***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Kassaundra]

I currently do not house buns and chickens together, however when I get the walipini finished I plan on having at least some of the buns do double duty as electric blankets for my naked chicken(s) lol

 

[Ksane]

Im very interested in this. I let my bunny out to run around with the chickens in the evenings right now, some of the chickens are mean to him, and some are terrified of him, and some dont even notice him. The bunny has little interest in them because he really likes my pyrenees. But, when we move no one free ranges (except maybe SFHs in the very distant future) so I think it may be harder to do. Making him a hutch with a run is going to be a big priority as is getting another bunny friend. I dont know, we've raised this boy since he was a baby but the kids barely play with him and its just become another thing for me to take care of. Honestly Ive talked to my husband about rehoming him, but he has such a great personality and I think I just need to get the time to put the work into making it work with him. Theres just so much on the list! I really think sharing housing with chickens is one of those things that works for some but not everyone. 
Have you gotten your boy bunnies neutered yet? If not are there any aggression issues amongst them?

The babies aren't quite old enough to neuter yet but i've got an appt for the 6 mo old bucks and after that the 15 mo old doe and then the babies will be old enough to start doing.
This is one of the 6 mo olds, I made his X-Pen smaller and left the door open since he was getting out of it somehow anyway. He just hops in and out and wanders around.When he's hungry or has to use his litter box he hops back in his little bedroom, does his business and then wanders around again or takes a nap lol He's really quite the character. He ignores the Silkies and they're just glad he's not another rooster :-D
What kind of rabbit is yours?
This was 2 pens I made into a 10x20 pen. Not sure how well it would work with several chickens and a rabbit in one of my 10x10' pens. I probably wouldn't trust the hens in the layer yards. There's too many of them and they're vultures.
Then my Brahma boy kept photo-bombing so i got another shot of him. These Brahma boys are super pet material! Real people-boys.
@Kassaundra Rudy does need a rabbit fur coat!!!! It'd be so soft on his tender skin lol

 

[artsyrobin]

i like the idea of using buns for heaters in the winter... hmmm... how many would you need to keep a 10 x 10 coop warm- aka above freezing??? hmmmmm

 

[ashtree]

@Ksane I like that set up alot. That's a really good idea. Will he always be the only bunny in there? Do you think hens are more likely to be unkind? Also it looks like your pen has a ton of shade. I'm totally jealous! Our new place has so little shade near the house which is where the coops will be. We will be transplanting some of our bushes but its still not gonna be great. I am going to do metal roofing over a portion of it tho. Oh and our bunny is a rex, between a mini and regular. My sister randomly showed up one day with 2 "girl" bunnies. He's the only one we kept from the parents that we also rehomed.

 

[artsyrobin]

couldn't you plant poplars and vines, both grow fast and would give shade

 

[ashtree]

couldn't you plant poplars and vines, both grow fast and would give shade

We're talking about doing grape vines up the run, but really any kind would work but yea we need something to provide good shade until the fruit trees we're planting get larger.

 

[Kassaundra]

We're talking about doing grape vines up the run, but really any kind would work

but yea we need something to provide good shade until the fruit trees we're planting get larger.

I would not do grape vines near or on the coop unless you are convinced it is fort Knox, coons LOVE grapes, they may come for the grapes and decide on chicken instead, or in addition


Mitzi I was thinking living electric blanket like housing or living together, but I might have to figure out how to tan and try that too.

 

[ashtree]

I would not do grape vines near or on the coop unless you are convinced it is fort Knox, coons LOVE grapes, they may come for the grapes and decide on chicken instead, or in addition


Mitzi I was thinking living electric blanket like housing or living together, but I might have to figure out how to tan and try that too.

Woa good point. No grapes!

 

[Kassaundra]

Mitzi have you tried sprouting for your buns???? Mine will knock you over for them, they can smell them from across the pen and start having complete fits to get to them.

 

[NanaKat]

Quote: We just got started with our quail last month...wouldn't even know how to price them. 8 hens are laying an average of 4 - 5 eggs each a week and I'm putting all of them in the incubator until laying season slows. Hubby wants to put a lot in the freezer since he loves quail. I got our start of breeders from CJarvis. He is a huge enabler on this forum!

Speaking of Quail eggs, I want to try pickling. Does anyone sell quail eggs, or know where I can buy some (online they say high end well stocked grocery stores, but I've never seen any)

There is a quail thread here on BYC. Haven't seen BFrancis on in a while here in OKIE land. He used to sell eggs.