Hoppel without end: Baby boom in the rabbit hutch
As the animal-loving family prepared for their well-deserved holiday, they knew that their ten rabbits were well looked after. They left the house feeling reassured and dreaming of a relaxing holiday. They had organised everything and, after all, all the bucks had long since been neutered – so there was no need to worry about unexpected offspring. But when they returned, they were amazed: the ten rabbits had suddenly become many more. Small, fluffy babies were hopping around the hutch and, to their amazement, there seemed to be more every day.
But how was this possible when all the male rabbits were neutered? What initially sounded like a mystery turned out to be an incredible but true story.
The chapter on offspring was closed, wasn’t it?
Originally, the family had two males and three females. When one of the females became pregnant and gave birth to five adorable babies, the bucks were neutered immediately to prevent further offspring. The vet examined the babies and confirmed that they were all female. The family were now the proud owners of a harmonious, ten-strong extended rabbit family – and everyone thought the offspring chapter was closed.
The rabbit family eventually grew to an incredible 35 animals in total! It was simply too much for the animal-loving family. There was no longer enough space in the enclosure to provide all the animals with the space they needed. To keep rabbits in a species-appropriate way, each animal needs a spacious enclosure and plenty of room to run around. Unfortunately, standard hutches or cages often do not do justice to their urge to move. Rabbits can jump about a metre high, sprint at up to 60 km/h and make lightning-fast hooks.
Did you know: Rabbits have an immense urge to move, comparable to a cat.
Determining the sex of rabbits is tricky
It quickly became clear that the rabbits could not all be kept. That’s why the family turned to Gut Aiderbichl. But how did this unexpected rabbit offspring come about in the first place?
In retrospect, it turned out that not all the animals in the first litter were female – a misunderstanding that happens more often than you might think. Although experts determine the sex of rabbits, mix-ups can occur time and again. Determining the sex of young animals is particularly tricky, as their sexual organs are often not yet fully developed at around four weeks of age. This makes it difficult to distinguish between males and females. Even experienced vets and breeders can make mistakes.
Did you know: When stressed or excited, they retract their testicles into the abdominal wall, which makes it even more difficult to determine the sex.
To avoid such confusion, it is recommended to consult two independent experts or to carry out the examination again after a few weeks. This ensures that the sex of the rabbits is correctly determined and that surprises like this do not occur.
Known for reproductive vigour
It’s no surprise that rabbits quickly grow into a large family. They are known for their fertility and live up to this reputation. Dwarf rabbits are able to reproduce from the third month of life, while larger breeds are usually ready from the fourth or fifth month. They can become pregnant at any time of the year. Female rabbits are pregnant for 28 to 33 days and then give birth to an average of six babies. Without intervention, the population can quickly multiply – 25 young animals or more are not uncommon. This is because rabbits can have an average of eight to ten litters per year.
Did you know? Rabbits have a so-called uterus duplex, which means that they have two independent uteri. This means that they can become pregnant again during an existing pregnancy and give birth to two litters about 14 days apart.
Animal placement at Gut Aiderbichl
At Gut Aiderbichl, we have now separated the male and female rabbits to prevent further offspring. As soon as the males are old enough, they are neutered so that they can live together again later in a harmonious, large rabbit family. However, 25 rabbits in one go is also a challenge for Gut Aiderbichl. The place is practically full, which means that we cannot take in any more rabbits or hares at the moment. We are therefore looking for loving, private homes for the 25 babies. Please get in touch at Tiervermittlung@Gut-Aiderbichl.com.
