can these animals be put together?

[patandchickens]

Chickens and rabbits have TOTALLY DIFFERENT SPECIES of coccidia. Chickens cannot get sick from rabbit coccidia spp, rabbits cannot get sick from chicken coccidia spp. Realio trulio. (Same with dogs, humans, etc).

However there are OTHER diseases that rabbits CAN catch from chickens, mainly Salmonella, Pasteurella and Listeriosis. The latter two are pretty uncommon in chickens; the first one, you may or may not have in your flock. The healthier the rabbits are overall, the less likely they are to catch any of these sorts of things even if exposed.

Many people do keep rabbits and chickens together in some form or another, but it is not without risk. So it is a personal decision. Chickens can attack rabbits (eyes are esp. vulnerable), and rabbits sometimes decide to try to mate chickens. Also it is VERY IMPORTANT that you devise some arrangement so they can't get into each others' food. Chicken food is really pretty bad for rabbits.

Pat

 

[Chickenmaven]

I would not throw them all in the same little shed. My vet was emphatic with me that bunnies MUST be kept out of their own poo. Unless the space is super-tiny, you should be able to hang a bunny cage or use an outdoor style hutch inside your coop.

I am also curious why you would want two bunnies outdoors, when you can enjoy the one you have indoors? I am a little jealous, as I cannot convince DH to accept any house bunnies. I noticed that you live in a cold climate (as do I). It is really hard for me to swing 'play time' with my rabbits when it is 5 degrees outside...

 

[CherokeeFlats]

Quote:
Tell me about it LOL I have 60 rabbits all housed in a large garage. Even though it is only seperated from the house by a mud room... it gets pretty cold out there when the wind chill gets below zero!! But, We put a little heater out there to take the cold edge off and make it a little easier for us LOL

The chicken coop is right out side the back door of the garage sheltered from the wind. So while checking on the bunz, I can just run out and check on the chickens too

 

[WalkingWolf]

Most people that have free ranging chickens the chickens come into contact with rabbits or rabbit environment. I used to have several baby wild rabbits that followed my chickens around. They have either moved on or something has happened to them, probably the hawks. Actually for wild they were very tame as while I would feed the chickens they would come up looking for handouts too.

 

[Chickenmaven]

Quote:
Of course, there is "contact" out in nature. However, there is not "concentration" of the various bacteria. I would not want my bunnies hopping through (and laying in) some of the nasty that I have seen in my coop. And, I would not want to temp my chickies with rabbit droppings.

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:
Cute picture

 

[Lil Chickie Mama]

Quote:
I know it's dangerous as previously mentioned the spreading of disease. But I also have seen many times in here where the chickens love to go through the droppings and eat whatever unprocessed hay or food is in there

but effective. I've seen this for "goat berries" too. It seems to work well for these people and it certainly helps all the waste break down. Whenever you are introducing new animals (even same species, but most certainly with different species) there are risks associated. Many have done so with success so it is doable, just be aware of the risks. Should you choose to risk it, take care and be cautious to watch for signs of illness or stress. Good luck, I hope it all works out!!! FWIW, I plan to get bunnies next year too and put the hutch in my coop.

 

[zazouse]

my rabbits free range with my older flock, but come in the pen with the younger chicks when thay want to, so i don't actually have them in my chick yard unless they want to be.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
Tell me about it LOL I have 60 rabbits all housed in a large garage. Even though it is only seperated from the house by a mud room... it gets pretty cold out there when the wind chill gets below zero!! But, We put a little heater out there to take the cold edge off and make it a little easier for us LOL

The chicken coop is right out side the back door of the garage sheltered from the wind. So while checking on the bunz, I can just run out and check on the chickens too

Sixty?! Should i rightly assume that you have them for more than pets?

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

My 3 bunnies free range in the yard with my chickens and have a wonderful time of it. They actually all play together along with the cat. the chickens don't like the rabbit food, but now that he rabbits have grass and chiken food they don't like the rabbit food either! I saw one bunny trying to sun bath yesterday while a chciken was trying to dust bath around it; neither one was giving up space lol! They actually play tag and frolic all day.