RAISING THE YOUNG STOCK 1 1 1 



rabbits of this breed. It is even more neces- 

 sary in the case of young rabbits than mature 

 animals to keep the hutch clean and sanitary, 

 the floor being covered with sawdust, leaves, 

 hay or peat. Filth of any kind fosters diseases 

 which are difficult to eradicate. 



The feeding of the young rabbits is an im- 

 portant matter, but will be found covered in 

 Chapter VIII. 



If the weather is cold, special care must be 

 taken to keep the youngsters warm. The hutch 

 should be in a tight building, and it may be 

 necessary to drop a blanket or some other cov- 

 ering over the front at night. Raising young 

 animals in winter always has disadvantages, 

 except in a rabbitry equipped for the purpose, 

 or in the warmer parts of the country. 



By the time they are three or three and one- 

 half months old, the sexes should be separated. 

 It becomes possible to tell them apart at that 

 age by a physical examination, as described 

 in Chapter VII. If the sexes are left together 

 longer there is danger that the does will be 

 prematurely bred, to their lasting injury. The 

 bucks, too, will begin to fight among them- 

 selves. Sometimes bucks that have grown up 



