help with color identification, please

[Zinnia]

I posted before, but now I have better pictures. Plus I've got pictures of my latest litter.

These are French Angoras.

11 day old litter
Sire Black self chin
Dam Lilac Pearl
I'm posting a link since there are lots of photos....
http://s296.photobucket.com/user/sevens ... y%20litter
I think I see chocolates, blacks, a chocolate pearl and lilac pearls

10 week old kits
Dam Cream
Sire Sandy Chestnut Agouti with wide band
#1 opal? http://s296.photobucket.com/user/sevens ... Nutmeg%201
#2 lynx? http://s296.photobucket.com/user/sevens ... Nutmeg%202
#3 fawn? http://s296.photobucket.com/user/sevens ... Nutmeg%203
#4 chestnut agouti? http://s296.photobucket.com/user/sevens ... Nutmeg%204
#5 black self? http://s296.photobucket.com/user/sevens ... Nutmeg%205
#6 sandy chestnut agouti? http://s296.photobucket.com/user/sevens ... Nutmeg%206

Wow! Look at the dirt under my nails....I'm seeding plant trays lately....

Thanks for your opinions!

Zinnia

 

[Dood]

I agree with your guesses on the 10 week olds. I would clarify that that the fawn is blue/dilute since in some breeds fawns are black based

 

[Zinnia]

Dood, which of those bucks would you keep?

Opal
Lynx
Chestnut Agouti
Fawn (he's smaller)

Thanks,
Zinnia

 

[Dood]

For what purpose?

I don't know anything about wool quality but I'd keep the buck with the best coat for yarn production.

With all that fur it's impossible to tell conformation or meatyness if you're looking for a show or meat producing sire.

If you just want colourful babies then the lynx will father the most variety since he's recessive for self, chocolate and blue.

 

[Zinnia]

Thanks, Dood.

That's a good question. Wool is my primary motivation for breeding. I hope to be able to sell some, but I'm finding color matters to some people....probably those who show. I don't show rabbits, nor do I intend to. No offense to anyone out there, but it's just not my cup of tea.

Since color matters to some potential buyers, I wanted to incorporate that as part of my decision.

The opal is biggest and most active and friendly. I can't tell wool quality yet. He'd be my first choice as far as vitality.

The fawn is smaller - not really a candidate.

The lynx has wide band (genetics I now refer to as "skew my colors").

The Chestnut is smaller, too.

Actually most of these are wide band...

I guess I just don't know enough about the desirability of colors to pick accordingly. So, I'll probably fall back on general vitality and size to be safe. I just bought a copy of Standard of Perfection, by recommendation of a fellow breeder. So, I hope to have a better clue one day....

Zinnia

 

[skysthelimit]

The wooler breeds have a large range of colors. REW by far is the most valuable for selling fiber, but as long as you are breeding recognized colors (there are more than 30 of them), color isn't really a factor. Except for my REWs, my Angora peds are rainbow colors.

French Angoras range from 7lbs to nearly 10lbs, so size is not a big factor either (unless you are strictly breeding for meat). Though a bigger FA will give you more wool.

Base your decision on who has the densest wool, medium coarseness, not too soft or too coarse, and easy to care for coats.

 

[Zinnia]

Thanks.

Yes, I should really look at the density of the wool.
I think I need to get more educated about wide band. Most of this litter showed wide band and seemed to display off-from-standard coloring because of that. So, I'm not so sure it's wise to promote more wide band in the genetics by keeping a buck...

I'd love to hear what others think of this!

Thanks,
Zinnia