Bunnies and Chickens - Do they work well together?

[RoosterRules]

My concern with rabbits and chickens together is pasteurella transmission. An unknown number, possibly as high as 90%, of rabbits are carriers of the bacteria even if asymptomatic. A stressor can cause an outbreak of pasteurellosis in a carrier rabbit. This bacteria can then be spread in the air in an enclosed space and causes fowl cholera in chickens. I have not seen it transmitted across the two specis in my colony and flock but I would not house them together. Better safe than sorry since pasteurella m. cannot be eradicated via drugs.

 

[chickens really]

My concern with rabbits and chickens together is pasteurella transmission. An unknown number, possibly as high as 90%, of rabbits are carriers of the bacteria even if asymptomatic. A stressor can cause an outbreak of pasteurellosis in a carrier rabbit. This bacteria can then be spread in the air in an enclosed space and causes fowl cholera in chickens. I have not seen it transmitted across the two specis in my colony and flock but I would not house them together. Better safe than sorry since pasteurella m. cannot be eradicated via drugs.

How common is that?...I'm in Alberta too. I don't House my Rabbit with the Birds although they have been in the same pens..

 

[RoosterRules]

How common is that?...I'm in Alberta too. I don't House my Rabbit with the Birds although they have been in the same pens..

I would say sharing pens is fine. Transmission happens in close quarters, less than 3 feet space between animals, I think my vet said. Mine have shared open spaces for years now without an outbreak. Pasteurella is a common commensal bacteria in the mouth and sinus of many species without causing disease. It is a matter of the strain as well as the immune status of the host. I had one outbreak in an angora herd before I got into chickens that raised my awareness of it. I had purchased a rabbit from a breeder that infected my whole barn even though she was in a hutch by herself. She showed no signs until she kindled. I lost twenty-seven rabbits at that time to pneumonia so I am careful. ETA: In order to infect a chicken a rabbit would have to be sneezing already to spread it.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Doesn't an animal have to bring that bacteria in? It's called snuffles in rabbits right?

 

[chickens really]

I would say sharing pens is fine. Transmission happens in close quarters, less than 3 feet space between animals, I think my vet said. Mine have shared open spaces for years now without an outbreak. Pasteurella is a common commensal bacteria in the mouth and sinus of many species without causing disease. It is a matter of the strain as well as the immune status of the host. I had one outbreak in an angora herd before I got into chickens that raised my awareness of it. I had purchased a rabbit from a breeder that infected my whole barn even though she was in a hutch by herself. She showed no signs until she kindled. I lost twenty-seven rabbits at that time to pneumonia so I am careful.

...Holy crappers so it's like a respiratory infection then?
Nope ..I'm no Bunny person so only have Bunny Boy who accidentally turned out to be a girl..Gave him away and got him back and to my horror he had bunnies .. 5 Bunnies too..

 

[RoosterRules]

Doesn't an animal have to bring that bacteria in? It's called snuffles in rabbits right?

The dreaded snuffles, yes. A rabbit can have pasteurella symptoms even without snuffles, such as weepy conjunctivitis. A rabbit can also appear perfectly healthy and introduce pasteurella to your rabbitry by being asymptomatic. It's just something to be aware of.

 

[chickens really]

The dreaded snuffles, yes. A rabbit can have pasteurella symptoms even without snuffles, such as weepy conjunctivitis. A rabbit can also appear perfectly healthy and introduce pasteurella to your rabbitry by being asymptomatic. It's just something to be aware of.

Thanks my bunny is not suffering anything at all...

 

[RoosterRules]

...Holy crappers so it's like a respiratory infection then?
Nope ..I'm no Bunny person so only have Bunny Boy who accidentally turned out to be a girl..Gave him away and got him back and to my horror he had bunnies .. 5 Bunnies too..

That is a classic rabbit tale, the boy bun who got pregnant Yes, it likes to live in the sinus and flare up under the right circumstances, such as under stress from temperature extremes, pregnancy, pseudo pregnancy, actual kindling, crowding of quarters, filth, change, and so on. It shows up like a cold, runny nose, sneezing, weepy eye, matted fur on front paws. At this stage, it can resolve, depending on the strain, and a rabbit can live a good life. Other times, it progresses into pneumonia, sometimes septicaemia, etc and is fatal. If you have had your rabbit a long time without symptoms I would not worry. You can also get a rabbit nasal swabbed and tested at an exotics vet to know for sure.

 

[chickens really]

That is a classic rabbit tale, the boy bun who got pregnant Yes, it likes to live in the sinus and flare up under the right circumstances, such as under stress from temperature extremes, pregnancy, pseudo pregnancy, actual kindling, crowding of quarters, filth, change, and so on. It shows up like a cold, runny nose, sneezing, weepy eye, matted fur on front paws. At this stage, it can resolve, depending on the strain, and a rabbit can live a good life. Other times, it progresses into pneumonia, sometimes septicaemia, etc and is fatal. If you have had your rabbit a long time without symptoms I would not worry. You can also get a rabbit nasal swabbed and tested at an exotics vet to know for sure.

Well if since April a long time...
Bunny Boy is fine...