. Agricultural news. Agriculture -- West Indies; Plant diseases -- West Indies. 262 THE AGllICULTURAL NEWS. August 13, RABBIT KEEPING IN THE WEST INDIES. In the I'olldwing further instalment of notes on rabbit keeping in the West Indies ]Mr. Barclay deals with the subject ol' the breeding of rabbits :— BREEDING. Bucks and does should not be used for breeding until at least eight months old, and nine months is better. Usually in Jamaica does are bred as early as they -will do so and have litters at six months old or before. This is wrong and results in deterioration. A doe which seems to
. Agricultural news. Agriculture -- West Indies; Plant diseases -- West Indies. 262 THE AGllICULTURAL NEWS. August 13, RABBIT KEEPING IN THE WEST INDIES. In the I'olldwing further instalment of notes on rabbit keeping in the West Indies ]Mr. Barclay deals with the subject ol' the breeding of rabbits :— BREEDING. Bucks and does should not be used for breeding until at least eight months old, and nine months is better. Usually in Jamaica does are bred as early as they -will do so and have litters at six months old or before. This is wrong and results in deterioration. A doe which seems to be a persistent fighter should at once be fattened and killed for table, but when accustomed to each other young does will not as a rule fight. Young does therefore kept for breetling, can be kept together until of a breeding age. After being put to the buck, and within a fortnight of having 30ung, the young does should be put each in its own separate apartment and disturbed us little as possible. At this time the doe should receive a little extra in the way of food, but not of a fatten- ing nature, like corn. A hard crust of bread is one of the best things and two table-spoonfuls of porridge (oat, wheat or cornmeal) and milk, if this can be afforded. The doe may begin to make its nest a week before she drops, and at this time soft hay or grass should be put in to help the nest making. The doe will take this and make a nest and line it with the soft fur from her breast. She should not be lifted or touched within a week before dropping, and indeed should be handled as little as possible at any time. Xo curiosity whatever .should allow of any one looking in the nest to see how many young ones she has got. Some does are so sensitive that they will desert their young, or even kill them if they are touched or handled. It is a common thing in .Jamaica for does to forsake their newly born young, and this is due to their being disturbed too much. The presence of mice or rats will of
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