Rabbit keeping question

[jerseygirl1]

Someone offered me a rabbit since they are moving - question is, in the spring/summer, can I keep said bunny in the coop with the chickens? Obviously, he's been thoroughly vetted.

 

[jeremy]

I've heard mixed feelings about housing hens and hares together. Rabbits I've heard catch cocci very easily and can pass the disease on to your birds.

Any experts?

 

[thebritt]

Will the people give you the hutch with the rabbit? A separate hutch would be ideal.

 

[jerseygirl1]

Yes, the hutch is HUGE - I may keep him in the basement for the winter, and in the coop spring and summer

 

[Luvducks]

I keep three rabbits in the barn in winter and outside in summer too. Just watch because rabbits actually do better in cooler weather then in heat. Heatstroke is common. I have a puppy playpen and get each rabbit time to stretch and jump around. What kind of rabbit? I just took a Rex and netherland darwf fram a neighbor moving.

 

[chinbunny]

You can keep them in the same building. they need to be caged seperate from the chickens. As someone mentioned above, then can pass coccidia back and forth with each other. Their dietary needs are also different. Rbbits need a feed that is very low in protien and high and fiber. Chickens are the exact opposite. their feed is very high in protien, and corn. Which can cause enteritis, and some pretty severe Gastrointestinal illnesses in rabbits. However, the chickens will clean up the extra rabbit feed that gets kicked or spilled onto the floor. Its a great treat and conditioning food for them. If you keep him in the coop inthe spring and summer, make sure its not going to get too hot for him in there. When i was a kid our rabbits died when it got too hot for them in the chicken coop.

 

[jerseygirl1]

It's a 2 YO lionhead I pick up tomorrow - I'm wondering about Purina Rabbit Chow - I heard it's not good for bunnies because it has corn................any suggestions on rabbit food?? I would appreicate it
Thanks

 

[Bunnylady]

Quote:
Huh?? I've also heard people slam Rabbit Chow because it has alfalfa. All I can say is, I have fed Purina Rabbit Chow for the last twenty years. If it's not good for my rabbits, I'd like to know why they do so well on it?

 

[Luvducks]

Oh my gosh, a Lionhead. They are so cute! I also feed Purina Rabbit Chow and have had many rabbits to be 12 and 13 years old.

 

[chinbunny]

Quote:
They are ok. The corn formulas they have also make me nervous too. Their old complete blend formula was good until they changed it this year. Now it has corn added to it. So does pro. I am feeding mine the show formula, and that one has corn in it. So far they are doing ok. But i am also adding acid pak 4way to their water every day. Because I did have a bunch of rabits die this year from corn piosoning. they do have a new show formula that has no corn. Some stores already carry it. You want to check around and see who has it. I know my local feed store will be getting it in once the old show formula is used up.

the purina these guys are talking about is the old complete blend. which was corn free. I believe they have had that formula for years.