The fluffiness of these little animals really has no limit. The Angora rabbit is the most beautiful of the rabbit breeds. These animals look like a cloud of fluff because their fur is incredibly long, which makes the rabbit look huge. In fact, Angora rabbits weigh only about 2-5 kg, and the body seems massive due to the large amount of fluff. These animals are kept as pets all over the world.
Species origin and description
Photo: Angora Rabbit
Ankara tavşanı (angora rabbit) — chordate mammal animal belonging to the hare family. Angora is a whole group of breeds artificially bred by man for decorative purposes, and for the sake of beautiful wool.
The first Angora rabbits appeared on the European continent in 1723. Rabbits of this breed were brought from Turkey by sailors who were surprised by the quality of things made from angora wool and decided to bring these animals to Europe for breeding. According to others, angora rabbits first appeared in France in 1765. Over time, this breed became very popular, rabbits of this breed were brought to the territory of Eurasia. Later, Angora rabbits were bred all over the world.
Video: Angora rabbit
The Angora rabbit breed group includes the following breeds:
- German Angora rabbit;
- English angora rabbit;
- French angora rabbit;
- pygmy down rabbit;
- satin and giant
Distinguishing features Angora rabbits of all breeds have a slightly flattened, almost imperceptible nose, very long hair, large and long paws, invisible under the fur. Angora rabbits have small and slightly rounded ears, some species also have small tassels on their ears.
Interesting fact: Angora rabbit fur feels like high-quality silk when stroked, for which wool is highly valued.
Appearance and features
Photo: what an angora rabbit looks like
Angora rabbits have a short body, the head of the animal is quite large with small ears. The body of the animal is completely covered with thick down. Wool length from 16-26 cm depending on the breed. The weight of a rabbit is from 2-6 kg. Depending on the breed, the appearance of Angora rabbits may vary slightly.
Angora rabbits of the English breed have a large and wide head, a flattened muzzle. English rabbits are small and the largest individual usually weighs no more than 3.5 kg. The whole body is covered with pile from head to toe, there is even wool on the area above the nose and paws. The French Angora rabbit, on the contrary, has a slightly elongated body and a slightly flattened muzzle. Rabbits of the French breed are quite large and the weight of an adult can reach 4.5 kg. French rabbits have no pile on their ears, paws and nose, but there are hair tassels on their ears.
Dwarf angora down rabbit. Dwarf angora rabbits are small, the body size of the animal is about 50 cm long, the weight of an adult is up to 3.5 kg. These rabbits have small ears with tassels at the end and just a huge amount of fluff. Unlike other breeds, this breed was bred on the territory of the former USSR.
Atlas and Giant. This variety of rabbit breeds was created by crossing English and French Angora rabbits with other breeds. The muzzle of animals of these species is not covered with wool, the fur is particularly soft. The giant differs from other breeds in its especially large size. An adult can weigh up to 6 kg, giants are usually white in color, there are tassels on the ears of animals. Angora rabbits have a life expectancy of 5 to 8 years in captivity, these animals feel better and live longer.
Now you know how to care for an Angora rabbit. Let's see what this animal should be fed.
Where does the angora rabbit live?
Photo: Angora rabbit in Russia
Angora rabbit — a species artificially bred by breeders for decorative purposes, and breeding animals in captivity, therefore, Angora rabbits cannot be found in the wild. This breed is especially common today in China, where the production of angora rabbit down reaches 8,000 tons per year! And also these rabbits are especially popular in the Czech Republic, England, Poland, Hungary, France, Russia. Angora rabbits are very light-requiring when kept in captivity, it is better to place the cage on the sunny side.
Animals have special requirements for comfort. They do not tolerate sudden temperature fluctuations and drafts, so care must be taken to ensure that the cages are warm. Even in a small draft, a recently shorn animal can get sick. In hot weather, it is better to clean the cage with the rabbit in a cool place, as Angora rabbits do not tolerate the sun's rays. In open-air cages, they live less and get sick more often. Best Captive Conditions — keeping in cages or aviaries in a warm, ventilated area. It must be remembered that it is better to keep rabbits in a cage alone or in pairs.
Angora rabbits guard their territory, and if a stranger is planted in a cage, a serious conflict may arise, up to the murder of a new resident. Rabbits know well where in the cage there is a place for food, where there is a tray. Before giving birth, females build a nest from their own fluff in a mother liquor or other secluded place. At the bottom of the cage, a trapik of inedible material must be laid, this will protect the paws of animals from calluses.
What does the angora rabbit eat?
Photo: Angora pygmy rabbit
Rabbits are herbivores , and feed mainly on grass, fruits and vegetables.
The diet of Angora rabbits includes:
- barley;
- oats;
- wheat;
- compound feed;
- clover,
- sedge;
- lungwort;
- dandelion leaves ;
- vegetables (carrots, eggplants, lettuce, beets along with tops);
- gourds (watermelons, melons, pumpkins, etc.);
- fruits (apples, pears ).
Although rabbits of this breed have very beautiful and valuable fur, no additional additives are required for fur growth. If the rabbit is raised for meat, it is necessary to ensure that the animal's diet contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals .
In summer, the cage should always have fresh grass, seasonal fruits and vegetables. In winter, rabbits are fed with hay; in winter, boiled barley and oatmeal can be added to the diet as complementary foods. Vegetables and fruits can be given both raw and boiled. You can feed the animal with purchased food, consisting of a mixture of grains and dried fruits, however, greens or fruits should be given every day.
It should be noted that the remains of half-eaten food must be removed after a while, microbes quickly begin to multiply in food and the animal can eat low-quality food and get poisoned.
Interesting fact: Rabbits, unlike many other animals, do not have a gag reflex, it is much more difficult for a rabbit's body to cleanse itself when poisoned or fur enters the stomach, so the quality of food given to animals must be carefully monitored.
Peculiarities of character and lifestyle
Photo: Decorative angora rabbit
Angora rabbits are quite calm and peaceful animals. Like all members of the hare family, they are very shy. These animals love a calm and quiet environment, loud sounds, a large number of people plunges animals into stress, so it is necessary to provide the most peaceful life for these pets.
Usually rabbits are active during the daytime, however, domestic rabbits can rest and wake up at night for feeding. Like all creatures, rabbits need to move a lot, and if the rabbit is not let out of the cage for a long time, the pet will begin to feel sad and may even become depressed, while the rabbit may lie motionless, or vice versa, behave aggressively, gnaw the cage and may begin to pluck its own fur.
Angora rabbits are very sociable, they treat people very well, they love affection and communication. Rabbits are usually friendly and do not bite people unless startled. But in communication with relatives, Angora rabbits often conflict. The fact is that rabbits instinctively guard their own territory, and when a stranger appears in a cage, a conflict can begin and animals can fight to the death.
Therefore, if it is necessary to keep several individuals in one cage, it is better to put them there at the same time and look after them. Rabbits do not have a social structure, do not build families. One female rabbit takes care of the offspring, while it is better to put the pregnant female rabbit in a separate cage so that other rabbits do not offend her.
Social structure and reproduction
Photo: English Angora rabbit
Angora rabbits become sexually mature much later than their relatives. Rabbits of other breeds become sexually mature by 6 months, female Angora rabbits are ready to mate only in the second year of life. Mating in animals usually occurs at night, when no one disturbs them and there are no people nearby.
In captivity, animals can breed year-round. You can recognize the pregnancy of a female by her behavior. The female becomes aggressive, does not allow males to approach her. Also, the female begins to tear out the wool from her abdomen and equip the nest for future offspring. At a later date, the female gains a lot of weight. Pregnancy lasts about a month. At this time, it is necessary to carefully monitor the rabbit, because pregnancy is a significant burden on the animal's body. The female is best placed in a separate warm and dry cage. Protect the animal from drafts, increase the amount of food when feeding. Also, when feeding, it is good for females to sprinkle food with bone meal powder, or chalk.
The last week of pregnancy in females is the most difficult. At this time, the female is nervous, behaves aggressively. Although there are also very calm individuals who have been lying in a secluded place for almost the entire last week, gaining strength. Before giving birth, the rabbit needs peace and quiet. Childbirth in a rabbit usually occurs at night or in the early morning. For one litter, the female gives birth to 8 rabbits. The female carefully cares for her cubs, feeds them with milk and licks them. During feeding, the female needs to eat hard and drink plenty of water. Usually, after the second birth, females begin to be used only as carriers of wool.
Interesting fact: Although rabbits are herbivores, they have cases of cannibalism. It often happens that the female eats her offspring, she does this mostly instinctively if she feels that the rabbits were born sick, or if she thinks that she cannot feed them.
A female, if she receives poor nutrition and little water, may not have milk, the inability to feed the cubs can cause her to get rid of her offspring. And also the female can kill cubs as a result of stress. Therefore, the rabbit before giving birth and in the first days after them, it is necessary to create the most calm and comfortable conditions.
Natural enemies of Angora rabbits
Photo: What an angora rabbit looks like
K Natural enemies of rabbits include:
- ferrets;
- weasels;
- martens;
- owls;
- crows;
- jackals;
- wolves;
- foxes;
- cats and other predators.
Since angora rabbits do not live in the wild, the main danger for these animals is those predators that can get into the animals' cage. Most often, ferrets and weasels are capable of this. Ferrets gnaw through the bottom of the cage and climb inside. Ferrets and weasels are especially dangerous for little rabbits, because they are completely defenseless. Therefore, when keeping rabbits in open-air cages, it is necessary to take care of their safety.
Cages should be located at a distance of at least a meter from the ground, the bottom and walls of the cages should be as strong as possible. Rabbits kept at home are not threatened by wild animals, but it must be remembered that rabbits, creatures that require special care, and with improper care, rabbits are often susceptible to various diseases.
The most common diseases found in Angora rabbits:
- rickets;
- conjunctivitis;
- pneumonia;
- pododermatitis;
- myxomatosis;
- rhinitis;
- coccidiosis.
To prevent these and other diseases, it is necessary to constantly monitor the purity of the animal's cells. It is necessary to clean the cage every day, the feeder and drinking bowl must also be thoroughly washed with warm water. Uneaten food remains must be removed. In the room where animals are kept there should be no sudden changes in temperature and draft. The room should be ventilated several times a day. Sick animals should be placed in separate cages. New animals must also be quarantined for two weeks.
Population and species status
Photo: White Angora Rabbit
Angora rabbits are widely distributed throughout the world. These animals are bred for decorative purposes and as a source of down. Most Angora rabbits are found in China, England, and Russia. In Russia, rabbits are grown commercially for their wool. Species status Ankara tavşanı species of least concern. The population of angora rabbits is growing rapidly, the animals do well in captivity and breed very quickly.
Angora rabbits are bred mainly for their wool, however, meat breeds are also found. The wool of angora rabbits is very soft, and it produces warm and beautiful products that last for many years. The material that is obtained from the wool of angora rabbits is called angora. Rabbit meat is considered dietary, it can be eaten by children and people with various gastrointestinal diseases. However, for meat, it is better to grow meat breeds, Angora rabbits are too small for this.
Also, recently Angora rabbits are often bred for decorative purposes as pets. The Angora rabbit is very similar to a soft, plush toy. They are harmless and good with children. Therefore, it is a pleasure to keep such a pet. The Angora rabbit breed is considered one of the most beautiful. Rabbits of this breed are very fluffy, somewhat reminiscent of fur balls. Any special care for these animals is not required, except for combing long hair and cutting it once a month. Rabbits are very fond of their owners and practically do not cause them much trouble.
