Mixing Rabbits, Ducks, Chickens and possibly more

[Irishhenman]

Hello, I am not sure what section to put this in so I have put it in here. I have a grass arena beside my chicken breeding flock's run /house. It is roughly 35x 25 feet. On one side a laurel hedge (our boundary hedge) is planted and I have erected the fence so that the animals will be able to go underneath the hedge. the fence is seven feet tall and made from chicken wire.

I am considering getting maybe three rabbits, two muscovie ducks and some more chickens (plus one Orpington bantam that I currently have in with my breeders but she has to go before I start hatching eggs). Here are my plans

For the two ducks: In one corner I will dig a hole about 6 inches deep around 4x4 and fill it in with gravel. An old sand box will be used as a pond and placed on the gravel to help reduce mud. I will then build a 3x3 house for them (probably fairly close to the pond) proped up on concrete blocks

For the rabbits: I will build a 3x3 hutch for them around one foot off the ground and use straw as bedding.

For the chickens: A 4x4 house roughly two feet off the ground and it will house between five and 15 hens (it will be used for broilers).

There is a possibility of peafowl/pheasants/a Pygmy goat going in there aswell in the future.

All the animals would have full access to the run, I am just wondering if it is ok to keep all of these animals together and if my plans are ok?

 

[postalpoultry]

Well I think your plans sound wonderful! Lucky animals, around these parts most people would just take all those guys and throw em in the pen together lol
point is yes all those guys can live together quite well they will establish their own peckin order just watch for anybody that is to aggressive to fit in well.
oh and by the way as the proud owner lol of 186 ducks let me know how that gravel reducing the mud thing works out for ya hehe ducks=mud unless you get muscovey they are much less muddy

sounds like you have this thing under control have fun

 

[aart]

Goats need some serious fencing to keep them where you want them.

 

[abserbean]

Our rabbits and chickens share free range area,and for the most part do okay. The only thing we have to watch is the chickens will sometimes peck the rabbits, if they have a snack they want or to put them in their place in the order. Of course, the bunnies have no idea what the hens are doing, so they freak out and run in their hutch. Rabbits are prey animals, and if you have an aggressive chicken they might get scared. Our hens are pretty laid back, and have never hurt the rabbits, but I'm sure they could if they wanted too. We just make sure they have an area to run to that the chickens can't get access to. Two of our hens try to get our dog to conform to pecking order also, crazy hens!

 

[cruisnmoma]

When I was a kid we had rabbits and chickens and ducks. After my rabbit died, the other one was lonley, so we put her out with the chicken in their pen. She took control of the pen and even moved into the hen house. They all got together just fine. She never bothered the eggs, and the chickens did not mind her since they kinda grew up seeing and knowing each other. the duck had run for the yard, so they never really hung out with the chickens.

 

[oldrooster]

Just a thought use something other than chicken wire for fencing because it's not predetor proof. Rabbits are just as liable to get killed as a chicken is by a coon.

 

[Irishhenman]

Chicken Wire is predator proof here, no raccoons. The only predator we have are foxes and my dogs keep them away. Mink/stoat and pine martins are known to kill chickens but our house isn't in any of their habitats.

 

[oldrooster]

Chicken Wire is predator proof here, no raccoons. The only predator we have are foxes and my dogs keep them away. Mink/stoat and pine martins are known to kill chickens but our house isn't in any of their habitats.

Sorry I see now your in Ireland, different place, different problems....

 

[Nutcase]

Your plans sound good! My rabbits and chickens are around each other a lot in the backyard and get along fine mostly. When they were chicks my oldest rabbit guarded them and let them climb all over her. I only ever had one fight between the two species when my breeding doe dated to step into one hens personal bubble. but as long as there is space they'll be fine and dandy.