CHAPTER I. 



RABBITS. 



HOUSING. 



THE housing of live stock of any kind depends largely, 

 in arrangement, upon the space at disposal. Rabbits 

 especially need plenty of fresh air, although there is one 

 variety of these animals which it is urged cannot be bred 

 to perfection without being kept in such an equal 

 temperature as can never be obtained under natural 

 conditions. That variety is the lop-eared rabbit, about 

 which we shall give special directions. We favour out- 

 door hutches properly protected from the weather, i.e., 

 kept dry. The nature of the rabbit is such that it can 

 bear very cold weather, and take no hurt, if it is kept 

 dry and free from draughty conditions. Dampness of 

 its dwelling place or draughtiness will soon prove fatal. 

 Against a fairly high wall, with a waterproof roof over 

 the hutches, wide enough to prevent rain or snow from 

 beating or drifting under is a good place, affording fresh 

 air in plenty and also providing shelter for the rabbits 

 and those who attend to them in inclement weather. 

 Hutches should always be stacked well clear of the 

 ground say 2 feet, and should also be kept the same 

 distance from the roof, as well as standing a little away 

 from the wall, and with air space between each. This 

 will give opportunity for a continual current of fresh 

 air to get all round them, and is a great help towards 

 retaining dry and healthy surroundings. Manv of 

 those who keep rabbits have either what are called sheds 

 or out-houses at their disposal. Some have stables, 

 others lofts over the same. Others, who go in for rabbit 

 keeping as a business as well as a pastime, have 

 rabbitries specially constructed. No matter which 

 course is followed, we favour plenty of light and cheer- 

 ful conditions, and Nature demands a liberal supply of 

 ventilation to permit of the ingress of fresh air and the 

 egress of foul, to and from any building in which rabbits 



