Any problems with chickens loose in horse pasture?

[TKIFARMGIRL]

I have had horses 40+ years, I ride, rope, show, train, etc., I am new to chickens and am curious, do chickens carry any diseases that can affect my healthy, well cared, vaccinnated horses?

 

[RockyToggRanch]

I keep my horses and chickens together. The only problem I find is that on cold days the chickens sit on the horses and poop on them.

 

[slackwater]

I don't know - but I have mixed horses & chickens for years and have not had any problems with either.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I keep my grow-out and young roos in one pasture and my free range flock visits the other pasture, my horses do not mind the chickens - they seem to fasinate my mustang. They (chickens) are great for helping cut down on flies and bugs. The only thing I might worry about would be a chicken getting stepped on - or one jumping into the trough and drowning.

 

[Akane]

I did hear that horses can get salmonella if the chickens are allowed to sit on their feeders and poop. I've never heard directly of a case of that though. Just don't let the birds mess in the feed pans or all over the hay and it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Skyesrocket]

I don't know - but I have mixed horses & chickens for years and have not had any problems with either.

The same here. Plus the chooks will break up and dig through the horse poops looking for bugs and undigested grains. I have lost a few chicks over the years that were hen raised and were stepped on by the horses but never adult chooks.
I did have a friend with a mare that intentionally stomped her chickens. I think those are far and few between though.​

 

[Guinea Goonie]

We have had horses in one way or another for MANY years. We used to keep bantams in the barn so the horsed would get used to the fussing, flying and fighting. It was good for them, they did not spook near as much.

I have never heard a vet tell me to watch out for the chickens. My feathered freinds roam the horse pastures on a daily bases. If any thing I would be concerned the horses would contract worms from the horse poop.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I lost my Creve roo last spring when one of my mares stomped him. That was the last straw for me...I've had no more chickens out of the coops since...only my ducks & geese get to come out (when I'm home) and they don't wander even 1/2 as far as my chickens used to!

 

[BlackBart]

Quote:
Same with my horses and chickens. The Peacocks were great for desensitizing

Fly numbers are decreased and my horses have never hurt the chickens. They know better.
Most parasites are species specific.

 

[patandchickens]

Free ranging outdoors is not AFAIK a problem.

However do not let the chickens be pooing on the horses' hay. I know someone who, some years ago, lost his most favorite eventer in the world to salmonellosis that he SWEARS (and may well be right) came from feeding hay that the barn chickens had been sitting and pooing on. So some caution is probably appropriate.

JMHO,

Pat