A couple of weeks ago, we were in a deep freeze with the day temperatures in the low twenties and night temperatures in the low thirties, except for a couple of nights, when the wind chill combined with the cold temperatures, it was minus 45. The French and Giant Angora rabbits lived together in the big dog kennel. I removed the buck, but the doe must have been bred, because she was building a nest. The only spot she had was the plastic top of a dog kennel filled with hay. I put a lot of hay over and around it as well, to keep her warm in the very cold weather, but Angoras are so well insulated she did not much ever go inside. There is also a second shelter there, not covered with hay, just to get out of the wind.

So, after observing her these past two weeks, I saw that she indeed was going in to the hay covered hut on occasion. She did kindle the day before that terrible cold began and there was no way I believed the babies would have survived. Today was a warm day and I thought it was a good time to check. So I did.

I got down on hands and knees and peeked inside . Lots of fur was in there in a depression and I thought for a moment I saw movement there. I felt around and there were some small bodies, yes. I pulled one out, expecting it to be dead, but it was very much alive and exactly about two weeks old.

Mamma rabbit did kindle on that cold night and miraculously those babies, or some of them, survived.  I quickly returned the kit to the nest and ensured he was covered with that downy fur she pulled. Well, I'll be. Whodathunkit? 

We are expecting another very cold spell and the kits will be more active. She has a good depression in the nest to keep them together, and I am hoping they will be just fine. How exciting! Baby Angoras in midwinter. Wow!

A few days ago, one of my first bunnies on the farm, an imported from Holland Flemish Giant buck, passed away. I knew he was going. First it was ear mites, then an eye infection, then loss of fur and no matter what I was doing for him, he would recover and get sick again. I knew it was his time. But he did give me many bunnies and had a long and good life. He was a gently buck and preferred to be in the company of another rabbit, rather than alone. Despite what people said, and that he was a male, he still did better with another male and did not scrap and beat him up. 

I also have a pair of Satin Angoras and a pair of Giant/ French Angora crosses. The Satins are a smaller rabbit and as anything small, I find they are never as pleasant as the big ones of their kind. There is a white red eyed male Satin and a red Satin female. Of their mating there is a white and an unusual chocolate tone kit. Well, they are bunnies now, not babies. 

I knew the French/Giant cross female was bred. She dug a burrow in the side of their pen and carried hay down it. She was building a nest. That was 4 weeks ago. Yesterday I saw the first kit, a dark chocolate. Oh, it is so delightful! Then I dug open the burrow to put him back in, but it was just enough for a little bunny, not open wide. The mother did not cover it back up as I thought she would, so obviously she instinctively knew it was time to allow the babies out into the world. First a little grey popped his nose out and later a solid black. They are so beautiful! 

These are not the most common Angora rabbits and with their pretty colours, they should sell well.They are easy to keep and very sweet natured. In the house they can be trained to use a litter box and be a house pet, but most people prefer to cage them. I have had bunnies in the house in a cage and unless their cage is cleaned almost daily, they stink! Yuk! If the cage was large enough to allow a litter box, I think they would use it and then be litter trained. In the far future I may try it, but Robbie, the border collie most likely would not allow a bunny in his domain. 

The idea with the Angora rabbits is to sell the fibre. I would need a lot of bunnies the same colour to sell enough fibre to make money at it. Being part of my little farm, I only want to keep 6-10 bunnies in total. So, I will try to sell them as babies, but if they do not find new homes, then I will harvest their fibre  twice and then send them off to the butcher shop. The Giant/French are large enough to make a good sized rabbit that will dress out at 5-6 pounds, but the little Satins are small under that wool. Eventually, I do not wish to keep any more of the Flemish Giants. There are 4 escapees left out roaming around and they really do destroy the plants and flowers, just the four of them. They are well large enough to be harvested, so their fate is meat and hopefully, no more escapees will be around to munch down the garden. 

​I am not sure how many babies there are in that burrow, but are you ready for a new pet? A cute, cuddly fluffy baby bunny? 

It is often said, there are no mistakes. What God creates is perfection in his eyes, though man may not see it as such. Yet, I have observed strange things in the animal world. For example, a chicken that is a little different at birth is often pecked at even until death. Is that Mother Nature's way of ensuring survival of the fittest? I had a duck that was a little off too, and she was shunned by all the other ducks and never included. And remember Rudolph, just because his nose was different, never got to play with the other reindeer? 

So, maybe while we want to think everything is perfect just as it is, through observation it is not that way in the animal world. Today a very strange event transpired. The beautiful grey and black Angora female kindled, or had her babies. I think there were only two, for that is all I found in the nest and there were none others anyplace to be seen. Two is very odd for a rabbit, but it is her first litter. But, when I looked closely at the babies, one was cold, though he was in the nest. He was dead so I picked him up and nearly dropped him when I looked at his face. 

In the place where there should have been a cute rabbit nose was a proboscis, huge for the size of the bunny. He was holding a straw in his paws. I stared at the face and since the birth was so recent, I am assuming he was stillborn. But I am still amazed and in shock when I think of that face. What a cruel joke Mother Nature would have played on that innocent little life. What a blessing he did not make it. Would we say the same if he was a deformed human baby? 

The Fat Ewe Farm has adopted some baby bunnies from Manitoba, Satin Angoras and hybrid French/Giant Angoras. They were brought out by Small Animal Transport owned by a fantastic conscientious young couple who cared for the bunnies diligently and with love. I would highly recommend them for transporting smaller critters in Canada. 

Satin Angoras are a relatively new breed to the world, not even having been around a hundred years. Their wool is so fine and soft, it can be spun directly from the animal without further preparation and is 8 times warmer than sheep wool. The Giant Angora and French Angora are both very large breeds with lesser quality wool, but copious quantities of it. Angoras can be shorn or plucked 4 times a year, depending on their environment. These bunnies will live outside year round so they will need wooly coats for winter. If they are clipped or plucked (plucking is only done when they naturally shed) in September, then again in March and July, they will provide lots and lots of fibre. 

I don't know if I will ever spin, but perhaps as I get older I might like to try it. I will felt the Angora though, into very fine fabric and use that for some sweaters or vests or hats or scarves or something interesting. The fibre can be felted onto silk, so the silk layer actually touches the skin and the Angora fibre coats the silk in a remarkably soft and light, yet very warm second layer. Now that I cannot wait to try. 

My bunnies are still babies, just 8 weeks old or so and already the Giant/French crosses are twice the size of the Satins.Angora rabbits are much more personable than most bunnies, having been bred to be easily handled and remain calm and gentle and friendly. I hope to enjoy these guys for some years to come. I have a pair of Satins and a pair of the hybrids, so Angora bunnies will soon be hip hopping around the Fat Ewe Farm! Say cute!