can rabbits and chickens co-habitat?

[zoopacas]

we have 4 silver fox rabbits (all neutered males). we are hoping to get chickens and put them in the same space. will we need to divide the space to keep them completely separate or is it possible for them to co-habitat comfortable and safely?

stacey t.
National Zoo
Washington DC

 

[irishbunny]

They will have to live totally seperate. Chickens and rabbits have totally different diets and should never eat eachother's food. Chickens can be very aggresive towards the rabbits. There are diseases that chickens can pass to rabbits. Chicken's are very dirty and the bunnies would not enjoy hopping around in chicken poop

 

[Nancy McClelland]

No--chickens aren't very sanitary and have different diet requirements. Chickens also don't tolerate other species very well and respond with aggression.

 

[zoopacas]

this is what i assumed, however i have seen many videos online showing the opposite, including hencam.com andseveral on youtube.

i had predicted it would be the rabbits who would be most aggressive in the pairing, but it sounds it's the chickens we will need to watch out for.

do you think they could have mesh access? (i.e. see each other) or would the divider need to be solid?

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

I think the divider should be solid. The chickens could be able to fit their beaks thru mesh and they might poke an eye, etc.

It's just safer to keep them completely seperate.

Emily