How different our experiences are! I gave away all my French angora and refused free french bunnies, I keep Eng and German only. I do pluck the first couple of times, especially the baby coat as all it does is matt, IMO.
Plucking brings out just enough guard hair to make the Eng easier to keep tangle free, without making it stiff and spikey like French is. After the first 2 or so harvests, I shear exclusively, as I prefer the finished yarn from a shear rather than plucking. (Really really furry, looks like French from a distance until you get up close and realize it is all soft , NO spiky things.) Plus Germans don't molt anyway, you have to shear them. (Don't know about Giants, got my Ger from my friend whose sis in law buys them in Germany for her. Her hubby is German.) I do cut off the extra "furnishings" on the legs and such though, where the French would not grow hair there anyway. And I keep the fur on their faces cut short for winter, when they are drinking from crocks instead of bottles. Plus, I just enjoy my Eng bunnies so much. I loved my Satin kids too, especially my fawn dow, but I gave them away too. They just didn't produce enough fiber to justify their keep. (Not quite 2 oz per harvest, and fewer harvests than Eng or Ger per year too I get 5-6 oz from my Eng about 3-4 times per year and almost a pound from my Germ per harvest. 4-5 times a year.) My friend who has the German stock took my Satins in, and she has gotten some nice crosses from my girl. I'm so glad she went to a fiber home. :) Donna To stop mail temporarily mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: set nomail To restore send: set mail
