FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
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Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
The Angora rabbit known for the Angora wool is one of the oldest rabbit breeds in the world. There are 11 known breeds of Angoras found all over the world - Chinese Angora rabbit, Japanese Angora rabbit, Korean Angora rabbit, Finnish Angora rabbit, Russian Angora rabbit, German Angora rabbit, St Lucian Angora rabbit, Swiss Angora rabbit, English Angora rabbit, French Angora rabbit, Satin Angora rabbit, and Giant Angora rabbit. Four of these types of rabbits - English, French, Giant, and Satin Angora rabbit are recognized by the ARBA or American Rabbit Breeders Association.
These rabbit breeds are said to have originated from Ankara in Turkey. This is the reason the name Angora was given to the species. The Angoras were first brought to France in 1723. Group of these bunnies became extremely popular in the French royal families during those times and were fondly kept as pets. By the end of the century, these bunnies were famous pets in all of Europe. All the species were first known as French Angora rabbits but were later divided into different species. Everyone has heard about the Angora wool that has been popular in the United States garment industry since the 20th century when the bunnies were first introduced in the country. The soft, silky fiber became popular quite fast. If an English Angora bunny is kept as a pet or used for the production of woolly fur by pet owners, continuous grooming is very necessary. Any food containing plant and green leaves can be included in the diet.
For more relatable content, check out these European rabbit facts and interesting swamp rabbit facts.
Recognized by ARBA, English Angora rabbits are one of the oldest breeds of domesticated rabbits. All the breeds of Angora rabbits are now found as pets all over the world.
Angora rabbits belong to the class of Mammalia in the kingdom of Animalia.
The population of the English Angora bunny is not known. However, many pet owners around the world keep the Angoras as pets and are quite famous for that. There is no danger to the bunnies currently.
There are around 709 million rabbits found in the world.
Angora rabbits are said to have been found in Ankara in Turkey. After that, the bunnies were brought to many European countries. English Angoras were bred from French Angoras, however, the latter bunny is used for commercial purposes (wool). The English Angora was first bred to be a show breed and a pet. But now, the species is also used all over the world as producers of wool.
Angora rabbit breeders of these fluffy rabbits are found keeping these animals all over the world for the sole purpose of harvesting their woolly fur. However, many breeders and owners breed these rabbits to sell them as pets to many potential buyers.
The habitats these purebred species are found in are not known. However, they are said to be found in the same kind of habitats as normal rabbits.
The company the rabbit keeps is not known. Rabbits usually live in a group and are quite social. The group of rabbits is called a warren.
The lifespan of an Angora rabbit is said to be between 7-12 years. The lifespan of a regular domestic rabbit is said to be around 10-12 years. To get the maximum life expectancy, food habits along with grooming habits need to be maintained.
The breeding of these Angora rabbits is similar to any rabbit species. The thick and dense fur does not create a hindrance in mating. Females are added to the cage where the males live. Then the females and males run after each other inside the cage. The male lives the female alone when the mating is complete. The female should be transferred to a different cage after mating. The gestation period is for 38 days and the female stop eating any food when the time for birth is near. The nest is made of fur and also hay where three to five babies are born. There is more than one litter in a year. Rabbits reach sexual maturity at five to eight months of age.
The conservation status of the English Angora rabbit is not known. However, there is no immediate danger to the population of the species.
The hair of the English Angora covers its eyes and has the smallest body of the bunnies in the ARBA list. There are three types of wool found in the body of the English Angora - soft underwool, awn fluff, and awn hair. A flat head and short ears are seen in the compact and small body of the English Angora rabbit but are easily not visible due to the thick hairs on the fur. The fur is quite fine and the breed has lots of facial hair along with long wool in the body. The coat and fur of this species make them a special breed in any rabbit contest. There are a variety of colors found like lynx, chestnut, black, blue, chocolate, and lilac.
Among the Angora breeds, only the English Angora rabbits have facial furnishings. The entire body of these rabbits including the feet is covered in dense fur. When the coat/fur is in perfect condition, these rabbits are also called 'round balls of fur'.
French Angoras have a commercial body type and are much larger than the English Angoras. It also has a big undercoat. French Angoras have a hairless face and front feet, unlike the English Angoras, German Angoras, and Giant Angoras. German Angoras are very woolly and are one of the highest wool producers. French Angoras have short hair on their face and ears, however, the English Angora rabbit has very thick wool on its face and ears.
Rabbits are considered very cute. English Angoras are also considered cute with their long hair and are quite a popular breed as a pet all over the world.
Rabbits communicate through body language. However, there are some instances when bunnies also use the method of verbal communication.
The exact size of an Angora rabbit is not known.
Rabbits usually are around 12-16 in (30.4-40.6 cm) tall.
The speed of the English Angoras is not known. European rabbits can run at a speed of 24.85 mph (40 kph). Rabbits usually hop around.
The weight of the breed is around 4.4-7.7 lb (2-3.5 kg).
German Angora rabbits have a weight of around 7-11.5 lb (3.17-5.21 kg). They are a bit larger than the English Angora rabbits.
European rabbits from Southwestern Europe and Northwest Africa have a range of weight around 3.30-5.51 lb (1.5-2.5 kg). They are usually lighter than the English Angora rabbits.
Males and females of the English Angoras are not given different names.
A baby English Angora rabbit is called a baby or a kit. The name kit is short for a kitten.
The main diet of an English Angora consists of plants. The diet includes bark, roots, seeds, and leaves. The breed can also be fed pellets, vegetables, and fruits. A healthy diet should be maintained to keep any diseases away.
English Angora rabbits are not in danger to predators of regular rabbits in the wild like cats, foxes, and wolves. As the Angora rabbits are always bred in-house and are domesticated always, they are not found in the wild. However, beware of cats and mice in the house as they can easily prey on the Angora rabbits.
They are not dangerous.
The English Angora rabbit is best suited for the group of owners that have some experience. The bunnies are also suitable for younger and older children. However, due to high grooming requirements and keeping in mind the rabbit's health problems, adult supervision around children is highly recommended. A strict grooming regime needs to be followed to maintain the good health of these rabbits.
Due to their well-behaved temperament, they make excellent pets.
The bunny needs regular grooming sessions for its woolly hair. So, the breed is not recommended for people who don't plan to frequently groom their fluffy pets.
Rabbits should be adopted from a shelter. But seeing the rarity of the English Angora, finding the breed in a shelter will be a hard task. It should cost around $75-$130 USD in the US.
Apples provide good nutritious value to the diet of an adult rabbit. However, young ones should not be fed apples as they won't be able to digest the food.
Only the English Angora, Giant Angora, French Angora, and Satin Angora are recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA). English, French, Satin, and Giant Angora are all bred for their silky and soft wool.
A wool block is an important topic to be discussed for taking care of the health of these rabbits. All the Angora breeds have abundant and long hair in the body. This makes the rabbits prone to wool block. The wool block is the phenomenon where the hairs in the body of the rabbits make a lethal blockage to the digestive tract. This can even kill the Angora rabbits. Angora breeds groom themselves which leads to this blockage. To prevent this health issue, grooming the fur every three to four months is necessary. Right tools are necessary to groom these Angora rabbit breed.
Other than grooming, the animals do not need very high maintenance.
The cage should be of wires or of a wooden frame. A cage of 7.5 sq ft (0.69 sq m) should be enough for an Angora rabbit. However, this measurement does not include the food and water dishes in the cage.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these killer whale facts and gelada fun facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable English angora rabbit coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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