The Jersey Wooly rabbit is a dwarf breed, weighing between 3 to 3.5 pounds at maturity. The breed can look bigger, due to the “wooly” pelt from which it gets its name. The breed is noted for being even more docile than the average rabbit, leading to one of its many nicknames – the “no kick” rabbit. It may also be called the “mug head” rabbit, for its unusually shaped head
While the blocky head is a prominent feature of the Jersey Wooly rabbit, it is the coat that the breed is truly known for. As one of the few fiber rabbits that is not an angora breed, the Jersey wooly is often considered a poor choice for fiber because of the rabbit’s tiny size. However, for those not concerned with heavy production, or with little space, the Jersey Wooly can make a good dual-purpose, pet/fiber choice.
Standards of Perfection
The body of a Jersey Wooly rabbit is often described as “round.” The width of the body should be equal at the shoulders and at the hips. The body should be short, no longer than the rabbit is wide. The hips should be round, and there should be a gradual curve from the nape of the neck to the loin.
The head is short and blocky, set high and proportionate to the body. The ears should be short, preferably no more than 2.5 inches, with more than three inches being a disqualifying feature. Ears are carried upright but are not necessarily touching as they would be on the Polish rabbit.
The feet must be straight, and while there may be wool on the back legs, if it extends below the ankles on the front legs, the rabbit is disqualified from showing. Eyes and ears must match the rabbit’s coloring pattern as required by the American Rabbit Breeder Association.
The recognized color varieties are agouti (chestnut, chinchilla, opal, squirrel), pointed white (with black or blue), broken (any recognized color plus white), self (black, blue, chocolate, lilac, blue-eyed white, ruby-eyed white), shaded (sable point, seal, Siamese sable, smoked-pearl, tortoiseshell, blue tortoiseshell) and tan pattern (black otter, blue otter, silver marten, sable marten, smoke pearl marten).
Jersey Wooly Rabbit Coat Care
The Jersey Wooly rabbit breed originates from New Jersey in the United States. It was bred for its long, wooly coat in the 1970s. Most healthy rabbits are capable of self-care when it comes to grooming. The Jersey Wooly, however, requires human intervention due to the texture and thickness of its coat. Weekly grooming is suggested to prevent matting. Even with a rabbit who self-grooms well, the heavy coat can result in a buildup of wool in the digestive tract.
Jersey Wooly rabbits also should be kept indoors. Most rabbit breeds do well in outdoor hutches or colony environments, but the special texture that makes fiber rabbits so unique also means they are unable to survive in uncontrolled conditions. They lack the insulation to deal with extreme heat or cold, are unable to repel water and are more prone to matting if they get damp.
Special Needs
The Jersey Wooly lives an average of 7-10 years and is prone to all of the standard issues rabbits can develop. However, the breed can also be prone to certain cancers, and many experts suggest spaying or neutering as this seems to extend their expected life span.
Woolies have some special care needs as well. Not only do they need help to keep their coats clean, but their ears should be cleaned regularly as well. Web MD Pets recommends this to help them regulate their body temperature better. The National Jersey Wooly Club also suggests extra cleaning for white rabbits, since the coloring from cages, bedding or urine can stain their wool.
An important note for breeders new to the Jersey Wooly: while they are – on average – one of the most docile breeds, there are instances of certain lines known for bad tempers and biting behaviors. This is, for some reason, especially true in blue-eyed-whites and in males of the breed. This can sometimes be corrected with extensive behavioral work, but in some cases, the rabbit may require culling.
This article about the Jersey Wooly rabbit was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.
