Can multiple species share the same run?

mom2jedi

Songster
11 Years
Aug 12, 2008
735
4
139
San Diego, CA
So at the moment, I only have chickens. We will eventually have meat rabbits but those will most likely not be in with the chickens. The way our grandparents grew up (well for me at least since I'm 35) all the different livestock pretty much just ran around together with separate feeding areas in a large area. What I'm wondering is this: are there any major issues with considering this style today? Whenever we get around to building a new coop and run for the chickens, I was thinking it would be cool to have it sturdy enough to share with a couple goats if we ever end up getting any (that idea has been bounced around several times). The area we'd be moving them to is on the other side of the yard from where they are now. It would be under two large shade trees and would be two levels with a hill connecting the two. This area is difficult to maintain which is why having the animals there to take care of weeds and such is so ideal. There are also two citrus trees in the proposed run area but they are well established so should be okay. I can take pictures of the area if that helps with visualizing. Just looking for friendly advice on if this really would work. Oh, the area is pretty good sized that we would give them, probably 30 x 30 or so.
 
I have one rabbit and four bunnies and they will be sharing the run with my chickens. The rabbit has been sharing for awhile now. During the weekend my daughter usually inhabits the run as well
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Sorry, I didn't mean I'd have the rabbits in with the chickens, I was talking about having a couple goats (most likely Nigerians) share the run.
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i have a huuuuuuuge group of wild rabbits living in the field with my chickens...i have also ducks geese and turkeys in the same field, as well as sheep that venture over when they escape from the neighbours and wild quail......

the only thing i could think of with domestic rabbits is would eating chicken food/layers pellets be bad for them if they got at it? and would the chickens not et all the rabbit food??
you could build feeding a feeding area high up for the chickens so the rabbits couldnt get at it, and for the rabbits keep their food cordened off where only the rabbits could get too and not the chooks?

i think with regards to the coccidia, arent there differen types? ie - host specific? the sort that can effect the chickens wont effect the rabbits and vice versa? pretty sure i read that somewhere....
 
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Our two pygmy goats shared the run with the chickens all winter. No problems, just keep the chicken feed away from where the goats can climb. Egg Mash dries up a mama goats milk pretty quick though I do not know why.
 

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