Conjoined kits?

[Mountain Spice]

Hi Ya'll

My NZ gave birth last night, her first litter, and they were all 3 born dead, but all were conjoined. Does this happen sometimes??

 

[Dood]

Freaky!! Any pictures ?

I happens in other animals so it must happen in rabbits but not in my experience.

I would theorize they were identical triplets that didn't quite spit up OR the eggs implanted in the uterus too close together and did not develop independent placental membranes.

Very odd indeed.

 

[AmysMacdog]

I second the pics although I am sorry for your loss. I know I would have been disapionted and a bit freaked out over that! :shock:

 

[MaggieJ]

That must have made for a rough delivery for a first time doe!

I think conjoined offspring could happen in just about any species, but this is the first time I have heard of it in rabbits.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Pictures for sure. :shock: Sorry it happened, it just happens sometimes.

If you still have the kit(s), there is a market for preserved animals with weird deformities. They even have a TV show that sometimes features such things, it's called Oddities. Toss kit in jar, fill with alcohol or some other clear preservative...sell.

 

[Ivory]

Its probably not as rare as we think. I've never seen it in rabbits, but think of all the millions of rabbits born every day, I'm sure a certain percentage of them must be conjoined just like they are for any animal. Look at all the animals (and humans) with strange deformities like six legs or two heads that are showing up on the internet everyday, Some cultures even worship them as Gods!!.<br /><br />__________ Sun Jun 16, 2013 10:31 am __________<br /><br />Google Two headed rabbit images

 

[Marinea]

That had to be eerie to see. So sorry you and your doe went through that.

*fingers crossed for a better breeding next time*

 

[Mountain Spice]

I uploaded the pictures in my gallery, it looks like one long chain, but we counted 3 on them together.... remember once you see you can't un-see.
....
I am new to raising rabbits, how did I get lucky, err ..unlucky go through this...<br /><br />__________ Sun Jun 16, 2013 1:14 pm __________<br /><br />If I wouldn't have bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all... gloom, despair and agony on me (Hee-Haw.. old TV show)

 

[Secuono]

Looks like one kit that is smashed in the middle, possibly a second, poorly formed and smashed kit.

 

[Dood]

I don't think that is conjoined.

To me it looks like a slightly elongated kit who's abdomen did not seal so it spilled out and went necrotic and the afterbirth/placenta is about the feet.

Still freaky, but much more common than conjoined. In the 60 litters or so my does have had, I've had about 3 of theses.

 

[Secuono]

I don't think that is conjoined.

To me it looks like a slightly elongated kit who's abdomen did not seal so it spilled out and went necrotic and the afterbirth/placenta is about the feet.

Still freaky, but much more common than conjoined. In the 60 litters or so my does have had, I've had about 3 of theses.

Yes, that's what I'm seeing, just didn't think it was the guts til you said it!


OP, one lone kit could be not enough feed, one seems far too low for a 'first timer thing'. Did she have the kit on time or?

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Can someone link me? I don't know how to find galleries on here.

 

[Teddy2511]

Here is a link Kyle (just scroll down):

member/Mountain%20Spice/

And yes, I would agree with single kit theory. Poor mama!

 

[Mountain Spice]

Thanks everyone for helping out.
This was her first litter. Since Dood said it has happened with others, will it happen again with her?? Should I try even try breeding her again?

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Thanks for linking me!

Was it her first litter?

I would try her again, it may have happened before but it seems rare so I'd try again.

 

[stone soup farm]

I had a rabbit that had a litter of 5, 3 were DOA and weird longish kits, and one was born 24 hrs later- DOA. It was her first litter with me, but not her 1st. The 3 kits looked a lot like those pics, like the middle was smashed. Her next litter was still only 5 kits but they were all normal looking, still one DOA. She is a sweet rabbit and I could probably keep her as a foster breeder, but she only gets one more try.

For what I have been told you probably won't have that problem again.