[ChristyRose]

Is it okay for chickens to eat rabbit poo?  I keep my rabbit runs on the lawn and when I let the chickens out they seem to love eating the rabbit poo.  It is good as they keep the lawn clean but is it good for them?

[Sassy]

I don't know. But as rabbits are herbivores I suppose it won't do them much harm and if the chickens were living wild etc. We have mxymotosis at the moment i don't know if this may be a consideration.

[ehs284]

I don't know how you could stop them eating the droppings and even if not eating droppings, they will consume faecal material whenever they free range and eat grass, worms, beetles etc, but you should be aware of the hazards. There are serious diseases which can be spread from rabbit droppings. Tapeworms are specific to two species, but may survive in a third even if it is a 'dead end'. Protozoa are also common in rabbits and wild birds. Toxoplasmosis is found in rabbits and chickens and is probably the most serious. Possibly a greater risk of infection if cats and chickens get together.  Humans often contract it through eating undercooked meat or from faeces. The only real protection for yourself and family is good hygiene and adequate cooking.

[ChristyRose]

I'm rather worried now.  If the rabbits are leaving droppings all over the lawn and the children are playing are they at risk of catching all these diseases?    Is there something I can treat the rabbits with to make sure they don't pass anything onto the children?  The chickens are in their own part of the garden now.  I treat them with verm-x once a month. 

[0deevil]

Stop for a moment and think rationally and sensibly.

How many children over the years have had rabbits have pets?
Has there been an epidemic of children catching terrible desieses from rabbits?

No, because it doesn't happen.
Make sure your children was their hands after handling animals because it's good/sensible hygienic practice.
Make sure both your chickens and rabbits are treated for coccidosis and you'll be fine.

[ehs284]

I'm mostly with Odeevil. Think rationally and don't panic. Do bear in mind that most pet rabbits live all their lives in hutches and do not have contact with any animals capable of passing on problems. As for epidemics, well, there is a problem and a conflict here because parasites may not cause symptoms of sufficient seriousness to warrant medical attention. There seems to be good cause to believe that infestations may educate the immune system and reduce the prevalence of allergies, so they can be considered a good thing within limits. Toxoplasmosis is the baddy. Well known for its dangers to pregnant ladies, it seems to be capable of altering risk-taking behaviour and there are suggestions of links to schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Perhaps 1 in 5 people in the UK have been infected (antibodies found in blood) so it is not uncommon, although signs and symptoms are absent. Do I worry about it? NO. In humans it is mostly a consequence of undercooking meats. Countries such as France and USA where rare meat is more common have higher prevalences. As Odeevil states good and sensible hygienic practice, especially washing hands, but also not smoking or eating when handling animals is the best prevention. There are lots of wild rabbits on the same land my chooks free range and I'm not going to change anything. Enjoy your animals. Oh and apologies if I spooked you.

[ChristyRose]

Thank you for your advice!!  Minor panic over and  thinking rationally now.  We had rabbits as children and we survived.  I think its nice for children to have animals and learn to care for them.  Rabbits do seem to poo every where but I suppose thats the nature of rabbits and I've heard its good for the compost!!
Back to the original question - I take it there is no problem with chickens eating the rabbits poo.

[ehs284]

No problem. Enjoy.

[Caralou]

You can litter train rabbits in the same way as a cat. I have two girls that in winter are house rabbits and they wee and poop in a litter box that is in the corner on the top level of their hutch - there's loads of info on it when googling - I obviously dont want them messing in the house and it only took 3 weeks to train them and now they always go up there and they will use the litter tray even when outside in the summer I put it in their run so they keep the habit of using it. It saves any worry about where they are pooping. I've attached a photo of the tray type they prefer and you can see how much the use it (yuck sorry!). I put recycled paper pellet litter in (same as I use for cats) and then some hemcore or shavings on top and they seem happy with it and the pellets absorb the wee smell really well.

If you train them you also wont need to worry about the chooks eating the poop either  

[joyfull]

wow thats a lot of poop from such cute little bunny rabbits 

[Caralou]

You realise just how much they do make when they poop in the same place each day!