prime pelts question

[tm_bunnyloft]

I know that you have to harvest Rex pelts at the right time to get "prime" pelts. If you don't is it true that the pelt will shed until it is bald?
Do regular fur rabbits go thru the same pelt stages? And will those shed till bald over time if not done in prime growth of hair stage?

I have some really nice magpie normal coat meat rabbits kind thinking of sticking with them and harlequin and I have a charlie doe so maybe work on some tricolor as well.

I bought some rex does and am finding I am really unhappy with what I got but really like the magpies. Do people really have a huge preference for the rex fur products over normal furs?

 

[skysthelimit]

I know that you have to harvest Rex pelts at the right time to get "prime" pelts. If you don't is it true that the pelt will shed until it is bald?
Do regular fur rabbits go thru the same pelt stages? And will those shed till bald over time if not done in prime growth of hair stage?

I have some really nice magpie normal coat meat rabbits kind thinking of sticking with them and harlequin and I have a charlie doe so maybe work on some tricolor as well.

I bought some rex does and am finding I am really unhappy with what I got but really like the magpies. Do people really have a huge preference for the rex fur products over normal furs?

I've never heard that before. There is a difference in the thickness of the skin for all rabbits according to age, and senior prime gives you better coat color and texture for rabbits. For Rexes, the prime is 6-8 mos.

As far as preference, I suppose that matters what your market is. I breed Rex because I like the fur, pretty much the sole reason I continue to breed Rex.

 

[3mina]

Prime basically means the coat is not shedding, usually winter. Heat is the enemy of fur on or off the animal.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

Thanks. Its good to know they wont shed out completely. I read that somewhere and its been bugging me ever since. <br /><br />__________ Thu Aug 23, 2012 12:24 am __________<br /><br />Meat is number one for me and the furs are a close second. I love the feel of rex fur.
Im changing things up a little but I do have everything I need to produce what I really want. Magpie and Harli with rex coat. : D

 

[Piper]

I know that you have to harvest Rex pelts at the right time to get "prime" pelts. If you don't is it true that the pelt will shed until it is bald?
Do regular fur rabbits go thru the same pelt stages? And will those shed till bald over time if not done in prime growth of hair stage?

Prime for (geese, chickens) harvesting feathers is right after a molt, before they get the feathers stained, worn, sanded / friction-ed thinned, feathers broken and / or bent. If you do not harvest the feathers, right after they come in, they go down in condition / quality, till the next molt.
- Using that for rabbits - If the rabbit is at an good age and get their winter coat, you need to go ahead and harvest the rabbit. The prime coat can get stained, worn areas, barbered by the rabbit and or slightly shed (I am in Texas) because of some unseasonably warm days. I would need to harvest as soon as it gets in, or risk the quality going down and have to wait till the next new coat or next winter.
- Hope this helps, too.

 

[rittert3]

From trapping I can tell you tht most furs are at their prime in the coldest part of the year. This means the fur is at it's thickest. I suppose there could be a difference in demand between rex and normal rabbit fur and maybe roll back and fly back coats. In furs it all about texture and warmth and consistant quality. No one would generally buy a coat that was a random patch work of various furs, unless that was the current fashion, lol.

 

[skysthelimit]

Prime basically means the coat is not shedding, usually winter. Heat is the enemy of fur on or off the animal.

it also means the density of the fur, the texture and the thickness of the skin. Rex fur on a winter 4 mos is not the same on a winter 6-8 month old. Their is a junior prime and senior prime in rex, and the color and thickness/texture is different at different ages.

 

[Piper]

Prime also means that the animal is a senior, the hide is thin when they are young. If the hide is thin, it is hard to make a full length coat, because of the weight.

 

[skysthelimit]

Or a bed spread, but if you just had too, you could get some nice ear muffs.

 

[rittert3]

I transported 2 mini rex for a freind this weekend and realized how much I want a rex lined coat! I'm sure it would be outragously priced though.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

Not if you raise your own. You can eat the meat and tan the hides. If you can sew you will have it made!!!

 

[rittert3]

I only raise ML's , Anyone wanna send me some rex skins ?!? just kidding. But I got to thinking You would have to save 50 skins of the same color to make a nice coat and as rare as Std Rex are getting around here I think that would be easier said than done.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

That is part of why I have choosen to switch to Harlequin magpie bunnies. I already have some and am picking up a bunch more in Canada in a few weeks.

 

[Piper]

as rare as Std Rex are getting around here

are getting?<br /><br />__________ Wed Sep 05, 2012 11:55 am __________<br /><br />I thought more people were breeding them

 

[skysthelimit]

One of the reasons why I am scaling down my brokens, too hard to match the pelts, and sticking with solids and agoutis.

 

[rittert3]

I would love to have enough chin. rexes, but would be just as easy to raise actuall chinchillas, My aunt an uncle used to raise them in the 80's and early 90's then the fur market crashed on them. Piper, It seems like there are alot of people looking for them but there are only 2 or 3 bloodlines in my area.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

There are very few purebred pedigreed rabbits within 2 to 3 hours of me. I am traveling 11 hours to Canada to get my harlequin magpies. 7.5 to get my Jersey Woolys. Oh those times are each way too. you may have to travel but you will get your bunnies.

 

[MaggieJ]

I once saw a patchwork coat made of hand-sized pieces of all different furs. It was stunning!