Can i feed my chickens anything to make their poop unappealing?

[MegaChickens]

I have two dogs with whom we've had previous problems with them eating our cat's poop. Since we have gotten our chickens my dogs have began eating their poop also... the biggest problem we have had is that our oldest dog has a really sensitive stomach and when he eats their poop he has terrible diarrhea. I've heard of putting pineapple in the chickens diet to make their poop less appealing? They already eat lots of fruits and it hasn't seemed to help whatsoever... Are there any other things I can feed them to make their poop unappealing?

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I seriously doubt it. Dogs love stinky nasty things and even if you make it a little less appealing somehow I would be shocked if you can make it so unappealing they won't eat it. (If you find a way tell me!!) It is my dogs favorite snack.

I think if you really do not want them eating it then you either need to keep the dog and the chickens separate or you need to train your dog not to eat it which takes a lot of time and patience. I have had some success with training them. If I leave them alone out in the yard all day they will still eat some but when I am with them they now don't do it. Still a work in progress but better than before.

Be aware that some parasites, like round worm, can go from chicken to dog if they are ingesting the worms via poop. So if you have an outbreak of something be sure to test the dog as well.

 

[CluckyCharms]

I'm new to chickens so I'm a little confused I guess. Can't you fence off the compost pile where you put your chicken poop? Or..fence off the garbage can that your chicken poop goes in? Maybe just put a lid on the poop bin where the dog can't get into it even if he wanted to. How is your dog eating so much chicken poop that he gets an upset tummy? I'd like an answer though, as we have dogs too (very small ones) and the thought that eating a random dropping will hurt them is disconcerting. =(

 

[tiki244]

My dog does it too! I wonder if ACV in the water and a little garlic would help?

 

[JeffOeuf]

The chickens are free-range, Clucky. The poop is everywhere.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

Eating chicken poop won't hurt them in a grand illness, life threatening way. Some dogs just have sensitive tummies. Mine do not get sick from it but Mega's dog seems to be which isn't really surprising. In general it's best not to eat poo. There is a small possibility that a dog could contract a parasite but its small and only if they chicken is very infested. Just something to be aware of. All of this is treatable.

My chickens free range in my yard so I end up with little chickens poos all over the place and if left to their own choices my dogs would search the yard and find them all and snack it up. I try to discourage this behavior. I have trained them to stay out the coop (which I leave open when the hens are free ranging) and they are good about that but they do pick up the poo out in the yard. I don't really worry that much about it, I mostly just think its kind of gross.

 

[MegaChickens]

My chickens are free range so they poop anywhere and everywhere...

 

[hallerlake]

Cayenne pepper might help. The birds can't taste but your dog will. It won't hurt him, but he won't like it.

 

[MegaChickens]

I tried sprinkling some on the droppings on our drive way so I'll see how that goes, thanks!

 

[hallerlake]

You could even mix it in with the chickens food. They can't taste it. They don't have the right kind of taste buds.