Bunny Birth

Question
My sisters bunny gave birth to 5 bunnies probably about a month ago or so, yesterday the bunny had 6 more babies but we cant understand how. we seperated the male and the female so is there a way that she just gave birth twice ? thank you, my mother is freaking out =] .

Answer
Hi Ashli:

The only way the bunny could have delivered more babies is if it was rebred.

Rabbits cannot hold sperm and cannot retain babies for a later delivery.

When did you separate the male and female?

If the male was with her on the day she delivered the litter a month ago, that's probably when the mating took place.  Female rabbits are most fertile on the same day they give birth, so if a male was with her then - he impregnated her.

Rabbits carry young for 31 days, so count back 31 days from the day the new litter was born and figure out what male was with her.

It takes as little as 5 seconds for rabbits to mate.  It can happen when playing and it has even happened when rabbits are in wire cages and the cages are pushed up against one another - they can mate through the wire.

Also, are there any older babies with mom - older than 10 weeks?  Male rabbits become fertile as early as 10 weeks old.

Since mom has a new litter, be sure you wean (take away) the older litter immediately.  She wont be able to nurse both and the new litter will starve to death.

Best wishes with all the bunnies.
Lisa L.