Rabbits and Ducks, Not So Much

[Oregon Blues]

I tossed a rabbit out of the hutch(not literally, he was set down gently) because he was busy scooping all the feed out and throwing on the ground.

He was fine with the ducks for about 5 days and then I went out to find clumps of feathers on the ground and I saw the rabbit attack a duck, kicking and punching.

I went to get a cage and by the time I got back, the rabbit was chasing a different duck, jumped on its back and was biting it.

So the renegade rabbit is now in a cage, set on the ground and he has been informed that he gets fed twice a day and he can eat it or throw it out of the cage, his choice, but he isn't getting any more. I couldn't do that when he was in the same cage as his littermates. He threw the food out and then they didn't get to eat.

So, getting around to the point, it appears that ducks and rabbits loose together in the same pen is not such a great idea.

 

[Tivona]

Bummer.

Sounded like it might have worked. Are the ducks okay?

 

[mandelyn]

It's hilarious when they're babies, I had a duck herding bunny, bunny was 9 weeks, ducks were about 3/4 weeks. I can see why it wouldn't work with adults, those rabbits can be feisty!

 

[veronicasmom]

Don't you feed your rabbit hay? And if the hutch is on the ground a predator can literally scare a rabbit to death by trying to get it. It sounds like he is bored and wants to do something to amuse himself. Does he have anything to chew like applewood? Or even cardboard tubes from paper towels or tp without glue on them? Maybe some baby toys to toss around like those little keys or teething toys? Does he get some playtime out of his hutch?
No, rabbits and ducks wouldn't do well together for a number of reasons.

 

[CorinneP]

Thanks for sharing this .. I never even really thought of putting my rabbits with my Ducks .. But I sure wont now ! I cant believe the scenario you told it sort of surprised and amused me .. Glad no Real Harm was done

 

[duck walk]

Bunnies can be ornery and ducks are scared of their own shadows much of the time so it really wont work to have them together...it would be exceptional if you could do that and have them get along...bunnies do like to chew...when I had bunnies in cages, I would leave them blocks of wood to knaw...and I had to replace those blocks often...I used to refer to them as my lop earred beavers with all that wood chewing going on...

 

[Oregon Blues]

Don't you feed your rabbit hay?
Yes, they get a bit of Orchard grass hay daily. Plus some greenery, but neither of those is the main diet.

And if the hutch is on the ground a predator can literally scare a rabbit to death by trying to get it.

The Hutches are all double fenced with predator proof fencing. Nobody is getting in to scare the rabbits. The loose rabbit was inside very secure fencing during the time that he was loose.

It sounds like he is bored and wants to do something to amuse himself. Does he have anything to chew like applewood? Or even cardboard tubes from paper towels or tp without glue on them?

I really don't care if he is bored. All the rabbits have chew sticks and resting pads and a box to climb onto. My rabbits won't touch cardboard tubes. I don't see why he would be bored, anyway, loose in 1/2 an acre with brush piles, pasture, and "playground equipment". Attacking and injuring other animals is not boredom. It is foul temperament.


Maybe some baby toys to toss around like those little keys or teething toys? Does he get some playtime out of his hutch?

Yeah. He was out of bis hutch when he went into attack mode. Baby toys? I don't think so. This rabbit is dinner, not a house pet. In fact, as nasty as he is, he'd be dinner even if he were a house pet.

 

[veronicasmom]

Okay then. Whatever

 

[Tivona]

I had rabbits many years ago and one of the males was as mean as anything. Growled at me, bit me, kicked me. I will admit I was scared to reach in his cage to clean and feed. All of the other rabbits were as sweet as can be. I ate the mean one as I really didn't want to keep him with that sort of personality. He was pretty though and I would have kept him except he was just to dangerous. They had been abandon before I took them and I wonder what sort of treatment he may have had with people before me. I also wondered if it was hormones but the other male was sweet so I was never sure why he was that way.

 

[stone_family3]

I've had a mean rabbit, was as sweet as can be as a baby bun but the older she got the meaner she got. She hit about 3 1/2 years old and one day went from sweet to mean biting and scratching me. I was so sad I had to get rid of her, but when she was jumping at the cage when my daughter came near it I knew we had a problem.