[Fannyann]

We have 2 chickens and are thinking of getting a rabbit for our son's birthday. The rabbit would have it's own hutch but we are thinking of letting it share the run with the chickens. Is this a good idea? Does anyone have any experience of doing the same?

[milliebecks]

Check out pic from 'eggsonlegs' on page 1 of 'Post your poultry pictures here' thread ....

[Fannyann]

That's what I'm hoping for!

[Ruth Cross]

I would think that as long as they have enough space to get away from each other if they want to then they will be fine

[ness]

I keep rabbits (Rupert and Mavis) and chooks (Mother Hen, Princess Snow White and Chuckles) together very happily.  They have the whole garden (which isn't very big) to free range in and they seem to get on fine. They don't seem to hang out together but have a mutual respect for each other and contempt for the cat.
The only time they have crosswords is in the morning when the hens need to lay before Rupert has vacated his hutch (he's a bit old and takes time to get out of his hutch and they have decided his hutch is the best place to lay  :roll: )
Other than that they are fine.
Hope this helps

[Fannyann]

Thanks for your replies. Our cat is now dreading the arrival of more enemies :!:  It's bad enough when my chooks help themselves to his food if I leave the back door open :!:
I assume your chooks and rabbits have their own sleeping quarters Ness :?:
Do you find they eat each others food?
One other thing, I read somewhere about rabbits catching salmonella from chickens :shock: is this another scare story to put me off :?:

[ness]

Hi
Yes they have separate housing so sleep separately, but the chooks do lay in the rabbits sleeping compartment and I leave the rabbits hutch door open so they have access to their food and water (and shelter although my rabbits refuse stubbornly to go in their hutch unless its bedtime  :roll: )
Yes the rabbits love chicken food but the chickens don't touch the rabbit food (science selective).  I have been trying to find out whether its ok for rabbits to eat chook food, I have unofficially heard its ok and they seem to be doing well on it!  The green stuff and apple cores etc get shared quite courteously between them    
Who eats what seems to be mixed up in our house - the cat will eat the dog food, the chooks eat the cat food (when they can get to it), the rabbits eat the chook food and the dog eats his food, the cat food, the chicken food including corn and rabbit poo  :shock:  :roll: .
I haven't actually thought of salmonella, to be honest its probably a very slight risk and outweighs the quality of life they have enjoying the whole garden!
Hope this helps
Nessx

[Fannyann]

Thanks for getting back. You have a dog too?! :shock:  your household sounds busier than mine (at the moment)
 My boys would love a dog, but have to make do with cat, gecko, chooks and soon to arrive rabbit.
One day we'll have a Pets Corner although as I seem to do most of the feeding, cleaning etc I'll be the one who decides what we get!