Do Rabbits Lay Eggs? A Guide To Rabbit Reproduction

Do rabbits lay eggs? I mean, we all know that chickens lay eggs, but what about our furry little friends the rabbits? 

It seems like a strange thing to think about, but I’ve actually had a few people ask me this question before and I figured it was worth looking into. So, let’s dive into it and see what we can find out.

Do Rabbits Lay Eggs?

The short answer is no, rabbits do not lay eggs. However, there are a few different ways to interpret this question, so let’s look at each one in turn.

Do Rabbits Lay Eggs Like Chickens Do?

Rabbits and chickens are both members of the class Aves (birds), but they are not closely related. Chickens belong to the order Galliformes, while rabbits belong to the order Lagomorpha. As a result, they have evolved different reproductive systems.

Chickens have a reproductive system that is specialized for laying eggs. They have a single functional ovary (the left one) and oviduct, which produce eggs and transport them to the shell gland where the eggshell is added. 

Once the egg is fully formed, it is laid and passes through the cloaca (a common opening for the digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts) and out of the chicken’s body.

Rabbits, on the other hand, have a reproductive system that is specialized for giving birth to live young. They have two functional ovaries and a complex system of uterine horns and branches, which allow them to carry multiple fetuses to term. 

When a rabbit is pregnant, the fetuses develop inside the uterus and are nourished by a placenta, just like in humans. When the time comes, the rabbit gives birth to her young, called kits or bunnies, through the vulva.

So, to answer the question, no, rabbits do not lay eggs like chickens do. They give birth to live young.

Read: Are Rabbits Nocturnal?

Do Rabbits Lay Eggs In The Same Way That Reptiles Do?

Some reptiles, like snakes and lizards, lay eggs. These eggs are fertilized inside the female’s body and then laid and incubated outside of the body. This is known as oviparity.

Rabbits are not reptiles, however, and they do not lay eggs in this way. As we noted above, rabbits have a reproductive system that is specialized for giving birth to live young. 

They are known as mammals, and most mammals (including humans) are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young that have developed inside the mother’s uterus.

So, to answer the question, no, rabbits do not lay eggs in the same way that reptiles do. They give birth to live young.

Reproduction in Rabbits

Now that we’ve established that rabbits do not lay eggs, let’s take a closer look at how rabbits reproduce.

Rabbits are known for their rapid reproduction rate. Female rabbits, called does, can become sexually mature as early as 3-4 months of age and can produce multiple litters of kits per year. 

They are induced ovulators, which means that they do not have a regular estrous cycle like many other mammals do. Instead, they ovulate in response to mating or other types of physical stimulation.

When a doe is ready to mate, she will signal her availability by “throwing” her back end up in the air and allowing the male, called a buck, to mount her. 

Mating can be a somewhat violent process, with the buck holding onto the doe’s scruff (the skin on the back of her neck) with his teeth and kicking her with his hind legs. However, this is a normal part of rabbit reproduction, and most does do not seem to mind.

Read: Do Rabbits Really Hibernate?