POOD AND FEEDING. 



9 



COURTS. 



A rabbit court may be paved or floored, or it may be a grass court 

 surrounded by a rabbit-proof fence. Sleeping hutches inside the 

 court may be small boxes of any sort if they are stout and water- 

 proof. They should have sliding doors to confine the rabbits if de- 

 sired, and should also have small holes near the top for ventilation. 

 If a court is used, hutches will still be needed for the breeding does. 



A rabbit-proof fence to inclose a grass court should be made of 

 heavy poultry netting 5 or 6 feet wide and of 1 J- inch mesh. The 

 posts, projecting 3 or 4 feet above the ground, should be well set 

 outside the edge of the court. The netting is stapled to the posts, 

 leaving a projection of 6 inches or more at the top and about 18 

 inches at the ground, to be turned into the court. The lower edge 

 should be covered with 10 or 12 inches of soil to prevent the animals 

 from digging out. The upper edge is also turned inward to keep 

 them from climbing over. Brackets at the tops of the posts make 

 the best support for 

 the overhanging net- 

 ting, although hori- 

 zontal pieces of wood 

 nailed to the posts 

 will answer. 



Pig. 



A simple outdoor hutch. 



FOOD AND FEEDING. 



The rabbit thrives 

 well on a diversity 

 of vegetable foods. 

 Many writers on the 

 care of this animal prescribe elaborate lists of foods to be followed 

 week in and out. The fact is that a few staple foods are sufficient, 

 but no animal is more adaptable to sudden changes of diet; so that 

 one can feed what is available or cheap, the idea being to produce 

 weight with the least possible outlay of money. 



GRAIN AND HAY. 



The best grain for rabbits is oats, either whole or crushed, though 

 com meal, barley, or other grain may often be fed by way of change. 

 The crushed oats are best when freshly broken, and a hand mill for 

 preparing them is a valuable adjunct to a rabbitry. 



Hay is a necessary part of the rabbit's diet and if possible that of 

 the very best quality should be used. It should be entirely free from 

 moldiness, and the unsweated is always preferable. If one has small 

 grounds where suitable grass grows, the mowing may be done at 



496 



