Jersey Woolies: More Than Just Cute Buns

Jersey Woolies

more than

tjustu

cute buns

BY HEATHER LAFFINANNA SAWIN PHOTOS

126CT FOOD & FARM / SPRING 2019

“While well-known on the show table, Jersey Woolies are practically unheard-of in the fiber community. Here at Maplewood Farm, we’re hoping to change that!”

IF

you’ve spent much time in the agricultural community or had the chance to attend a fiber festival, you’ve undoubtedly encountered an angora rabbit. These rabbits are raised by fiber enthusiasts for their lustrous coats which are harvested either by plucking or shearing several times a year. There are four types of angoras recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA): English, German, French, and Satin, each weighing between 5-12 pounds. Angoras are typically thought of as a larger breed of rabbit; their care can be quite laborious, making angora rabbits unsuitable for children. Their hefty price tags, typically $80-200 each, adds to their elite status. While their fiber is sought after by many hand spinners and knitters, raising angoras has proven to be so high maintenance that only the most dedicated fiber artists are brave enough to attempt it.

If you’ve had your heart set on raising your own angora fiber, hope is not lost! There’s a more manageable alternative: Jersey Wooly rabbits. While they don’t deliver the quantity of fluff as their standard size relatives, Jersey Woolies grow soft fiber called wool that is

equally desirable. This dwarf breed is also a more economical alternative to other angora breeds. Weighing in at a whopping three pounds, Woolies are suitable for adults and children alike. It bodes well for their future popularity that Jersey Woolies can be found across the states, with prices starting at $40. Sure, show-quality rabbits can cost upwards of $75, but if your top priority is fiber you won’t need to invest much to get started.

Jersey Woolies have only been around since the 1980s, when Bonnie Seely cross-bred a Netherland Dwarf to a French Angora. The result was the best of both worlds: coveted silky fiber in the pint-size package of a dwarf rabbit. Woolies were recognized as a breed by ARBA in 1988, and have since made frequent appearances at rabbit shows and competitions across the country. While well-known on the show table, Jersey Woolies are practically unheard-of in the fiber community. Here at Maplewood Farm, we’re hoping to change that!

I first learned of Jersey Woolies in September of 2017. They were casually mentioned in a conversation with another rabbit breeder and, having never heard of

CTFOODANDFARM.COM 127

them before, I quickly turned to Google and began scrolling through the images. I fell in love with their appearance, and within 15 minutes had found one for sale from a local breeder. At the time, I was raising Rex rabbits for meat. While I enjoyed snuggling the little bunnies when they were a few weeks old, my heart was yearning for more.

Admittedly, I began breeding Jersey Woolies for their cuddle factor, but soon realized the bunnies were a great fit for my education programs, too. I brought bunnies to elementary schools, story time at the library, and middle/high school special education classes. I also have a reputation for bringing my bunnies to less “expected” places: community meetings, the hair salon, tax appointments, and even

128CT FOOD & FARM / SPRING 2019

“I’ve found that the best way to diffuse stress and spread happiness is to show up with a basket of bunnies and start passing them out to everyone!”

physical therapy. I’ve found that the best way to diffuse stress and spread happiness is to show up with a basket of bunnies and start passing them out to everyone!

Over the course of 2018 the fiber part of my farm truly blossomed and the Jersey Woolies earned their place as a permanent feature. My current breeding program includes four does and three bucks, and a variety of colors: blue, black, blue martin, smoke pearl, chestnut, Siamese sable, and broken black. My rabbitry is housed in a small enclosed building with full walls, windows, and a roof. The rabbits get ample sunlight and fresh air without being exposed to snow, wind, and rain which would compromise

CTFOODANDFARM.COM 129

“my hope is that fiber aseek out a Jersey Wooly

and begin to raise

130CT FOOD & FARM / SPRING 2019

rtists of all ages willbreeder in their areatheir own fiber”

CTFOODANDFARM.COM 131

the quality of their fiber. Each rabbit has its own 24” x 24” cage; expectant mothers are moved to bigger brooder cages in their last week of pregnancy and remain in the larger cage with their kits until the babies are five weeks old and fully weaned. Mothers are then returned to their own cages and the babies stay together for several more weeks, until they are sold or ready to live alone.

While I do enjoy my small collection of Woolies, they have proven difficult to breed and my rabbitry has grown very slowly. Their litter size is comparably smaller than most breeds, ranging from three to five kits at a time, and their mothering instincts are not strong. Losing an entire litter is disheartening

132CT FOOD & FARM / SPRING 2019

CTFOODANDFARM.COM 133

134CT FOOD & FARM / SPRING 2019

CTFOODANDFARM.COM 135

136CT FOOD & FARM / SPRING 2019

and not unusual. While breeding these rabbits is unlikely to turn into a lucrative business model, that hasn’t been my goal. Instead, my hope is that fiber artists of all ages will seek out a Jersey Wooly breeder in their area and begin to raise their own fiber. I realize it’s not feasible for most spinners and knitters to raise sheep, but anyone can raise a Jersey Wooly!

Jersey Woolies are low maintenance keepers and delightful as pets. In order to keep their coats clean and free of matts, they should be brushed at least every other week with a flea comb to remove any loose hairs. I brush out the Woolies in my rabbitry twice each month, harvesting about an ounce of fiber each time. While an ounce doesn’t sound like much, the wool from all seven rabbits fills a one-gallon storage bag. It is a LOT of fiber, though it weighs practically nothing. In fact, it takes about 15 minutes to thoroughly brush each rabbit and much of that time is actually spent pulling fluff out of my eyes and mouth. Bunny fluff flies everywhere, so this task is best done outdoors.

Once harvested, the fiber is immediately ready to use. Because there is no lanolin in rabbit fiber, it does not need to be washed. As long as the rabbits live in wire-bottomed cages, they will stay nice and clean, and their fiber will be free of the vegetable matter found in sheep and goat fleeces. While it is possible to dye Wooly fiber, I prefer to spin

it naturally; I enjoy seeing the variety of colors in my rabbitry reflected in the colors of the yarn.

You may be wondering just how much yarn this translates to; I recently core spun an ounce of Wooly fiber over cotton and got

just over a hundred yards of yarn. Of course if spun alone, the yardage would be less, and if you blend it with other fibers you could stretch it out even more. Jersey Wooly fiber is perfect for the crafter who wants immediate gratification: you can harvest the fiber and spin it up within the hour. You don’t need to spend a week scouring, drying, and carding before finally sitting down at your wheel. You can go from “barn to yarn” in the course of a single day.

“It’s not feasible for most spinners andknitters to raise sheep, but anyone canraise a Jersey Wooly!”

CTFOODANDFARM.COM 137

Interested inlearning more aboutour Jersey Wooly

rabbits?

Find us online at MaplewoodFarmer.com. Wondering if these cuddly, fluffy bunnies are right for you? Read on for feedback from two others who have experienced Maplewood’s Jersey Woolies:

138CT FOOD & FARM / SPRING 2019

CTFOODANDFARM.COM 139

140CT FOOD & FARM / SPRING 2019

“The first time I visited Heather’s farm, I fell in love. Her animals are beautiful and you can feel her deep love for them. The Jersey Woolies are the sweetest bunnies you could ever meet. So gentle and curious. Our family loves them!!!”

- NICOLE C., QUAKER HILL, CT

“Upon searching for farm animals, I came across a post for a black Jersey Wooly bunny at Maplewood Farm. When I inquired, Heather was inquisitive of my interest and knowledge about rabbits before agreeing to sell me one. I found this to be very respectable and made me feel secure in my purchase. We arranged a time and date for me to visit and potentially pick up the bunny.

When I arrived at Maplewood farm, Heather led me to her rabbit cottage and handed me the bunny...now called Bean. He was so friendly and snuggled into the curve of my neck. As she gave me the tour of her farm, it became very clear that not only were her bunnies very social and well cared for, but so were all of her other animals.

It’s been approximately 8 months since I have brought Bean home. Heather has become a friend and mentor in growing my own farm. I direct people to her farm and her products regularly.”

- ANN C., ELLINGTON, CT

CTFOODANDFARM.COM141