The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-06-21

LII D. pu1lCUlAl LoOuCN VOOdy UAAS
Connecticut Humane Society states
as a result of depleted meat sup
plies the raising of domestic rab-
bits undoubtedly will reach a new
high in Connecticut this year. Fay
ing no Objectionable features and
requiring little space, rabbits are
being raised in every State in the
Union. They may be kept in the
city backyard as we'll as on the
farm; in fact, wherever poultry
raising is permitted.
For the new Corners in this ven
ture, the Humane Society offers the
following suggestions taken from a
recent publication of the Depart
ment of the Interior, Fish and Wild
life Service.
Hutches and Equipment
Hutches should be made so that
they can be kept clean conveniently
and will provide for the comfort and
easy feeding of the rabbits. If port,
able, they can be easily moved under
trees for shade and near or in build
ings for protection. They should be
we'll constructed and so placed that
the rabbits will not be annoyed by
stray dogs. The standard hutch Is
4 feet long, 2 IL feet wide and 2
feet high. Floors of the self-cleaning
type may be made of Stats, prefer
ably hardwood, l to l IL inches
wide, spaced SD inch part.
Managers should be large enough
to hold "a hour supply Of hay and
so constructed that they can be fill
ed without opening the hutch doors.
Feed troughs of the drawer type
placed under the hay managers are
convenient for feeding and cleaning
and will catch and save any shat
tered hay leaves. Over the feed
trough, guards should be spaced 3
inches apart to prevent young rab-
bits getting into it and contaminat-
ing the feed
A two compartment hutch can be
constructed economically by using
Grating or other scrap material.
Caring For The Rabbit
Does carry their young 81 to 81
days, TWenty-seven days following
mating, a neat box II inches wide,
16 inches long, and IL inches high
desirable for use during winter and
in exposed rabbitries, should be
placed in the hutch, bedding it with
straw free of weeds and other for
eign material. The doe will usually
arrange the resting material and
line the nest with fur from her own
body. If she fails to pull enough fur
to cover the litter properly, some
may be plucked from her sides, hips
or underline as it is easily removed
at this time. The litter should be
Weaned at about two months of age
and the doe remated.
Rabbits should not be lifted by
ears or legs. The proper method for
carrying them is to grasp a fold OF
skin over the shoulders with the
right hand, support the rump with
the left hand, and hold the back OF
the rabbit against the body.
The animals require special at
tention during hot and cold weather.
New born filters, provided with a
warm nest and a good covering OF
fur, can stand low temperatures as
also can mature rabbits If kept out
of drafts.
In hot weather feed sacks, wet
down three or four times a day and
placed on the hutch floor for the
rabbit to lie on, will make 1t more
comfortable. Water should not be
placed on their bodies as wet fur is
a predisposing factor for colds anc
pneumonia.
Feeding
AS rabbits consume a verlety OF
feeds, there can be considerable lat
itude in selecting winds to use. A ra-
ton may be made of homegrown
grains and hays. Good quality whole
grains--oats, wheat, buckWheat
grain sorghum, barley and rye--are
palatable and desirable.
A good quality hay should be KEPT
in the managers at all times. The le-
gumes such as alfalfa and clover are
more desirable than carbonaceauS
hays such as timothy and bluegrass
and should be used when available
The root crops--carrots, turnips
sweet potatotes, sugar beets ane