80 
RABBITS. 
do thoughtless boys forget to feed the objects of their care, but too fre¬ 
quently suffer them to become diseased, for want of attention to cleanliness- 
This is a very cruel and wicked thing. Rabbits should have their hutches 
cleaned out every morning, and require many little attentions to provide 
for their comfort and health; and those who are not disposed to afford 
these, ought not to think of rabbit-keeping. 
BREEDING. 
The doe will commence breeding at the age of six months. You may 
know that she is going to have young ones by her biting the straw and hay 
about in her mouth, and her general restlessness. She should be supplied 
with plenty of warm, dry litter for her bed while breeding. It is not desi¬ 
rable that a doe should have too many litters in the course of the year, or 
too many rabbits in each litter. Five or six litters in the year, and five or 
six rabbits in each litter, ought to be enough for any reasonable fancier. 
DISEASES OF RABBITS. 
No animal is less liable to disease than the rabbit, when carefully at¬ 
tended; but neglect and want of cleanliness, or improper food, produce in 
them many complaints, among the foremost of which is what is called “pot 
belly,” and which is very common to young ones. It is generally occasioned 
by want of air and exercise, and the use of too large a quantity of green 
food. The remedy is dry food, and to let the rabbits run about in an open 
dry space every day; but the best of all remedies is a stroke behind the 
ears, as few pot-bellied rabbits ever come to any good. 
Rabbits are subject to colds and hoarseness, as we are, and have what is 
called the “ snuffles.” While this disease lasts, they should be kept dry and 
warm, and be fed with barley-meal, made into a paste with a little milk; 
and no water or green food should be given to them till they recover. Rab¬ 
bits are also afflicted with a complaint of the liver, which generally arises 
from damp beds and foul hutches, want of exercise, &c. The only remedy 
for this complaint is the blow behind the ears 5 but it is easily prevented by 
nice dry hutches, bedding, and good and wholesome food. 
