1900 



GI.EANINGS IN BEE CUI^TURE. 



727 



California fanciers. Milk is specially desira- 

 ble for the does during the nursing period. I 

 have already referred to feeding green veget- 

 ables. It is sometimes safer to let these wilt a 

 little before feeding. Vegetables wet with 

 dew or in any other way should never be giv- 

 en. Potatoes, carrots, etc., are often fed with 

 good results. I have already referred to the 

 importance of ventilation and exercise. If 

 we add to these judicious feeding I think we 

 shall have mtt all the safeguards against dis- 

 ease in the rabbitry. 



In my own home I have never had any med- 

 icines. We don't keep them. The presence 

 of the docior is almost as rare. The reasons, 

 I am glad to give — great quantities of fresh 

 air, wholesome food eaten at regular periods, 

 and plenty of good exercise. This is a trio 

 that'll make the goddess of health dance in 

 any home. I can not too heartily recommend 

 the same blessed trio in the rabbitry. I omit- 



haunches. Unless raised quickly from the 

 ground the free use of their feet will make it 

 hard to handle them. Their hind legs are 

 very strong, and their only weapon of offense 

 and defense. They may often inflict a con- 

 siderable wound by the use of these members 

 unless one is cautious in handling them. 



In mating the animals, the doe should al- 

 ways be placed in the buck's hutch, and not 

 the reverse. The young, also, should be taken 

 from the mother and placed in a different pen, 

 and not the mother from the young. A few 

 da)'S before the young are born, some hay or 

 litter should be placed in the nesting-box. 

 As with sows, so here, it is very important 

 that the mother be very carefully fed just be- 

 fore parturition else she may eat up her own 

 young. This leads me to speak of water, 

 which should always be given fresh at least 

 twice a day, and should be where the mother 

 can get at it at the time of bringing forth her 



ANOTHER VIEW OF RABBITRY. 



ted to recommend in the above the excellence 

 of bran, made into a mash, for the rabbiis, es- 

 pecially the young ones. I would feed, as in 

 case of all domesiicated animals, only twice a 

 day, and at just the same time. Such regu- 

 laiity is very important. I wish the human 

 kind understood its importance, and acted ac- 

 cordingly. It would, however, be bad for the 

 doctors. I would, also, feed just what would 

 be eaten up clean, and very soon after feed- 

 ing. One excellent fancier urges that food be 

 always kept before the rabbits. I am sure 

 this is never wise with any animals. Food al- 

 wa}S fresh, and not munched or slobbered on, 

 will always be mure appetizing ; and appetiz- 

 ing food IS the only kind that man or animal 

 should ever eat, if health is to be considered. 

 In handling the rabbits they should never 

 be lifted by the ears, but rather by the loose 

 skin above the shoulders. They should be 

 raised with the left hand and supported in 

 part by the right hand placed under the 



young. The young will not need water dur- 

 ing the nursing period, but must have it at all 

 other times. Watering and feeding may be 

 done in small earthen jars. These are cheap, 

 and easily kept clean. r ,j 



The rabbits are subject to very few diseases, 

 all of which may probably be avoided, as I 

 have already taid, by precautions in the way 

 of ventilation and feeding. One of the most 

 common and, perhaps, the most serious of 

 these diseases, is bloat. It is a stomach trou- 

 ble, and without doubt can be wholly avoided 

 by proper care of the diet. Green food in too 

 great abundance is the cause. Dysentery and 

 scours are also more or le.=s troublesome, but 

 can also be largely prevented if sufficient care 

 is taken in the feeding. Snuffles also comes 

 into the rabbitry to snatch away the fancier's 

 pets. Good ventilation, with protection from 

 drafts and chills, will usually prevent this 

 trouble, which is only influtnza. There are 

 medicines recommended for all of these dis- 



