Raising chickens and a rabbit together?

Part I I have 7 brahmas hens and 1 slight brahma rooster. They have a secure pen (top, bottom, & sides) with a fancy house (heated if it falls below 34 degrees. I let them out during the day, if I'm home. And it is safe to assume they are fairly spoiled.

Part II I found a domesticated rabbit living in a vacant lot. A little rough for wear, a bit leary, but probably is ready for a little captivity by now. Has a large scar on its back, most likely a dog.

Part III Can I put this rabbit in the chicken pen for now? I have this vision of all living happily together with the rabbit sharing the house, albeit in his own little covered hutch within. I've seached the web with no specific results.

Appreciate greatly any experience or feedback. BTW, here is a photo of my guy Toby. He was the runt and has turned out to be the absolute best fit for the job.

Not sure how they will get along. Probably would get along ok if they didn't peck him. but the rabbits have pretty eyes, and chickens love to peck eyes. Might be a little risky.

The other problem I can see....... is him hopping around and dragging his hindey all thru the droppings the chickens leave everywhere. He would be a mess in a hurry in my chickens' pen.
They poop everywhere. I guess if you put enough shavings in the bottom to absorb it all, it might be better. But I wonder how many it would take.

Good luck. Let us know how it all works out.

One thing about rabbits (based on personal experience)- they can get really bossy and territorial, especially the males. The one I used to have mollified a 125 lb Lab and a 75 lb G. Retriever and spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to control/intimidate me as well. I've seen another stray one attack a full-grown cat out in the yard for no reason so I'm not sure what the rabbit would do to your chickens. From my experience I'm pretty sure the rabbit can defend itself from anything the chickens try to dish out. I don't see why the rabbit couldn't be in a self-contained space inside the chicken house to take advantage of heat and shelter but I don't think I'd turn them loose together (at least unsupervised) until you have a chance to see how they're all going to react.
btw- your rooster is gorgeous!

Well, my answer is quite different. We have had rabbits off and on for years and often they shared quarters with the poultry(ducks, gesse, chickens, etc.)and all did fine. I would try to give the bunny a box so it can have some privacy if so desired. Our last little guy lived in the utility room in a 3' X 4' X 3' cage left over from cat breeding days for about 2 years and often had to share it with chickens who needed special attention. The last chicken he shared it with turned out to be a very aggressive little cock who was overly protective of HIS rabbit. When we caught him pecking Shelton for allowing himself to be petted we got out the hatchet. Sheldon is with us no more and I think he died of lonelyness as much as old age(he was 5 or 6). Some of the cats also liked to go in and keep him company as well as use his cage for a litter box if thier's didn't suit them at the moment. That didn't go over very well with Sheldon of course. He also shared that cage with a guinea pig or 2 for several months until it died of old age.

I'm so glad to hear someone else spoils their poultry. We don't heat the bird house, but is is somewhat insulated and is paneled with white bathroom boarding to make it lighter in there and keep rodents and snakes out of the walls. Don't know if you have snake problems in the summer, but up here we do and I have found they don't like the light colored pine shavings so I use them to bed the house in the summer, then cover then with leaves in the fall after a couple good hard freezes which have sent snakes into hibernation. Deep litter creates heat as it decomposes. In the spring it is all cleaned out, the concrete floor is allowed to dry for a few hours, something to sanitize it(like bleach water in a mist bottle may be sprayed on the floor if it looks like it needs it and it is rebedded for the warm months with new pine shavings.

I also take them hot water in the cold months. The laying mash is made into soup and they all know that word well. I just yell "soup is on" and the ducks and geese come running from where ever they are. LOL

Hey y"all,
I have a 10 by 30 ft compound, 6 ft' tall with a bird netting top ( to protect my bantams from hawks)! In this Chicken yard I have several bantams, all grown! I also have the cutest male black and white Bunny Named "Rabbit" ( names by my grandson)! All my Babies get along just fine. I have a small Bantam house and a Rabbit Hutch inside the inclosure! One of the Little BB's decided that she would start layin and where do you suppose she decided to lay???? Right, Move over Rabbit!!!!! And he has let her do it!!!! Of course Im not going to let her "set" on the eggs yet . I remove them ! I will make sure there are other safer nesting places when it come time to Hatch eggs!

Rabbit and a couple of Freinds!

Thanks all, it's good to hear from those of you who have actually had experiences with these two animals together. Good information to know.

For some reason, my password has not been e-mailed to me, so I have been unable to log on, thus the new e-mail signup. I suspect once I log off, I will be unable again, to log on. I wanted to let everyone know how much I've appreciated their comments. I will enter this new rabbit/chicken venture with a little more confidence. As soon as I'm allowed on again, I will let you know how it works out. Many Thanks, Cathy

Not sure. My parrot sometimes gets alond with my guinea pig. Other times he bites him in the nose.

Catlindsey,
I've had 3 rabbits in a large pen with 30 hens and two roosters for 5 years. They get along fine. The only problem I've noticed is that the rabbits tend to get a bit overweight from eating the chicken feed. I keep rabbit pellets and hay available at all times, but they go for the scratch grain and laying pellets first. Also, since it's a dirt floor coop, the rabbits dig deep burrows in which they have their babies. After the young ones get large enough to be weaned, I give them away. The chickens love to scratch around in the dug up soil, looking for bugs and worms. So, I'd say go for it.

Thanks for all the great stories and advice on the rabbit. Now for another question.....
I still have my one dark brahma rooster and 6 hens. Thinking about adding some fresh stock. I've looked at McMurray Hatchery and want to try a few different cultivars (you can tell I'm more versed in plants then animals, eh?) Any suggestions on good layers, small types w/ gentle dispositions?

Many Thanks, Cathy