36 AGRICULTURE HANDBOOK NO. 3 09, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



N 45951 



Figure 15. — How to restrain a doe for palpating. 



day. The chief advantage to be 

 derived from palpating as early as 

 the 7th or 8th day would be in the 

 case of the breeder selling bred 

 does. Wlien it is desirable to ship 

 bred does a considerable distance, 

 diagnosing pregnancy at this early 

 date makes it possible to have these 

 does arrive at their destination in 

 sufficient time to become settled 

 and acquainted with their new en- 

 vironment, with the minimum risk 

 of complications at kindling. 



Figure 16 illustrates the con- 

 tinual increase in size of the uterus 

 and the fetuses as pregnancy ad- 

 vances. The scale at the bottom 

 of the illustration gives a means 

 for arriving at a comparative esti- 

 mate of the size of the fetuses. 

 In each case, a fetus has been re- 

 moved from the respective uterus. 

 The 10-day fetus was so small that 

 it does not show in the cut. By 

 comparing the 14- and 21-day 

 specimens it will be seen that the 

 growth of the fetus is very rapid. 



If, on palpating, no fetuses are 



found to be present, the doe has 

 failed to conceive, in which case 

 she should be rebred. The doe 

 that is pregnant can be placed im- 

 mediately on a diet that is best 

 suited for pregnant does. 



For the inexperienced person it 

 would be good practice to repalp- 

 ate a week later any does that have 

 been diagnosed as nonpregnant. 

 If a mistake has been made at the 

 first handling the doe may then be 

 given a nest box at the proper time 

 before she is due to kindle. 



Kindling 



Place a nest box in the hutch 

 about 27 days after the doe is 

 mated. This allows the doe to pre- 

 pare a nest in advance and assures 

 a proper place for birth of the 

 young. 



Sometimes does fail to pull fur 

 to cover their litter, or they kindle 

 the litter on the hutch floor and 

 let them become chilled. If you 

 discover the young in time, you 



