BREEDING AND CARE OF RABBITS 



taking care of her young, it is advisable to take her 

 from the hutch about the third day after the young 

 are born. Place her in a hutch where she will not 

 see you handle the youngsters, and if you find three 

 or four larger and stronger than the others, then 

 destroy all the small ones. If they all appear about 

 the same size, keep three or four showing the great- 

 est width between the eyes and having the shortest 

 heads. Some may think this is too great a loss, but 

 remember that two or three well developed young- 

 sters are worth more than a dozen poorly developed 

 ones. Before you place the doe back in her hutch, 

 place some tempting food, in the way of bread and 

 milk and some green food which you have found she 

 likes; this will tend to keep her mind away from 

 the youngsters until the scent from your hand disap- 

 pears. 



If you find your litter scattered over your hutch 

 and they are still warm, take each one and wrap it 

 in warm flannel. Bring your doe into the house, place a 

 cloth or apron over your lap, lay the doe on her 

 back in your lap, and place one of the youngsters 

 at a time to a teat of the doe; then place the teat in 

 its mouth, and if they have any life in them you will 

 soon see their little stomachs swell. 



In winter it is well to place a bottle filled with 

 hot water and wrapped in flannel, in the nest box 

 the night the doe is due to kindle and leave it there 

 for several days. You must keep everything clean 

 in order to develop beautiful coats in both color and 

 quality of fur. Always give does wheat straw for 

 bedding, and if the doe does not pull much hair for 



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