And the Winner is..........

First things first:
The way I figure it, there have been 5 separate folks commenting, so I have written the 4 names on slips of paper, folded them up, and put them (appropriately) into a feed bowl sitting here. I will now shake them up.... and randomly choose one.....OK.... now I will open it ..... (drum rolls, please).......

IT IS KATIE - THE WINNER!!!!!!!!!

So now, Katie, you must email me your address and I will send you your present. I will have to ship it special delivery and I hope you have a tiny cage and some sunflower seeds to feed it when it arrives...

no just kidding!!!! This pressie will not require any special middle of the night feedings. I think you can see my email address on the blog page, if not, let me know and we'll do it through ravelry or something.

Well that was fun and exciting. I think I'll do it again sometime.

On another note, I am going to use the pages today to write up something that I think I will put on one of the Pages that I just recently discovered (see “testing testing testing” above). My friend suggested this – a set of Frequently Asked Questions – and I will also try putting in on Etsy if I can figure out how. I already came up with a bunch of questions, now I just have to answer them. And I probably won’t get through them all.

FAQ
1. Does ”angora” always come from a rabbit?
Yes, angora fiber and yarn are from angora rabbits. There are also angora goats, but they produce mohair (go figure).

2. Must you kill the rabbit, or does it hurt the rabbit to get its hair?
No! The hair can be removed in several ways: by clipping it off with scissors or shearers, by brushing it out, or by “plucking.” When the hair is ready to shed it pulls off readily and does not hurt the rabbit.

3. How much fiber do you get from one rabbit?
That depends a lot on the variety of angora, and the individual rabbit, but I generally get 2-4 ounces every time I harvest it, and I do that four times a year, making a total of 8-16 ounces a year. That is certainly enough for a hat each time I harvest, and even a sweater once a year!

4. How big are the rabbits?
My rabbits are about 6 – 8 pounds. Giants can be 10 pounds or more, Jersey Woolies are much smaller.

5. How many rabbits do you have?
The number is always changing as rabbits have babies and babies go to new homes. Currently I have 13 adult rabbits, 3 “teenagers,” and 12 babies.

6. How long do they live?
I would say 6-8 years is a good life span for an angora rabbit. They are susceptible to problems and diseases – for example wool  block and pasteurella which can shorten their life span.

7. What color are they?
They have a wide range of colors: pure bright white, fawn or orange color, brown, gray and black. Most get lighter in color as they become adults, so a black baby will end up being a dark charcoal gray as an adult.

8. Where do they come from/ where do they live in the wild?
Angora rabbits were bred from domestic rabbits. One theory holds that they originated in Ankora, Turkey, thus the name. The long hair is actually due to a genetic mutation that causes the hair to grow for a longer time before it sheds. This mutation was selected for by people who wanted the long hair, and animals with this feature would not be able to survive in the wild. The hair would get terribly tangled and caught in branches, and it would probably cause bad wool block in the rabbit’s digestive system, so angora rabbits are not found naturally anywhere.

9. Do Angora Rabbits make good pets?
They make wonderful pets for fiber artists who want to make use of their lovely fiber! In fact, they are the perfect fiber animal for people who live in the city or suburbs since they take up little space. I do not recommend an angora rabbit as a pet for children, or even for an adult who just wants a pet rabbit, since they do need to be groomed frequently to prevent terribly matted hair, and care must be taken to prevent wool block. That said, anyone who is willing to take that care and put in the effort, will be rewarded with a beautiful, unusual, and often quite affectionate pet.

10. Do you ever sell your angora rabbits?
Yes, certainly, I sell babies and adults for $35 each. A registered angora rabbit from a show breeding stock will cost more.

11. What kind of angora rabbits do you have?
My rabbits are mostly a mix of Giant and French breeds.

Time to stop for now. I will welcome any thoughts anyone has on these questions and answers, and write more later. Here's your reward for reading all this:

Peach-Fuzz Age (1day)

Visit my new Etsy Shop!! http://www.etsy.com/shop/twistedmysteries