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rabbit getting pregnant!

22 9:53:31

Question
Karen, i asked Dave this question but he baffled, any ideas?

Dear Dave, i run an animal rescue in Lisburn Northern Ireland. we recently took in 4 dwarf rabbits. 1 male and 3 females which had been housed together. i immedately seperated the male as all 3 females were pregnant. the 3 females gave birth within a week of being seperated from the male and raised the young in a communial nest. i am told that they are sisters. the young from that are now almost 6 weeks old. My problem is that one of the females has now produced a second litter and i believe one of the others to also be pregnant. How is this possible? the 3 adults living together are all definately female, i am quite confident in sexing rabbits and all 3 have given birth and fed the young. The male has had no access since they arrived and has been in a different shed at the other end of the garden.


ANSWER: hi nigel its baffling but the only thing I can think is that somehow the male got to them or someone put the buck with them without telling you.

Answer
Hi Nigel,

If the litter was born less than 4 weeks after being separated from the male, then he impregnated her twice. The rabbit reproductive system includes two "horns" and it is possible to have two different litters, of two different ages, occupying their respective horn. Of course, that's not advisable, but is possible.

If the litter was born in the last two weeks, then the buck has been put back in with the does at some point. Or one of the does is a buck with a split penis. No matter how confident all breeders are, we do make mistakes. (A good friend of mine just made a huge one not too long ago)

Is your communal nest outside? Domestic rabbits can breed with wild rabbits--they're the same type.

Hope this helps!
Karen