More Surprises!

Yesterday morning we went out to check on the rabbits and found several clumps of hair in the cage. My first thought, again, was that someone was hurt but after doing a quick "ear" count everyone seemed fine. I went back in the house to clean the kitchen and the guys were working in the yard. Within minutes, I heard a high pitched squealing and ran out to see what was going on. Oreo had the solid white baby in her mouth and was slinging it from side to side. They were out in the part of the cage that we can't reach so I was fussing at her and hitting the side of the cage with a dishtowel, Jacob was screaming and Shannon was desperately trying to reach through the door and get the baby. She finally dropped her and came out to where I could reach her...I held her while Shannon went to get the cage that Butterscotch had been living in. I knew she was just trying to wean them but seeing her with a mouthful of the baby's hair really upset me. We decided to seperate them since the babies are eating so well on their own.

This morning, Jacob and I went out to check and see how they did on their first night alone to find Oreo with a cage full of her own hair. She had pulled out massive amounts and tucked it all in her litter box. I commented to Jacob that I didn't understand why she had pulled it out when I saw the hair moving. Shocked beyond belief I realized that there were babies in the litterbox under the hair! I gently pulled back the hair and could see 2 brand new babies. Keep in mind that Oreo and Butterscotch have not been in a cage together since the day the first litter was born on August 7th, 32 days ago. Pregnancy for a rabbit lasts roughly 30 days. I was in shock the entire day and Jacob thinks it is fantastic that we have more babies. I understand now why she was getting so rough with the litter yesterday...she was trying to prepare for a whole new litter.

Tonight when we get home we immediately go to check on everyone...after gently looking through the litterbox I find 4 babies. The best I can tell is that 2 will be spotted like Oreo and 2 are black. One of the black ones might have a white belly. Shortly after getting home the guy that we gave Butterscotch to called and asked if I was ready for him to pick up everyone else. He was shocked that we had newborns too. He came on by and Jacob said he could take all of the first litter until I had them boxed and then he started crying. I, of course, caved and we kept Smokey (solid black) and the Bandit. Here are some final pictures of the first litter and one of the new litter. Oh, and can I just say how tired I am of surprises?