English Angoras

VelveteenLopGuru · Jan 26, 2009

I have a Angora that will be a year old in April. She is a solid chocolate. I traded her so I could use her for 4-H shows and as a pet (I was told that she was highly showable and had great wool density) However, I am not that great at judging Angoras lol I was wondering the following:

*I groom her once or twice a week. I heard that you have to clip them? When should I do this? It is cold where I live (ranging from -25 to 25 degrees) but she is inside in our pantry right off the kitchen where it is about fourty to fifty degrees in there. What should I do? Should I just keep grooming her or what?

* What should I do to get her prepped when show season comes? (our fair is in the beginning of August)

* What would be a compatable color to breed her to? She is a solid chocolate and has REW, black, tort, chinchilla and brokens in these colors in her pedigree. If I bred her to any of those, would that be ok?

If there are any Angora people out there, any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

VelveteenLopGuru · Jan 27, 2009

Anyone?......

clevername · Jan 27, 2009

VelveteenLopGuru wrote:

*I groom her once or twice a week. I heard that you have to clip them? When should I do this? It is cold where I live (ranging from -25 to 25 degrees) but she is inside in our pantry right off the kitchen where it is about fourty to fifty degrees in there. What should I do? Should I just keep grooming her or what?"

Keep grooming. Keep that coat growing too if you plan on showing. The longer the coat, the better.

"* What should I do to get her prepped when show season comes? (our fair is in the beginning of August)"

Keep her in a cooler environment will little change in diet (veggies are ok but no oats or sunflower seeds) and try not to trigger a molt. If she begins to shed her coat, her fur will get a rough appearance.

"* What would be a compatable color to breed her to? She is a solid chocolate and has REW, black, tort, chinchilla and brokens in these colors in her pedigree. If I bred her to any of those, would that be ok?

Selfs (black,blue,chocolate & lilac), Agouti (chectnut, opal...) and torts are all compatible.
as a choclate her genetype would be aa bb C_ D_ E_ You can look through her pedigree to surmise what she's carrying.

VelveteenLopGuru · Jan 27, 2009

Clevername, thank you for the information. I heard that you were supposed to give them sunflower seeds...or is that just closer to show season? I wont be showing her perfessionally, just at fair but I would like her to look her best and keep her wool in prime condition just incase I do seriously show her. I give her veggies once or twice a week and hay everyday. Should I be concerned about "blowing her out?" For my Jersey Woolies, I just use a blow dryer set on low, but then I read that a blow dryer isnt sufficiant enough to actually open the coat? Her coat is really nice actually for a English Angora. I went without grooming her for two weeks or so and she didnt really mat. She isnt one of those that really mats from the inside out. Thank you for helping me

clevername · Jan 27, 2009

A blower is really the best for keep a coat in prime condition. (hair dryers just don't have the power either) It cuts down on grooming time and preserves density. It also blows away most dander that gets trapped in the coat--which is by I'll blow a rabbit out before harvesting.

Unfortunately they are very expensive. I wouldn't buy one unless you are showing or have multiple angora. Just my two cents.

VelveteenLopGuru · Jan 28, 2009

clevername wrote:

A blower is really the best for keep a coat in prime condition. (hair dryers just don't have the power either) It cuts down on grooming time and preserves density. It also blows away most dander that gets trapped in the coat--which is by I'll blow a rabbit out before harvesting.

Unfortunately they are very expensive. I wouldn't buy one unless you are showing or have multiple angora. Just my two cents.

Yeah, I read that they cost between $150 and $400 dollars roughly. I am not into showing her seriously, but I want her to be at least in prime condition for 4-H showing which is nothing in competition compared to arba shows lol thanks for the information.