Page:Care and Management of Rabbits.djvu/184

168 She should be kept quiet and handled according to the suggestions set out elsewhere. There is nothing to be gained by permitting the doe to have more than one service. I have found that just as large litters come from a single service as from several.

It is best to always watch your does when in the buck's hutch, for then you know for sure as to whether service has been had or not. Some breeders put the doe in the buck's hutch at night and take her out in the morning. This is not only a poor policy but entirely unnecessary. You will soon have a poor buck on your hands if you follow this policy very long.

Haphazard breeding is the reason why so many blood lines constantly dwindle out and why so many breeders of live stock are constantly on the down-hill side of business success. You must have some plan of breeding and follow it out intelligently if you are to succeed.

The old statement that "like begets like"