I02 PRACTICAL RABBIT KEEPING 



is right she will make no resistance. It is 

 important for beginners to understand that it 

 is often difficult to induce a virgin doe to 

 breed ; sometimes many trials have to be made 

 before she is safely bred. 



It often happens, though, that a doe is re- 

 moved before she has been bred when she is 

 handled by a novice. Then at the end of the 

 month a complaint may be made that the buck 

 is useless. The animals should always be 

 watched, and when the buck falls over on his 

 side or backwards, the owner will know that 

 service has been complete. One service is 

 better than several, and in a few moments the 

 animals should be separated. A buck should 

 not be used oftener than two or three times a 

 week. 



After the doe has been put back into her 

 hutch she should be kept as quiet as possible 

 until her babies come. They usually arrive in 

 thirty days, but sometimes are delayed for a 

 day. The does must have a special nesting 

 box which may be a permanent part of the 

 hutch or a smaller box with an opening a little 

 larger than the doe cut into one side. This 

 opening should face away from the light. It 



