BREEDING AND CARE OP RABBITS 



When winter breeding in extremely cold climates, 

 place a hot water bottle wrapped in flannel beside the 

 doe the night she is due to kindle, and keep it there 

 until the youngsters are two days old. 



If a doe throws her youngsters all over the hutch 

 and it happens to be cold weather, wrap them in warm 

 flannel as quickly as possible and if they are alive, hold 

 the doe in your lap and then hold the mouth of the 

 young to the teats of the doe and in many cases they 

 will be able to nurse. If a doe shows herself to be a 

 cannibal and insists upon killing her young, give her 

 a close examination and see if she was too fat when 

 bred or if it comes from other causes. In many in- 

 stances, a doe is entirely too fat when bred. This pro- 

 duces excessive internal heat, which at the time of 

 kindling becomes intense and results in a desire to 

 kill her young. Try her again, provided she is a good 

 doe, and if she persists in doiiis? 't again, you might 

 try her once more, but usually it is better to place her 

 on the table for eating. 



Care of the Young. 



Never touch the youngsters the first day, but on 

 the second, take the doe quietly out of the hutch, place 

 her where she cannot see you and kill the sickly, puny 

 ones. If it is a large litter, separate them and give 

 part to foster mothers which should have been bred 

 and ready for the good doe's litter. Leave about three 

 or four young with each doe. In giving the youngsters 

 to the foster doe, it is advisable to leave her only two 

 of her own and two of the other youngsters. Then 



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