Can a rabbit hang out with three hens in the same outdoor run?

[tomasko]

Our coop is done and three RIRs (17-weeks old) show up tomorrow. They have a nice big 60-foot diameter outdoor run and I would like to see our rabitt share this space during the day. He is a mellow genlte bunny, but its springtime and I think he would like being outside.

They would not share living space...just the run. Anyone do this? Would the hens beat the poop out of the little dwarf bunny?

Thoughts?

thanks

 

[rhoda_bruce]

When I was little my dad made a little coop, but he made it for rabbits. He had domestic and wild rabbits sharing the same pen. They crossed and he used them for meat. He had to release the wild ones......too late; they were already mixed, but he did.

Years later my grandmother gave me a book,"Back to Basics", which showed how to do all kinds of self-sufficient things. They had pics of chickens and rabbits in a coop together.......drawings really. But they didn't touch up on how to accomplish this. But it did get me wondering if it was possible.

Well about 5 days ago, I went check out a coop in this town. The owner had given me permission to check it out whenever I wanted to. He had rabbits and chickens together. He has 80 hens and about 20 rabbits. They run around each other and seemed fine. I told my dad about it and he said it is not good to keep rabbits on the ground, but he couldn't tell me why. And really he did it. They on the ground in the wild, so......But I am not sure about diseases or such. I can tell you that I have always had a wild rabbit in my chicken run.......until recently. I never had a problem. The rabbit hole was already there when we put up the fence. My husband wants me to write a children's story about it. I should.

 

[FreedomLover]

Not sure if they can or not. I've been wondering the same thing, as I intend to have rabbits and chickens myself. Will keep an eye on this thread.

As a funny with regards to the topic ... I found this youtube vid posted on another thread here on BYC ...

Wonder if that's where the cadbury eggs come from.

 

[LyonFuzz]

I've kept my 2 flemish giants with my small flock of hens for years without any problems. I do keep the chicken feed in the coop where the bunnies cannot get to it though. Sometimes they are all piled together sleeping in the sun. Very cute!

 

[tomasko]

"Wonder if that's where the cadbury eggs come from." lmao!!! awesome

love the picture too...I started building a rabbit hutch today for the little guy. Hopefully they all get along, they will have enough space to avoid each other if needed.

 

[underground chickenman]

I've heard chickens will eat rabbit poop. Not sure if that's true, and if it is true, not sure if it is harmful. I've heard it enough, though, that it's probably worth looking into if you are going to keep them together.

UGCM

 

[imtc]

I have rabbits in my run for a couple years now and have had no problems at all.

 

[ams3651]

I was just thinking about this yesterday, what a coincidence. I had several rabbits as a child, love bunnies. Id like to get a couple now.