The German Angora is known for its calm demeanor and ease of maintenance when compared to some other Angora breeds. German Angoras are also excellent wool producers and are known to be easy to sheer. Because German Angoras are very calm and gentle, it helps to make them easier to shear. Although you will need to make a commitment to shearing them every three months, German Angoras require little grooming. Generally when feeding German Angora Rabbits, a well-balanced pellet ration and hay are the recommended diet. Hay is given easily to babies and mature adults. Alfalfa can also be given, though it should not be given in unlimited quantities, as this may be fatal for the German Angora. Alfalfa may also not be good for babies because it is too rich and may cause diarrhea. Alfalfa should generally only be given in small quantities. Straw is sometimes recommended by breeders, however it contains little to no nutritional value, though it does make good bedding. German Angoras range in weight from 6 to 12 pounds. Pure German Angoras are albino, which means they have pure white fur and red eyes. German Angoras that are not pure white are actually called German Hybrids. German Angoras have a medium body size, but they might look bigger because of their wool. The German Angora's wool is very dense and has plenty of guard hair and awn fluff, so its wool will generally not mat. This means that the grooming requirements of the German Angora are not as stringent as some other Angora breeds. German Angoras are prolific wool producers so they will need to be sheared every three months. Their tubular body shape and firm flesh makes it relatively easy to shear them and all you need are embroidery scissors. German Angoras will produce anywhere from two to four pounds of wool a year, about four times what other Angoras produce. Also, another nice thing about German Angoras is that they don't let go of their wool as much as some other Angoras, so they are less prone to wool block. The wool of the German Angora is generally considered to be stronger than that of other Angoras and will stand up to machine carding without pilling. Perhaps the greatest advantage to German Angoras is that they do not need anymore feed and cage space than other Angoras. German Angoras originated in Germany as their names implies, where breeders followed a strict standard for over 60 years. They bred the German Angora for wool production and body type. Any rabbits that didn't meet their criteria were not bred. When German Angoras were first introduced to America, breeders were surprised at the amount of wool they produced. |