Are Chickens a Danger to Horses? Bad Couple Months With Neighbors

[desertdarlene]

I am going to agree with the others, though I know it's not what you are hoping they would say. Like others have said, even if the horses didn't get spooked, they should be kept on your property only (unless the owners like them and don't mind, which they already told you that they do). Perhaps you can put up some kind of barrier to prevent them from going over there, especially now that they are laying traps for your birds. In a legal fight, you would not win if they were on their property.

 

[txhomegrown]

I have seen horses that were spooked by chickens. I am just glad I was not riding one of them at the time. If a horse got spooked and injured, you would be liable for damages. If a person were hurt, it could get a lot worse for you. Keep your chickens on YOUR land. The other land owners have to right to capture or kill any chickens that are on their land. Do what you need to do to keep them at home. You wouldn't want to lose any of your flock if you can help it.

 

[michickenwrangler]

Quote:
x2

I worked at a ranch that had free-roaming chickens, ducks and turkeys and the horses got used to them. That being said, when one of the ducks wandered into a neighbor's yard, it became dinner.

 

[Ema]

sorry to say but I have to say yes, my girlfriend has 2 horses and then went and got chickens. a couple days later she called me and told me she needed help with the chickens. a few got out and got into the horse stall, scared one of her horses I guess he started kicking and bucking, he was so spooked he ended up kicking his companion mare. when he ran out of the stall he somehow slipped and had a limp for a few months there after. It cost her money in vet bills and she couldn't ride him for a while. As to this day he is iffy on going in the stall, and had to spend money to provide him with a lean to because of our harsh winters, and her mare is now very cautious around him. I ended up having to go help her catch 16 hens that were running loose in her barn and horse pen.

I would make sure the chickens can't get back over there before yo end up with a huge law suit on your hands.

however I know people who have horses and hens plus other poultry and the horses are fine. But I guess every situation is different.

 

[featherz]

Whether the horses get spooked or not, you have to keep your chickens on your property

. Just my 2 cents.

 

[dsqard]

I have both chickens and horses. Before moving to our home in Utah last year, my horses hadn't been around chickens. When they first saw the neighbor's chickens they were curious about them but didn't spook at them probably more because the horses knew they could get away from the chickens. You have to remember that even though horses are large animals, they are still prey animals and can spook at anything. Like one of the other posters said, they can spook at plastic bags, rocks, umbrellas, any noise they consider weird, donkeys or just about anything they have not seen before. I was riding one of my mares one day and she actually spooked at the noise of herself passing gas.

It can be surprising at what they will spook at. I have to agree with most of the posters on this thread, you should find a way to keep your chickens on your property.

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
x2

I worked at a ranch that had free-roaming chickens, ducks and turkeys and the horses got used to them. That being said, when one of the ducks wandered into a neighbor's yard, it became dinner.

3x

No matter how trivial it sounds but it's the chicken owners to keep their birds contained. We are responsible for our chicken's welfare and they are responsible for their horses/rider's welfare too.

 

[mountaintopchicken]

Yes, like everyone else says, a chicken could spook a horse. Also, i don't blame them for being ticked. I know the only livestock I want on my property is my livestock, that I chose to keep there. There are so many reasons for not wanting to have someone else's animals roam your property. These folks might have to clean up the chicken poo your chickens leave, if they have boarders they might not want to see chickens in the barn, there is risk of disease spread...

Looks like you will have to confine your birds, good fences make good neighbors.

 

[stickers]

Agreed with everyone else. My chickens used to go over to neighbors and their horse would gallop over to them as soon as she saw them. Even my own horses get irritated by chickens and have tried to stomp on them. They also can poop in the horses water and make them sick.

 

[halo]

If they had dogs that were coming onto your property chasing your chickens, you'd be yelling about that. So yes, contain your birds.