Can rabbits lay eggs?

Question

Have rabbits ever been able to lay eggs? I saw a documentary on the BBC that claimed that the origins of the Easter Bunny are based on sound biological and scientific fact. Evidently rabbits laid eggs with very colourful and decorative shells during Shakespearian times. Archaeologists are unsure if they were actually filled with chocolate. Surely this can't be true?

Answer 1

wot? no they cannot.

Answer 2

Historical things like this are usually always proved to be untrue.

In this case the truth was uncovered when the long lost diary of Dr Herbert Wiseeuff, a close friend of Shakespear, was found in the attic of a house that was being cleared for demolition.

It turned out that he and Mr Shakespear genetically bread a very small chicken. Named the Squat Chicken, and only slightly bigger than a regular egg, the Doctor and Bill would place one under the rear end of a sleeping rabbit and attract the attention of people passing by. The warm and dark environment would cause the squat chicken to lay its egg. People watching, unaware the chicken was underneeth the rabbit, would run and spread the news.

The eggs were actually a normal colour, so the fact that they were reported as colourful and decorative can only be put down to Chineese whispers when people spread the word.

I hope that clears things up for you.

Answer 3

"If you heard it on the BBC it must be true"

(unless it was April 1st)

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History actually suggests that the Easter bunny was originally a hare. In pagan mythology, the hare represented love, growth and fertility. The hare and the egg were also the symbols of the spring and lunar goddess Eostre, from whose name it is generally believed that the word 'Easter' is derived.

Neither hares nor rabbits lay eggs, but hares bring up their young in 'forms'. These forms are hollows in the ground, usually located in fields and meadows. Hares make more than one form so they can divide their offspring among them for safety. Plovers have been known to take over a form as a nest in which to lay their eggs. One legend relates that a woman saw a hare leaving a form and upon investigation, she found a 'nest of eggs', which she consequently believed to have been 'laid' by the hare.
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Answer 4

Poppycock.

Easter Bunny indeed! Was it April Fools day when you watched that documentary? Did the eggs come out with bows around them too?

Answer 5

Some people used to think the world was flat and if you sailed toward the horizon, eventually you would fall off. If you believe the world used to be flat, you can believe that rabbits used to lay eggs.

Answer 6

Of course rabbits don't lay eggs, colored, chocolate, or marshmallow. But two of your respondants (so far) have made the false statement that mammals do not lay eggs.
Au contraire, mon amis!!
There are two egg-laying (oviviparous) mammals: The platypus and the echidna. They are called monotremes.

Answer 7

Rabbits CANNOT lay eggs because they are mammals and mammals ONLY give birth to live young.

Answer 8

Was that documentary screened on April Fool's Day?

Answer 9

Yes, but only chocolate ones and only at Easter (the christian rip-off of the Spring celebration).
If your dog does it, you get a spot-fine.
This proves that god exists and likes bunny-girls (except cat-licks - they like choirboys)

Answer 10

Only Cadsbury.

Answer 11

no they cant
Rabbits are Mammals.
With the exception of 2 mammals, Mammals give live birth