Yes, bunnies and chickens can live together. But before stocking up on hay and feed, you must create the right environment for them. After all, rabbits and chickens have different needs to keep them happy and healthy, so you'll want to ensure you can balance the two.
The main thing is having enough space for both animals to move around freely. Some hutches are designed for one or two rabbits and will not be able to fit chickens. A good amount of outdoor space is required to allow for both animals to have their own space when needed.
It simply is not an ideal situation to house rabbits together with other outdoor animals such as chickens or goats, and here is why: The most common intestinal microscopic parasite of rabbits, goats and birds (especially chickens, ducks and geese) is Coccidia.
All rabbits are herbivores, both wild and domestic. This means that they only eat food that comes from plants, mostly grasses and seeds. Since rabbits aren't evolved to eat any meat or animal products, they can get a very upset stomach if they are fed one of these things.
Any animal living with another species, even in a large coop, may share some diseases. Chickens carry diseases and bacteria that may not affect them, but can make rabbits sick. Bunnies carry diseases, too, and can likewise infect chickens.
You should not give your rabbit rice under any circumstances; it is not a safe food for them and offers little nutritional value. Rabbits do not need to eat grains, and rice could cause tummy ache, although it is not actively poisonous. A rabbit that has eaten rice may be bloated and uncomfortable.
The most common one to use to protect chickens is the goose. Geese are very territorial and can be quite aggressive. You don't need to train them to protect poultry like a dog, either. Even if the predator is too big for your goose to fight off, they can make enough racket to get your attention!
Predators include coyotes, foxes, bobcats, weasels and their relatives, birds of prey, racoons, opossums, skunks, rodents, and snakes. Domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, can also be predators of poultry.
Choice of birds
Other than the popular white Pekin duck, consider the Campbell's and Indian Runners, which will give your chickens some competition in the laying department. Bantam Mallards and Calls are also good laying breeds and their small size makes them easier to fit into a smaller garden.
Rabbits enjoy the company of other living beings. In addition to human friends, your rabbit may get along with another rabbit, house cat, guinea pig and well-mannered dog. All introductions should be closely supervised.
Rabbits are very loving, social animals, which means they not only love to spend time with their humans – they require it. Without human interaction, rabbits can get bored, even to the point of becoming lonely and depressed.
Rabbits and other animals
Rabbits will usually be scared of cats and dogs, as they're natural predators. However, if you introduce your pets with care in early life, they can forge friendships.
If you're wondering how to house these furry little critters, look no further- Backyard Chicken Coops' as their coops make excellent rabbit hutches for your bunnies! These coops are just right for raising happy “hoppy” outdoor rabbits.
Poultry netting is notoriously flimsy, though, and a determined rabbit could eventually chew through the thin metal wires. A far more reliable product is half-inch hardware cloth, which has thicker galvanized wires that are welded into a mesh of half-inch by half-inch squares.
One guideline to go by is at least 8 square feet of enclosure space combined with at least at least 24 square feet of exercise space, for 1-2 rabbits, in which the rabbit(s) can run and play at least 5 hours per day.
Most chicken losses occur at night when raccoons, skunks, opossums, owls, mink, and weasels are most likely to prowl. The best defense against night shift chicken snatchers is a sturdy tight coop. Chickens come inside at dusk and are almost comatose when sleeping.
But the majority of chickens aren't aggressive towards humans. Roosters are known for going rogue on their human companions. Hens are only defensive when they feel like their offspring is threatened: chicks and eggs.
Lettuce, kale, turnip greens and chard are great greens options. Watermelon, strawberries, and blueberries make healthy snacks for chickens when fed in moderation. A few flock favorites include: Vegetables: Lettuce, beets, broccoli, carrots, kale, swiss chard, squash, pumpkins and cucumbers.
Hay: The staple of a rabbit's diet
As grazing animals, rabbits need to have an unlimited supply of fresh hay daily. You'll want to feed your rabbit grass hays. Good types of grass hay for bunnies are timothy, orchard grass, brome and oat hay.
Licking: Licking is a way bunnies groom each other. If your bunny licks you, it's a sign of affection as you'll often see pairs of bunnies grooming each other this way. A bunny lick is a sign of a bond.
Although potatoes won't necessarily poison rabbits, this human-favorite vegetable isn't ideal for them. Potatoes are high in carbohydrates and starch, both of which can cause issues for your bunny's digestive system.