TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR RAISING HEALTHY RABBITS

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However, there are a couple of persistent health bugaboos that may require particular attention. For example, ear mites—that hide out in the crevices of your hutch and love to nibble the insides of rabbit ears—are often a problem. You can control the pests by plopping a few drops of mineral or olive oil into your bunnies' "antennas" once every six weeks or so.

In addition, the rough wire hutch floor can sometimes produce sores, scabs, and even inflammation on the animals' feet ... especially their hocks. You can help remedy that problem by placing flat 6" X 10" boards over part of the pen floors (away from the animals' favorite toilet comers) so your bunnies can rest their weary toes in comfort.

That about sums it up. You now know all the basic information you'll need to breed healthy, productive rabbits. Once you've tried raising the prolific critters, I think you'll be surprised—as I constantly am—that more folks don't take advantage of the good, healthful eating that the long-eared livestock can produce for rural, suburban, and urban dwellers alike!

EDITOR'S NOTE: Three articles in MOTHER with especially good rabbit information are Harlan D. Attfield's "Feedback on Rabbits" (No. 20, page 38), E.P. Bell's "It's a Hare-Raising Business" (No. 32, page 59), and four readers' combined "Feedback on Rabbits" (No. 34, page 23). These back issues are available—for $3.00 each plus $1.00 shipping and handling per order—from THE MOTHER EARTH NEWS(% P.O. Box 70, Hendersonville, North Carolina 28739.

There are also two fine, no-nonsense books on rabbitry: Robert Bennett's Raising Rabbits the Modern Way (Garden Way, $4.95) and Harlan D. Attfield's Raising Rabbits (Vita, $3.95). You can get either or both of these volumes—for the list prices plus .950 shipping and handling—from Mother's Bookshelf, P.O. Box 70, Hendersonville, North Carolina 28739.

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