Rabbits & Guineas

[runt18]

Sorry i dont no if it would come under this but any way i have a rabbit that is about 4 years old and my lil guinea pigs 2 of them chip and dale were born on panckae day 09 anyway i was wondring would they fight if i put them together my rabiit is very big haha i know soo i dont no if i hsould try he may sit on them and squish my lil babies and i was wondring do they communicaste will they know there is rabbit near them because the cages are very close the rabbit ears are always up i think it knows something is there. ?

 

[teadragon]

Rabbits, as you may have already noticed, are territorial by nature - especially if they have not been spayed or neutered.

Although some people, particularly in the UK, have had success in keeping rabbits and guinea pigs together, both animals have often been raised together and so seem to develop a mutual understanding and bond. However, when things go wrong - they go wrong. A rabbit can easily kill a guinea pig, bonded or not, and it's not really a risk that you want to take. Even guinea pig - rabbit combinations that are going well can go wrong suddenly as they grow up; a freak accident or a temperamental change on the rabbit or an accident caused by a sick, grumpy bunny.

Rabbits and guinea pigs don't speak the same language. Especially if your four year old rabbit has been out of touch of another rabbit or guinea pig. It's more likely that your rabbit will have a territorial curiosity over the small fluffy things and while a territorial bunny won't always instantly attack a smaller guinea pig, they will chase and fuss the guinea pig -- which isn't pleasant at all. Even more so if your guinea pigs were born on pancake day and so are still young.

So, no. I would absolutely not recommend that you put your rabbit and guinea pigs together. Your rabbit is too old and your guinea pigs will be helpless if things go wrong.

If you want them to socialise together, it would be safer for you to do so while both animals are contained within the safety of their own runs.

http://www.guineapigcages.com/rabbits.htm

 

[teadragon]

... i was wondring do they communicaste will they know there is rabbit near them because the cages are very close the rabbit ears are always up i think it knows something is there. ?

Both rabbits and guinea pigs have very acute hearing. They will be very aware of each other; the rabbit will be able to hear and smell the guinea pigs and the guinea pigs will be aware of the stomping and moving around of your rabbit.

They cannot vocally communicate in a way that they will understand.

A wheek from a guinea pig means many things: pain, begging for food, general squeeky conversation.
A scream from a rabbit means mortal pain, imminent death or panic.

A stomp from a rabbits bunny is alarm or agitation.
Guinea pigs wheek to indicate alarm.

A tooth chatter from a guinea pig means "back the sod off!"
"Back off" in rabbits is indicated by body posture and ears.

 

[alcesterpigs]

Rabbit and pig together? NO.

 

[mstori]

one of the many sites that state not to http://www.guineapigcages.com/rabbits.htm
i also know of a friend who had hers together for years without a problem, then her rabbit accidently killed the guinea, causing distress and heartache to everyone. I know it seems a lovely idea, but its best not to x
sorry.. just realised the link has already been given.. there are plenty more if * google and also look at yahoo answers (there are peoples stories on)

 

[mstori]

oops.. forgot to say that mine all play together though! my rabbits have free reign of back garden during playtime, and the piggies go in their runs, and they do interact, Lightning (bunny) in particular will sit and lie next to the piggies, and stick his nose through the bars x