Grooming:
Jersey Woolies were developed by crossing a Netherland Dwarf and French Angora. A Wooly’s coat has a higher ratio of guard hairs. This makes it far easier to maintain than an Angora, and can still be used as a textile. A Junior (under 6mths) will have more of a cottony coat (less guard hairs) than a Senior (over 6 mths). Once the rabbit is a Senior it will require less grooming than the Junior. Your Senior will need to be groomed once a week.
Regular cleaning of their enclosures keep them free of droppings and urine. This helps make the grooming easier. Urine stains, also called ‘hutch stains’ are sometimes unavoidable. Some home remedies include lemon juice and water, vinegar and water, & baking soda and water. Corn starch can be put directly on spot then brushed out. If you have a white rabbit you can also use hydrogen peroxide, be sure not to use this method on a colored rabbit it will bleach out the color. These solutions should only be used directly on the stains. Never immerse your rabbit in water, as this can cause shock and pneumonia.
You may 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. There are also commercial blowers available for livestock which are really nice to have but may not be realistic if you only have one or two rabbits. Use the blower for only short periods of time in the beginning to get your rabbit use to the noise and feeling of the blower. You may give your rabbit treats for its cooperation and this might help it get use to it faster. 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.
Lightly use a slicker brush to 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. You can turn your bunny over in your lap to do its underside. Be sure not to remove all the wool from the rabbits coat, especially if showing the rabbit, this will take away points. If the rabbit has any larger mats first try to pull them apart with your fingers then use a wide tooth metal comb to remove them. If a rabbit is extremely matted shaving the rabbit down may be the only option. With regular weekly grooming this can be avoided.
Each time you groom your rabbit you should check its fur for fleas or mites. Check its eyes for discharge, infection or blindness. Ears should be checked for sores or signs of mites. Teeth should be checked to see if they have become broken or overgrown causing a malcclusion. If teeth have become overgrown it is recommended to bring them to a Small Animal Vet or experienced breeder to trim the teeth. Flip your rabbit and look for any tumors on its under body and look for any signs of vent disease. Lastly be sure to regularly trim your rabbits nails. Be sure not to cut them too short where the vein is or they will bleed. If this does happen don’t panic. You can use a product called Quick Stop to stop the bleeding or simply use some flour on the bleeding nail, this will help form a clot.
As your Wooly matures it will start to loose it’s baby fur and grow in its adult coat. Rabbits will molt (shed their coat) usually a couple times a year. Some rabbits will completely blow their coat and actually have bald spots others molt the fur out more evenly and you will see the difference in the texture the newer coat growing in. This process can take a few weeks to several months. Each rabbit is different and each molt can be different. You can have a rabbit blow his coat during one molt then the next may be less noticeable . The molted fur can be collected and mixed with other fibers to make it into felt or spun into yarn for use in crafts.
Regular cleaning of their enclosures keep them free of droppings and urine. This helps make the grooming easier. Urine stains, also called ‘hutch stains’ are sometimes unavoidable. Some home remedies include lemon juice and water, vinegar and water, & baking soda and water. Corn starch can be put directly on spot then brushed out. If you have a white rabbit you can also use hydrogen peroxide, be sure not to use this method on a colored rabbit it will bleach out the color. These solutions should only be used directly on the stains. Never immerse your rabbit in water, as this can cause shock and pneumonia.
You may 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. There are also commercial blowers available for livestock which are really nice to have but may not be realistic if you only have one or two rabbits. Use the blower for only short periods of time in the beginning to get your rabbit use to the noise and feeling of the blower. You may give your rabbit treats for its cooperation and this might help it get use to it faster. 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.
Lightly use a slicker brush to 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. You can turn your bunny over in your lap to do its underside. Be sure not to remove all the wool from the rabbits coat, especially if showing the rabbit, this will take away points. If the rabbit has any larger mats first try to pull them apart with your fingers then use a wide tooth metal comb to remove them. If a rabbit is extremely matted shaving the rabbit down may be the only option. With regular weekly grooming this can be avoided.
Each time you groom your rabbit you should check its fur for fleas or mites. Check its eyes for discharge, infection or blindness. Ears should be checked for sores or signs of mites. Teeth should be checked to see if they have become broken or overgrown causing a malcclusion. If teeth have become overgrown it is recommended to bring them to a Small Animal Vet or experienced breeder to trim the teeth. Flip your rabbit and look for any tumors on its under body and look for any signs of vent disease. Lastly be sure to regularly trim your rabbits nails. Be sure not to cut them too short where the vein is or they will bleed. If this does happen don’t panic. You can use a product called Quick Stop to stop the bleeding or simply use some flour on the bleeding nail, this will help form a clot.
As your Wooly matures it will start to loose it’s baby fur and grow in its adult coat. Rabbits will molt (shed their coat) usually a couple times a year. Some rabbits will completely blow their coat and actually have bald spots others molt the fur out more evenly and you will see the difference in the texture the newer coat growing in. This process can take a few weeks to several months. Each rabbit is different and each molt can be different. You can have a rabbit blow his coat during one molt then the next may be less noticeable . The molted fur can be collected and mixed with other fibers to make it into felt or spun into yarn for use in crafts.