Bat Poop and chickens

[melissasz]

We have thirty month old chicks. I'm keeping them in the top floor of our barn in a brooder we built so the cats and other animals can't get to them. We also have bats that hang out in the eves of the barn. Yesterday I was told if the chickens eat bat poop they will get sick and probably die.
I'm quite concerned as the bats fly all over our property and I know that I can't keep the girls from eating anything on the ground. (Right now the bats aren't getting into the top part of the barn where I have them but they could.) Has anyone else had to deal with this? We live in Maine.
Thanks for any advice.

 

[Stoney22]

im thinking if they directly are getting pooped on and eating the waste of the bats they may get sick but i wouldnt worry about them eating it in the yard, itd be so widespread i wouldnt think it would be much of an issue and really if you free range them they probably will eat alot of stuff you wouldnt think they would/ should. i think your stressing over it for nothing but i certainly wouldnt promote it eather by continuing to leave them in the top of the barn.