Cotton-tailed Rabbits Might Be Attacking Chickens

[The Moonshiner]

I have had rabbits have their babies in the middle of my yard with 7 dogs. A complete nightmare. Mom only came once a day to feed, other then that they stay away from the nest so they don't attract predators. They are nearby but not on the nest.

This is very true. One reason people find nests and think they're abandoned.
Mothers only come to babies when they need to eat and that is only once or twice a day and only for a minute or two.
It is for their own safety.
Never heard of a mother providing any defense for their young while in the nest. If something finds them moms will sit by and let them all be eaten. Sad but they will live on to produce another litter rather then risk losing their own lives too.

 

[Foodfromhome]

The lack of predator trapping because fur is worth next to nothing has caused our predator numbers to go up so much I point out a rabbit to the kids when I see one. I don't think the cottontails we have can do much of anything to my birds. I have 2 big black english orphingtons that would be glad to fight said rabbit lol.

 

[The Moonshiner]

The lack of predator trapping because fur is worth next to nothing has caused our predator numbers to go up so much I point out a rabbit to the kids when I see one. I don't think the cottontails we have can do much of anything to my birds. I have 2 big black english orphingtons that would be glad to fight said rabbit lol.

You ain't kidding about the issue of lack of trapping.
When growing up it was somewhat rare to see predators but small animals were everywhere.
Now its almost the opposite. Its just as common here to see fox and coyote as squirrels or rabbits.

 

[techbsmith]

Interesting - I had no idea a rabbit would attack/pester chickens. We have a decent amount of rabbits here, but the population has fallen off due to a recent increase in the coyote population. Personally, I'd rather see more rabbits than the coyote

 

[centrarchid]

The rabbits are not interested in fair fights, they are simply rushing through brush chickens can use their wings in. The fight appears to be rabbit running at a chicken and possibly kicking it before running a few feet away. It is not a sustained drag out the chickens engage in.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Video would be helpful.

 

[Foodfromhome]

You ain't kidding about the issue of lack of trapping.
When growing up it was somewhat rare to see predators but small animals were everywhere.
Now its almost the opposite. Its just as common here to see fox and coyote as squirrels or rabbits.

The price of fur plummetted and guys that I know who would skin 300 predators a year consistently, just quit trapping. southern coon is less than 2 dollars. hard to trap a coon skin it and sell it for 2 bucks. There is a black market for live coyotes for people that fox hunt on horseback. The dogs never catch the coyote and they chase the dogs on horses in funny outfits. Used to be 100 bucks a coyote now it's 50. I'll never sell one for 50 dollars its way too much work to catch one. And for 50 bucks I'm not bending the laws. It's technically illegal but I've never heard of anyone getting in trouble for it. I skin and have all my coyotes and bobcats tanned and sell them for cabin decoration. I love to trap and the tradition of it. I'll always have some steel in the dirt during trapping season.

 

[aart]

Wouldn't surprise me at all to see a female rabbit go at a chicken near her nest,
especially if they are used to the chickens being around...
...but it immediately brought to mind the Monty Python Killer Rabbit

 

[SweetTea&Chicks]

Well I guess if you wanted to get rid of them you could shoot em or trap em. They could also attract predators.

 

[Chickassan]

Some of you honestly don't have many rabbits? I can't imagine how that is, you can't go an hour without seeing one here the numbers will peter out in the late summer but right now it is cottonballs to the wall.