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Baby rabbit behavior

22 11:05:02

Question
I wonder if usually there are some twins from the same egg.  She had a couple litters and each time there were 2 pairs and some individual looking ones.  

The pairs are not exactly idential as the color and patterns might have differences.  Of course same color solid ones may be impossible to tell apart.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Do rabbits only nurse at certain times or any time they can?  I've never seen nursing but have seen babies trying to get under the mother at a tit.

It seems the babies hang around ones that looks similar to them.  When I see 2 together it's usually the same color and pattern.
-----Answer-----
Most does will only nurse once in a 24 hour period, sometimes twice and usually for only 3-5 minutes.  If your rabbit kits our already out of the nest box and trying to grab a teat then that shouldn't be to much of a problem.  The doe at this point will just push them away like they are an annoying child if she doesn't want them there.  If your kits are very young and the doe is sitting in the nest box all the time, this is bad.  She could very easily step on them and kill them.  Unless you sit in your barn all the time it is hard to tell what time they will nurse.  I have caught them nursing mid-day and sometimes in the middle of the night.  If you have a doe that refuses to get out of the nest box you can take the box away from her and give it back to her twice a day at 12 hour intervals.  Leave it there long enough for them to have full bellies.  If she refuses to feed try to hold her down until the kits can latch on.

About the colors hanging out together that is a really hard one.  I did just check my nest box and all my sable points are together and my 2 brokens (the spotted ones) are kind of in their same space.  I guess I never noticed that.  Very few of my litters have same colored kits because I breed to get a variety.  But that is certainly something interesting I will check out.

Thank you so much and if you have any further questions please feel free to ask.

Answer
I have to tell you honestly that I don't know if that is possible.  Rabbits are induced ovulators and when the sperm travels up to the ovaries an egg is released, but I am inclined to say that anything is possible.  I searched my research books and was unable to find anything about multiple rabbits from a single egg.  I sent an e-mail to my vet friend but he is on vacation so I am not sure when I will get a reply.  

I guess the best I can tell you is that it is doubtful but it could be possible.  Another thing to consider is that 2 rabbits could have the exact same genetic code when bred to the same parents.  So they very well may look exactly alike or even just slightly different.

I am so sorry that I can't answer this question for you but I am definitely going to do more research on the matter as it is a very interesting question.

I just received an e-mail from my veterinary friend and he said he has never heard of rabbits having "twins".  He did however say that again anything is possible.   Ty for your question.  

Pam