112 PRACTICAL RABBIT KEEPING 



in the same litter can be confined in the same 

 hutch or pen for some time longer, if they 

 have plenty of room. Quarrels are pretty 

 likely to come about, however, and valuable 

 rabbits may be seriously injured, perhaps hav- 

 ing their ears torn, or their noses mutilated. 

 Naturally the breeder who is raising utility 

 stock will get rid of all surplus bucks very 

 quickly, keeping only a few of the best ani- 

 mals, so that he can maintain a ratio of one 

 buck to eight or ten does at all times. 



Amateurs often find it possible to sell well- 

 marked young bucks for breeding purposes. 

 The fancier will select such animals as prom- 

 ise to be of special value and let the others go, 

 possibly for meat. 



Some breeders seem to think that it is ad- 

 visable to have small hutches and to keep only 

 two or three young rabbits in each hutch. 

 This, however, is not good policy. The grow- 

 ing stock needs plenty of room, and compan- 

 ionship. It usually is quite possible to unite 

 the does of the various litters. 



The meat breeder will find it advantageous 

 to have his males castrated before they are 

 four months old. The flesh of rabbits becomes 



