-free wool.
The coats of French Angoras can grow up to six inches every season and must be trimmed now and again. Shearing is a requirement, and it will also make the rabbit more comfortable, as all that wool makes it difficult to move.
The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) acknowledges the following French Angora coat varieties:
- Agouti: This is the brown color that wild rabbits have. Small stripes of black, brown, fawn, and blue are intermingled throughout.
- Broken: A color pattern with a predominantly white body and splotches of a different color.
- White rabbits with various color muzzles, paws, and ears are known as pointed whites.
- Self-colored means that the rabbit has one consistent color throughout.
- Shaded: The ears, head, feet, and tail of these rabbits are darker than the rest of their body.
- Ticked: A solid-colored body with tipped or solid guard hairs of a different color dispersed throughout the body is indicated.
- Wide Band: This color is similar to agouti; however, the hairs are not darkly pointed like in agoutis.
Temperament
French Angoras are docile, amiable, and docile. They’re also active bunnies who enjoy hopping about and playing with other rabbits, pets, and owners. The more time you spend with your bun, the friendlier it becomes.
It’s simple to gain their trust. French Angoras enjoy being the center of attention, and if you spend a lot of time grooming and caring for them, they will bond with you.
How to Care For French Angora Rabbits
Although the French Angora is a distinguished rabbit breed, it may be cared for in the same way as other rabbit breeds. Ensure that your rabbit gets the proper rabbit nutrition, housing or enclosure, and medical treatment, as well as having buddy rabbits in his enclosure.
Diet
Hay is a crucial component of your pet’s daily diet. Aside from rabbit pellets, hay should make up eighty percent of their diet.
Rabbit pellets that have been commercially produced contain vitamins and minerals beneficial to your pet’s health.
To establish a healthy and well-rounded diet, they should include vegetables and fruits in their meals.
Housing
Whether you keep your French Angora Rabbit inside or outside, all pet rabbits require lots of time outside of their cages and with their human family to become well-socialized.
It entails removing them from their confinement and allowing them to wander freely within your home or outdoors in a fenced yard where they are safe from other animals.
Outdoor rabbits should be housed in sturdy cages high off the ground and protected from potential predators. They should also have a ramp that leads down to the gated bottom “floor,” allowing them to feel the soft grass or earth beneath their feet whenever they choose.
Indoor rabbits should be housed in cages large enough to stretch out their lengthy bodies and yet have room to spare. Avoid wire cages, which are unpleasant and can cause long-term foot damage to your rabbit. Choose bedding to line the bottom of your rabbit’s enclosure.
Grooming
Grooming is an essential aspect of a French Angora’s care and maintenance regimen since their long hair must be brushed and cleaned regularly to avoid matting and wool block.
Brushing French Angoras with a slicker brush should be done every day, or at least twice a week. Baths can create stress and heart issues in rabbits, so it’s crucial to spot clean your rabbit’s hair as needed.
Blow-drying your rabbit’s coat regularly can also help maintain it clean and separate.
The optimal length of a French Angora’s fur is roughly 2 to 3 inches. Trim or shear your rabbit’s wool three to four times a year. Rabbit-safe clippers must be used to shear your French Angora. The quickest technique to remove rabbit fur is to use electric trimmers.
The disadvantage is that it lowers the crop quality. Shearing a rabbit removes the rabbit’s fully developed long fur, short fur, and coarse guard hairs. The shorter hairs will shed out of the yarn while spinning sheared wool. Combing takes longer than shearing to remove surplus Angora fur, but it results in a higher-quality crop.
Health
A French Angora is a healthy breed that is not afflicted with any diseases. French Angoras, on the other hand, are not resistant to common rabbit ailments.
Take your rabbit to the vet for shots and testing. The vet will suggest tests to evaluate your rabbit’s health and development. Small and younger rabbits, in particular, have delicate digestive tracts and may be prone to enteritis, bloat, and stasis. These are prevalent in rabbits under the age of two months.
Look for indications of sickness in your rabbits, such as a lack of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting. If you notice an uneven walk, restlessness, teeth grinding, or sleeping for long periods, you may have a serious condition.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is It True That French Angoras Are Territorial?
When housed in a tiny enclosure, most rabbits, according to breeders, can become territorial. During the mating season, males might become aggressive. In order to establish dominance, aggressive males might bite, scratch, and kick other males in the cage.
How Long Does It Take for an Angora Hair To Grow Back?
This hair builds up in their stomach, which is unhealthy. Owners of domestic Angoras claim their bunnies appreciate being shaved because it allows them to bounce around again. The fur grows back in a matter of weeks – maybe three months – and the cycle starts all over again.
Are French Angora Rabbits a Good Choice for You?
The French Angora rabbit is a beautiful rabbit with a friendly and docile personality. They also need a significant amount of responsibility and effort in terms of grooming and upkeep. Every few months, French Angoras need to be sheared.
These rabbits are not suitable as pets for children unless they are older and have prior bunny expertise. They are not an excellent first rabbit for children or adults, so keep that in mind when getting one.
If you decide to bring a French Angora home with you and are prepared to provide them with the attention they require, you will most likely be rewarded with a calm, sociable companion. With their placid disposition, thick coat, and fluffy ear tips, French Angoras are usually a crowd-pleaser when it comes to rabbit shows.
