BUNNIES LIVING WITH PIGEONS AND HENS

Question
HI DR. KREMPELS,

I AM JUST WONDERING IF IT IS OKAY FOR MY TWO 3 MONTH OLD BUNNIES TO BE LIVING WITH AND HOUSED IN A LARGE AVIARY / COOP WITH 10 PIGEONS AND 3 HENS(THEY HAVE THEIR OWN COOP)? EVERYONE IS GETTING ALONG GREAT, HOWEVER EVERYONE SEEMS TO TRY THE OTHERS' FOODS. THE BUNNIES IN PARTICULAR REALLY LIKE THE GRAIN MIX THE PIGEONS GET. I'VE SEEN THEM EATING DRIED CORN, DRIED PEAS, SUNFLOWER SEEDS, ETC. THEIR STOOL IS LOOKING FINE AND ALL, BUT I JUST READ ON A WEBSITE THAT THESE ARE TOXIC. PROBABLY NOT TRUE, BUT WANTED TO CHECK WITH AN EXPERT. THANK YOU KINDLY,

ZITA HARTMAN

Answer
Dear Zita,

Rabbits should not be housed with birds, and pigeons and chickens are especially problematic.  Pigeon droppings very often grow a dangerous fungus, Histoplasma, that, when inhaled by a mammal (you or your rabbit) can cause a very serious condition called histoplasmosis.  If there is a high density of pigeon droppings, always wear a mask when cleaning and coming into the aviary.

Chickens are very often asymptomatic carriers of Salmonella bacteria, which can be very dangerous to your rabbits.

Finally, the dried peas and corn the rabbits are eating from the bird food are not only too starchy for them, but they can cause fatal intestinal impactions.  They are about the *worst* thing a bunny can eat.

Please get your bunnies into housing separate and far away from the birds for their health and safety.  You can read about a healthy diet for them here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/diet.html

and more about litterbox training and making them into loving little house rabbits here:

http://www.rabbit.org/care/new-bunny-index.html

Hope this helps.

Dana