BREEDING. 



11 



able changes in diet are always possible in summer, but overfeeding 

 should be avoided and also the feeding of stuff that is wet with dew 

 or rain. It is best to cut clover or other green food in the afternoon 

 before the dew falls and to spread it under shelter so that it will not 

 heat, but be still fresh at feeding time. 



Corrective feeding. — Occasionally a warm mash of cooked potatoes 

 or of the leaves of clover hay mixed with " chops " or a little bran is 

 desirable. Sometimes a little sulphur may be sprinkled with the 

 mash, although a little flour mixed with the ordinary grain has about 

 as good an effect in correcting looseness of the bowels. In cold 

 weather some breeders feed a warm mash each evening. 



Unless green food is abundant rabbits should be given water daily. 

 In warm weather the water pans should be filled with fresh water 

 twice each day. The does suckling young or soon to have young 

 should be given milk diluted with one-third warm water. 



A piece of rock salt kept in each hutch affords a steady supply as 

 needed and makes it unnecessary to supply salt in the food. 



Rabbits under 3 or 4 months old should be limited in the amount of 

 green food. If allowed too much they are apt to become " pot- 

 bellied." When a young rabbit is seen to grow big about its belly, the 

 use of green food should be discontinued and the animal given plenty 

 of exercise. Under such treatment it will soon recover, but if the 

 green food is continued the disease usually terminates in convulsions 

 and death. Old rabbits are not subject to this trouble. 



BREEDING. 



AGE FOR MATING. 



It is not desirable to pair rabbits until they are at least 6 months old, 

 although they may be bred earlier. Some breeders do not mate 

 animals under 10 months of age. Healthy mature rabbits produce 

 larger and stronger litters than younger stock do. 



METHODS OF MATING. 



Different breeders adopt different methods of mating. Some leave 

 the buck in the hutch of the doe for but a few minutes, while others 

 leave him over night. The older does should be mated in February, 

 but it is well to defer mating a young doe until March. She then has 

 young in April, when there is abundant green food to induce a good 

 flow of milk. This lacteal development once well established, she is 

 likely always to give abundance of milk for her young. If one begins 

 to pair in February he should expect to have each doe produce four 

 litters a year, the young coming at intervals of about 12 weeks, with a 

 longer rest in midwinter. 



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