Rabbits and Ducks, Not So Much

[Ariesmom]

I've always had rabbits and the 2 I have now live with my 2 rouen females and drake Swedish Blue. It's so sweet to watch them come out and eat out of the same feeder! It seems the nature of the rabbit is the key here and since I have an 8 yr old dutch female and a 9 yr old lop mix who is neutered that are both docile as can be, they all get along just fine. I even had a batch of ducklings hatch in there and nobody seemed to mind. I was actually worried the drake would hurt my bunnies but I guess I lucked out! I never thought it would work either but I bought a rooster from a man last yr that had bunnies in with his birds and all seemed happy.

 

[Makenzie]

Quote:
It doesn't matter if a rabbit is being raised as a pet or for the meat. A bored rabbit will act out in many ways. Throwing around food or litter, charging a person who comes into their personal space, chewing on wire, biting, fighting ... They need something to do or they do unacceptable things. A male will hit the stage where he believes himself to be king of all he sees. When this happens he'll fight other males, who have the same attitude he does, and they will bloody each other. If I were to guess I'd say your rabbit was disciplining your ducks for failing to display proper behavior towards him. Not that they ever could but it doesn't stop the rabbit from expecting it. They have rules and communication that evolve from being prey animals. Most rabbits will come around if a person finds a way to rub their nose or scratch around their ears. That is because it's the kind of behavior expected from a submissive rabbit.

My ducklings are currently sharing my rabbits room. She's acting out and depressed and uncertain of her place. The ducklings are enclosed and Dixie still has her litter box and toys with freedom to move around yet has started spending most of her time in a box instead of sprawled out in the middle of her rug as queen of all she sees. She'll watch me with the ducklings and come to the fence for attention then turn her back on me and thump, signaling her displeasure. She's started using a spot closest to the duck enclosure to drop copious amounts of droppings as a territory mark. And when I spend time sitting with her as I do daily, she'll sniff and bump all the way around me then go into a box and thump. LOL I have an awful lot of making up to do with her once the ducklings are outside for good.

 

[Nsampsel]

Makenzie: You have a jealous bunny...lol It can happen with any animal who is used to getting the attention tho. All you can do is try to give her some extra attention & hope she gets over it.

As for bunnies & birds in the same pen: It all depends on how old they are and their temperament when they are put together. As with my cat & bunny (who are natural enemies) and my cat with my birds (again, natural enemies) all were pretty young when they had their first contact and therefore adapted well to each other. My cat & bunny like to play together & my cat & birds watch each other. However, put another cat near my rabbit & the fight is on. As my son found out the hard way the other day with a rescued wild baby bird (it was injured when caught in some string from the nest & almost run over in the road), my cat sees all wild birds as dinner. The bird was lose outside with my son & the cat snatched it & ran off with it. He chased her for almost 5 minutes trying to rescue his baby. She didn't actually eat it, but she probably would have if she had been given time. Luckily the birdie was rescued in time & returned to the tote in the house next to the brooder. The cat has yet to even try to touch it there as she knows everything in the house, totes, brooder or coop is off limits. She just seems to realize if it's a pet she can't eat it.

 

[Daz Wheeler]

We have 3 Rabbits, 4 Ducks and 2 guinea pigs running around the back garden. They all get on great and all feed together and dinner time, thou the ducks are fast eaters.

 

[quackers619]

We have 3 Rabbits, 4 Ducks and 2 guinea pigs running around the back garden. They all get on great and all feed together and dinner time, thou the ducks are fast eaters.

I would love to see a picture of that lol

 

[Lynsey Normandin]

" I don't care if it's bored, it's dinner" you make me sick wether you intend to eat it eventually or not ( I have a rabbit and could never eat it) it should still have a good life whIle it has the chance.