Keeping ferrets in the same garden as rabbits?

Sorry I've not been on here for ages, no particular reason why

I have 2 dwarf lops in a large run in my back garden but I always liked the idea of having a ferret. I've never got one as I'm not sure how safe it is to have rabbits and ferrets in the same garden (definitely not housed together!). I've been keeping my eye on a ferret that wants to live by itself (she doesn't like other ferrets) which appeals to me and is currently in the care of a rescue, I haven't applied to adopt her yet because I need some advice about how feasible it would be to have these 2 species safely and stress free in the same area.

I could make the ferrets accommodation so neither ferret nor rabbits could see each other (although they would probably be only about 3 meters apart), they would still be able to smell each other so not sure how much of a problem that would be for either species, I can have some scented plants around to lessen the smell a bit although I doubt it would make a big difference. I would double mesh the ferret hutch with very narrowly spaced mesh and put padlocks on both animals homes (I've seen an underweight ferret squeeze through an extremely tiny hole hence my paranoia about this).

The ferret could be taken in the house while the rabbits are out playing and the ferret would not have free access to the back garden (not even under supervision as I wouldn't want them to see each other. The ferret would get taken out for walks on a harness and exercised in the lounge.

Does anyone on here keep both species in the same garden or room indoors? Do you take any extra precautions?

Not a good plan. Ferrets hunt rabbits so you buns would not be safe. And Ferrets really smell so not only would you be asking the buns to live in the vicinity of a natural predator, they are going to be very aware of it.

I am hoping that Jo comes along in a minute as I seem to remember that she has first hand eye witness accounts of a bun that lived above a ferret cage.

Hi There,
Nice to see you :-)


No I really wouldnt think that would be a good idea. The Buns would be terrified I would have thought and it would be likely to affect the ferrets behaviour too sadly.

Hi lovely to hear from you again  

I'm afraid I have to agree with the others it's not a good idea, the ferrets will smell the rabbits and want to get to them and the rabbits will smell the ferrets and it will upset them.

I agree with all of the above I'm afraid!

Another one in agreement here. When one of us went to our vets once and she'd just seen a ferret, she changed consulting rooms to see the bun so it would not be upset

I entirely agree.  We visited somewhere a little while ago and they had a bunny in a hutch on top of ferrets in a hutch.  I was really cross. 

Hugs

Jo xx

 Good to see you! I actually just read a news type snippet about that and the resounding answer is NO. The rabbits will be in a constant state of panic and the ferret will make it his life mission to kill the rabbits. Ferrets are very clever and can get in and out of most anything if motivated by the smell of fresh prey.

I posted on another forum too so I could get as many opinions as possible. Most people are saying yes as long the rabbits aren't of a particularly stressy nature and ferrets don't have a very high chase drive (apparently not all do, I guess like not all greyhounds do). Neither of rabbits are bothered by my cats at all, one will hide if she sees a visiting dog near the run and the other bun is fine.
Quite a few people seem to have both in the same garden and as long as both enclosures are very secure it can be possible. Still going to mull it over some more before deciding as it's most important the rabbits don't get stressed

I think you have to look at the overall care of you rabbits if you have a ferret, and also, the care of the ferret too. Both animals would likely have a better quality of life, without the other present in the same garden.

That's not to say it couldn't work, I'm sure people have situations where it does work. But my personal opinion is that if you have a prey and a predator animal so close together, both are going to be stressed. The ferret is likely to be stressed because she can't get to the rabbits, and because she is a lone ferret she has nothing else to focus her energy on. And the rabbits are likely to be stressed by smells. Now, thats not all rabbits. Some may not be bothered at all, but personally I wouldn't want to take the risk.

And you are then in a situation where...you know how careful you have to be, and I think that giving yourself a very heavy risk to carry around with you daily. So, I wouldn't do it myself.