High Desert Fiberworks
Spin some bunny...
enjoy a little luxury!
This is still a work in progress, but here are the videos my husband recently assisted with.
Spun Buns Angora Rabbits
&
Shearing Tutorial Videos
Back & Rump:
Here I am finishing shearing Hugo's rump. I started behind his ears and removed all the fiber on his back and as far down his sides as I could comfortably reach. I would take all the fiber you see behind the scissors to his tailhead before turning him over and proceeding to the next stage.
Sides:
I lay the bunny across my lap (with it's head on one side of my stomach, and it's back feet around the other side. Adult rabbits used to being sheared are more prone to handle this position. Usually by the time youngsters have a couple clips done on them they relax with the process. Watch out for nipples on does. Find them with your finger before clipping!
Neck & Chest:
Stroke your rabbit's forehead a couple times to calm it. There are lots of small spots in this area so take your time and watch your blade tips. Mature does will have a fold of skin (dewlap) on their chest, so keep the skin tight when clipping and watch for nipples between their front legs. I do the front legs this way too.
Belly, Back Legs, & Genitals:
There are some more tight areas to maneuver around here. Does have 8-12 nipples along their sides, so watch those, Bucks have large testicles with thin skin. Take your time! I trim all the fiber off of their tails as well. Find the bone and clip the fiber off along each side. Remove only the longest hair off the bottom of the feet.
With time and practice both you and your bunny will become more proficient at this procedure. To protect the bottom of your rabbit's feet please don't remove all the fiber there. I grab the long fiber and put it between my index and middle fingers. Then cut off anything that is longer than that. Germans and German hybrids are heavy bunnies and they need that bit of cushion to protect their feet from the wire floor.
Also, don't be in a hurry when shearing. Pick a day when you have plenty of time to devote to the task. It isn't a race, so don't feel pressure to get your entire rabbit clipped in one afternoon. If you, or your rabbit seem like you need a break there is nothing wrong with doing so. Reward bunny with a piece of parsley, or other safe treat, and give them a good hug. Enjoy your beautiful fiber and make something scrumptious!
Weigh your fiber (if you wish to keep a record of that type of thing) and update your rabbit's record. Check to make sure they don't show any signs of mites or other issues that should be addressed. Put a bunny warmer on them if it's cool outside and I like to give them a large pile of straw to snuggle in for the first couple of weeks.
You most likely will see a very happy rabbit. They quickly return to eating well and acting much happier once they are sheared. Most even become more social afterwards. Heavy coats are hard on them so don't delay shearings to try and get longer fiber. Mark your calendar for 45 days from shearing day for the cheeks and cheeks clip, and also make a note at 90 days so you won't miss the next shearing date.