Cotton-tailed Rabbits Might Be Attacking Chickens

[itsasmallfarm]

never heard of a rabbit attacking chickens, wondering would hares be as bad? we have more snowshoe rabbits/hares here then cotton tails.

but thinking we have lots of rabbits/hares here, would they be attracting coyotes and other predators?

 

[aart]

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.

Rabbits were almost non-existent here last summer, and haven't seen any this year yet either, on the other hand seen and heard more fox and coyote than previously last summer.
Usually my place is crawling with cottontails, tho have seen the population ebb and flow over the past 20 years have never seen them this low.

 

[centrarchid]

Something else developing now. I though a fox was getting past fence and digging holes. It turns out the rabbits a digging elongated pits, more like trenches, in which to dust bath. Chickens not using same sites and their pits are closer to round.

 

[The Moonshiner]

My free rangers do the same this time of year. I don't think its so much to dust bath but to get a cooler spot to lay in.
Intersting side note. We now have two cotton tails living within and interacting with the free rangers colony.

 

[centrarchid]

Rabbits are digging a lot of the pits with many very close to perimeter hotwire. They may see protective value in the fencing. Almost all adult rabbits still with us and they are now getting bunnies to point where they leave nests. Some of the holes are pretty deep. They and the chickens do not seem to share pits even though they are often in very close proximity.

 

[SueT]

There are a lot of rabbits in our yard. Occasionally a chicken will run at a rabbit and make it jump or run, but so far, I have never seen any confrontation initiated by a rabbit. The cockerel won this encounter:

 

[centrarchid]

Find an active rabbit nest and observe what goes on around as chickens forage there. I have had does actually get sassy with me as I checked out their nest. One even came up at dog that was in process of eating her brood. Attempts there futile but occasional good outcomes could make effort worthwhile.

What is shown below I think is not all that rare. Most such battles are done in high weeds obscuring our view.

 

[aart]

I have not seen one rabbit this year....few last year.
Wonder if and when the population will revive?

 

[centrarchid]

Mine where very sparse about 4 years ago and few until last spring. They can rebound fast if you provide the habitat. My yard has a look few people would call a yard yet rabbits do very well in it.

 

[aart]

Mine where very sparse about 4 years ago and few until last spring. They can rebound fast if you provide the habitat.

Yes, have seen the population ebb and flow over the last 20 years, never seen it this low tho.