BREEDING AND CARE OF RABBITS 



doe is due to kindle give her a full feed of green food 

 and a fresh dish of water, place her in a nice, quiet 

 hutch away from other does or matured stock of any- 

 kind. This method of feeding and attention to Bel- 

 gians may be carried out with nearly every breed of 

 rabbits, and with the larger stock just increase the 

 amount of feed. 



In selecting your youngsters never choose the 

 small, dark, smudgy specimens, but the long, racy 

 and bright colored specimens. At two weeks of age 

 it is safe to select the ones to be kept for exhibition 

 purposes. Pay close attention to the ears, chest, neck 

 and tail on the youngsters, for the color usually shows 

 up first on these points. Select youngsters also that 

 have deep, rich ear lacing. 



Preparation for Exhibition. 



Exhibition stock should be in condition nearly all 

 the time. It should never be too fat, and should al- 

 ways be racy in appearance. Sometimes it is necessary 

 to exercise the stock before certain shows, and various 

 plans have been devised. The writer at one time had a 

 kitten that was raised in a rabbitry and soon knew all 

 of the rabbits and would often play with them. A 

 different specimen that was a trifle too fat would be 

 placed in a twenty foot runway and the cat permitted 

 to chase it until it became tired. This system always 

 brought good results. Other breeders place high 

 hurdles and force their exhibition stock to jump them 

 for an hour at a time. Proper feeding and care would 

 make these exercises unnecessary. The stock must 

 never enter the show room too fat or with distended 

 abdomens. 



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