Page:Care and Management of Rabbits.djvu/105

Rh Many people who have barns, sheds or large garages have constructed rows of hutches along one side of these buildings. While this may provide hutch room at a minimum of expense there are many reasons why this is an undesirable way to proceed.

In the first place, rabbits do not thrive in indoor rabbitries. That has been proved again and again. There is nothing that equals the outdoor hutch. The rabbit is an outdoor animal and even though he is highly domesticated that does not alter the facts. He must have fresh air and plenty of it. Where the air is poor or the rabbitry is poorly ventilated, you will find the quarters invariably damp and heavy. This breeds disease germs and in the course of time the stock will sicken and die.

It also retards the constitutional vigor of the stock and losses of the young are frequent. There is only one hutch and that is the outdoor hutch. If you want to use an old shed or barn rip out one whole side of it in order to afford this ventilation and light. The rabbit, in order