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Fiber farmer McLaughlin offers a comprehensive guide to raising sheep, goats, angora rabbits, and alpacas for wool. With practical information on breeds, housing, feed, breeding, heath care, shearing, and more, the author helps the reader to decide which species will best serve their lifestyle criteria and needs.
List of contents
Chapter 1: The Joy of Keeping Small Livestock for Fiber: Why I Wrote this Book
. Introduction to Fiber Farming (Including the Truth)
. The Backyard and Beyond
. A Word About Health Guidance in this Book
. Other Ways to Enjoy Your Fiber Animals
Chapter 2: Why Sheep Might Be Your Thing
. Choosing a Breed
. About Sheep Wool
. Housing & Fencing
. Feeding
. Basic Health Care
. Tips on Wool Care
. Breeding & Lambing
. Lamb Care
. Shearing
*Boxed Sidebar -- Sheep Lingo/Terminology
* Boxed Sidebar -- Heritage and Endangered Sheep Breeds
*Boxed Sidebar - Domestic VS. Wild Sheep
* Boxed Sidebar -- Sheep First Aid Kit
Chapter 3: Why Goats Might be Your Thing
. Choosing a Breed
. About Mohair
. About Cashmere
. Housing & Fencing
. Feeding
. Basic Health Care
. Tips on Coat Care
. Breeding & Kidding
. Kid Care
. Shearing
*Boxed Sidebar -- Goat Lingo/Terminology
*Boxed Sidebar -- Goat First Aid Kit
*Boxed Sidebar - The Difference Between Goats and Sheep
Chapter 4: Why Angora Rabbits Might Be Your Thing
. Choosing a Breed
. About Angora Wool
. Housing
. Feeding
. Basic Health Care
. Tips on Angora Wool Care
. Breeding & Kindling
. Kit Care
. Clipping and Plucking
* Boxed Sidebar -- Rabbit Lingo/Terminology
* Boxed Sidebar -- Domestic VS. Wild Rabbits
*Boxed Sidebar - Rabbit First Aid Kit
Chapter 5: Why Alpacas Might be Your Thing
. Choosing a Breed
. About Alpaca Fleece
. Housing & Fencing
. Feeding
. Basic Health Care
. Tips on Coat Care
. Breeding & Birthing
. Cria Care
. Shearing
* Boxed Sidebar -- Alpaca Lingo/Terminology
*Boxed Sidebar - Alpaca First Aid Kit
Chapter 6: Congratulations, You're a Fiber Farmer!
. Best Biosecurity Practices for Your Farm
. Hand Spinning Fibers
. Endless Fiber Crafts
About the author
Chris McLaughlin is the author of eight books written about her life passions;
gardening and small livestock. Her work can be found in Fine Gardening
Magazine, Hobby Farm Home Magazine, Urban Farm Magazine, The Heirloom
Gardener Magazine, and Mother Earth Living. Online, she's been a staff blogger
for Finegardening.com, About.com, Fix.com, From Scratch Magazine, and many
more websites. Chris is currently secretary of The Colored Angora Goat Breeders
Association. She and her family enjoy an active and entertaining life on their
flower and fiber farm in the Northern California foothills where they grow flowers
commercially and Angora goats.
Summary
Raising backyard fiber animals is rising in popularity, as more and more people seek traditional textiles for yarn-focused crafts like knitting, crocheting and weaving, as well as spinning, embroidery, needlepoint, needle felting, wet felting and fiber dying.
