COMMERCIAL RABBIT RAISING 



21 



To help keep the nest dry, cut 

 some 1/4, -inch drain holes on the 

 bottom of the nest-box drawer. 



Losses of young rabbits kindled 

 in winter can be largely prevented 

 if you furnish proper nesting ac- 

 commodations. If a doe reacts 

 normally to her newborn litter by 

 pulling enough wool to make a 

 warm nest and feeding her young, 

 and if the nest box is well insu- 

 lated, the young can survive tem- 

 peratures as low as 15° to 20° be- 

 low zero. 



You can make a good type of 

 winter nest box by placing a stand- 

 ard size nest box inside a larger 

 box. Pack straw into the space of 

 3 inches or so on all sides except 

 entrance and top. A lid of ordi- 

 nary box wood covered on the 

 under side with two thicknesses of 

 paper will supply the necessary top 

 insulation. Make two or three 



holes, 1/^- to %-inch in diameter, 

 in the lid at the end opposite the 

 opening to the nest box, for venti- 

 lation and to prevent condensation 

 within the nest box. On the bot- 

 tom of the inner box, put one or 

 two layers of corrugated cardboard 

 or several thicknesses of paper to 

 keep the newborn litter from com- 

 ing in contact with the cold boards. 

 Fill the nest box so completely 

 with new, clean straw that the doe 

 will have to burrow into it to form 

 a cavity for a nest. Inspect the 

 box daily for the first 3 or 4 days. 

 If the cardboard or paper becomes 

 damp from accumulated moisture, 

 remove it promptly. Replace it if 

 cold weather continues. A simpler 

 nest box for use in winter consists 

 of a single box lined completely 

 with one or two layers of corru- 

 gated cardboard and filled with 

 straw. 



FEEDS AND FEEDING 



Success in raising rabbits is im- 

 possible if you do not give enough 

 attention to diets and provide 

 wholesome feeds in adequate quan- 

 tity each day. 



Feed is one of the biggest items 

 of expense in raising rabbits and 

 each herd presents an individual 

 problem. Select diets that are 

 suited to the needs of your rabbits, 

 whether you buy commercially 

 prepared mixtures or pellets, or 

 mix feeds yourself. 



Feed Requirements 



Rations for dry does, herd bucks, 

 and developing young should pro- 

 vide the following: 



Percent 

 of ration 



Crude protein 12 to 15 



Fat 2 to 3.5 



Fiber 20 to 27 



Nitrogen-free extract 43 to 47 



Ash or mineral 5 to 6.5 



Rations for pregnant does and 

 does with litters should contain 

 more protein. Their rations should 

 include : 



Percent 

 of ration 



Crude protein 16 to 20 



Fat 3 to 5.5 



Fiber 15 to 20 



Nitrogen-free extract 44 to 50 



Ash or mineral 4.5 to 6.5 



Tlie nutrient contents of common 

 rabbit feeds are shown in table 2, 

 and daily requirements for various 

 weights of rabbits are shown in 

 table 3. Further information on 

 nutrient contents may be obtained 

 from Morrison's Feeds and Feed- 

 ing {lOy and National Research 

 Council Publication No. 1194 {12). 



The protein content of rations 

 is important in development of 



^ Italic numbers in parentheses refer 

 to the Literature Cited, p. 69. 



