212 SECOND THOUSAND QUESTIONS IN AGRICULTURE 



a doe is given bedding before the middle of her time, say on the tenth day, 

 she will in all probability prepare her bed about the fifteenth day. Should 

 she do this, never disturb her. Keep her pen clean, leaving the nest intact. 

 When the young are born remove all inferior sized or dead ones. I would 

 advise straw or oat hay or any clean dry stuff free from mildew in place of 

 alfalfa hay. Give water and green stuff, avoiding cabbage and celery or 

 decayed vegetables. Pears and apples are relished, but if given in quan- 

 tities they are apt to gorge themselves and die suddenly ; rolled barley or 

 wheat is all right. Dry alfalfa tends to paunchiness ; green alfalfa is fine. 

 Mrs. B. H. Gilkey, Santa Rosa. 



Mice sometimes cause does to neglect the completion of their nests and 

 the lack of preparation for the young influences the doe to devour them. 



Bucks and Does. 



How many Belgian hare bucks are required for twenty-five does? 



The number of bucks required for twenty-five does depends upon the 

 judgment of the owner, and the age before breeding. A buck properly 

 handled should not serve more than one doe a day and then be allowed 

 complete rest for a week or so after breeding about a dozen. One should 

 use discretion in breeding so as to not waste the energy of the male. Two 

 good strong males would be sufficient for your does, provided an accurate 

 record be kept of service and the buck be given plenty of grain. Remem- 

 ber the buck is half of your flock. 



Belgian Hare Production. 

 I am intending to raise some Belgian hares and desire information. 



There is a Farmers Bulletin on Rabbit Raising to be obtained free 

 from Bureau of Documents, U. S. Department of Documents, Washing- 

 ton, D. C. 



Alfalfa for Rabbits. 



Recently ten of my rabbits about three months old have died. They 

 sicken suddenly. In every case the liver was very dark, with white 

 blotches. The stomach is usually full of food, and the intestines full of 

 excreta, except in one or two cases when the lower intestines were empty, 

 but distended with gas. The rabbits seem too thin in flesh. I feed alfalfa, 

 rolled barley and occasionally oats. 



If the alfalfa is at fault it must have been because the alfalfa had 

 been fed while there was dew or wet, maybe rain, on it. Then the rabbits 

 have not had variety enough ; a little bran, some carrots, or other vege- 

 tables would have been much better than just three articles of diet. 

 Turnips and carrots are much relished by rabbits ; and as they can be 

 grown the year round in this State, it is poor economy not to raise a few. 

 The trouble evidently was in the bowels and too much green food of any 

 kind is liable to cause bowel trouble. 



