The Jersey Wooly rabbit is one of the smaller rabbit breeds out there, with adults barely weighing 3 pounds in size. Of course, this has resulted in the Jersey Wooly rabbit being popular among those who want to own a rabbit, but do not necessarily have a huge amount of space at their disposal.
Let’s take a little look at what this rabbit breed brings to the table, shall we?
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The Origins of the Jersey Wooly Rabbit
The Jersey Wooly is one of the newer breeds of rabbit, being developed initially in the 1980s in New Jersey. It is a cross between a Netherland Dwarf and a French Angora, the results producing this tiny rabbit with a fluffy coat and exceptional nature.
This means that it has fur pretty similar to an Angora rabbit, but it doesn’t come in anywhere near the same size as the Angora due to the Dwarf genes.
The Jersey Wooly was unlikely to have been developed for anything other than being a show rabbit. While it does have a lot of fur, since this is a smaller rabbit, there isn’t really a whole lot of it.
This means that it doesn’t make a good fur rabbit. In addition to this, the Jersey Wooly bunny is far too small to even be considered a meat rabbit either. It is purely just a show rabbit, and the fact that it is the most popular show rabbit in the United States demonstrates this.
The Look of the Jersey Wooly Rabbit
This is a very, very compact rabbit. As we said before; this rabbit is not going to weigh much beyond 3 pounds. Of course, it is also an incredibly fluffy rabbit. Its fuzzy fur complete with its small size make it sure to be an animal your going to instantly fall in love with.
This fluff is going to take a good bit of looking after, though. It can be easy for the wool to get a little bit out of control if you are not careful. This means that you should be brushing them at least once per week, sometimes more when they are molting.
With very small erect ears, only 2-3 inches in length and a square head its features are quite different to what you would expect to associate with your typical rabbit breed.
What really stands out with this breed is its unusual square head “mug head” as the bread is affectionately known because of its square head and short ears.
There are 6 different recognized Jersey Wooly color groups each with many different color combinations, so many unique color patterns can be observed.
Jersey Wooly Lifespan
A Jersey Wooly rabbit can live from anywhere between 7 to 10 years. This is actually one of the longest-lifespan breeds of rabbits out there.
This is, in part, down to their small size. It is also because there are not that many health issues associated with this rabbit at all.
The Personality of the Rabbit
While the Jersey Wooly Rabbit is mostly used as a show rabbit, it is also highly regarded as a pet.
This is because it is considered one of the most docile of all rabbit breeds out there.
Known as the “no kick rabbit” it is certainly safe to say the temperament of the Jersey Wooly is second to none.
The breed is known for the rabbit’s lack of kicking and biting compared to other breeds.
For the most part, this is a rabbit breed that loves to be handled. So, if you do want to have a calm rabbit that you can just chill out with, then this breed may be perfect for you.
Who is the Jersey Wooly Rabbit Suited For?
This is a rabbit breed that has pretty much been designed to live indoors. If you are not able to let it live indoors, then do not get this rabbit. Sure, there is a chance that it may be able to thrive outside, but this rabbit does have very sensitive skin. This means that the colder months can have an impact on it, despite all that wool.
Thankfully, if you do have it inside, it is not going to take up all that much space, so this isn’t something that you will need to worry about too much. That being said, the Jersey Wooly Rabbit does work a whole lot better when it is paired up with other rabbits.
However, this is pretty much the same for any other rabbit out there. They are incredibly sociable creatures, after all.
We would not recommend buying the Jersey Wooly Rabbit if you have young children. Yes. We know that the Jersey Wooly bunny is a cute and fluffy breed. It is small, though.
If you have younger children, then they may be prone to handling it incorrectly. This may be fine with a larger rabbit, but not with something so small. It is very, very delicate and inappropriate handling can seriously injure it.
They are loving gentle and affectionate their care givers making them anyone’s first time perfect pet, but especially great for elderly people who want a calmer companion, and a home with older children learning about caring for animals (however supervision is of course still recommended).
Overall this small docile non kicking rabbit makes a great all round family pet. Its tiny stature yet loving nature can really melt anyone’s heart, and lead to many years of happiness. i mean just look at that face!
Finally; you should only opt for a Jersey Wooly Rabbit if you are fine with people able to look after the fur. This is something which can get matted quite a bit. So, if you are not brushing the fur regularly, then your rabbit may end up with severe health issues.
Care Tips for the Jersey Wooly Rabbit
As we said before; this is a rabbit that needs to be brushed regularly. This serves two purposes. For starters; it will ensure that your rabbit looks nice and presentable. When a rabbit has fur this long, it is all too easy for it to get matted and out of control. Your rabbit is going to look a little bit worse for wear.
The main reason, however, is the fact that if the rabbit licks itself and it swallows loose hair. This hair can become impacted. This can kill the rabbit. As a result, a lot of people will regularly trim their Jersey Wooly bunny to ensure that the chances of this happening are kept to the absolute minimum,
You also need to be incredibly delicate when you are brushing your rabbit. The skin is so sensitive, and if you brush too hard, then you will be causing your rabbit an immense amount of pain.
You should remember that your rabbit will need a diet formed mostly of hay. In fact, 80% of that rabbit’s diet should be hay. Other than hay, you can give your rabbit vegetables (mostly leafy greens), pellets and fruits (but only as a treat). They love bananas, apples, strawberries… actually, any fruit is like a candy to them. But be sure to exercise moderation when giving fruits to your bunny.
This breed would also benefit from some wooden or simple toys for mental stimulation.
This could be something you have on hand like an empty toilet roll, wooden ball, or wooden blocks, rabbits are naturally inquisitive creatures who love to take an interest in new things.
The rabbit should be let out of its enclosure to exercise and socialise as often as possible. It is during this time that you can really bond with your rabbit and build a trusting and loving relationship.
Finally; you need to make sure that you handle your rabbit properly. Since it is so small, it can be quite a timid rabbit to deal with at the start. It will need to warm up to you. This means that you should not handle it roughly.
If you do that at the start, then you are never going to be able to bond with that rabbit. So, keep your petting sessions light and to the absolute minimum. Eventually, your rabbit will warm up to you and seek out the petting sessions on its own!
Jersey Wooly For Sale
If you’re looking to find Jersey Wooly for sale, make sure you do your research and go to a good breeder or reliable rescue. You can search for rabbit rescues in your area before buying from a breeder.
On the ARBA site you will surely find Jersey Wooly for sale from a good breeder.
- A list of Jersey Wooly breeders on the official American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) site – ARBA breeders list
- Jersey Wooly for sale at Rabbit Breeders.
The average Jersey Wooly price is around $50. Assuming you want keep the rabbit as a pet. A show quality Jersey Wooly can cost much much higher. However, the most important thing is to make sure you get a well-raised rabbit to avoid ending up with one that’s potentially aggressive.