The care of rabbits, guinea pigs, and other pets becomes of absorbing
interest to every boy at some time, and he is fortunate indeed if he
has room outdoors to engage in this pastime properly.
The comfort of the little animals, and their protection from their
natural enemies, the cat, dog, weasel, etc., should be well looked
after. Fig. 224 shows a very simple and convenient house for animals
which do not gnaw through wood, as the rabbit and guinea pig.
These two animals will usually live together peaceably, except when
breeding. The mothers become sensitive and jealous of all strangers
when raising a family. The house proper has a sloping roof, which is
hinged to provide a convenient method of reaching any part of the
inside.
The large space covered on all sides by wire netting is the yard, or
runway.
The front of the house should face south, and be covered with netting,
except the door, which slides up in the grooves provided, as shown in
the detail.
The northern end of yard is boarded clear up to the top. This shuts off
the cold north winds, and in that kind of a house rabbits will live the
year round.
[Illustration: Fig. 224. Rabbit house]
Guinea pigs will thrive in such a structure until the thermometer
reaches zero.
These interesting and harmless creatures come from Brazil, and when the
temperature reaches that point, it is better to take them indoors, as
they catch cold and die of pneumonia, like human beings.
The runway is covered at the top with two-inch wire netting to keep out
cats, who seem to take delight in killing both pigs and rabbits.
The upright corner posts should be set at least two feet in the ground,
braced along the top by strips, to which the netting is fastened with
staples, or double-pointed tacks.
A hemlock board should be set in the ground all around the yard, with
a projection of an inch or two for securing the netting at the ground
line.
Hemlock is cheap and will last longer in the ground than spruce. If the
rabbits start to burrow, they become discouraged by finding this board
in the way on every side. These planks or boards may be rough-sawed
lumber.
The inside of the house should be coated with creosote and painted
outside a bronze green. A dark-coloured house is warmer than a white
one, as may be easily proved by placing a thermometer, first under a
black hat, then under a white one. This is probably the reason why
people in the tropics wear white clothing.
A door the full height of the yard should be provided at the far end,
as it is sometimes necessary to get in for cleaning or other purposes.
The hinged roof should be made water tight by covering with some form
of commercial roofing paper, or by using tongue and grooved boards well
painted.
[Illustration: Fig. 225. Traps]
The door sliding in grooves, as shown, has a long handle, which
projects up through the top of the runway, so that it may be opened or
closed from the outside. It can be made from box material.
A number of these houses may be placed in a row and allowed to open
into a large yard, or there may be individual runs. The latter method
is more satisfactory, as a large run can easily be obtained by
providing doors between the yards.
In the country, where weasels, mink or other wild enemies bother the
rabbits, they can be caught in traps. The ordinary box trap at _a_,
Fig. 225, is designed to catch the animals alive. Its construction
is clearly shown in the drawing, one end covered with wire netting,
or made solid, and the other provided with a door, arranged to drop
easily in the groove when the trigger has been disturbed. The simple
construction of the trigger is shown in the detail, while the bait is
attached to a string. As soon as this is disturbed the door drops.
A typical dead-fall trap is shown at _b_. The weights placed on the
sloping board should be heavy, as this trap is designed to kill its
victim. For this reason it should never be used where there is any
possibility of a pet cat or dog being caught. The trigger is very
sensitive, and the slightest pull at the bait is sufficient to bring
the weight down on the unfortunate animal.
The uprights should be mortised through the base board, and the cross
piece at top halved to the uprights. The sloping board with weights
fastened to it has a generous-sized hole fitted loosely over a dowel at
the right-hand end of bottom board. A groove cut in the latter allows
the weighted board to fit tightly when it falls, the dowel with bait
dropping into the groove.
Fig. 225 at _c_ shows a snare frequently used. It should be placed in
front of a hollow log, box, or barrel, so that the animal must put his
head through the loop of wire in order to reach the bait.
The first pull at the end of the trigger releases the spindle, and the
bent sapling does the rest. The loop of wire should be held open and in
position by twigs conveniently placed.
The killing of our few remaining wild creatures, however, should never
be done for sport. It is excusable only when they become destructive
or troublesome. Squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks are much more
interesting as friends than as caged or killed victims.