As a General Rule Chickens and rabbits become more intolerant as they age. This is why, if there must be an introduction between these two animals in your poultry or coop, it is best to do it when they are young, Often, rabbits are fond of exhibiting their sexual prowess by trying to mount anything they see in the spot. Sometimes, these activities could often be a result of a domineering trait. When working well traits of Companionship and bonding takes place.
Do Rabbits and Chickens get Along Yes, they do, So a lot of farmers have been asking if rabbits and chickens can be raised in the same spot? However, based on the bitter-sweet experiences some people have had in the past while raising these two animals together under the same coop, it is often a debatable topic on whether or not farmers, should practice this style of animal raising or not.
Both Animals are very docile and are not predators. which is great, and they share a lot of the same needs. Do Rabbits and Chickens get Along
And that is why today, we’ll be making a detailed analysis that will help you decide on whether or not raising rabbits and chickens together is a good idea based on its benefits to risks ratio. let’s get started.
Do Chickens Get along with Rabbits / Free-Ranging Rabbits and Chickens
Do Chickens Get along with Rabbits? – The truth is, with proper care and diligence, it is possible to raise rabbits and chickens together. However, you should understand that both chickens and rabbits are very delicate and cautious animals, which means that they are some rules you’ll have to go by if you wish to have a harmonious multi-specie habitat for these two animals. These rules include;
Advantages / Pros
You can also Read our Guide –18 Ways to Make Money by Rabbit Farming—Extensive Guidelines for Rabbit Farmers
Young Age
Chickens and rabbits become more intolerant as they age. This is why, if there must be an introduction between these two animals in your poultry or coop, it is best to do it when they are young, so they could grow up together and get to become family together. Introducing them when they are older as adults, may have more territorial and fears of the unknown feelings.
Spaying / Neutering
Often, rabbits are fond of exhibiting their sexual prowess by trying to mount anything they see in the spot. Sometimes, these activities could often be a result of a domineering trait. Nevertheless, mounting is one of the things you wouldn’t want your rabbits to do when living with the chickens, as it could spark a war for supremacy. So, you’ll have to spay or neuter the rabbit to help calm them down.
If you are raising tame rabbits, this is an option, another, if you are not, is limiting the number of Buck Rabbits and Roosters you have together. Both have Protective and mating qualities that can be problematic.
Cleanliness
Unlike chickens who can afford to live in a dirty environment, rabbits, on the contrary, are a very clean breed of animals. They spend much time grooming and cleaning their coats. Log Hair breeds have problems with hair blockages.
Thus, you’ll have to make the environment where both of them will be raised together neat to prevent the rabbit from falling sick due to an unclean environment. Adequate space helps this greatly
Free Range Runs
Both animals will likely feel very uncomfortable if they are not housed in Their own place of safety, a hutch for rabbits coop for chickens. , where they could also have their privacy. So, you want to make sure that their habitat is spacious enough.
Separate Sleeping Quarters
One of the ways to make sure that the rabbits, even when raised in the same coop with the chickens are safe from dirt, is by building a hutch inside the coop for them to stay. This is crucial because chickens defecate randomly, and the hutch will serve as a fortress for the rabbits until you get to clean the chicken’s messes.
Farmers build separate hutches and coops then give them free Range Runs. Separate coops allow the farmers to lock them up at night, to one count them but also help protect from night=time predators. Foxes, Cats, Owls, and Racoons
Some Frames have rabbit cages suspended and then chickens forage below also.
Best Chicken Coop
More Than One
Rather than just placing a single rabbit and chicken under one coop, keeping them in pairs would be more lively and fun for both animals. They are both Social Animals.
12 Ways to Make Money by Chicken Farming—Extensive Guidelines for Chicken Farmers
Conflict / Move Early
If you notice a dwindle or breakdown in the connection between the two animals, it’d be best for you to make a separation early enough before it escalates into something ugly.
So, that is that for the rules, what are the benefits you’ll stand to gain when raising these two beautiful animals together?
Advantages
There is a wide array of benefits to raising rabbits and chickens in the same coop. They include:
Cost of Sharing Space
One of the apparent benefits of raising these two animals together is that it will help in saving you the cost of space. That is, the price you would have initially made for two separate animals would now fall under one.
Companionship
Animals, as well as humans, do get bored sometimes. And provided you introduced them early enough; you won’t have to worry about always checking up on them because, if you can’t keep them company, they’ll both have fun and keep each other busy. The truth is, it’s often a sight to behold when these two animals get along so well, as there’s never a dull moment.
Safety
Given that both rabbits and chickens are always vulnerable to attacks by their predators(prey), they’ll always feel this sense of security when raised together in the same spot. It will be more like an “all for one, one for all” movement. When you protect for the one you will be covering both.
Both are Winter Animals
Both chickens and rabbits thrive superbly under cold temperatures like during the winter. So, when it gets to that time, having to regulate the coop’s temperature to soothe any of the animals are going to be the least of your worries. Put differently; they’ve both got that under control, so you won’t need to worry about regulating the coop’s temperature.
Entertaining
There is nothing as beautiful and fulfilling as having to watch rabbits and chickens have fun and entertain you at the same time. This is what you get, every time you visit your multi-specie animal habitat.
Now, let’s get to have a look at some of the downsides to this adventurous form of animal raising.
Disadvantages / Cons
Feeding
These two animals have different forms of meals. And if a rabbit in particular accidentally eats a chicken’s feed, it could cause it to fall sick. This is a common problem for anyone who raises rabbits and chickens in the same coop.
Temperaments
Chickens are not known to be so accommodating towards quick-moving animals like rabbits. That’s why, even when they’ve gotten along if the relationship should get broken along the line, the chickens are most likely going to peck, claw and also engage the rabbits in a fight. It’s more like an automatic reflex for chickens on fast animals.
Disease
These two animals are vulnerable to zoonotic diseases, which could spread like wildfire all through the coop, and wipe out your entire animal family, if not detected earlier.
Coop Materials
It’s not unlikely for rabbits to easily injure themselves in any of the materials found in the coop because they are born with very delicate skins. However, you can avoid this by making your choice of materials carefully.
In a nutshell, even though it isn’t natural to raise these two animals together in one coop, it is possible, and can also be exciting if done correctly. Nevertheless, after going through the merits and demerits of practicing this form of animal raising, it’s all left for you to decide on whether or not raising these two animals is a good idea. Cheers!
Chicken Perches
It is a wise idea to provide chicken perches around the coop and in different places in your free-range areas. It gives them the ability to get away from the other chickens and also the bunnies. Allows them to get off the ground.
Free Range Bucket Rabbit Hutches
This Farmer came up with a creative way to build rabbit hutches out of 5-gallon buckets. They closely resemble something a rabbit would have in the wild.
Chicken / Poultry Breeder Associations
| Rabbit Association | Location | Link |
|---|---|---|
| US Poultry & Egg Association | United States | USPA |
| American Poultry Association | California | APA |
| Ohio Poultry Association | Ohio | OPA |
| National Chicken Council | United States | NCC |
| British Poultry Council | United Kingdom | BPCE |
| Poultry Club of Great Britain | United Kingdom | PCGB |
| Association of Poultry Breeders in EU | Europe | AVEC |
| Australian Chicken Meat Federation Inc | Australia | ACMF |
| Australian Poultry Hub | Australia | Poultry Hub |
Rabbit Breeder Associations
| Rabbit Association | Location | Link |
|---|---|---|
| American Breeders Association | United States | ARBA |
| House Rabbit Society | California | HRS |
| Ohio States Rabbit Breeders Association | Ohio | OSRBA |
| Livestock Conservancy | North Carolina | LC |
| Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund | United Kingdom | RWA |
| British Rabbit Council | United Kingdom | BRC |
| European Association of Rabbits.... | Europe | EAP |
| Australian National Rabbit Council | Australia | ANRC |
| Australian Rabbit House Society | Australia | ARHS |
| ARBA - Rabbit Shows | United States | ARBA - Shows |
