The rabbits and chickens are two very popular pets that are completely 2 different species with lots of similarities and also differences. Both the pets are cute and popular and also have their own kind of behavior which is why both of them can are quite different from each other. But there is also some kind of similarities between these two which is what can unite them.
Many people who want to keep both the pets together have this question coming to them again and again whether they can keep both of these animals together or not. So in this guide on rabbits and chickens, we will discuss the topic of whether can rabbit and chicken live together or not.
This is very important to know whether your rabbit will be able to get along with the chicken or not and are able to maintain peace if they are kept together with each other.
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Can rabbits and chickens live together?
The answer is a yes, because both of them are peaceful animals and will not cause any problem for one another only if the owners are able to provide them with everything that they want, then both of these animals will not face or cause any issue for each other. But if they are not getting what they want then there can be a problem and they will definitely not like each other.
Rabbits usually love to live in their own group. They can live with chickens if they are given the chance to stay with them from a very young age. If you can bring around a few chickens and a pair of rabbits then it will be a nice cohabiting process. They would have their own species as well as chickens for their company and thus they will not feel alienated.
So it is the duty of the owners that they are able to maintain peace between them so that they can live in peace with each other. You need to understand both of the animals and only then it will be easy for you to keep both the animals together also you will notice that they will live with each other in harmony and will also enjoy time with each other when both of them will get used to the sight of one another.
Can a single rabbit live with chickens?
A single rabbit is not an ideal pet for anyone. The pet rabbit will often feel alienated and that will damage its mental health. Rabbits seek company of people or any other creature; it can be of their own species too. If you are unable to keep a pair of rabbits as pets then you can keep a coop of chickens along with the rabbit.
The chickens, if they are kept with the rabbits from their birth, would accept the rabbit to be their friend. That way they would be living peacefully with each other.
How much space is needed to keep the chickens and rabbits together?
You can keep the pets of yours in a coop. when there will be more than three chickens the coop should be at least 30 square feet and the rabbit would take up at least 12 square feet space. So the coop that can accommodate all these creatures would be minimum 32 square feet wide.
If you keep the creatures in a small area, it would be quite claustrophobic for the creatures. Both rabbits and hens need wide space to run and move. They are not fitted for small place. Thus you have space crunch at your house you should not plan to keep these many pets at your house.
How the residence of the rabbits and chickens will be decorated?
You should arrange for a waterproof roof for the coop of chickens and rabbits. The floor should be covered with some kind of flooring material as if you keep it bare, then the ground will be dug by the rabbits and that way they will escape the cage.
The wire flooring is not ideal for this coop. The chickens will be okay with the wired flooring but the rabbits’ soft paws would be damaged by the wires. So you better arrange for a wooden floor or some kind of soft material.
There should not be solid front cover as that will not allow air and light to enter the cage. This will make the indoor area of the cage damp and that is not a healthy option for the creatures inside. Also do not keep any of the walls open as that will allow the pet rabbits or chickens to be attacked by any kind of predator animals.
A solid wooden walled coop is ideal for both chickens and rabbits and that will let them live peacefully with each other. Keep it clean as both these creatures have the habit of pooping pretty often. The cage should be cleaned once in every alternate day so no microbes or fungi start infesting.
How can you introduce the rabbits to the chickens?
Rabbits stay hyperactive as long as they are not matured. They only calm down after the age of one year. In case of male rabbits it will be more suitable when they will be neutered. After this process is over, you can introduce your male rabbit to the group of chickens. This time the chance of attacking each other will lessen.
The first introduction should be an elaborate one. No owner should just randomly lock up the rabbit with the bunch of chickens as that can result it fight and violence. First they should meet from a safe distance. It is best to let them interact from two different cages or at least from the different side of a single fence. This way none of them can show their agitation, if any, after facing the other for the first time.
Next step is letting them be free at each other’s presence. You can keep them free when you will see that none of them are reacting in any harsh or violent way to each other. Let them play in the balcony or in the backyard but you should be present there all the time. You need not take any chance and keep an eye on the creatures when they will be mixing with each other and playing.
How do I know if my chicken and rabbits are getting along?
There are some simple and easy signals which will let you understand that your pets, be that the chickens or the rabbits, and are all getting friendlier with time.
See if the chickens are playing with their own species or are they interested in playing with the rabbit too. If you see that the rabbit is residing at one corner and the chickens are not coming towards it, then it can be that the rabbit is feeling exhausted or stressed due to the presence of the chickens. They are not yet friendly with each other.
If you see that the rabbit or the chickens or both of them are grooming their own self with too much attention, like plucking the feathers or pulling the fur, then it is a symbol of aggression. They are not yet friendly with each other and their presence is causing stress. At this stage you need to keep the separated for some time and let them be comfortable at their own space.
Another very discreet sign that chickens and rabbits do not like each other’s company is, they are chasing each other. It can be a part of their playing session but you have to watch them closely to know that is this aggression or regular part of game. If they seem to look violent while chasing each other then it is not a typical playing session. The rabbits and the chickens may try to attack each other in such mood.
Can the rabbit damage the chicken eggs?
Chickens, in their normal schedule, will lay eggs after certain interval. Rabbits are not eater of eggs and thus, they would not take interest in the chicken eggs for consumption purpose. But there are other sides of this matter as well. Rabbits are quite curious by nature and they can try to touch and hold the eggs when those are near their cage.
In process or enquiring they may break one or more chicken eggs. Also they are quite restless in nature and just accidentally they can damage the eggs of the chicken. So when keeping chicken and rabbits together you should be aware that the eggs that the chicken laid should be some other side of the cage, where the rabbit may not be able to reach easily.
There is one such disease called salmonella which affects the chicken but does not have any symptom. Thus the chickens may infect the rabbit with this disease and it will be hard for the owner to identity. Poop of the chicken also can cause certain bacterial disease which will make the rabbit sick.
How to make rabbits and chickens live together?
There are various ways in which you can make the rabbit and also the chickens live in peace with each other and in order to make this happen the owners play a very important role some of these ways are listed below:-
- The first thing that you need to do is introduce each other for some time on a daily basis and observe how both of them react to the sight of each other. You need to introduce them on a daily basis until both of them get comfortable with each other. Once they will get comfortable with each other’s sight then they will not face any kind of problem with each other and will remain calm when put in a place together.
- Another thing you can do is that you need to provide both the rabbit and the chicken with their personal space. From personal space, we mean that you need to provide them with different habitats so that they can feel safe over there and also in this way they can live happy and healthy as there will not be any fight over the personal space or their homes.
- You also need to make sure that the chicken does not poop on the rabbit because this is not at all a healthy practice and if this thing takes place then your rabbit can get sick and also they can suffer from lots of diseases because of this. So as an owner you need to make sure of these things.
- You need to observe both the animals quite carefully and the most important thing that you need to observe is their temperaments. You need to see which animals are aggressive or have lots of anger in them and by knowing this fact you can remove them so that no problem or issue can take place. As there have been situations where the rabbits have killed the chickens and also vice versa has also happened. So make sure that you are aware of the behavior of both the animals in order to avoid such serious situations.
- If you have a feeling or you are observing that something is not right the best thing to do is retreat and regroup both the animals so that no problem is created and both of them can live safely. You need to be observant in such situations and also active if you want to avoid any kind of serious situation.
- The chicken and the rabbit have almost the same predator which is why it is quite easy to protect them also you can keep them together because you need to ensure them and keep them safe from the same predator, so you need to protect them almost the same way.
- You can even train both the chicken and the rabbit to drink from the same place and also without causing any problems for one another. So make sure that this training should be done in a proper manner so that you do not have to face any kind of problem in the later stage.
- But if your chicken or the rabbit is old then it is quite tough for you to train them or teach them to stay together with each other. Like most of their life, they have spent away from each other so it is not an easy task to make them live with each other. But when they are young then their mind is flexible and both of them can easily learn to live with each other and also be friendly with one another.
- Another important thing that you should keep in mind is that do not ever keep one rabbit in the group of chickens or the vice versa case, even if they are friends but still they will feel stressed out and lonely because they want someone from their own specie which will help them to stay comfortable and also will give them company.
- You also need to make sure that you neuter the male rabbit so that they do not get aggressive as they will even mount on the hens that will come on their way and not only the female rabbits. So in order to maintain peace and harmony between both the animal species this step is very important so that you can avoid any unwanted situation which you will regret later.
These are some of the ways in which you can make both the rabbit and the chicken live with each other. But you need to first understand them carefully and also know whether both of them are comfortable with one another or not so that they do not face any kind of problem while they are living with each other. Both of them should be able to enjoy each other’s company and live a happy life together without causing issues for each other.
Final thoughts:
The rabbit and the chickens both are amazing animals and because of their popularity, many people own them also there are many people who will keep both of these pets too. But you need to make sure that both of them can live peacefully with each other and also should not create any trouble for one another.
As an owner, it is your duty to maintain peace and harmony between both the animal species and also provide them with the best of everything because if both of them will get what they need, then they will be good friends with each other and will also enjoy the company of one another.
When they will spend more and more time with one another they will be able to understand each other and also will be able to build a strong bonding because of which even the owners can live at peace without much worrying about them.
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