Keeping rabbits and chickens together!?!

[Wendyba29]

Not real sure where this post should go so feel free to move it! I have heard of people keeping chickens and rabbits together in the same house, I was wondering if they mean the rabbits are caged or running around with the chickens? I am looking into getting some rabbits in the future and I would like to have cage free rabbits if at all possible. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[rizq]

I don't think a rabbit should be allowed to run loose in the yard with no fence to keep it home, but I don't think the OP was talking about just turning the rabbits loose. Rabbits won't come home to roost at night like chickens. Not having a fence, even just during the day, is just not an option if you want to keep them around. As with chickens, cage free does not mean they are just left to fend for themselves or just turned loose with absolutely no confinement. I know many people who keep rabbits with chickens, and it works great for them and for me. That's not saying it will work for everyone, and their are things to consider like parasite control and predator protection. With proper sanitation and treatment for cocci if needed, there is usually not a problem. I have never had a problem with cocci, I watch carefully for signs as keeping rabbits on the ground, with chickens or not, increases the chances of infection. Another thing to consider is safety of the kits if you are breeding. If your chickens have access to the rabbit nest boxes, they will likely eat the little ones. You also have to make sure that your rabbits can't dig out. A lot of colony rabbit people bury their fence a few feet in the ground and allow the rabbits to dig burrows (which protects the kits from the chickens). I can't allow them to dig, so the bottom of my pen is lined with chicken wire. Since I removed my does (who do most of the digging) I am thinking about taking up the chicken wire to see how it goes.

I also make sure both the chickens and the rabbits have their own places to go where they can get away from each other. Mine are in with our bantams so I use chick feeders, which the rabbits can't get their noses far enough into to get much chicken feed. My chickens mostly leave the rabbit feed alone (which is kept in a 1 lb chicken feeder), they don't seem to like it. Chicken feed IS unhealthy for rabbits. Rabbits have a very difficult time processing corn and it can lead to digestive problems. The extra calcium shouldn't be a problem, they will excrete what their body doesn't use, but they really shouldn't eat much chicken feed. Small amounts won't hurt them though.

Just because a rabbit is in a pen and not a small cage does not mean you can't handle them. My rabbits have the run of the 12 x 32 pen with the bantams and are very sweet and easy to handle. They come up to me in groups and stand up on my legs begging to be picked up and held. If you socialize them when they are young, you will be fine. Depending on your purpose for the rabbits (i.e. if you raise them for meat and not just pets), you may not care if you can handle them easily.

Having rabbits in a more natural setting, rather than a cage, is VERY good for the rabbits, just as it is for the chickens. Being able to graze on natural foods and be able to move and stretch and play is also very good for them, just like chickens. Of course, they need protection from the predators, just like the chickens. It gives them something to do, they are MUCH happier. I believe they are much healthier as well, as they get plenty of exercise. They muscle out better and are grow better. Just because they don't lay eggs doesn't mean you don't need to consider what is truly best (and most natural, which IMO is best) for the rabbit, especially if they are meat rabbits and what goes into them eventually goes into you. They don't have to lay eggs to deserve the best care.

ETA: I have read this several times, and no matter how it word it I think it comes across a bit argumentative, this is not my intention and I hope I don't sound like I am trying to cause a problem. I am just trying to say that it works for me and several others I know of. There are challenges, but they can be overcome. I agree completely that rabbits should not just be allowed to run loose in the yard, but I don't think that's what the OP had in mind.

 

[Beekissed]

I think this is usually referring to keeping rabbits in cages suspended above the coop floor. I did this and used the DLM and it was great. The chickens kept the litter turned, picked up any dropped rabbit pellets and the urine smell generated by the rabbits was eliminated by the constant turning of the litter.

Since chicken manure is a "hot" manure and rabbit droppings are a "cold" manure, this made for a great combination and enables one to utilize this litter on the garden more quickly than normal.

 

[Akane]

If you want to safely keep cage free rabbits build a rabbit house or extension to go with your chicken coop. There are many issues with keeping rabbits and chickens loose together and odds are it won't work out. Even if they somehow get along there are health issues such as rabbits being more susceptible to cocci and the chicken feed being unhealthy for them. Many would also question the practice of leaving them loose in your yard. It's not good for the rabbits and there's no point. They aren't laying you eggs or anything like free range chickens and you can't handle them so you might as well watch wild rabbits run around your yard. Your also leaving them open to predators and untimely deaths like keeping chickens without a coop or run. Most on here would protest leaving chickens to their fate in your yard with no care. Like every other animal you keep rabbits really should have their own safe shelter and if necessary pen.

 

[rizq]

I had already forgotten about that post by the time I read yours, lol. I went back and read the first post to see if she had said anything about just turning her rabbits loose. That was my oversight, sorry

I agree with most of that. My rabbits and bantams aren't together just because I am too lazy to build a separate pen for them, however. It is simply the best use of my space. I don't have room for another pen that I can cover, there are too many trees on our property (not my property, belongs to my parents, I can't just cut trees down to build another pen) and we have too many hawks to have an uncovered pen for rabbits or chickens. I could divide this pen in half, both sets of animals would have sufficient room, but I like for them to have the most room possible and it works for me. Yeah, the rabbits get pecked once in awhile, but rabbits kept in groups also fight once in awhile. I have yet to have a chicken peck a rabbit badly enough to do more than pick out a few hairs. When my adults were all together I had a lot more trouble with rabbits injuring each other. I have had rabbit fights that have resulted in (minor) open wounds, this was mostly in the beginning when they were working out a pecking order. After the first few days they settled down, but I have had to remove a few trouble makers. The only way to ensure that one animal doesn't injure another (even animals that usually get along) is to keep them alone in their own cage.

I have sufficient room in the pen that neither set of animals is crowded and don't generally feel the need to pick on each other. I really don't think the risk of cocci is much higher with the chickens than with other rabbits on the ground. If your chickens don't have cocci, the rabbits won't get it from them and vice versa. Cocci is picked up off the ground. Neither had it going in, so if they get it, they would have gotten it anyway even without the presence of the other. Again, good management helps control parasites of any kind. My pens are cleaned frequently (and cleaning one more really wouldn't be a problem, had I the room, so again the dual purpose pen is not due to laziness). My rabbits are not at all stressed by the chickens. If they were, or if the chickens were to start injuring the rabbits, I would divide the pen or move the chickens.

To each there own. Things that work for one don't always work for another, but I don't believe I am being irresponsible by having a multispecies pen when everyone is happy and healthy. If I were allowing the animals to harm each other, that would be different, but they really are all one big happy family with very little bickering. If that were not the case, I would change the way I do things IMMEDIATELY. I care very much about the health and happiness of my animals, whether they are pets or intended for food, they are all treated with the same respect, love, and care.

 

[hencam]

I'm the person with the live cam on my chickens and rabbit (www.hencam.com) I've happily, healthily kept a pet bunny in with my flock for several years. I have it set-up so that all of the animals get what they need to stay clean and healthy. I don't have meat rabbits - just a lop ear who is happy to have an enriched environment with chicken friends. Here is a FAQ about how I do it: http://www.hencam.com/henblog/2009/04/rabbits-and-chickens/

 

[PrimroseMom1]

I have been increasing my bunnies' area. One day I threw together this little ramp. I open it in the morning and close it at night. My granddaughter and I made the hutch out of an old chicken run a while back. They love going on and out their hutch and there is no doubt it really matters to them to be able to hop on dirt. They have become even friendlier with the freedom. My question is how to get them in the hutch at night if I give them full range in the chicken yard.

 

[Jessika]

I have both but keep them separate. I must say my rabbits are a lot harder to catch. Maybe someone knows...now you have me curious. I have never heard of that.

 

[debilorrah]

We tried it and the birds almost killed the rabbit. Now she is in her own section of the hen house and happier than a pig in poo. The first few days they were together the roo kept trying to get the rabbitt in the hen house at night and she wouldn't cooperate. After a few days, I guess he had enough of his wayward partner and let her know it. Not good.

 

[Sparks]

Check Hencam.com. She has a rabbit with her hens.