How to Groom your Jersey Wooly

Jersey Wooly Grooming

Jersey Woolies came into being as a cross between the Netherland Dwarf and French Angora.  A Wooly’s coat has a higher ratio of guard hairs, however, making it far easier to maintain than an Angora, and can still be used as a textile.

Regularly clean their enclosures to keep them free of droppings.  This goes a long way towards making grooming easier.  Urine stains, also called ‘hutch stains’ are sometimes unavoidable.  Some home remedies include lemon juice and water, vinegar and water, or baking soda and water.  These solutions should only be used directly on the stains.  Never immerse your rabbit in water, as this can cause shock.

Start your grooming sessions with a high powered blow dryer set to ‘cool’, or a small, clean shop vac set to ‘blow.’  This will blow away dirt and dust and fluff the coat.  Use the blower for only short periods to start, giving your bunny treats for its cooperation.  Be careful not to blow directly into the ears, eyes, nose or mouth.  Start at the rump and work your way forward along the back and sides.

Using a slicker brush next will remove mats, pull out loose fur, stimulate the skin and add a shine to your rabbit's coat.  Slicker brushes come in many sizes and styles.  Look for one specifically designed for bunnies.  Again, begin at the tail.  You can turn your bunny over in your lap to do its underside.

As you gently handle your rabbit, check its eyes, ears and bottom for signs of irritation. Also check the nails and teeth, both of which can become overgrown and require trimming.  If left untreated, overgrown teeth, known as malocclusion, may cause your rabbit to stop eating.

As your Wooly matures, it will go through several stages of molting, beginning around the eyes, nose and base of the ears.  Some rabbits go completely bald, resulting in what’s called a ‘Michigan hairless.’  Shed coats can be mixed with other fibers and made into felt or spun into yarn for use in crafts.  With Jersey Woolies, you can, quite literally, have your bunny and wear it too.  New coats usually come in fairly quickly.

For additional information, follow these quick links:

Building a better bunny house: www.therabbithouse.com
How to handle your bunny: www.3bunnies.org/handling.html
Basic bunny care: www.raising-rabbits.com/rabbit-care.html
Out/Indoor hazards to companion rabbits: www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/hazards.html
The National Jersey Wooly Rabbit Club: www.njwrc.net
The American Rabbit Breeder’s Association: www.arba.net