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Jersey Wooly Rabbits

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Jersey Wooly Rabbits - The Fluff of the Fancy

Jersey Woolies are a dwarf wooled breed with a beautifully gentle temperament. Jersey Woolies were first introduced by Bonnie Seeley at the 1984 American Rabbit Breeder's Association convention, and were finally accepted as an ARBA recognized breed in 1988. For pets or show, the Jersey Wooly is an excellent choice for both novice and experienced rabbit fanciers. The perfect size for a youth to handle, though parental supervision is necessary to assure the Jersey Wooly receives appropriate grooming to prevent knots & mats.

Jersey Wooly Rabbit Physical Characteristics

Jersey Woolies are dwarf size rabbits, with a preferred adult weight of approximately 3 lbs. They have a compact body shape, relatively small ears and bright alert eyes. Their rounded skull is given an even more pronunced "pug nosed" look due to the cap of fluffy wool atop their heads.

The wool is one of the most important aspects of the Jersey Wooly. They are to have a long coat, with a large ratio of guard hairs to the fluffier under wool. Because these thicker longer guard hairs make up more of the coat they are less prone to matting than their angora cousins. They are often said to have an easy care coat, but this should not lead the new owner to believe that they do not require grooming.

Jersey Wooly rabbits are shown in six Groups each comprised of related varieties of colors. These groups are: Agouti, AOV (any other variety), Broken, Self, Shaded, and Tan Pattern. For beautiful images of the color varieties included in each group please follow the link below to the National Jersey Wooly Rabbit Club!

Jersey Wooly Health

Proper Care & What to Watch For

Jersey woolies may have an easy care coat when compared to larger angora breeds, but they need a bit more grooming than your average domestic rabbit. A good brushing every week will keep the adult Jersey in great shape. Younger rabbits (5 months and under) will likely need grooming roughly twice as often.

While grooming be certain to check eyes, ears and bottom of signs of irritation. Also check nails and trim if necessary and check for evenly worn teeth. Malocclusion is a condition where the teeth do not lign up properly and they may become overgrown, causing difficulty eating. Your veterinarian should be able to show you how to properly trim teeth if your rabbit suffers from this condition.

Keeping cages free of droppings will make your grooming sessions much easier as well. Rabbits tend to take to using a litter box fairly easily, add a small tray to the cage and line it with fresh timothy hay daily to encourage your bunny to use it.

Offering fresh hay has the added benefit of helping to reduce the possibility of wool block, a life threatening clog of hair in the digestive tract. Wool block is more common in breeds with longer coats, like the Jersey Wooly, than in other breeds. Be sure to feed timothy hay or dried orchard grass in addition to a high quality pelleted diet. Other helpful supplements for avoiding wool block include papaya enzyme tablets or laxatone.

Clubs... National & Breed Specific

Get Involved!

There are many clubs available to rabbit owners, from national to local to clubs specifically focused on your favorite breed (or breeds). Membership in clubs often includes periodicle newsletters, information on proper care of your rabbits, breed specific information, updates on shows, and the opportunity to participate in various membership or scholarship competitions.

Additionally, your membership helps to support the future of the rabbit fancy and public education on the joys of rabbits and all aspects of raising them!

Jersey Wooly Rabbits