Page:Care and Management of Rabbits.djvu/150

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CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF RABBITS

is nothing better for the noon feeding than skim milk and stale bread. This will cause faster development in the growing stock than almost anything else that can be given.

If you are unable to procure skim milk except at a figure too high to warrant its use it would be best to give the mash in the morning and a feeding of whole or rolled oats at noon and hay at night.

Whatever the ration you determine upon, stick to it and be regular in the feeding. It is best not to change rations right in the midst of feeding your young stock.

The market animals will be nursed by the mother doe until eight weeks old. This means that you will only have to feed them a month or six weeks after weaning before they are ready for the pot. Of course, they will eat quite a bit along with the doe during the time that they are still nursing, and during this portion of the feeding period they will be getting more or less milk from her along with the other ration.