Due to lack of space, it is sometimes necessary to keep different animals in the same area. Some animals get along well together, while others absolutely cannot be housed nearby. Some people wonder if it is possible to keep rabbits and chickens together in the same room. The answer to this question is “yes,” but even under ideal conditions, living together will only bring inconvenience.
Is it possible to keep rabbits and chickens in the same room?
First of all, it is important to consider that each animal is a whole world in terms of territory and relationships. Many factors can interfere with the coexistence of different species. For example, male rabbits interact with birds differently than females. In addition, the process of adaptation of one species to another should be as slow and gradual as possible. It is difficult to keep rabbits with chickens; it is better to avoid this.
Positive points
Keeping animals together saves space. Unfortunately, this is the only positive aspect, since such different species are difficult to keep together. However, when keeping these animals, certain conditions must be adhered to.
What difficulties may arise
Chickens love to peck everything that comes their way, and therefore it may turn out that they will peck adult rabbits or their offspring. Experience shows that serious injuries can be avoided because the birds are only curious, but resting areas should still be separate.
General life is productive only if the animals remain calm and do not attack each other. Therefore, among other things, it is better to avoid the presence of male rabbits near chickens.
Males can be temperamental and can attack neighbors without unnecessary ceremony. Unneutered rabbits tend to further mark their territory. So there have been cases where an uncastrated male has urinated on birds. Therefore, male rabbits should be avoided in a room with chickens.
Feeding in the same area can cause problems due to the different feeds being given to these animals. After a while, however, both chickens and rabbits begin to taste their neighbors' food.This can lead to serious problems with the digestive systems of both types of pets.
In addition, both chickens and rabbits tend to prefer food of other types rather than their own, because other food tastes different and is therefore interesting. The result is an unbalanced diet. Sometimes food can be extremely dangerous. For example, boiled porridge will cause constipation in animals and sour food, which can lead to severe poisoning. Therefore, you should choose food that will not harm both species. In addition, these animals cannot be fed at the same time.
Birds can infect rabbits with coccidia, which in turn can lead to severe gastrointestinal infections. In emergency cases, this can result in the death of the pet. To avoid this, birds should be regularly checked for the presence of coccidia, as well as preventive measures against parasites. Don’t forget about different temperature conditions and hygiene standards. Drafts, cold and overheating will ultimately lead to illness and death.
Conditions for keeping in one room
Separate sleeping quarters are important when keeping these species. Each species needs its own enclosure, as they must be separated during sleep. Animals should not interfere with each other's sleep and rest. Ideally there should be two rooms connected together. They must be built in such a way that the animals can be separated if something happens. If you want to keep them together, then you need to not only build a chicken coop, but also think about creating a rabbit hutch.
When keeping chickens and rabbits together, you should also take into account the breed of birds, since only those breeds that behave calmly should be kept together with rabbits. Active birds can disturb or even cause pain to their neighbors. One reason for this is that temperamental breeds need more space and do not like to share their space with other animals such as rabbits. Calm breeds will be less likely to peck at rabbits and will not cause alarm. Although they can be kept together, it is still advisable to house these animals separately to avoid problems.
