12 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



water or milk may be used for moistening the meals. This kind of food should also 

 always be given to the rabbits in troughs, and these kept scrupulously clean ; more 

 especially during the summer months, as moist food is very liable to turn sour if 

 left even for a few hours. Three or four tablespoonful'S will be about the right 

 amount to give to each rabbit. 



Water should always be before rabbits, for, although they are able to live 

 without it, they will thrive better with it. Bowel-troubles^ will to a great extent 

 be avoided, while many a young litter will be saved. When does devour their young 

 the cause may be frequently traced to the absence of water. Milk, either skimmed 

 or whole, may, if available, be given instead of water, and will prove advantageous, 

 particularly in the case of does with young or of fattening youngsters. A small 

 piece of rock salt in the hutch is also beneficial, as it will tend to keep the stock 

 in good health by acting as a preventive of many minor ills, and the rabbits 

 appreciate an occasional lick of salt. Rabbits greatly enjoy a feed of hawthorn, 

 poplar, maple, and most fruit-tree leaves. A branch should be placed in the hutch 

 occasionally. 



BREEDING. 



Young or immature rabbits should not be bred from. Those that are not less 

 than seven months old, sturdy and vigorous, are more likely to become parents of 

 strong, healthy offspring. The concensus of opinion regarding limit of age for 

 breeding purix>ses is that after four years of age the stock cannot ordinarily be 

 depended on to produce large and lusty litters. 



The average doe should not be expected to produce more than four litters 

 yearly. She should be given a rest during the winter months if possible. Where, 

 however, the climate is mild and the breeder has proper equipment for the successful 

 rearing of winter rabbits, an additional litter per doe may be arranged for. The 

 first mating should be made some time during February and the does rebred when 

 the young are about five weeks old. 



The exact time for mating is when the doe evinces restlessness and stamping 

 of feet. It is the general practice to place the doe in the buck's hutch, leaving her 

 there for about twenty minutes, unless the doe exhibits signs of fighting, when she 

 should be at once removed for a time. Some breeders often try another buck 

 instead of waiting. 



The period of gestation is thirty days, and from three to ten young may be 

 produced in a litter. Sometimes more than ten young are born. This number is 

 generally too great, however, for the doe to feed, and it may be found necessary to 

 kill off the weakest if they cannot be given to another doe to rear. 



After being bred the doe should be disturbed as little as possible, and particular 

 oare should be taken to see that she is not scared or annoyed by children, dogs, 

 cats, rats, or mice. 



A plentiful supply of clean hay should be provided towards kindling-time to 

 enable her to make her nest, which she will line with fur plucked from herself. 



Does in young do better if given plenty of hutch-room. If nesting compartments 

 are not provided, a nesting-box should be placed in the hutch about ten days ahead. 

 An empty fruit or butter box will do excellently. The box needs to be about a foot 

 and a half long, a foot deep, and about a foot wide. Remove the lid and cut a hole 

 large enough for the doe to enter in the top end of one of the sides. Turn upside 

 down and place in one of the corners. The box will also do for the doe to rest on 

 top, so as not to be continually worried by the young a few weeks later on. Do not 

 disturb the nest after the young are born. Cannibalism often results if the doe or 

 young are disturbed at this time. The young will begin to leave the nest soon after 

 they are two weeks old as a rule. As soon as this happens, the nests should be 

 cleaned out and fresh material placed therein. A little air-slaked lime may be 

 sprinkled on the floor of the nest before putting in straw or hay. 



During gestation the doe needs to be fed an additional meal daily. This can 

 be given at noon. Bread and sweet milk, given in a clean china or earthenware 



