Rabbit in chicken coop?

[tortoise]

I'm curious your reaction to putting a mini size rabbit or 2 in a chicken coop with 4 silkies.

My reason is so rabbit could have shared heat lamp, shared heated water, better shelter in winter than in my barn, better daylight than in the barn, and free access to fenced area outdoors when the weather is decent.

There is also a cat in the coop, but she is still young and not yet loose in the coop - maybe never. She is in a kennel (with litterbox, etc) in the coop overnight only.

Neither chickens nor rabbits for food production.

Bad idea? No big deal?

 

[tortoise]

My older barn cat is trustworthy with chicks, uncaged rabbits including babies. Shes amazing. However, the cat I want to live there is 8 months old and I dont trust her for a second.

I might add a rabbit next year. I'm not in a rush. I'm busy with my 130# puppy now, so I don't have free time to add another critter yet.

Thanks for feedback. I'll have to think about how to make it work. I have two chicken doors to the outside yard, so dividing the coop is an option.

 

[tortoise]

Is there anywhere else for the cat to live? I feel like with it living with the chickens in th first place, if it can't get out to hunt, will be very temped to attack a chicken. Especially if it gets bored.

She's in my house most of the time! She is very spoiled! She is leash trained, crate trained, rides great in the car, knows sit, down, come, and some tricks. 🤣 She is loose outdoors during parts of the day and hunts then. Depends on her mood and the weather. She has the best of both worlds. 😍

 

[Chic Rustler]

I'm curious your reaction to putting a mini size rabbit or 2 in a chicken coop with 4 silkies.

My reason is so rabbit could have shared heat lamp, shared heated water, better shelter in winter than in my barn, better daylight than in the barn, and free access to fenced area outdoors when the weather is decent.

There is also a cat in the coop, but she is still young and not yet loose in the coop - maybe never. She is in a kennel (with litterbox, etc) in the coop overnight only.

Neither chickens nor rabbits for food production.

Bad idea? No big deal?

I would be careful. rabbits and chickens are mortal enemies. once that rabbit gets a whiff of the chickens he's gonna be out for blood. next time you open the cage the bunnies will run out and start ripping the chickens to pieces. it's a terrible sight.

 

[Daisy]

Personally, I would never put rabbits in with chickens. I know plenty of people who have, but my buns are house pets and knowing them in that way, they could not live a full and healthy life in the same sort of conditions that chickens live in.

Cats and buns can live together very happily though. They are both litter trainable animals, they both groom and bond in a similar way. You can also train rabbits to a harness/lead and to do other tricks easily. It would obviously depend on the cat, but plenty of cats and buns get along well. My instagram feed is full of them 😍

 

[Chic Rustler]

 

[MistyWeeg13]

We have friends who let there rabbit out with the chickens in the day time, just not at night. I am sure it would be fine, Silkies are a docile breed anyway so that is a plus. yo would have to warm them up to the rabbit, but eventually, I bet the rabbit could sleep in the coop with them at night too! I bet you wont have a problem with it!

 

[MistyWeeg13]

The cat on the other hand will probably eat the bunny. I would put the bunny in with the cat unless they knew each other from birth or something.

 

[Fuchsia]

I would not put the cat in with it, but I think the rabbit would be okay with the chickens.

 

[flowerbug]

"yet" ... lol